After leaving the village, Kazama immediately ordered Zabuza, Haku, Yamanaka Fu, and Shino Takanotsume to secretly protect Sasuke. He couldn't risk Orochimaru kidnapping Sasuke while he was away. After all, he'd promised Uchiha Itachi he'd thwart Orochimaru's schemes. If Orochimaru succeeded, Kazama would be breaking his word—and letting down both Itachi and Sasuke.
Using the Body Flicker Technique nonstop, Kazama reached the distant Land of Lightning's Hidden Cloud Village in just a few days. At first, he subtly gathered intel while traveling through the Land of Lightning, but found no leads on the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii. With no other options, he decided to join the Chunin Exams hosted by the Cloud Village, hoping to pick up her trail.
"So this is the Hidden Cloud Village, famous for its swordsmanship and Lightning Style?" Kazama mused, marveling at the village's towering, cloud-piercing terrain. It wasn't as cozy as his Konoha, but it had a unique charm.
Normally, the Cloud Village was completely sealed off, making it nearly impossible for foreign ninja to enter. But with the Chunin Exams underway, they'd opened their gates to ninja from smaller neighboring countries.
"You're a ninja from the Land of Fire's Hidden Leaf Village?" the Cloud ninja at the registration desk asked, double-checking Kazama's Konoha forehead protector.
"Is there a problem?" Kazama asked, puzzled by the ninja's exaggerated reaction.
"Oh, nothing, nothing!" the Cloud ninja replied with a grin, continuing the registration process. But that smile carried a hint of malice. "Just so you know, if you get injured, maimed, lose an arm, or end up limping in the exams, the Cloud Village takes no responsibility!"
Kazama couldn't help but chuckle at the over-the-top warning. "Even if the Chunin Exams are tough, do you have to make it sound that scary? I'm not here for some street brawl tournament. If other ninja heard you, would anyone even dare show up for your exams?"
"Hmph! Other villages' ninja don't get this kind of treatment!" the Cloud ninja shot back, handing Kazama his entry pass.
At that moment, the surrounding participants—whether they'd overheard Kazama's exchange or noticed his Konoha forehead protector—began whispering about him. Glancing around, Kazama realized he was the only ninja from the Land of Fire. The rest were either from the Cloud Village or obscure smaller nations.
"The Third Hokage was right," Kazama thought. "The Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning really don't get along. No matter. I'm here for the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii. If no one bothers me, great. But if anyone tries to mess with me, I'll show them what a Hidden Leaf ninja can do."
"Hmph! A trash Konoha ninja with a death wish, daring to come to our Cloud Village for the Chunin Exams? You must be tired of living!" a scrawny Cloud ninja sneered, stepping right up to Kazama.
The Hidden Leaf and Hidden Cloud had been enemies during the Third Great Ninja War. Though they'd made peace, the Cloud Village's younger generation still harbored deep resentment toward Konoha ninja.
"Well, ask and you shall receive. Someone's actually bold enough to act tough in front of me!" Kazama thought, turning to face the challenger with a calm but confident look.
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