Naruto: The Teaching System - 210

Chapter 210: Extreme Rule Only Brings Destruction to the Village

Moon Wheel Valley.

Even after all this time, the apocalyptic scene from their last visit remained. The flames and smoke had lessened, but what met their eyes were still endless ruins.

The Konoha team heading to Kumogakure for the Chunin Exams moved slowly along the damaged road.

At the center of their formation sat a carriage with Hiruzen inside. It wasn't that he wanted to ride around like some pampered noble. It's just that Jiraiya hated handling government affairs, so Hiruzen had to deal with them personally.

He set down his brush and sighed quietly.

The curtain pulled back as Sawada poked his head in. "Sensei, finished?"

"Yes, I'm done. Have someone send it back later."

"No problem." Sawada waved his hand, and several ANBU quickly moved closer to the carriage.

Watching Sawada organize everything so efficiently, Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "Do you have the list of examinees?"

Sawada entered the carriage, picked up a nearby scroll, and handed it over. "They're all here, Sensei."

Hiruzen examined the scroll for several minutes before slowly shaking his head. "Looks like Kumogakure really wants to make a name for themselves this time."

"Yeah, Iwagakure and Sunagakure only sent ordinary genin. Rather than participating, it's more like..." Sawada paused, choosing his words carefully.

"More like they want to see what Kumogakure's up to."

Sawada nodded. Regardless of Kumogakure's purpose for these Chunin Exams, the genin sent by the major countries definitely weren't geniuses from their own villages.

The Gold and Silver Brothers incident was one reason. Even if Kumogakure wanted to show their strength, that didn't matter much. Those rumors circulating the ninja world were just meant to make Kumogakure squirm.

If the other four great nations actually took this seriously, they'd be complete fools.

Hiruzen picked up his pipe to take a puff and relieve his fatigue when a clear voice came from outside.

"Kakashi, come in."

He didn't need to think twice. At this time, it could only be Kakashi.

Silver hair appeared first through the curtain. Kakashi, with his perpetually tired expression, walked in and nodded to Hiruzen.

"Sandaime-sama."

"Sit down. Standing in the carriage is inconvenient." Hiruzen waved dismissively. At this point, formalities didn't matter much.

Kakashi didn't hesitate. He sat cross-legged and pulled out a scroll, handing it to Hiruzen.

"This is news from our people sent to Kirigakure. It's just that they've been implementing the Bloody Mist policy, so it's very difficult to get inside."

Hiruzen nodded grimly. Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had been decent when he first took office. But after some time, he seemed to lose his sanity and began a bloody, twisted period of rule.

Most ridiculous was that their ninja training system actually changed to classmates killing each other. Only when half the people remained could they become actual ninja.

This led to most graduates being psychologically twisted, cold-blooded killing machines. It completely confirmed the view that "ninja" were just "tools." Trust no longer existed between them.

Hiruzen unrolled the scroll without much thought, carefully reading Kakashi's compiled information.

After several minutes, he finally exhaled heavily.

Then he handed it to Sawada, who took it without ceremony.

As expected...

Reading line by line, Sawada roughly understood Kirigakure's current situation. Even if they couldn't enter, they could often detect battles between ninja from outside.

Sawada lowered his eyes. Probably Kekkei Genkai families within Kirigakure trying to escape. But how could a single family possibly fight against an entire village?

Since the families didn't think to unite, they naturally faced systematic purging by Kirigakure's higher-ups.

"What are your thoughts?" Hiruzen took a deep breath.

"Chaos. Darkness." Sawada closed the scroll slowly.

Though just two words, they showed that Kirigakure was now in complete chaos and darkness.

"Extreme rule by those in power only brings destruction to the village," Hiruzen said quietly.

Sawada nodded. A profound observation.

Obito was indeed ruthless, but Kirigakure's geographical location made it possible. Surrounded by seawater on all sides, its territory is constantly shrouded in thick fog, completely isolated from other countries.

This gave Obito the opportunity to create trouble. If other ninja villages on the continent tried this approach, they'd be eliminated by other countries as soon as they made a move.

Even if Obito could hide afterward, some clues would surface.

"Kakashi, arrange close surveillance later. Report any news immediately."

"Yes, Sandaime-sama."

"Oh, by the way, another message came on the road earlier." Kakashi's tone shifted slightly. "The rogue ninja Zabuza from Kirigakure, who failed to assassinate the Mizukage last year, apparently prepared to assassinate the Land of Water's daimyo recently."

"But he failed again. I heard there was a Kirigakure Kekkei Genkai user protecting the daimyo."

Sawada blinked. Was there such a thing? That doesn't seem right.

But Hiruzen nodded. Assassination attempts weren't surprising, especially targeting the Land of Water's daimyo. What would suffer next would only be Kirigakure.

If the daimyo directly cut off financial support, then Kirigakure, already in complete chaos, would have even more difficulty continuing.

"If we received this, other ninja villages should know too. Stay inactive and see what they think."

After all, the Kage of the four great nations would soon gather together. There'd naturally be no shortage of verbal exchanges.

"Give the order: advance at full speed from now on. This is an unprecedented Chunin Exam, and the first time since the Third Ninja War that the great nations have gathered together."

"Yes!"

Sawada and Kakashi stood and walked out of the carriage.

Sawada came to the front of the team. Seeing Kakashi's displeased expression, he asked, "What's wrong, Captain Kakashi? You rarely show such an expression."

Kakashi rolled his tired eyes and glanced at Sawada. "Just remembered some things."

Sawada raised his eyebrows. Kirigakure?

Then it should be the Three-Tails. After all, Kakashi's only surviving teammate, Rin Nohara, was forced to become the Three-Tails' jinchuriki.

And the Three-Tails was Kirigakure's Tailed Beast.