“What?” Konan blinked.
Nagato didn’t beat around the bush and gave a straight answer: “The first-place prize… a training method completely different from ninja training.”
Konan nodded slightly, pondering Nagato’s words.
After a moment, she realized, “I see.”
Although it seems that many professions are unrelated to ninjas, they also possess great strength, such as samurai.
The essence of their power is chakra!
The Leaf has announced that the reward for first place includes a training system completely different from chakra.
This is quite intriguing.
Nagato, controlling Pain, channeled chakra into the formation beneath his feet.
Soon, nine indistinct shadows appeared in the cave.
These figures wore rings branded with special characters: Zero, Blue, White, Vermilion, Black, Sky, South, North, Three, and Jade! (This is not a bug; please continue reading.)
One of them, a young redhead, had nothing on his fingers.
However, his earring bore the character “Dark.”
“This gathering is to initiate a new operation,” Nagato stated through the mouth of Pain.
Several members were very interested in this mission and were willing to participate.
Finally, the members of the Akatsuki who would participate in the Leaf’s ultimate Chunin Exam were determined.
Itachi Uchiha, Deidara, Kisame Hoshigaki, Gaara, and Hidan.
They would assume the aliases Tsukuyomi, Artist, Shark, Redhead, and Devotee.
Kakuzu, who loved money above all, was eager to participate, but Pain (Nagato) coldly vetoed this, inserting the new redhead into the team instead.
Kakuzu, whose opportunity to make money was snatched away, glared fiercely at Gaara: “You better prove your worth.”
Harsh and straightforward, that was his style.
“Senior, harmony brings wealth.”
Gaara smiled gently, his voice tinged with timidity, “Money is useless to me; I can transfer my share to you.”
“Really?” Kakuzu’s expression calmed a bit.
“Of course.”
Gaara answered with a smile, but inwardly, he calculated how to eliminate this freak in front of him.
The once straightforward and unpretentious Gaara, who wore his murderous intent openly on his face, had fallen.
Dark Gaara had come online.
“Wait, I can’t participate this time!”
Deidara suddenly realized something and quickly said, “That guy Sasori recently brought a precious work of art, and I just agreed to study it with him. If I stand him up, I’ll die!”
He wasn’t afraid of death, but he feared that after his death, his art of explosion would no longer be witnessed or continued and would thus vanish from history.
Hearing this, Kakuzu seized the opportunity and immediately requested to fill in: “Let me do it. Double the bounty, can’t miss it.”
Nagato did not object and instructed Pain to include him in the Akatsuki.
“Itachi, no problem, right?” Baki, wearing the forehead protector of the Mist, noticed his former comrade seemed a bit distracted, so he spoke up.
“No.”
Itachi’s indifferent tone carried an imperceptible warmth, “What about you? Are you able to adapt to living this way?”
Originally, during the fight against the Fourth Mizukage, Baki had died protecting him, and if not for a twist of fate, he would not have had the chance to return to the world of the living.
Hearing this, Baki looked nostalgically at the ring engraved with “South” on his finger and laughed carefreely, “Although I can’t eat, drink, or sleep, and my body is somewhat different from before, and I’ve lost my Executioner’s Blade, but… being able to continue existing, I’m already very content.”
After Orochimaru defected from the Akatsuki, he sent Nagato the segment of his arm wearing the “Sky” ring and a scroll inscribed with an improved version of the Reanimation Jutsu.
This signified his stance—take this benefit and don’t waste time disturbing my research. Let’s pretend we never met.
After reviving Baki, Nagato confirmed the authenticity of the improved Reanimation Jutsu and happily accepted Orochimaru’s proposal.
Orochimaru seemed much stronger than before, and parting on good terms seemed like a good choice.
While the old members of the Akatsuki were exchanging emotions, Gaara quietly watched the distant horizon.
“Leaf…”
“That man named Wang Yan is in the Leaf.”
Gaara’s sixth sense told him—the so-called ultimate Chunin Exam might…
Just be a sm
okescreen.
…
With various forces large and small preparing for the “Ultimate Chunin Exam,” how could the host, the Leaf, remain indifferent?
Tsunade immediately ordered all Leaf Genin teams to reorganize.
Team 7 was not disbanded but added two new members.
They were Rock Lee and Tenten.
Rock Lee was already a candidate chosen by Wang Yan, and the other was originally to be Neji Hyuga or Hinata.
Unfortunately, Hinata had given up operating, voluntarily ending her ninja career. For her, this was a farewell to her cowardly past and the beginning of a new chapter in her life!
As a ninja, she was not happy. But as a manga artist, she truly understood the meaning of life.
Poor Neji, after being enlightened and released from the “caged bird,” his sister complex became more severe, and he too seemed to be considering giving up his ninja career.
From the selection, it was clear that Wang Yan had a preference for the Hyuga family.
Why?
The source of the Bagua does not need much explanation, as it is traditional Chinese culture.
The Gentle Fist is almost a version of Tai Chi, and their clothing style is also closer to Hanfu…
In various details, the Hyuga family is full of Chinese elements.
Wang Yan was relatively more lenient towards the Hyuga.
With Hinata and Neji making other choices, Tenten became the best option.
Originally, Ino Yamanaka also wanted to join Wang Yan’s class—to monitor her best friend and also to admire the godly Sasuke up close.
Unfortunately, the bonds of Team 10 were too deep, so Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame joined Kakashi’s team, forming a five-person group with Ino, completing the Ino-Shika-Cho formation.
At this moment.
In the sky courtyard next to the Hokage building in the Leaf.
Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Rock Lee, Tenten.
The new Team 7, all members present!
Wang Yan floated in the air, overlooking his team members, suddenly feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
“It feels a bit like being a coach of an esports team.”
Dopey Rock Lee stared blankly at Wang Yan in the sky, not intimidated at all, instead introducing himself with enthusiasm, “Coach Wang Yan! Hello! I am Rock Lee, and I aim to become the strongest ninja! Although I don’t know any ninjutsu, I will work hard!”
Sasuke’s eye twitched violently; he gave Naruto a covert glance.
(Is this guy a simplified version of Naruto? What does he have that Wang Yan would value? No matter how you look at it, he’s just a simpleton!)
He was too lazy to comment.
No matter how you look at it, such a team seems to have no bright future…
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