"Regardless of whether Tsunade believes in the Ōtsutsuki invasion, she has to consider compromising."
"There's a saying, 'When three walk together, one is bound to be my teacher.' No matter how strong someone is, there are always areas where they fall short and need to learn."
"Even if no one is qualified to be her teacher, if she wants to advance further, inspiration from top ninja in the same field would allow her to achieve results with half the effort."
"Furthermore, even if she doesn't want to advance, what about the people she cares about? What about the other people in Konoha?"
"Choosing to join means exchanging her own 'knowledge' for multiple 'knowledge' from other ninja villages.
Refusing to join means she can only watch other ninja villages share resources, gradually grow stronger, and widen the gap."
"…"
Mei Terumī and Kurotsuchi listened to Bai Mo's words, deep in thought.
This was a straightforward scheme, wasn't it?
Bai Mo used Tsunade as an example, but in reality, Tsunade could be replaced by Konoha Village or Kumogakure.
Although there were still some detailed issues, such as how to counteract if the other party refused to join and chose to send ninja to kidnap or subvert 'students' to steal knowledge.
Also, the basic premise for launching this scheme was to first demonstrate sufficient influence.
Otherwise, if others didn't care, it would all be for naught.
This method was like in a Wuxia world, where you'd photocopy hundreds of copies of the Sunflower Manual and distribute them to everyone in the martial arts world.
If you don't practice, you fall behind others, and if you're killed casually, you only have yourself to blame.
If you practice, you not only have to give something up, but you also won't gain much of a lead over others.
"We need to think about this ourselves."
"There's no rush for this matter."
Mei Terumī and Kurotsuchi needed to carefully consider what advantages their ninja villages had to offer and what areas they needed to supplement.
Bai Mo, however, said there was no rush.
The matter of establishing the academy would at least have to wait until after Orochimaru was subdued.
After bidding farewell to the two, Bai Mo returned to Konan's residence.
As the leader of Amegakure, her treatment was slightly less than that of the Mizukage and Tsuchikage, but it was still decent and quite spacious.
"Hmm?"
Bai Mo pushed open the door and saw that besides Konan, there was also a red-haired little girl in the room, timidly kneeling by the table, drinking hot milk.
Actually, when Bai Mo was discussing Medical Ninjutsu with Mei Terumī and Kurotsuchi earlier, he had thought of someone.
—Karin.
Actually, it wasn't just Karin.
Besides Sasuke, the other three members of Team Hawk were all 'healers.'
Suigetsu could use the Hydrification Technique.
Jūgo could use Cellular Regeneration, directly filling in injured people with his own cells.
Karin, of course, a bite from her was like drinking a healing potion.
It could be said that Sasuke, during his rebellious phase, was able to 'get a good beating on a whim' without dying, largely thanks to the diligent support of these three healers.
Why say 'largely'?
Because in some other situations, he relied on the rescue of a certain enthusiastic clan member, the Masked Man.
"This is Nagato's clan member. I happened to find her being bullied by ninja from her village, so I rescued her and brought her here."
Konan, who was standing nearby, explained.
"It seems you've truly changed, Konan."
Bai Mo said with a smile as he sat down.
Konan had her hope reignited by Bai Mo, and coupled with the previous mention of her future self intentionally sending Ajisai to her death to create the Animal Path, making herself into the person she once hated most.
Now, Konan had found her former self again.
"When I saw her, it was like seeing my past self…"
Konan didn't deny it. She slowly walked forward and sat down as well. "However, our mission this time…"
"It doesn't matter. Don't forget, we came to rescue the Third Hokage. Konoha should be grateful to us."
Bai Mo said this, but then picked up Karin's Kusagakure forehead protector from the ground and tied it to her arm. "Wear this for a few more days during the Chūnin Exams."
Then, from behind him, he took out an Amegakure forehead protector and, under Karin's bewildered expression, tied it to her other arm.
What did this mean?
A slave to three villages?
"Aren't you even going to ask her?"
Konan asked, seeing Bai Mo preparing to just abduct Karin back to Amegakure.
"I, I'm willing!"
Karin hastily raised her hand, eager to express her willingness.
Fearing she would be abandoned if she was a moment too late.
Bai Mo was well aware of the reason for Karin's reaction.
This was very normal.
Let alone Konan mentioning that Nagato was also from the Uzumaki Clan like her; even if Orochimaru came, he could abduct her without saying a word.
The people of Kusagakure were simply too perverted.
Karin and her mother possessed a special physique, a rare one even among the Uzumaki Clan.
A single bite could produce the effects of advanced Medical Ninjutsu.
For small ninja villages, which lacked skilled Medical Ninja, this physique became a highly sought-after commodity.
So, how should Karin and her mother normally be treated?
The kind approach would be to train them both into qualified Medical Ninja, then find ways to research cell cultivation to achieve mass healing.
The evil approach would be to make them both constantly have children while maintaining their health, to continuously increase the number of those with the special physique.
The average approach would be to allow bites, but constantly monitor Karin's mother's health, provide her with nutrition, and ensure timely rest.
What did Kusagakure do?
They literally bit Karin's mother to death, then switched to Karin.
Even ordinary people raising chickens know to wait for eggs for sustainable development.
Kusagakure actually had no such thoughts.
Their outrageousness was comparable to Takigakure, who sent Kakuzu to assassinate Senju Hashirama.
"If you're willing, you're willing. Don't get too excited."
"You won't be participating in the Chūnin Exams anyway. Your teammates are gone, and you can't participate alone.
Just follow Konan and me, and be a spectator."
"Mm!"
Karin agreed to Bai Mo's suggestion without hesitation.
She didn't care about being a Chūnin or not.
Escaping the hell of Kusagakure was the key.
—
The next day, the preliminary round of the Chūnin Exams began.
The preliminary round was a written test. The Third Hokage specifically used the Telescope Jutsu combined with projection to display the scenes from each examination room for everyone to watch.
Not many people came to watch.
Daimyō, wealthy merchants, and officials were all planning to watch the fights and had no interest in the written test.
Mei Terumī and Kurotsuchi, however, did come.
They had guessed the core of this written assessment and knew that perhaps only one-fifth of the rookies they brought would remain.
But this wasn't the crucial point.
Their purpose in bringing these rookies was to let them experience the cruelty of the Ninja World.
If they couldn't strengthen their resolve this time, at least next time they would know what to do.
Konan and Bai Mo did not come to watch the Konoha Genin cheat on their exams. Instead, they took Karin and strolled through the streets of Konoha.
Konan suggested taking Karin to the bathhouse for a wash, but Bai Mo rejected the idea.
Konan was very confused.
As the two were talking while walking, a white-haired old man suddenly scratched his butt, turned his head, and looked over.
Because Bai Mo and Konan were talking as they walked, Jiraiya only heard a somewhat familiar voice and a red-haired Karin trailing behind.
"Konan? No, wait, did Nagato undergo a sex change?"
Jiraiya felt like he might have visited too many pleasure houses, causing ringing in his ears and blurry vision.
....
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