Chapter 307: Little Schemes
The next day, the news of Sasaki and Mei Terumi's battle spread uncontrollably throughout the entire Mist Village.
After all, there were many onlookers at the time.
Although no one knew the exact outcome, seeing the lake that Sasaki had turned into a giant "washing machine" was enough to hint at the terrifying level of power both of them possessed.
While people were amazed at their strength, they also began speculating about the reason behind their fight, resulting in countless versions of the story.
One rumor claimed that Sasaki was pursuing Mei Terumi romantically and angered her, resulting in the violent clash.
A slightly more exaggerated version stated that Mei was actually willing to accept Sasaki's courtship, but only if he could prove his strength to her.
The most outrageous rumor claimed that Mei was pregnant with Sasaki's child, and because Sasaki refused to take responsibility, Mei attacked him, leading to the final showdown.
Naturally, the person who started that last rumor was dragged off by the Anbu for a little "chat" within half an hour.
But surprisingly, rather than curbing the spread, it fueled even more gossip as people doubled down on their own versions, insisting they had it right.
Soon enough, the whole village was buzzing with stories about Sasaki and Mei Terumi.
As one of the parties involved, Tonari (disguised as Sasaki) didn't feel anything unusual as he strolled down the street.
Everything seemed normal to him, and the attention he received was interpreted as residual curiosity from the previous day's battle.
Mei Terumi, however, was at her wit's end. She had pulled strings to arrest the person who spread the most ridiculous rumor, thinking it would serve as a warning, but it only made the situation worse.
The more neither of them came forward to clarify, the more the rumors spiraled out of control.
While Mei was helpless against it, Tonari simply didn't care.
While the villagers continued their enthusiastic speculation, Tonari was lying leisurely on a sofa in the Mizukage's office, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.
As the de facto leader of both Konoha and the Mist Village—two of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—Tonari's workload was substantial.
Initially, his plan was to wait for Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu to appear, deal with them, and then return to Konoha, leaving the fate of the Mist Village to its own devices.
But after experiencing the complexity of managing the Mist Village and realizing Yagura's unparalleled status among the villagers, he suddenly had an epiphany.
Controlling both Konoha and the Mist Village wasn't impossible after all.
Since his original purpose of controlling Konoha was to increase his power base, adding the Mist Village to his influence could only be beneficial.
If he could gradually take control of all five Great Shinobi Villages, true peace might become a reality. Even if Madara Uchiha was resurrected, it wouldn't matter.
However, that was easier said than done.
Even handling just Konoha and the Mist Village was challenging enough.
Every day, his Shadow Clone would send back updates from Konoha, while he also had to manage Yagura's affairs, reflecting on each decision to ensure the village's stability.
Thanks to his strategic integration of Konoha's successful administrative methods, the Mist Village's development had taken significant strides forward, allowing Yagura's popularity and authority to grow steadily.
Unknowingly, the Mist Village had fallen into his grasp, adding another significant force to his command.
...
Time passed uneventfully, and finally, the date for the Chunin Exams arrived—the exam that encompassed the entire ninja world.
This time, not only the Mist Village but also allied villages like Iwagakure and Sunagakure were participating.
Even Kumogakure, which was still nominally hostile toward Konoha, reluctantly agreed to participate after learning of Mist Village's decision to attend.
The other smaller villages followed suit, as they understood the importance of standing on the right side in this crucial moment.
The pressure on Kumo had been immense, but when they heard about Yagura personally leading his troops to Konoha, A, the Fourth Raikage, couldn't afford to hold back.
With both Mist and Cloud sending their forces, the remaining minor villages also decided to follow suit.
For small villages, accurately gauging the wind's direction and aligning with the stronger power was key to survival.
Mist Village Outskirts
A large number of Mist shinobi had gathered, as Yagura was personally leading the delegation to Konoha.
Among the elders present was Master Genji, an old but authoritative figure, flanked by his trusted aides Ao and Chojuro.
"Listen, Ao, Mei Terumi, and Sasaki! This mission is of utmost importance. As the Mizukage's guard, you must ensure his safety at all costs and return him to the village safely," Master Genji instructed solemnly.
Ao, wearing his signature eyepatch, nodded resolutely.
"Understood, Master Genji. You can count on us."
Beside them, Kisame Hoshigaki nodded as well, knowing that Tonari's orders were to maintain peace and stability during their absence.
With everything settled, Yagura waved his hand confidently.
"Let's move out!"
The delegation of Mist shinobi followed behind him, heading toward the Land of Fire and Konoha.
Simultaneously, shinobi from every village across the continent began their journey toward Konoha, converging on the epicenter of the ninja world.
...
Konoha: Hokage's Office
Tonari's Shadow Clone sat comfortably behind the desk, watching Nara Shikaku buried under a mountain of paperwork.
"Shikaku, I'm leaving the entire Chunin Exam planning to you. You've got this, right?"
Shikaku raised his head with a look of bitter resignation.
The amount of work was suffocating, but he couldn't refuse.
He was painfully aware that declining would only bring more trouble later.
Sighing deeply, Shikaku gave in.
"Alright, alright."
Tonari gave him a sly grin.
"I'm not saying you have to do it all yourself. Delegate! Use the available resources. I'm assigning Kakashi, Asuma, Guy, and Kurenai to assist you. Their strength should make managing the situation easier."
Hearing that, Shikaku's eyes brightened.
Having such capable support meant a significantly lighter workload.
"Also," Tonari continued, leaning back in his chair with a knowing smirk, "don't hesitate to play a little dirty. We need to ensure Konoha's reputation stays intact, especially during such a large-scale event."
Shikaku grinned back, his strategic mind already buzzing with ideas.
"Understood. Leave it to me. I'll make sure Konoha not only hosts the exam flawlessly but also maintains its prestige."
Tonari nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. Let's give the world a show they'll never forget."
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