Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template-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.

---

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.

---

Unlike the tense atmosphere below, the daimyō were enjoying themselves. As the true power holders, they left the fighting and dying to the shinobi while they indulged in luxury. Thanks to the advanced technology of the Whirlpools, they could even play cards remotely via live broadcast, creating a far more relaxed relationship among themselves than outsiders would expect.

From his elevated position, Zixu silently observed the scene. When the time was right, he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Everyone, I am truly grateful that you could attend the founding ceremony of the Land of Whirlpools," he declared. "You are all familiar with our village's history, but I promise you this—under my leadership, the Whirlpools will rise to greatness once more.

"Here, we welcome everyone—civilians and shinobi alike—to share in the convenience of our technology."

He deliberately emphasized the word civilians.

"We place great importance on civilian lives. They are not fodder for ninja battles. Here, civilians will be taught scientific planting techniques and given access to advanced technology to improve their quality of life."

"The Whirlpools also boasts the most advanced educational system—the Hyakunin Kyōshū-dan (Hundred Teaching Academy). Whatever you wish to learn, we will teach it, whether it be theoretical knowledge like the Lun Yu (Analects of Confucius) or practical skills.

"Furthermore, we will launch online firearms training courses. This knowledge will only be available here, within the Whirlpools. And in the future, we plan to expand our trade relations with the five great nations."

The crowd below, which had been abuzz with conversation, suddenly fell silent. It was as if someone had pressed the mute button.

Even Rossinante scratched his head in disbelief. He hadn't activated any abilities—the crowd had genuinely fallen into stunned silence of their own accord.

Then, like an explosion of thunder, the noise resumed, louder than ever. The crowd erupted in astonishment, their voices blending into a chaotic chorus. The treatment in the Land of Whirlpools was absurdly good.

Civilians, rogue nin, and shinobi alike were drawn in. The Whirlpools welcomed even missing-nin, offering them a chance at a new life—provided they passed a probationary period.

"But we do have requirements regarding the moral character of those who seek to settle here," Zixu added casually. "There will be a probation period. If you can't pass, then you will not be welcome in the Land of Whirlpools."

His words did nothing to dampen the crowd's enthusiasm.

---

Zixu moved on to the main event.

"Now, we begin the Sekai Ichi Bugei Taikai (World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament), the event you've all been waiting for. I'll keep it brief—you've probably heard the rules a thousand times already.

"Each team will be given a scroll. To pass, a team must collect all the scrolls. Scrolls from your own country cannot be used interchangeably. In other words, to pass, your team must steal scrolls from other nations."

After making the announcement, Zixu exhaled slightly. The tension he'd felt finally eased.

"Now, let's head to the Akuma no Mori (Devil's Forest)."

With Zixu's departure, the contestants moved out in a massive wave, flooding into the forest like a swarm of locusts.

The daimyō, escorted by their respective shinobi, returned to the accommodations Zixu had arranged for them. From here on, they were nothing more than figureheads—mascots to oversee the event.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

---

Zixu, however, wasn't done stirring the pot. Spotting Ōnoki, he approached the old man with a sly grin.

"Heh, so you showed up after all, Ōnoki," Zixu sneered, clearly relishing the opportunity to provoke him.

"Hmph, mind your own business," Ōnoki snorted, hovering in the air with his Dust Release. "This whole martial arts tournament is pointless. If we wanted to destroy the Land of Whirlpools, do you really think your toy technology would stop us? Naïve fool."

Zixu merely smirked. Without saying a word, he raised a hand and subtly activated Kugutsu Saisei (Inorganic Reincarnation).

Suddenly, Ōnoki's white beard twisted and writhed as though it were alive, transforming into tentacle-like appendages that squirmed toward his face, trying to force their way into his mouth.

Without hesitation, Ōnoki grabbed the possessed beard, yanked it off, and threw it to the ground. His eyes narrowed with hostility, but he didn't say another word.

The other Kage struggled to contain their laughter. Killer B, however, couldn't help himself. With a sudden burst of energy, he leapt into the air.

No one knew where he had gotten a microphone and flashlight, but he was already rapping mid-air:

"Yo! My brother's strong, no need to be scared,

We'll smash you all with our awesome flair,

Yeah~"

Before he could finish, A smashed his fist into B's head, sending him crashing into the ground. The scene left the other Kage in stitches.

---

Of course, the Akatsuki couldn't possibly miss such an event. With many of the Tailed Beast Jinchūriki gathered in the Whirlpools, they saw a perfect opportunity to strike.

Among the participating teams, hidden in plain sight, were Sasori and Deidara, their eyes set on Gaara once again.

However, they weren't alone. This time, they had brought backup.

"Understood," Sasori muttered quietly, disguised as an ordinary contestant. "Deidara and I will handle the One-Tails Jinchūriki. You and Kisame will go after the Eight-Tails. Got it?"

"Got it," their ally confirmed grimly.

The competition was destined to be anything but peaceful.

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