Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?-Chapter 274: Speaking for the Deceased

Omoi, already hindered, couldn't dodge effectively, managing only to deflect some of the arrows with his sword. But Kidōmaru's arrows were notoriously difficult to defend against, even for the Byakugan, let alone the naked eye.

Ultimately, Omoi, riddled with arrows, collapsed.

Blood flowed down his arm, tracing a long line on the ground.

A gambler who had bet on Omoi clutched his ticket, crying out in despair, "Omoi! What are you doing, Omoi! Get up!"

The Raikage's face darkened. Omoi's defeat meant Kumogakure was eliminated before the quarterfinals—As one of the top three Villages, favored to win before the exams even began, failing to even reach the final eight, defeated by a newcomer Village—This was humiliation! Absolute humiliation!

Kumo Shinobi—have they lost their confidence?

A flicker of doubt crossed A's mind, but he acted swiftly, flashing into the arena, pulling the arrows from Omoi's back, and carrying him off for medical treatment.

———

Meanwhile, the duel between Uchiha Itachi and Zabuza Momochi raged on.

Zabuza formed hand seals, his thumb, index, and middle fingers forming a half-circle. He exhaled a dense fog that instantly obscured the entire arena, blinding everyone present.

"What's happening? Such thick fog!"

"It's the Demon of the Hidden Mist! He prefers to kill his enemies within the fog! This is decided!"

Excited chatter filled the stands.

Within the fog, Itachi remained vigilant, kunai held defensively before him, his two-tomoe Sharingan scanning the mist.

Zabuza, though only fifteen, had already earned his moniker. Perhaps it was a product of Kirigakure's desperate "god-making" campaign, trying to salvage their declining reputation.

But the fact that Zabuza had been chosen for this campaign spoke volumes about his skill.

Facing such an opponent, Itachi focused intently.

His Sharingan spun rapidly, like the Eyes of God, scanning his surroundings at high speed.

Such strong killing intent—A single breath, a flicker of the eye, a moment of carelessness could be fatal. That's the atmosphere.

Zabuza Momochi was no mere Genin; he was, at the very least, a Tokubetsu Jōnin.

'The feeling of having my life in the hands of a Tokubetsu Jōnin—If it were the old me, I probably would have faltered under the pressure by now, revealing an opening...'

'But I am not the person I was before!!'

'The sun's brilliance constantly shines upon me! There is nothing to fear!'

"Hmph—Not afraid, are you, brat?"

Unexpectedly, Zabuza didn't attack under the cover of his Hidden Mist Jutsu. Instead, he sat casually on a tree branch, his sword resting on his shoulder, addressing Itachi with a mocking tone.

What is this guy doing?!

Itachi remained cautious, his hands poised, ready to copy Zabuza's Water Release jutsu at a moment's notice.

Theoretically, every Sharingan user possessed the potential to become a "Copy Shinobi."

"Don't look at me like that. I don't intend to kill you this time. The mist obscures everything around us. Relax." To demonstrate his sincerity, Zabuza hung his Kubikiribōchō on the tree branch and leaped down.

"You—What do you mean?" Itachi asked, perplexed.

Zabuza casually ripped open his shirt, revealing a gruesome wound on his abdomen.

"This is from my fight with Fū from Takigakure—While I could kill you here, you're no weakling. Defeating you would worsen my injuries, potentially limiting my future potential." Zabuza leaned nonchalantly against the tree trunk, arms crossed.

"I have no intention of sacrificing my future for the sake of Kirigakure's empty pride."

"Is this guy really a Shinobi?"

Sensing the conviction in Zabuza's voice, Itachi, though disdainful of his Shinobi way, lowered his guard slightly, relaxing his hands.

A Shinobi chosen for his Village's god-making campaign, yet utterly lacking any desire to bring honor to his Village—Just how corrupt must Kirigakure be to produce such a situation?

This wasn't just a lack of Village spirit; it indicated a Village on the verge of collapse.

Sensing Itachi's confusion, Zabuza sneered, "The Village elders are watching from the stands. They knew about my injuries, yet never once asked about my condition. They only asked—if I could win."

"In the first round, aside from myself and Chōjūrō, almost no Kirigakure Genin chose the kunai—Half of the Village elders spend their time on the Konoha islands, using their authority to force ordinary Shinobi into servitude, accumulating wealth."

"These ordinary Shinobi—include Chunin, Genin, even Jonin."

"In Kirigakure, Shinobi from lower backgrounds, even if they achieve great deeds, become Tokubetsu Jōnin, Jonin, even Seven Shinobi Swordsmen—their fate remains unchanged."

"There's only one way for a low-born Mist Shinobi to change their destiny: either defect, escaping the elders' control, or eliminate all rivals, become the strongest in Kirigakure, and seize the Mizukage title..."

"Risking my future fighting you to the death here offers me nothing. Instead of boosting the egos of those old men, I'd rather preserve my strength, plan for becoming Mizukage. What do you think, Itachi Uchiha?"

His words shocked Itachi deeply. Every Village had its struggles...

He couldn't imagine living in such a Village, devoid of opportunity. If even a fraction of the advisor's light shone upon them, they would likely weep with gratitude.

After a moment of silence, Itachi said, "Forgive me. Growing up in the fortunate Village of Konoha, I cannot comprehend your suffering. But—have you considered joining Konoha? You are an exceptional Shinobi. If you joined us..."

"Spare me the recruitment pitch~"

"While I find Kirigakure despicable, my Shinobi way is this: don't complain, change things! If Kirigakure is flawed, become its strongest, initiate a revolution from the top down, and reform it!"

"When I become Mizukage, the first thing I'll do is eliminate all the corrupt elders, consolidate Kirigakure's strength, and face you Konoha Shinobi on the battlefield."

Zabuza finished stating his Shinobi way calmly, then spread his arms towards Itachi. "Go ahead. Do it. Plunge your kunai into me a few times. Give those elders a show. Consider this match your victory."

Itachi took a deep breath, a newfound respect for Zabuza blooming within him.

This guy, though an opponent, wasn't half bad—In that case, granting him a dignified defeat was the greatest sign of respect.

Itachi raised his hand, kunai flashing. He struck cleanly, deliberately avoiding vital areas, leaving several bleeding wounds on Zabuza's body, a gruesome sight.

To an untrained eye, these wounds appeared severe.

Throughout the process, Zabuza didn't utter a single cry of pain, didn't even flinch. Having completed their pact, they leaned silently against the tree trunk, waiting for the mist to dissipate.

The moment the mist cleared...

Zabuza dramatically collapsed to the ground, feigning death.

Seeing this, the referee launched a Great Fireball into the air, announcing, "Victor—Itachi Uchiha of Konohagakure!"

"Medical team, retrieve the injured!"

———

In the Mizukage's viewing box, Acting Mizukage Ao's face was livid, his fingers digging into the railing. He stared intently at Zabuza lying on the ground.

"Damn it..."

Even resorting to cheating, Kirigakure hadn't managed to reach the quarterfinals—It could be said that Kirigakure's already bent spine had finally snapped with Zabuza's defeat.

Behind Ao, several Kirigakure elders rose in disgust, storming away.

They muttered, "Zabuza is useless! The Village's resources shouldn't be wasted on him!"

———

The Chunin Exam quarterfinals had one match remaining—an internal battle within Sunagakure.

To outsiders, it seemed Sunagakure had gotten lucky, securing a guaranteed spot in the semifinals.

But those in the know understood...

This wasn't just an internal match. One combatant was the son of the current Kazekage; the other, the daughter of the previous Kazekage...

Especially given the—ambiguous circumstances surrounding the transition of power between the Fourth and Fifth Kazekage, this wasn't an internal dispute, but a blood feud! Enemies meeting face-to-face, eager to eliminate each other!

Their battle reached its climax.

"Temari! You haven't even inherited Sand Release! How dare you fight me!"

"Sand Release: Burning Sand - Howl!" Tōgo formed hand seals. Burning sand, inherited from his father, erupted from the ground, howling towards Temari.

Temari, covered in wounds, retrieved a Shinobi tool from her storage scroll—a large folding fan given to her by Gojo Kaigetsu.

She formed hand seals, then swung the fan with all her might.

"Wind Release: Sickle Weasel Technique!"

A violent gust erupted from the fan.

Countless invisible vacuum blades surged towards Tōgo. The swirling sand particles were swept up in the gale, rushing back towards their master.

Tōgo's face contorted in terror. He channeled his chakra, trying to overpower the opposing force, but—he was positioned on the left.

He could only watch helplessly as his own burning sand surged towards him, striking his body.

Sizzle—sizzle...

The sound of flesh searing on a hot plate filled the air. His face, limbs, torso—all were burned and corroded by the fine sand particles.

"Aaaaaargh!!!" Tōgo screamed in agony, clutching his face.

In the Kazekage's viewing box, Baki watched, his eyes blazing with fury. He leaped into the arena, his face contorted in rage, stalking towards Temari.

"You little beast—to lethally injure a fellow Villager! Even if I kill you now, the previous Kazekage, Rasa—couldn't find fault!"

His massive fist hurtled towards Temari, who was too exhausted to even lift her fan.

Temari closed her eyes in despair, tears streaming down her face. Perhaps, at this moment, she wished her father were still alive.

BAM!

The fist descended, but just before impact, it was stopped by a large, powerful hand.

Temari felt a shadow fall over her. A tall figure stood before her.

Looking up, she saw Gojo Kaigetsu, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, becoming the "father" she had cried out for in her heart.

Gojo Kaigetsu smirked, looking at the furious Fifth Kazekage, Baki. "Lord Fifth Kazekage—the Fire Games Joint Declaration, signed by the daimyo, explicitly forbids acts of violence outside the rules."

"Are you trying to make things difficult for the daimyo?"

"Hmph—I am merely disciplining a Shinobi from my own Village who has erred. Advisor Gojo, there's no need to invoke the daimyo." Baki's eyes filled with malice, but with so many witnesses, he reluctantly withdrew his fist. "Temari is, after all, a Sunagakure Shinobi. After the Fire Games conclude, I expect Advisor Gojo to fulfill the obligations between allied Villages and return her."

Baki had made up his mind...

Judging by Temari's performance, she was out of control. She likely suspected the truth behind Rasa's death—Letting her remain outside the Village was a threat to his rule.

Even if it meant straining relations with Konoha, Temari had to return!

"Apologies. The previous Kazekage, Rasa, signed an agreement with Konoha. Until Temari officially graduates, she cannot return to the Village."

"Rasa is dead!" Baki snarled.

"Yes, Lord Rasa is deceased," Gojo Kaigetsu replied calmly. "But Konoha values contractual agreements above all else. We will absolutely not violate the terms of the contract."

Baki's face grew even darker. Gojo Kaigetsu showed him no respect whatsoever.

It was said that the Shinobi World shed no tears for the dead, offered no quarter. But Konoha—seemed particularly fond of speaking for the deceased.

Baki's gaze shifted between Gojo Kaigetsu and Temari, a look of understanding dawning in his eyes. He sneered, "Heh—it seems Advisor Gojo is quite fond of Temari. I understand. Then let her return after graduation."

Uttering this standard villainous line, Baki scooped up his son and vanished from the arena.

"Father..." Temari suddenly embraced Gojo Kaigetsu from the front, her arms wrapping around his waist, whispering softly.

"Hm? Temari, what did you say?"

"I said—thank you, Advisor." Temari wiped away her tears, a smile of happiness and gratitude spreading across her face.

In the world of Shinobi, emotions were supposed to be suppressed. Even marriage was often just a means of producing stronger offspring.

A Shinobi's child faced a perilous fate from birth. Kill or be killed, love or hate—sometimes, to complete a mission, one had to plunge a sword into the heart of a loved one, then declare to the world, "This is the way of the Shinobi!"

Shinobi were creatures of darkness, emerging from darkness, returning to darkness.

This was the philosophy instilled in Suna Shinobi from childhood.

But—Gojo Kaigetsu had repeatedly rescued Temari from the darkness, instilling the Will of Fire within her young heart. He'd shown her that the Shinobi World wasn't entirely bleak, that connections between Shinobi could be—warm, like the feelings Advisor Gojo evoked in her.

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