"Thank you all for your support, and welcome to Konoha Village for the exams! This year, Lucy-chan will also be participating in the Chunin Exams! But Lucy-chan is very weak, so I hope everyone will go easy on me~"
"Lucy-chan! Lucy-chan! Lucy-chan!"
"konoha songstress! konoha songstress!"
In a square in Konoha Village, a small stage had been set up. Above it was a banner that read, "Welcome foreign friends to Konoha for the exams!"
Most of the audience were Konoha villagers; after all, people from other countries didn't know the konoha songstress. Instead, it was the locals who, knowing Kano was going to sing here, had arrived early to snag a good spot.
However, there were also quite a few Ninjas from other villages who had come to gather intelligence and were listening to the songs in their spare time.
"This konoha songstress is pretty, and her singing is good too. I just wonder how her strength is?"
"She doesn't look very strong, and she said so herself. But I'll still go easy on her when the time comes. After all, she's a pretty vase; it's nice to keep her around for eye candy."
Many Ninjas from other villages also began to discuss the konoha songstress; even Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari were peering from a corner.
"This girl has the nerve to say she's weak?"
Kankuro held his injured face and cradled his fractured arm. Temari recalled her three-star fan and Kankuro's smashed puppet; the exams hadn't even started, and their weapons were already gone.
"It's because her appearance is too deceptive. Who would have thought such a little girl could be so strong?"
"Others will probably misjudge her strength too."
"Would you like a glass of freshly squeezed juice? It's very cheap."
While Temari and Kankuro were secretly exchanging information, a young girl carrying a large tray came over to sell snacks.
"No, thank you."
Thinking about how all their money had been robbed by Kano, and what they had left was borrowed from their lead teacher, Baki, they decided not to waste any more.
Kankuro's tone had also improved quite a bit, and he became much more polite when he spoke.
"I have some cheap snacks here too. Would you like to try some tri-colored dango? They're delicious."
The girl chattered away, promoting her goods to Kankuro.
Kankuro eventually gave in and bought three skewers of dango, one for each of them.
"Thank you for your business."
Only then did the girl take the money and leave, no longer bothering them as she turned to harass other customers.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Office, Sandaime Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting at his desk when the door opened, and a man with bandages on his head walked in leaning on a cane.
The newcomer was none other than Danzo.
"People from other villages were injured on their first day in Konoha. How do you plan to resolve this?"
"It was just kids fooling around, and no one died."
"How will you explain it if Sunagakure comes knocking? That girl Kano beat up three people at once, leaving one seriously injured. And she even stole all their money and Ninja tools."
"That is a bit excessive, but I can handle it."
"Hiruzen, hand her over to me. In Root, I will forge her into the sharpest blade! Root is currently short-staffed, and her strength should be sufficient."
"No! You cannot touch her! She has other uses. Pick someone else."
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Bang!
Danzo slammed the door as he left.
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and watched the lively scene in the crystal ball. Naruto was also busy among the crowd, and many Konoha shops had set up stalls.
"I didn't expect the little girl from the Nara Clan to have such a business mind, using her singing to attract foreign Ninjas and then setting up stalls to sell things.
If this grows, it could even boost the entire economy of Konoha. The income from just one day like this rivals several S-rank missions. How could such a promising talent be placed in a dark place like Root? Kano belongs in the sunlight.
Under the sun, shadows are also exceptionally charming!"
On his desk lay Kano's application materials. It hadn't even taken half a day to set up the small stage and for Kano to start singing.
Naruto used Shadow Clones to run back and forth for the construction, and even Sasuke helped distribute flyers for promotion.
Although the stage was a bit crude and the location a bit remote, there were commendable aspects to the overall planning, and the performance's effect was very successful.
Aside from the vendors Kano had contacted, even the businesses along the way made a lot of money.
"Lucy-chan, you're so amazing!"
Ino hugged Kano, who had just come down from the stage.
"Don't do that, Ino, I'm all sweaty."
"Where? Let me smell. Our Kano is still so fragrant."
"Don't smell me!"
Kano and Ino started fooling around; the two of them were still very close. Ino had also helped with the stage decorations; she brought many flowers and helped Kano with her makeup.
Although Kano was already cute normally, after putting on makeup and her performance dress, her whole being was 'kilakila' (sparkling).
"Thanks to your idea, our family's flower quota for the whole month has sold out."
"Yeah, after passing through other people's hands, half of your family's flowers ended up with me."
Many men enthusiastically presented flowers and confessed their love after seeing Kano, but she politely declined them all.
An Idol belongs to everyone, but Kano belongs to beautiful girls.
Actually, Kano felt a bit of regret—why were no beautiful girls confessing to her?
"That's all their sincerity. Your popularity is even higher than Sasuke-kun's now. Luckily you don't plan to compete with me for Sasuke, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to beat you."
"I like you more than Sasuke, Ino."
"Cut it out. I don't believe you don't like handsome men. You just know how to say nice things to coax me."
The two of them tidied up the stage while chatting and laughing. During the Chunin Exams, Kano planned to come here from time to time to sing and farm popularity points, so she didn't intend to dismantle it.
Right now, she was only slightly famous, so there weren't many crazed fans blocking her path. Only occasionally would a few young girls who hadn't graduated yet run over to ask for an autograph.
It was getting late, so Ino and Kano parted ways. They couldn't just keep fooling around; they had to prepare for the Chunin Exams.
Shikamaru also came to tell Kano to go home.
"Let's go, it's almost dark. You, you used to be so low-key, why are you suddenly so conspicuous now?"
"What do you know? I didn't have a Cheat before. Now that I have a Cheat, if I'm still low-key, wouldn't that Cheat be for nothing?"
"Talking nonsense again. Sigh, what a drag, I'm not dealing with you."
Shikamaru walked in front, while Kano followed behind riding a deer.
"Kano, over here!"
Suddenly hearing Ino's call, Kano looked in the direction of the voice. Ino waved at her and then turned to leave. This left Kano confused about what she meant.
"Does Ino have something to talk to you about?"
Shikamaru was also puzzled as to what Ino was doing.
"I don't know. I'll go take a look. You go back first."
"Alright."
Shikamaru wasn't worried about his Idol sister; after all, this silly sister was quite a bit stronger than him.
Kano sat on the Shadow Deer and chased after Ino, but Ino was running faster than expected.
"Ino, wait for me!"
Hearing Kano's call, Ino slowed down her pace to wait for her.
Arriving at Ino's side, she dismounted the deer and naturally took Ino's hand. For girls, holding hands is quite normal.
"Ino, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Lucy-chan, I want to discuss something with you."
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