The final match of the Chunin Exams began quickly, and the large exam venue was crowded with many spectators eager to watch.
There were nine Genin Squads that passed the second checkpoint, including three from Konoha, three Hidden Rock Squads, two Hidden Cloud Squads, and one Hidden Rain Squad.
The teams from the Three Great Ninja Villages essentially represented the strength of Ninja Villages in the Ninja World; aside from the Hidden Rain Village that luckily passed with one team, all other Small Ninja Villages were eliminated.
Twenty-seven individuals participated, using lottery drawing to decide who gets a bye in the first round.
Uchiha Yoichi also came to watch, and the place was practically packed with people. Each ticket costs roughly three hundred ryo, so with this many people, it should bring in one to two million ryo in revenue.
This is just from ticket sales; if Konoha develops related projects properly, it could undoubtedly become the center of the Land of Fire.
However, during wartime, it's certainly difficult to manage; just a single spy causing trouble could make Konoha suffer for a long time. Uchiha Yoichi could only think of setting up strict checkpoint guards outside to verify residency.
But that would only be feasible once computers are widespread, and only when he has achieved a certain status in the Land of Fire, can he accomplish this.
The daimyo from various countries even set up gambling booths, and upon learning about this, Uchiha Yoichi placed some bets, mainly banking on Kakashi, Yuhi Kurenai, and Hyuga Satomi to win the championship.
Although Chishima Ichihiko also had the Sage Curse Seal, he lacked any finishing moves. Uchiha Yoichi taught him two Jutsus, which also cooperated with hidden weapons.
Even if he were to fully leverage his capabilities, it would probably only be at the Elite Chunin level, making it difficult to win against Kakashi, Yuhi Kurenai, and Hyuga Satomi.
Moreover, there should be skilled Genin among the Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud teams, with the Hidden Rock team possibly there specifically to target Konoha, trying not to let Konoha fully steal the limelight in this Chunin Exam.
On the other side of the audience seats, Yahiko and Konan took off their headbands and changed clothes, also arriving at Konoha Village.
Upon hearing about the six-country united Chunin Exams, the Akatsuki Organization decided to come and observe, and Yahiko wanted to try his first negotiations with the Great Nations, with Konoha as the first target.
Recently, Konoha had been continuously engaged in wars with two Ninja Villages; if Konoha could accept their methods and resolve the conflicts through negotiation, then the Akatsuki Organization's dreams would have hope.
Nagato didn't come; he felt some resistance upon hearing about Konoha. Yahiko and Konan knew Nagato's parents died at the hands of Konoha Ninja, so they didn't persuade him.
Upon arriving at Konoha, Konan was captivated by the prosperity there; if the Land of Rain had such bustling scenes, with everyone wearing smiles, then the Akatsuki Organization's dreams would be halfway realized.
"Yahiko, should we go to see Jiraiya-sensei later?"
Konan asked Yahiko in a low voice. With Jiraiya-sensei's assistance, perhaps they could easily meet the Third Generation Hokage and explain the Akatsuki Organization's dreams to him.
Yahiko thought for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head and said, "Let's first meet the Third Generation Hokage later. If we let Jiraiya-sensei take us, the Third Generation Hokage might take us less seriously due to his relationship with Jiraiya-sensei."
He hoped the Third Generation Hokage would negotiate with him on equal footing, rather than because of Jiraiya-sensei's relationship.
"After things settle, then we'll find Jiraiya-sensei and tell him about the accomplishments of the Akatsuki Organization."
Yahiko said with a smile, and upon hearing this, Konan also smiled.
Although they were only thirteen years old, they had already developed the Akatsuki Organization into a significant entity within the Hidden Rain Village.
The Akatsuki Organization managed four Peace Towns, with more than eighty core members and over five hundred peripheral members; although most were ordinary people, only a tenth were Ninja.
However, more and more people believed in the ideals of the Akatsuki Organization, which was the driving force for Yahiko to persist.
He believed that one day, the ideals of the Akatsuki Organization would spread throughout the Land of Rain, then to the entire Ninja World, gaining acceptance and belief from more people.
"Let's watch the match first, Konan, and see how much of a gap is between the young ninja from the Great Ninja Villages and us...."
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The third match proceeded one after the other, and in the first round, Uchiha Yoichi's three students were separated, which was considered a good thing.
However, in the second round, specifically during the 14 to 7 match, Yuhi Kurenai faced Chishima Ichihiko, while Hyuga Satomi encountered Uchiha Obito.
Those Genin who held on until now basically had Chunin-level strength; even if they'd managed to reach the third round's individual match by relying on a strong team during the second stage, they'd be eliminated in the first match.
For instance, Nohara Rin, she encountered a female Hidden Cloud Ninja who seemed even younger, but swiftly eliminated Nohara Rin, a Medical Ninja, without even giving her the chance to throw a Shuriken.
When it was Hyuga Satomi's turn to face Uchiha Obito, the audience on the venue erupted in interest, discussing vigorously; Hyuga and Uchiha were not only two Bloodline Clans among the three great Pupil Techniques in the Ninja World.
But also inherently made for a compelling rivalry, with many civilians living in Konoha Village curious about which is stronger—the Byakugan or the Sharingan; after all, residents living in Konoha Village have some understanding of the Ninja race within the village.
With kids in Ninja School at home, perhaps they even have classmates from the Hyuga and Uchiha clans.
"Clan Leader, do you think Obito-sama will win?"
Uchiha Itachi suddenly looked up and asked; he was sitting beside Uchiha Mikota, and on Mikota's other side was Uchiha Yoichi.