Cloud Village's side showed no additional reactions.
Shuji observed very carefully. Cloud shinobi guarding village entrance key routes showed no abnormal rotations or reinforcements. Patrol forces around Chūnin Exam venues also maintained original rhythms. Everything proceeded normally.
Therefore, whoever set barriers in that remote mountain hollow was not Cloud Village?
This possibility indeed existed. His clone's activity location was in mountain forests outside Cloud Village, belonging to Lightning Country's national territory rather than shinobi village directly governed core areas.
Differences existed here.
The five great shinobi villages' highest vigilance always focused on national borders plus village headquarters, these two major areas.
Meaning between border lines and shinobi villages actually did not belong to villages' high-intensity alert scopes. Most situations were handled by regular patrol forces under each nation's daimyo responsible for security.
Only when receiving formal daimyo commissions would shinobi villages dispatch shinobi handling affairs within national borders yet outside villages.
After all, the five great nations' internally strongest armed forces being shinobi villages was correct. However, this did not mean no other independent ninja clans or factions occupied territories internally.
Even Konoha could not avoid this, let alone Lightning Country with numerous mountain ridges and complex terrain. Certain remote corners having some rogue shinobi or small ninja clans surviving independently proved common occurrences.
Regardless, these were speculations. These two days, first complete primary mission duties properly. As for collecting tree species, anyway one month remained. Going again after some time also worked.
The next day, seeing Konoha genin still seemed somewhat listless, especially Umino Iruka. Team competition defeats, particularly his own complete uselessness during battles, proved no small blow for shinobi of this age.
He assembled all Konoha genin to temporary lodging's meeting room.
"Every Chūnin Exam finals victory belongs to only one person." Shuji's voice proved steady, not encouraging nor reproaching. "However, this never means others lose qualifications for chūnin promotion."
Everyone's gazes concentrated on him.
"Chūnin, as squad leaders, require not merely personal combat strength. More importantly, abilities making accurate judgments under various situations, whether facing enemies or oneself."
"When executing missions, one's own strength far exceeding opponents is not normal. More often, you need facing enemies with comparable or even greater strength."
"How to make most advantageous choices while disadvantaged, maximally preserving yourself while completing missions proves more important qualities for chūnin than simply winning one duel."
Shuji's gaze swept across attending genin.
"Like now. Team competitions have ended. Results cannot change. Your current goal is how, in upcoming individual competitions, fully displaying your own capabilities, proving you possess qualifications and potential for chūnin promotion."
"Nearly one month preparation time remains before individual competitions begin. If anyone believes they can give up now, then I permit those forfeiting to return to the village early."
The meeting room remained quiet. No one moved or spoke. Iruka subconsciously clenched his fists.
"Seems no one chooses withdrawing."
"Then next, you need independently arranging targeted training according to observed circumstances. This also belongs to personal judgment capabilities."
"After returning to the village, each squad's autonomous planning and execution during this stage will likewise serve as one judgment standard."
"Regarding training venue issues, I will find ways coordinating."
Seeing some fighting spirit rekindled in genin's eyes, Shuji departed lodging.
He first found Cloud chūnin responsible for venue management, proposing borrowing venues for training.
The other party cleanly refused with reasons of "venues currently undergoing maintenance repairs, inconvenient opening externally."
As for training grounds within Cloud Village, that proved even more difficult. Besides Shuji, others had not even entered Cloud Village yet.
After brief contemplation, Shuji found Samui, again proposing borrowing training ground requests.
He did not expect opponents agreeing. After all, being able to use host's training facilities during rest periods itself belonged to one form of implicit home field advantage.
Just needing, after opponents refused, proposing requirements for independently training outside Cloud Village. Venue problems, Shuji could solve with Earth Release.
However, Samui did not immediately decline. She used those blue-green eyes appraising Shuji.
Yesterday she already noticed Darui's internal dejection, informing the Raikage.
This Konoha squad leader clearly already knew Darui's strength, even proactively coming to negotiate adjusting schedules, avoiding premature collisions. However, after watching Darui's battles, he still displayed complete indifference.
This person, if not merely someone skilled at talking, then possessed extremely outstanding strength.
"Shuji-san," Samui spoke, voice cool, "regarding training ground matters, perhaps room for discussion exists. However, before this, are you willing to agree to one request from me?"
Shuji looked at her, not immediately answering, waiting for her continuing.
"If you are willing to spare time conducting one instructional sparring match with Darui," Samui looked directly into Shuji's eyes, proposing conditions, "then I can strive for you, before individual competitions begin, letting your Konoha squad members use one backup training ground outside the village."
Her thinking was simple.
Whether Shuji belonged to good talkers or good strength, as long as conducting one actual combat sparring match, results would naturally reveal.
If his strength proved insufficient, suffering defeat or poor performance during sparring, then Darui would naturally see through opponents being "merely this much," thereby escaping that setback feeling brought by being looked down upon.
If his strength proved formidable, even surpassing Darui, that also worked well. Darui was not someone unable to bear failures. His mental imbalance more originated from confusion brought by gaps between both sides' positions and actions.
If confirming true distances in mutual strength, this could instead help him finding accurate goals, igniting enterprising spirit.
"Instruction is not impossible." Shuji responded. "However, I hope genin I lead can observe together."
Samui wanted resolving Darui's mental knots.
Shuji wanted borrowing this opportunity boosting his own side's shinobi morale.
Samui's brows furrowed slightly. Private sparring between two still proved acceptable. However, if letting Konoha genin observe, this nature became somewhat different. This meant public displays to certain degrees.
"If impossible," seeing her hesitation, Shuji continued, "Konoha not using Cloud Village's training grounds also proves acceptable."
"We can independently seek venues outside. Presumably Cloud Village as hosts would not prove unable to agree to participating villages' reasonable requirements like independently seeking training venues outside villages."
He had no reasons doing good deeds for nothing. After all, those who first faintly provoked with words were Darui's side.
As for training issues, having ready-made equipment naturally proved good. However, lacking them also proved acceptable. Merely one month training time anyway. Influences were not that significant.
Samui remained silent briefly.
This Konoha shinobi truly proved difficult. Seemingly providing choices yet actually throwing pressure back. If Cloud Village refused accommodating even this "small matter," spreading news would inevitably appear petty.
"Please wait." Samui finally said. "If someone observes, this is no longer matters I can decide alone. I need requesting instructions from Raikage-sama."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild