Chapter 29: The Cold Logic of Survival
"You know, you have the potential to become a real… beauty someday."
Liumu looked at Mizukage, now wearing only a thin undershirt, and spoke with meaningful emphasis.
Mizukage: "???"
"Turn your head away, or I'll smack you!" Though she didn't fully grasp Liumu's implication, his expression said it all.
"Are you still looking?!"
On the mountain path, Mizukage chased after Liumu, fists raised, muttering scoldings under her breath.
Kakashi, following behind them, stared at Liumu's back, still not fully freed from the shock of what he'd witnessed. He was questioning, even searching for reasons to deny it. Otherwise, how could Liumu, the same age as him, possess such miraculous power?
In his memory, Liumu had been studious but conflict-averse, even abstaining from combat drills at the Academy. At first, everyone thought he was just gentle, disliking conflict. But as time went on, his consistent avoidance led people to believe he simply wasn't good at fighting.
But now it seemed…
Kakashi sighed inwardly, a dim sense of resignation settling in. "Can the gap between people really be this vast?"
...
With ultimate speed, ultimate strength, and the abilities Liumu had displayed, their three-man team no longer felt the initial fear. Instead, following Liumu's suggestion, they planned to head straight for the second exam's finish line and wait for other teams to walk into their trap.
But as they crossed a mountain stream and entered a dense forest, Kakashi immediately noticed countless black, dead insects littering the ground.
He crouched, picking one up for a closer look. "These seem to be from the Aburame clan…"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
BOOM!
In the distance, a violent explosion suddenly erupted deep within the forest. A plume of white mist rose. Kakashi and the others exchanged a glance, then immediately sped toward the commotion.
...
...
...
As Liumu's team approached the battlefield, they saw a team from Konoha locked in fierce combat with a team from Kirigakure.
Kakashi watched the intense fight below, then whispered, "Should we go help?"
"Of course!" Mizukage agreed immediately. But before either could move, Liumu, standing between them, grabbed their arms.
"Hold on!"
"Why? We're from the same village. We should help each other!" Mizukage looked at Liumu, confused, and immediately questioned him.
Liumu sneered upon hearing this. He looked at Mizukage's naive expression and asked, "Do you know what we're doing right now?"
Kakashi: "???"
Mizukage: "???"
"What do you mean?" Mizukage frowned.
Liumu sighed and sat down on a tree branch, explaining to them both. "We are taking an exam. The Chunin Exam. Anyone who passes becomes a Chunin."
"Chunin are different from Genin. Genin are led by a Jonin. Even if they encounter danger on a mission, the Jonin will shield them. Genin are relatively safe."
"But Chunin? Chunin rarely operate in teams. They often perform missions alone, even within ANBU. If a Chunin with insufficient strength enters the battlefield… do you know what awaits them?"
By now, Kakashi and Mizukage understood Liumu's point.
Seeing their belated comprehension, Liumu continued. "So, when companions are in danger, of course we can't just stand by. But this is an assessment. Letting them be eliminated here due to lack of strength is far better than letting them go to the battlefield and die outright."
Every life, no matter how small, has its meaning.
For Liumu, if someone deserved death, he'd kill them. If they deserved to live, he'd let them live. To consolidate power in the Land of Rain, Hanzo had slaughtered all who threatened him, including the original Akatsuki. As their junior, Liumu wouldn't let Hanzo continue living. The Uchiha had troubled Liumu repeatedly, but they hadn't yet reached an unforgivable point, so they still lived.
Watching the Kirigakure ninja release their signature Hidden Mist Technique, a thick fog immediately enveloped the forest.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
A C-rank ninjutsu, the Great Fireball was the most common technique for Fire Release users. The mist, composed of water droplets, was instantly evaporated by the flames. The fog dissipated, and visibility gradually returned.
After several exchanges, the Konoha and Kiri teams were at a stalemate, each ninjutsu perfectly countered by the other.
However, Liumu suddenly noticed something. One member of the Kirigakure team, a white-haired woman, hadn't moved at all. Her expression was as calm as still water, as if she had no intention of participating in the battle.
"What's wrong, Liumu?" Mizukage noticed the change in his expression and asked.
"This battle… the Konoha team will probably lose."
...
In Kumogakure.
The investigation into the valley had yielded results. However, the ninja in charge of exam security couldn't determine exactly what had happened. What was certain was that no enemy had invaded, and no death notices had been received from within the valley.
During the second Chunin Exam stage, after all participants entered the Valley of Thunder, Chunin and Jonin from Kumo would enter later to monitor the situation and prevent accidents.
But before all teams had entered, the vision—and the tremendous noise—had caused the two remaining teams to forfeit the exam outright.
"That basically confirms it," said the Third Raikage, A, his lion-like eyes blazing with anger.
"But they're just Genin… how could they…"
The guard below the dais voiced his confusion.
"Why not?" A smiled, a touch of helplessness in his expression.
As the Raikage, A understood the strategic importance of the Valley of Thunder to Kumo. But as the host of this exam, even if someone had damaged the valley, he couldn't say much.
At that moment, an ANBU member from Kumo appeared in the office in a burst of white mist. He rose and whispered into A's ear for a moment.
"Did he say that himself?" A asked, turning his head.
The ANBU member nodded in confirmation.
Seeing this, the Third Raikage leapt from his seat. A powerful surge of chakra erupted around him as Lightning Release chakra formed his iconic Lightning Armor, emitting a sharp, buzzing hum.
"How could the one who challenged the Four-Tails Jinchūriki in his four-tailed state head-on… be a child? No. I have to ask him personally!"
(End of Chapter)
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