Chapter 143
"Haha, so the Sand Village really has no one left, huh? They had to make you the Kazekage." Before Zixu and the daimyō could speak, the Kage below had already begun interacting with each other. Ōnoki was the first to taunt Chiyo in a mocking tone.
"Heh, you old coot, still clinging to life, huh? An old man who refuses to die is nothing but a thief. Why don't you hurry up and let your precious granddaughter become the Tsuchikage?" Chiyo retorted sharply, unwilling to back down. The two had fought each other during the previous Ninja World War and were well-acquainted with each other's temperaments.
"Everyone, we're not here to squabble, right? I want to see what that little guy is capable of. We're not here to fight each other, after all," Mei Terumi interjected, attempting to act as the peacemaker.
However, her words had no effect. Chiyo let the matter drop, but Ōnoki, relying on his seniority, didn't take the newly appointed Mizukage seriously at all.
"You've just taken office, and you're already trying to boss around your seniors? The Hidden Mist Village really is going downhill..."
"..." Mei Terumi fell silent, unwilling to argue further. Why is this old fart like a mad dog, snapping at everyone he sees? she thought. The title 'Two Scales' really suits him.
Jiraiya and A remained quiet. Unlike the others, they were more interested in the competition itself—and in the prizes Zixu was offering. The war technology on display had the potential to greatly enhance their villages' combat strength if it could be mass-produced.
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Of course, the conflicts weren't limited to the Kage. Each village had brought a team to participate in the tournament, and many of the participants were hot-blooded and eager to fight. With five major villages gathered in one place, friction was inevitable.
For instance, a group of Cloud-nin had tried to eat without paying and were promptly beaten up by the shopkeeper. Naturally, the Cloud-nin, adhering to their "fine tradition," quickly rallied their fellow villagers, forming a blockade at the entrance of the store.
As the shop owner stood in a daze, unsure of what to do, the "Three Princess" appeared to help resolve the situation. Though they were known for slacking off, they were surprisingly reliable when it came to handling conflicts. Their intervention quelled many incidents, but the seeds of hostility had already been sown. It was only a matter of time before things escalated into full-blown battles.