There was no further response from the Hidden Cloud Village.
Roshi observed carefully. The Kumo ninja stationed along the main road at the village entrance showed no unusual rotations or reinforcements, and the patrols around the Chūnin Exams venue continued at their usual pace. Everything appeared normal.
Which meant—
The barrier his Wood Clone had encountered in that remote mountain hollow hadn't been set up by Kumogakure?
That possibility couldn't be dismissed.
After all, the clone had been operating in the mountain forests outside the Hidden Cloud Village proper—still within the Land of Lightning, but beyond the area directly governed by the shinobi village itself.
There was a distinction.
Among the Five Great Ninja Villages, vigilance was always concentrated in two key regions: the national borders and the shinobi village headquarters.
The vast stretch of land between those points was not maintained under constant, high-intensity surveillance by the villages. In most cases, security there was handled by patrol forces under the direct authority of the nation's daimyō.
Only when officially commissioned would a shinobi village dispatch ninja to intervene in matters occurring within national territory but outside the village's jurisdiction.
After all, while the shinobi villages were undeniably the strongest military forces within the Five Great Nations, that did not mean other independent ninja clans or groups didn't exist within their borders.
Even Konoha couldn't entirely prevent it—much less the Land of Lightning, with its rugged mountains and complex terrain. It wasn't unusual for rogue ninja or small, unaffiliated clans to live independently in remote corners of the country.
For now, however, these were only conjectures.
Over the next two days, Roshi decided to focus on his primary mission. As for collecting tree seeds, there was still nearly a month remaining. That could wait.
The following day, the Konoha Genin were visibly subdued—especially Iruka.
The loss in the team battle and his own inability to meaningfully influence the fight had dealt him a heavy blow. For a ninja his age, the impact was difficult to shake.
Roshi gathered all the Konoha Genin in the meeting room of their temporary outpost.
"There is only one winner in the main event of any Chūnin Exams," Roshi said calmly, his voice carrying neither reprimand nor consolation. "But that has never meant the rest lose their chance to be promoted."
Everyone's attention fixed on him.
"As squad leaders, Chūnin are evaluated on far more than individual combat strength," he continued. "More important is the ability to make accurate judgments—about the enemy, the battlefield, and yourselves."
"In real missions, it's rare for your strength to overwhelmingly surpass that of your opponents. More often, you'll face enemies who are your equals—or stronger."
"How you respond in those situations matters far more than whether you can win a single duel."
Roshi's gaze slowly swept across the room.
"The ability to make the most advantageous decision in an unfavorable situation—to preserve yourselves and still complete the mission—is a far more critical quality for a Chūnin."
"Just like now," he said evenly. "The team competition is over. The outcome can't be changed."
"What matters is what comes next."
"The individual matches are still ahead. Your task is to demonstrate your full abilities there—and prove that you have the judgment, resolve, and potential worthy of promotion."
"There is nearly a month of preparation before the individual rounds begin."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"If anyone believes they've already reached their limit—if you think you can give up here—then I will permit you to withdraw and return to the Village early."
The silence that followed was heavy.
But it was no longer despair—it was pressure and choice.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Iruka clenched his fists without realizing it.
"It seems," Roshi said evenly, "that no one has chosen to withdraw."
"Good."
"Next, each of you will need to arrange targeted training based on your own observations. This, too, is part of your individual judgment as a ninja."
"After we return to the Village, how each squad plans and executes its training during this period will be included in the evaluation."
"As for the issue of training grounds," he added calmly, "I'll see what I can arrange."
Noticing the faint but unmistakable spark of renewed resolve in the Genin's eyes, Roshi turned and left the outpost.
His first stop was the Kumogakure Chūnin responsible for venue management. Roshi formally requested permission to temporarily borrow a training venue.
The reply was immediate and curt.
"The venue is currently undergoing maintenance and renovation. External use is not convenient."
As for the training grounds inside the Hidden Cloud Village—that was even less feasible. Aside from Roshi himself, none of the Konoha ninja had been allowed inside Kumogakure proper.
After a brief moment of consideration, Roshi sought out Samui once more.
He hadn't expected her to agree.
Allowing a visiting village to use the host's training facilities during the break period was, in itself, an unspoken form of home-field advantage.
All Roshi really needed was a formal refusal. After that, he could simply train outside the village and resolve the issue with Earth Release.
Yet Samui didn't refuse immediately.
She studied him with her blue-green eyes.
The day before, she had noticed Darui's suppressed frustration and had already reported it to the Raikage.
This Konoha team leader—someone who clearly understood Darui's strength, who had even proactively negotiated to avoid an early confrontation—had remained completely composed after witnessing Darui's overwhelming victory.
If he wasn't merely skilled with words, then his strength was likely extraordinary.
"Roshi-san," Samui finally said coolly, "there may be room for discussion regarding the training ground."
"But before that," she continued, "would you be willing to grant me a request?"
Roshi met her gaze without replying, waiting.
"If you're willing to spare the time for a guidance-oriented spar with Darui," Samui stated plainly, looking straight into his eyes, "then I will do my best to ensure your Konoha team can use one of Kumogakure's backup training grounds outside the village before the individual matches begin."
Her reasoning was simple.
If Roshi was all talk, a spar would expose it.
If he lost—or performed poorly—Darui would naturally realize that this opponent was, after all, "nothing special," and his frustration over being underestimated would dissipate.
And if Roshi proved stronger—perhaps even stronger than Darui—then that would be acceptable as well. Darui wasn't someone who crumbled in the face of defeat. His unrest came from confusion over the gulf in position and circumstance.
Clarifying the true distance between them might help him rediscover his direction.
"Guidance is not out of the question," Roshi replied calmly. "However, I'd like the Genin under my command to observe as well."
Samui wanted to resolve Darui's inner conflict.
Roshi wanted to use the opportunity to raise the morale of his own ninja.
Samui frowned slightly.
A private spar was one thing—but allowing the Konoha Genin to observe would change the nature of the encounter. It would become, to some extent, a public display.
"If that's inconvenient," Roshi added evenly, noticing her hesitation, "then there's no need for Konoha to use Kumogakure's training grounds."
"We'll simply find a location outside and handle it ourselves."
"Surely," he continued, his tone polite but firm, "Kumogakure, as the host village, wouldn't object to a participating shinobi village training outside the Hidden Cloud Village."
He had no intention of offering favors for free.
After all, it was Darui that had first initiated the provocation—however subtle it may have been.
And as for training conditions, proper facilities were convenient, but not essential. With only a month available, the difference would be marginal.
Samui fell silent.
This Konoha ninja was troublesome.
He appeared to be offering a choice—but in reality, he was shifting the pressure back onto Kumogakure. If they couldn't accommodate such a "minor" request, it would look petty should word spread.
"Please wait," Samui finally said. "If there are observers involved, this isn't something I can decide on my own."
"I'll need to consult the Raikage."
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