Chapter 23: Arrival in the Land of Lightning
"Is Yuhi Makoto related to Kurenai?"
Hearing the name from Mizukage's mouth, the image of Yuhi Kurenai immediately surfaced in Liumu's mind.
"Yes."
Mizukage explained, "He's a Chunin instructor in the village. If we're fortunate enough to be promoted, we might receive his guidance in the future."
"Is he strong?" Liumu stuffed the last bite of onigiri into his mouth, stealing a glance at Yuhi Makoto's back. Yuhi Kurenai had wine-red hair. How could this Yuhi Makoto's hair be blackish-red? Did I just stumble upon something… interesting?
Mizukage shook her head. "I only happened to learn his identity. I don't know the specifics."
"He's exceptional."
Kakashi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. Though he didn't know the man personally, he'd heard the name from his father, Hatake Sakumo. As a ninja of the same generation as his father, Yuhi Makoto's abilities were likely known to only a select few in the village.
...
...
Three days later, the Konoha contingent officially entered the Land of Lightning. What Liumu hadn't expected was that the person in charge of receiving them would be the future Fourth Raikage: A!
Though not yet widely famous in the shinobi world, his appearance alone was enough to shock many.
The team was speeding across a desert expanse when a sudden flash of lightning split the air. Less than a hundred meters ahead of the group, a massive BOOM erupted, kicking up a storm of sand.
From within the swirling dust, A strode out, clad in his sharp, crackling Lightning Release Chakra Armor.
He looked at the now-alert Konoha group and let out an arrogant laugh. "I am A. I'll be responsible for escorting you to the Chunin Exam venue."
A's identity was no secret in the shinobi world. As the son of the Third Raikage, he was also the most powerful warrior under his father's command in Kumogakure.
"Brother A!"
Before the Konoha ninja could fully recover from the shock, a blonde woman wearing a Kumo forehead protector ran up behind A. In a flicker, she was beside him, scolding him in a complaining tone. "Brother A, could you please not be so reckless?"
A's serious face showed no expression. He seemed deaf to the voice beside him.
Yuhi Makoto stepped forward to confirm A's identity, and soon, the entire group was racing toward Kumogakure.
Liumu, at the rear of the group, looked at A's muscular back and smiled faintly. A man capable of severing one of the Eight-Tails' horns by himself certainly had the capital for such arrogance.
After successfully arriving in Kumogakure, the Konoha ninja were gathered in a lodging house. Kakashi, Liumu, and Mizukage sat by the window, observing the shinobi from other villages arriving one after another outside, quietly discussing strategy.
The Chunin Exams consisted of three stages.
The first stage was a written theory test. Kakashi and Liumu, former top students, weren't worried in the slightest. As for Mizukage's theoretical abilities… when Liumu asked, he learned she had also been a top student at the Academy.
The second stage's specifics were decided jointly by the proctors from Kumo and other villages, so no one knew the exact contents until the test began.
The third stage was individual combat—a common trial for shinobi, nothing surprising.
Liumu addressed Kakashi and Mizukage. "The second stage will most likely test our teamwork. As a newly formed team, we'll need to focus on that."
Though Kakashi and Liumu had been classmates, Kakashi knew very little about Liumu. After a full year of growth, Liumu seemed even more enigmatic in Kakashi's eyes. As for Mizukage, while Kakashi knew of her, it was only from brief glimpses during missions.
Mizukage wore a serious expression, her brow slightly furrowed as if she'd made a weighty decision. "I mentioned before that I'm skilled in Earth Release and can harden my skin. Also… I'm a sensory-type ninja."
Sensor ninja were rare. Even Kakashi had to admit Mizukage's importance for this exam.
"I can perform ninjutsu of Fire, Water, and Earth natures. Taijutsu is Liumu's forte, so I won't elaborate," Kakashi truthfully introduced his abilities.
"What about you, Liumu?" Mizukage looked at him curiously.
In her view, for Liumu to have become a Genin and earned such high regard from Kakashi, his strength surely extended beyond mere 'taijutsu.' Moreover, he'd graduated at five—he must possess talent on par with Kakashi, and strength to match.
Liumu rested his chin on one hand, leaning against the windowsill as he watched a team of Otogakure ninja being led down the path outside by Kumo shinobi. He replied bluntly, "I really only know taijutsu. If you insist on ninjutsu, I can only say my chakra nature is Fire Release, and the fireballs I create are only good for starting campfires. That's honestly it."
"This… complicates things."
Mizukage frowned, muttering to herself. As an ANBU member, her abilities weren't geared toward direct combat. Kakashi's skills were solid, but at only six years old, facing ninja whose average age was 12 or 13, his youth would be a disadvantage. And if Liumu's words were true, if he only knew taijutsu, his impact on their assessment would be minimal.
"Are you worried?" Liumu smiled, looking directly at Mizukage.
Though she didn't reply, her expression said it all.
Seeing this, Liumu chuckled softly. He stood and patted Mizukage's shoulder. "The exam hasn't even started yet, and you're already overthinking. Don't worry. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Worrying now is just borrowing trouble."
With that, Liumu got up and left the room alone.
Recalling the Otogakure team he'd seen earlier, an obscure figure suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Late that night.
In the mountains behind Kumogakure, a boy with brown glasses sat by a waterfall-fed stream, humming a strange tune under the moonlight.
Suddenly, a breeze picked up, carrying an unusual presence.
The boy's previously lazy expression instantly sharpened. A massive tail erupted from behind him, lashing toward a nearby shadow.
In the air, the boy heard only a WHOOSH, before a tremendous force from the tail yanked him off his feet and slammed him into the riverbed.
"Who's there?!" The youth pushed himself up, immediately drawing the long sword at his waist, his voice sharp.
But what he didn't expect was that the one to answer would be a child even younger than himself.
"Tch. Who was it? Sneak attacking a handsome guy like me…"
(End of Chapter)
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