“A toy?
I’d love to let you experience the power of this ‘toy’ you’re talking about, but unfortunately Lord Baki doesn’t allow private fights…”
No matter how arrogant she acted, Saya was still just a spoiled young lady with a bad temper.
If they really fought seriously, Daimaru wasn’t afraid of her in the slightest.
Watching Saya’s delicate face gradually twist with rage, Daimaru turned away to check on his two female teammates instead.
If you picked anyone here at random, the two of them would probably lose.
If Daimaru hadn’t insisted on bringing them along, with their current strength, they never should have gotten involved in this mess.
Seeing Daimaru approach, the worry in Yome and Chi’s hearts finally eased.
“Everyone here looks so fierce and strong.
Are we really going to compete against them for Chunin promotion?”
Daimaru chuckled.
“This?
We’ve barely started.”
“Out of the thirty Genin here, the overwhelming majority are just background characters for the Chunin Exam.”
“Aside from Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari’s team, it’ll be impressive enough if even one more Sunagakure squad makes it through the second round.”
“Is the Chunin Exam really that difficult?”
Chi hesitated.
She had worked hard to improve herself after deciding to participate, believing she had grown stronger.
Yet now she realized she was still little more than a minor character.
“Daimaru…
even you’re not confident?”
Daimaru remained silent for a moment before replying quietly,
“Sunagakure is still too small.”
“If you’ve never seen the true geniuses of the shinobi world with your own eyes…”
“…you’ll never understand just how terrifying those monsters really are.”
Chi and Yome froze.
“Then why are you still taking the Chunin Exam?
Wouldn’t it be safer to wait another couple of years until you’re stronger?”
“Being promoted to Chunin…”
“…strength is only one part of it.”
Daimaru opened his mouth, wanting to explain further, but didn’t know where to begin.
“Just trust me.”
“Once the team stages are over and the individual matches begin…”
“…if you don’t feel confident, you can withdraw.”
“Alright.”
They had already passed the qualification trials.
Backing out now was impossible.
Rather than retreating, they might as well measure themselves against these so-called geniuses.
A while later, Jiri appeared.
His forehead was wrapped in bandages, and one arm was secured in a sling across his chest.
He looked even more battered than before.
Team Satetsu had entered the match in poor condition, while their opponents were another team that had barely survived a fierce battle.
The fight had been brutal.
In the end, Jiri’s team narrowly secured the victory.
“Winning is all that matters.”
Daimaru comforted his heavily injured former teammate, patting him on the shoulder.
The gesture made Jiri wince in pain.
“You used to be the one in this condition.”
Back when they were on Team Satetsu, Daimaru had unquestionably been the front-line tank.
That was one of the main reasons he constantly found himself in life-threatening situations.
“Being nostalgic for the past is one of the first signs of aging.”
“Take care of your injuries.”
“We’ll be opponents in the Chunin Exam.”
“Yeah.”
“I won’t go easy on you.”
“When you lose, don’t cry.”
“Who’s going to cry, idiot?”
Jiri laughed in response.
At last, the final team passed the qualification trials.
The testing, which had lasted most of the afternoon, officially came to an end.
These were the finest young talents Sunagakure had produced in recent years.
He wondered how many would still be alive a few months from now.
“Congratulations to all of you.”
“You will represent Sunagakure in the Joint Chunin Exam held in Konohagakure.”
“You have three weeks to prepare.”
“Next month, around the middle of the month, I will personally lead the delegation to Konohagakure.”
“Your Jonin squad leaders will explain the detailed arrangements.”
Baki paused.
“The village has only a limited number of Chunin and Jonin positions.”
“Only the most outstanding Genin can be promoted.”
“I won’t waste words.”
“Do your best.”
“For the future of Sunagakure…”
“…show the other villages the strength of the Hidden Sand.”
“Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara stay behind.”
“Everyone else is dismissed.”
Shinobi valued efficiency.
Lengthy speeches were rare.
Besides, most of these Genin had never experienced the Third Great Ninja War and wouldn’t understand grand ideals anyway.
…
Submitting the official roster to Konohagakure and preparing temporary travel permits were matters the Genin didn’t need to concern themselves with.
Yome’s and Chi’s injuries weren’t serious.
After resting for a few days, they would recover completely and wouldn’t affect the upcoming Chunin Exam.
“Daimaru…”
On the way home, Chi, who was being supported by Yome, suddenly asked the absent-minded Daimaru,
“Do you really like Temari?”
“Yeah.”
“Why do you ask?”
“What do you like about her?”
“She’s beautiful.”
“And she has a great figure.”
“What?”
The petite Yome blinked in confusion.
Chi, meanwhile, looked at Daimaru with obvious disdain.
“That’s it?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
The Land of Wind was full of sandstorms and harsh living conditions.
There weren’t many beautiful women.
Beautiful female shinobi were even rarer.
What was wrong with a sixteen-year-old boy liking a young, beautiful girl?
“I was originally planning to put in a few good words for you in front of Temari.”
Chi smiled and shook her head.
“Forget it.”
“So you’re just another shallow lecher.”
“When did you start thinking I was some honorable gentleman?”
Daimaru simply ignored Chi’s disrespectful remarks.
“Temari isn’t exactly a saint either.”
“We’re a perfect match.”
The Fourth Kazekage’s daughter, who wielded wind-style techniques through her giant fan, was anything but an obedient young lady.
Her ruthlessness toward enemies probably wasn’t much less than Gaara’s.
The only difference was that she wasn’t powerful enough to kill with a casual gesture like the One-Tail’s Jinchūriki.
Just looking at how mercilessly she beat Tenten until she was covered in injuries during the Chunin Exam made it obvious that Temari wasn’t soft-hearted.
That kind of mentality was the norm among Sand shinobi.
A struggling Sunagakure needed strong, ruthless shinobi to survive.
Someone as kind-hearted as Amano was the real anomaly.
Powerful.
Cruel.
Deeply calculating.
Intelligent.
Only a fool would mistake a female shinobi like that for nothing more than a pretty face.
Looking at Daimaru’s utterly unapologetic expression, Chi sighed softly.
“As a shinobi, your judgment is indeed sharp.”
“…you’re far too insensitive, Daimaru.”
“You don’t have a chance like this.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Daimaru smiled.
“The biggest problem is that Temari has misunderstood my sincerity.”
“As long as I can convey my true feelings…”
“…I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“Understand?”
Chi smiled teasingly.
“And then what?”
“There are plenty of boys our age who like Temari.”
“Why should she choose you?”
Daimaru fell silent.
“What if…”
“I mean, what if someday you meet a girl who’s even prettier and has an even better figure?”
“Would you fall for her instead?”
“I wouldn’t.”
Daimaru answered firmly.
“Who would believe that?”
Chi retorted mercilessly.
“Girls mature much earlier than boys.”
“I can’t see anything about you that would attract me.”
“Temari won’t even spare you a glance.”
“Then what should I do?”
“First, figure out exactly what it is about Temari that attracts you the most.”
“For girls…”
“…liking someone isn’t something you can just say with words.”
Daimaru thought seriously for a while before smiling.
“I don’t really understand complicated things.”
“But…”
“I really want to see that fierce expression on Temari’s face soften into a shy, gentle smile.”
“You’re such an idiot with terrible taste.”
Chi couldn’t help laughing.
Even Yome was amused by Daimaru’s delusional obsession.
“That proud Lady Temari acting shy and gentle?”
“I’d love to see that too!”
“I’m rooting for you.”
“Good luck!”
“You two just want to laugh at me, don’t you?”
Daimaru awkwardly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“So this is how fragile trust between people really is?”
“You’re laughing way too hard.”
None of the three noticed the tiny eight-legged spider puppet hidden inside Chi’s inner clothing.
It quietly swayed with her footsteps, the faint red light on its back blinking softly.
Not far away, Kankuro helplessly lowered the listening device in his hand.
“I told you it had nothing to do with me.”
“You just wouldn’t believe me.”
“But…”
“…I did hear something pretty interesting.”
“Your friend Chi really cares about you.”
“She actually accepted such a ridiculous request to spy on you.”
Sitting opposite him, Temari’s face turned bright red.
She smashed the expensive listening device to pieces with a single punch.
“Mind your own business!”
“And don’t you dare have anything to do with that idiot ever again!”
“Got it.”
Kankuro sighed.
“But…
shouldn’t you compensate me for my listening device?”
(End of Chapter)
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