With Kaguya Kimimaro's advancement, the participants for the third exam were finally confirmed.
They were Sasuke Uchiha, Kankuro, Uzumaki Naruto, Nis, Hyuga Neji, Gaara, Uzumaki Karin, Temari, and Kimimaro—nine people in total.
"Cough, cough… The third Chūnin Exam, congratulations to all the selected contestants."
Hayate Gekko first coughed twice as was his custom, then spoke softly in a listless tone.
Zhong Chen looked at the advanced examinees lined up below and almost burst out laughing.
Just look at the characters who advanced: Sasuke Uchiha and Uzumaki Naruto. It's hard to say if they even count as Konoha ninja now.
Nis and her two companions were from Rainbow Ninja Village, and Gaara and his two companions were from Sunagakure. So, the only one truly from Konoha was Hyuga Neji.
But then he thought of Hyuga Hizashi, who was currently managing a branch store for Kochou Shinobu in Rainbow Ninja Village… *Pfft*… No… I can't laugh, I must hold it in.
Unbeknownst to him, Lord Chen realized he had almost completely depleted Konoha's future talent.
"Three from Konoha, three from Rainbow Ninja Village, three from Sunagakure, huh…"
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, came before the nine advanced examinees. Looking at the lineup, he was quite satisfied.
Konoha and Rainbow Ninja Village had the same number of advancers. Didn't that mean Konoha was no worse than Rainbow Ninja Village? As for Sunagakure, they were just there to make up the numbers.
It must be said, Sarutobi Hiruzen truly had a bit of an 'Ah Q' spirit. When it came to self-comfort, Zhong Chen admitted defeat.
Adjusting the Hokage hat on his head, Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a pipe in his mouth, looked at the nine examinees before him and began, "Then I will begin to explain the content of the exam…"
"Lord Rainbow Shadow, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki has arrived at Rainbow Ninja Village with a Mobile Unit Army Corps."
An Army soldier, dressed in a Rainbow Ninja Anbu uniform and wearing a Slime mask, spoke with a rather helpless tone.
This was their Army's business; they didn't have many battles to fight, so why did the Mobile Unit also have to get involved?
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki?"
Kurotome, who was eating snacks, stopped her right hand from grabbing more after hearing the other party's words.
Instead, she showed a puzzled expression.
The other party was a true high-ranking official of the Empire; generally, he wouldn't personally mobilize unless it was something major.
Although Kurotome, Akame, and others were affiliated with the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, they rarely had contact with him.
After all, the Imperial high command didn't need the Intelligence Bureau to supervise them.
"Did Fleet Admiral Sakazuki not state the reason?"
Unable to figure it out, Kurotome continued to ask.
"He did… He said… He said…"
Seeing the stuttering Anbu, Kurotome frowned slightly and continued to ask, "What is it?"
The Anbu, hearing the repeated questioning, finally declared with a look of heroic sacrifice, "He said he doesn't trust the Loli-loving Lord Chen and wants to personally keep an eye on Lord Chen to prevent him from abducting his adorable sister!"
"…"
Hearing the Anbu's reply, everyone present wore a wry smile.
How to put it, the Empire's top brass were definitely a group of peculiar individuals.
Even a serious, iron-blooded soldier like Sakazuki had been influenced to become like this.
Alas… the future of the Monster Country Federation truly looked bleak.
Coming back to her senses, Kurotome subconsciously grabbed a potato chip and put it in her mouth. After chewing twice, she spoke, "Chew, chew, chew, I understand. I will report this matter to Lord Chen."
"Yes, your subordinate takes his leave."
Not long after the Anbu left, Zhong Chen walked in with Uzumaki Karin and her two companions.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw Kurotome, Sheele, and Mine staring at him with strange expressions.
"I say, what's wrong with you three? Why are you all staring at me?"
Zhong Chen felt a bit unnerved by their stares and immediately asked.
"We are looking at the Loli-loving Lord Chen."
Sheele tilted her head innocently and looked at Zhong Chen, speaking softly.
"Damn it! Sheele, you need evidence when you speak! Be careful, I'll sue you for defamation! I have connections, you know! Are you not afraid of the Imperial Emperor?!"
Zhong Chen was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling, even bringing up a certain mascot.
"Eh? Is that not it? I'm sorry, Lord Chen. I saw how much you always liked the little ones, so I thought you really were a Loli-lover."
Seeing Zhong Chen's strong reaction, Sheele thought she had truly wronged him and even bowed slightly in an adorable, dazed manner to apologize.
"Sheele, you…"
Sheele's apology was like a steel knife piercing Zhong Chen's fragile little heart. One could only say that natural airheads always inadvertently strike at your soul.
"Hahahaha!!! Sheele, well done!"
"Sheele, Good Job!"
Kurotome gave Sheele a thumbs-up with her right hand, a slight curve appearing at the corner of her otherwise expressionless mouth.
"Kurotome, tell me honestly, did you learn that trick from that shut-in God?"
Hearing Zhong Chen's question, Kurotome nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
"I knew it, that hateful Bible Loli!"
Zhong Chen put his right hand to his forehead, feeling a headache. The current Bible Loli not only wasn't doing proper work but was also spreading her bizarre theories everywhere.
Things like 'gaming is the supreme god,' and 'staying at home is the ultimate enjoyment,' and so on.
"Sigh, tell me, what exactly happened? Without reason, you wouldn't do this."
"Hehe, as expected of Lord Chen, you guessed it right away."
Mine stood up, patted her skirt, and walked in front of Zhong Chen with a fawning expression.
"Actually, it's like this…"
Mine then thoroughly explained how Sakazuki had brought an Army Corps to keep an eye on Zhong Chen.
After listening, Zhong Chen now wore a classic 'subway old man' face.
If you're bored and want to have some fun, just come. But to use the excuse of preventing me from abducting my sister and spreading rumors about me there is simply outrageous!
Absolutely inhuman!!!
[Host, you know very well whether Sakazuki is spreading rumors or not.]
[System, don't think that just because you don't have a physical body, I can't do anything to you. Do you believe I'll…]
[Alright, alright… This System is afraid of you. You're so crazy you don't even spare yourself. You're ruthless.]
[Hmph!]
Zhong Chen sat on the sofa and looked out the window, speaking softly, "Inform Sakazuki that all Army soldiers in Rainbow Ninja Village are to be under his unified command this time. Wait for my order."
"Also, tell that guy Sakazuki that I am not a Loli-lover! If he dares to spread rumors about me again, believe it or not, I'll really become one just to show him!"
As Zhong Chen finished speaking, a slightly cold voice suddenly came from within the room.
"Yes, Lord Chen!"
"Eh? Who's speaking? And did big brother come?"
Nis looked left and right, not finding the speaker. Her adorable little face was full of confusion.
"It's someone from the Royal Knights. It's normal that you can't detect him."
Zhong Chen first explained who was speaking, then showed a brilliant smile and looked at Nis, asking, "That's right, your big brother is here. Do you want to go see him?"
Mine, standing nearby, couldn't help but twitch her mouth when she saw Zhong Chen's expression.
"Like this, and he still says he's not a Loli-lover…"