Chapter 134: Kage Also Die
The red-haired boy, though he looked so delicate, had a very cold expression, as if the world around him had nothing to do with him. But Dana noticed that he was paying close attention to the Konoha team.
Their team leader was an old acquaintance of his, Fugaku Uchiha. The fact that an Uchiha was leading the team made him a bit curious. It seemed that with Hiruzen's death, the relationship between the Uchiha and the Konoha leadership had eased. The Fourth Hokage, Sakumo Hatake, did not seem to be continuing the Third's policies. But for how long?
There must be someone of a higher rank among the Konoha contingent, but they were not in the contestants' living quarters. They were likely with Hanzo and his father.
Fugaku, on the surface, showed no reaction, but he was secretly gritting his teeth. As a survivor of the "Night of the Purple Moon," how could he be unmoved by the sight of the Purple Moon Demon? But he knew he had to endure. For the greater good.
The Sand's team leader was Chiyo. She was not so old yet. She had not gone to the accommodations prepared for the high-ranking officials, but seemed to be staying with the contestants. He didn't know what she was planning.
Perhaps it was an intentional arrangement by the Hidden Rain, but the Sand's building was right next to the Cloud's, while Konoha's was a good distance away. Probably to prevent them from causing trouble for each other.
And so, with only the Stone Village yet to arrive, the other four great villages were all here. The Rain's contestants, of course, did not need to stay here.
Dana ignored the complex gazes of the Konoha ninja and the curious stares of the Sand. He refocused his attention and continued to organize the daily training.
It was nothing too complex, just acclimatization to the terrain and climate. For example, the rocks in the Land of Rain were hard and perpetually slippery, and the rain had a significant impact on Fire Release. And they had to adjust their clothing.
No one would be showing their real skills in the training ground.
Hidden Sand Dormitory
In a spacious room, Chiyo was unpacking, while the red-haired boy watched in silence.
"If only half of this rain could be given to the Land of Wind," she grumbled. "It's so humid here."
She was chattering away, not like the high-ranking elder of the Sand, but like an ordinary grandmother.
The red-haired boy said nothing.
"Sasori," she said, "which side do you want to sleep on?"
Her only answer was silence. She sighed and turned to her grandson. Since the death of his son and daughter-in-law, the boy had become withdrawn and paranoid. He would often lock himself in his room for half a month at a time, refusing all contact with the outside world. If it weren't for the fact that he was still consuming food and water, they would have thought he had died in there.
She had gone to great lengths to bring him here, hoping that he would have more contact with the outside world. The Hidden Sand was too insular. That was why she had chosen to stay in the contestants' area, instead of the accommodations Hanzo had prepared for her, so she could look after him.
But to her surprise, Sasori, who had not spoken a word for days, now spoke.
His voice was a little hoarse from disuse.
"When we came in today," he asked, "the Konoha people seemed to be afraid of someone?"
She was taken aback. She hadn't expected him to ask such a question.
"Tell me," he insisted.
Her grandson was finally willing to communicate. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "They... they probably saw Yotsuki Dana. That's why they were afraid."
"Yotsuki Dana? Who is he? What did he do to make them so afraid?"
Sasori, who often shut himself away, was not very interested in the outside world. He had no idea what that name meant.
"Yotsuki Dana rose to prominence during the Great Ninja War," she said, her voice filled with a complex mix of emotions. "He's known as the 'brightest new star of the ninja world,' one of the 'Four Heroes of Mount Tenmoku.' He was the one who caused the 'Night of the Purple Moon' in Konoha, and he is known to the Konoha ninja as the 'Purple Moon Demon.' He destroyed nearly a third of their village by himself and killed the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. That's why they're afraid of him."
Even the taciturn Sasori was shocked by such a ridiculous record. Every single one of those feats sounded impossible.
He digested the shocking news and then asked what the "Four Heroes of Mount Tenmoku" was. She answered him seriously.
"Yotsuki Dana was already the 'brightest new star' before," she said with a sigh. "And now he's unstoppable. The Cloud has always been strong, and now they have someone like him. He's only fifteen, I think. The other villages are under a lot of pressure. Among the younger generation, there is no one who can compare to him. He's no longer a genius. He's a powerhouse. I wish someone like him would appear in the Sand. Then things would be a little better for the village."
"Him and Sakumo Hatake," he asked in a low voice, "who is stronger?"
Chiyo's breath caught in her throat. She finally understood why he was so interested in Yotsuki Dana.
"I don't know," she said after a moment of hesitation. "I've only ever fought Sakumo Hatake. It's hard to say now. But in the future, it will definitely be him."
She then turned to her grandson. "Sasori," she said, "I know what you're thinking. But Sakumo Hatake is already the Hokage."
But he just smiled, a sweet, innocent smile. "Granny," he said, "Kage also die."
Hidden Rain Village
Evening came, and many of the participants had chosen to explore the village. After getting permission from the Rain's staff, they were free to go anywhere, except for a few restricted areas.
In front of a restaurant, it seemed the Konoha and Mist teams were in a dispute.
A girl with a dog was facing off against Tsuki Kaguya.
"He just likes you! Why did you have to kick him?"
"Control your dog," Tsuki said coldly. "I don't need it to like me."
In her non-combat state, she seemed relatively normal, just a bit aloof. But the girl with the dog had a fiery temper and was getting more and more agitated.
Killer Bee and his team were watching from a distance.
"I thought that woman would have been seriously injured after being hit by Yotsuki-senpai yesterday," Konan said, surprised. "She doesn't look hurt at all."
"Maybe it's because her bones are harder?" Killer Bee mused, stroking his chin. "In that case, a broken bone wouldn't be a big deal for her, would it? It would just grow back in an instant. That would be so cool!"
Suddenly, Tsuki's brow furrowed. She seemed to have lost her patience. Konan, who had seen her berserk state yesterday, instinctively shouted, "Look out!"
The moment the words left her mouth, a bone spike shot from Tsuki's palm, aimed at Tsume Inuzuka.
No one had time to react. Only a golden-haired young ninja managed to pull her out of the way. She fell to the ground, and the bone spike missed.
Minato Namikaze stood in front of the still-stunned Tsume. "To go for a killing blow right from the start," he said, his expression grim, "isn't that a bit much?"
"It's the only way to shut her up," Tsuki said, looking at him with interest. "You're fast. I look forward to meeting you in the exams."
The Mist's team turned and left. It was then that Tsume finally reacted, and she began to scream in rage.
As Minato was trying to console her, two red-haired figures passed by him. A whisper, for his ears only, "Kushina says hello."
He spun around, but the two of them, their faces hidden by hoods, had already passed him and were continuing on their way.
He hesitated, then decided to follow. He calmed Tsume down and then set out in the direction they had gone.