The next day.
The weather was unexpectedly beautiful and sunny.
Hiruzen, dressed in his Hokage robes, exuded the aura of a superior. This made Shinji, who was beside him, look over, as it had been a long time since he had seen him like this.
This time, besides Shisui and Kakashi, only Shinji accompanied Hiruzen into the arena. The three of them formed a temporary Hokage Guard, a rather high-level configuration.
It's worth noting that the Kazekage only had Maki as a relatively familiar face, the other two barely reached Jonin level.
As for the Genin participating in the elimination rounds, they had already departed early.
Walking along the boardwalk towards the venue, just as they were about to arrive.
Bang, bang, bang—
Numerous ceremonial cannons fired into the sky, and colorful streamers scattered everywhere.
"Kumogakure is invincible!"
"Long live the Raikage!"
Passionate cheers erupted, but Hiruzen and the others, who were about to enter, paid them no mind. It was their home turf, anything was fine.
On the mountainside, several stone chairs were placed, with the names of the Kage of the Great Nations written on them in large characters. As for the smaller Ninja Villages, they were situated below, at most sitting with officials and dignitaries.
"Hahahaha, isn't this our Hokage? How are you doing, old man?"
The Raikage, who was already there, heard the sound, turned, saw Hiruzen's group, and spoke loudly.
Hiruzen, however, paid no attention to the Fourth Raikage's words and walked over with a smile. He had no interest in joking around with someone known in the Ninja World for acting like a brute. He didn't want to give anyone an opportunity to make a scene. While he didn't care, it would still be annoying.
"Is this your disciple, Hokage?"
Adidn't mind Hiruzen's lack of response. Instead, he looked at Shinji, who was to Hiruzen's left. His tall figure walked slowly, his imposing aura spreading, causing Kakashi and Shisui nearby to secretly become wary.
Shinji, however, facing the Raikage's imposing aura head-on, showed no change in expression. He curiously assessed the Fourth Raikage, who stood before him like an iron tower.
A seemed not to notice Kakashi and Shisui's gradually wary attitude, only looking at Shinji.
After a while—
"Hahahaha, excellent. Hokage, you've taken on an extraordinary apprentice." A turned and spoke to Hiruzen.
"Oh? Hokage, you still have the energy to train disciples?" An old voice sounded from the side.
Ōnoki, being carried on his son Kitsuchi's shoulders, slowly approached.
Hiruzen, interrupted, glanced at Ōnoki and said indifferently, "At least I'm better than you, Tsuchikage, at least I can still move."
Ōnoki, choked by Hiruzen's words, his face darkened slightly, and he patted Kitsuchi, signaling him to stop. He leaped, then floated steadily in mid-air.
He retorted to Hiruzen in this manner, showing that he wasn't truly too old to move.
A watched this scene without speaking, instead looking towards the entrance.
Rasa, leading his Kage Guard, appeared there.
Seeing that the other three Kage had already arrived, he quickly said, "I apologize, I'm late."
"You know you're late? These youngsters nowadays are truly presumptuous." Ōnoki didn't hesitate to snap at Rasa.
The Kage Guard behind Rasa immediately adopted an attack stance, while Ōnoki watched with amusement.
He asked, "What? Do you want to fight?"
Rasa waved his hand, signaling Baki and the others not to act rashly, but his eyes were filled with a dark expression as he looked at the Third Tsuchikage, that old man.
Hiruzen chuckled lightly and said indifferently, "Ōnoki, a senior should have a senior's magnanimity."
Then he ignored them and walked towards his seat.
It wasn't that Hiruzen wanted to help Rasa out of a difficult situation, but rather that Konoha and Sunagakure were still allies. Saying a word or two wouldn't cost him anything.
Rasa quickly swept past Ōnoki, completely ignoring Ōnoki, who was still glaring at him.
If it weren't inappropriate to antagonize Iwagakure right now, he might have wanted to dig a grave for that old man.
A paid no attention to anything happening in the arena. Seeing that there was no more show to watch, he turned and returned to his main seat.
Shinji stood behind Hiruzen, and couldn't help but lament that the Ninja World was just a huge makeshift troupe.
Everyone spoke with barbs, and it wouldn't be surprising if they started fighting if things got heated later.
Hmm?
Feeling a gaze from the side, Shinji couldn't help but turn his head.
Samui, standing behind the Raikage, was looking at him, her expression still utterly indifferent.
Shinji merely nodded in acknowledgment and then ignored her. Let her look, it wouldn't cost him a piece of flesh.
At this moment, almost all eyes in the Kage's section were on Shinji, not just from Kumogakure, but even from Ōnoki. Only Hiruzen and the others remained unconcerned, as they had already prepared for this before coming.
Now, the main thing was to see what Kumogakure was planning, or what it intended to do.
However, in the next instant, the entire venue built on the mountainside erupted in a huge roar.
The reason was that the screen inside the venue was showing a Genin from Kumogakure defeating a ninja from Sunagakure.
On the digital screen on the other side, one team from Sunagakure's exam roster was immediately deducted.
"Heh, still so young, as expected." Ōnoki sneered, seizing the opportunity to mock Rasa.
Rasa, seated, seemed not to have heard him, and continued to drink tea with Hiruzen.
The next moment, one of Iwagakure's participating teams was also eliminated. The screen nearby replayed the recent battle.
A person and a beast were seen restraining Iwagakure's Genin, while a teammate nearby used Fire Release to block them. Finally, a swarm of overwhelming insects rushed towards Iwagakure's Genin.
After the insects dispersed, the Iwagakure Genin revealed was already unconscious on the ground, having lost all Chakra.
Rasa spoke from the side, "Hokage, it seems Konoha's Academy provides excellent instruction. We might need to consult with Konoha later."
He completely ignored Ōnoki, who was a few seats away and whose face was growing darker.
"No problem, Konoha's gates are always open." Hiruzen said with a chuckle.
The teams participating this time were disciples from various major clans who were still Genin. Some might have graduated several years ago but had simply never participated in the Chunin Exams.
Inside the venue, cheers were incessant.
At first, the villagers of Kumogakure might have been more interested in their own Genin's matches, but watching the dazzling Ninjutsu and battles on the screen, each person offered applause and cheers. Ultimately, this was a spectacular elimination round in itself.
Even if they were Genin from rival villages, their skills were up to par, to say the least. The disparity in skill levels made the elimination rounds like a quagmire.
On the digital screen, the number of teams from each village was decreasing.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure's teams were reduced most rapidly, until only one team remained for Sunagakure.
A loud bell rang, signaling the end of the elimination rounds.