Chapter 122 - The Winners

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"Honored Grand Elder, we've brought shame upon you!"

The three elite Chūnin from the Uzumaki clan spoke in unison, making Akio's mouth twitch involuntarily.

Shaking his head, he sighed internally. Looks like I really need to check how Izuko's been training them.

"All right, it's fine. The Jōnin Joint Exam only accepts the best of the best—you still have room to improve. I taught you sealing techniques a bit late, too. Go back and study them carefully. Once you've mastered everything I taught, you three can formally join the patrol unit and become Jōnin."

"Yes, Honored Grand Elder!"

With a helpless wave of his hand, Akio dismissed them and headed for the Konoha Stadium.

It was still early, and the venue wasn't crowded yet—just a few members from the Barrier Squad were setting up the seals. Akio glanced around and muttered to himself, Today's matches: Morning Peacock, Iron Sand Barrier, Sage Jiraiya, Yin Seal Tsunade… I'm not sure the standard Jōnin barrier setup will be enough.

"Ah, the burdens of the busy…" Akio sighed and started helping with the setup.

Less than an hour later, civilians began filing into the stands. Akio had long finished his preparations and was now sprawled across the Daimyō's ornate throne.

"Lord Akio?"

Just as he was about to drift off, Chiyo's voice snapped him awake.

Looking up, he saw the stands were nearly full. Many civilians were pointing and whispering about him.

"Ah, you're here. I nearly fell asleep," Akio said, glancing at the three kids behind her and giving a small nod.

Chiyo sat down beside him, hesitating a moment. "Lord Akio, you're sitting here…?"

"No big deal. Comes with age. You'll have to wait another thirty or forty years before you earn this kind of privilege…" Akio replied casually, then looked at the kids behind her. "Yo, Puppet Trio, how's it going?"

Chiyo frowned slightly. "Lord Akio, Misaki isn't a puppeteer. Yesterday, you—"

"I saw that. But he will be one, eventually." Akio chuckled but didn't explain further.

"Misaki, are you planning to become a puppeteer?"

"No…" The future Third Kazekage looked utterly confused.

Just as they were speaking, Tobirama arrived with the Daimyō. The Daimyō looked around awkwardly, realizing there was no seat for him.

Tobirama paused but said nothing. He simply waved over an Anbu to bring another chair.

"Gramps, you're early," Tobirama remarked.

Akio smiled. "I don't think the Konoha Barrier Squad alone can handle today's exam."

Tobirama nodded. "Thanks for your help."

Soon, the Anbu returned with a chair and placed it next to Akio. The Daimyō, quite easygoing, sat down without complaint.

Akio leaned toward Tobirama and spoke in a voice only he could hear. "See? I told you—he understands the situation."

Tobirama was momentarily stunned, then gave a helpless smile.

The day before, after the exams, Tobirama had approached Akio to ask what he thought of the Daimyō's intentions—whether he still planned to control Konoha with money like in the past.

Akio had told him the Daimyō wasn't that foolish—anyone who made it to his position would have some brains. Sure enough, Akio "tested" him by taking the throne, and the Daimyō didn't say a word.

Of course, it could also be that Akio was so old, the Daimyō didn't want to make a fuss.

Back in the arena, the first match was about to begin: Might Duy vs. Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Akio turned to Chiyo with a smile. "So, who do you think will win?"

Chiyo paused. "The Hōzuki Clan can liquefy their bodies. From what I know, your Konoha ninja only knows taijutsu, right? The outcome seems obvious."

Akio didn't reply, still smiling. On the field, Duy was clearly at a disadvantage.

But ten minutes later, Duy had figured out Mangetsu's attack patterns. He opened the Gate of View, and even though Mangetsu liquefied his body, he was still severely injured by Morning Peacock and had to be carried off by medics.

Akio shrugged. "You guessed wrong, Chiyo."

Chiyo wasn't discouraged. She smiled. "I didn't expect him to have mastered the Eight Gates to that level."

Akio blinked. "You know about that technique?"

"I fought one of your disciples on the battlefield."

"Really?" Akio muttered. "And you're still alive? Guess Jitou wasn't going all out."

Chiyo chuckled, not taking offense. "Luckily, he went easy on me."

As they spoke, the second match began—Tsunade vs. a Chūnin from the Aburame Clan.

Akio turned to her again. "Chiyo, how about this one? Who's winning?"

Chiyo hesitated. "Probably the Aburame ninja…"

The battle had already started. Akio watched as Tsunade formed one fire-style hand sign after another. It felt odd—his memory of her mostly involved brute strength, not ninjutsu.

The fight dragged on. The ground was littered with scorched insect corpses.

But who knew how many bugs that Aburame had hidden on his body? Wave after wave, enough to make Akio's scalp tingle.

Tsunade, however, wasn't the least bit intimidated. In fact, she was unusually fierce. Akio recalled how she'd been frightened to tears at her birthday party by a "bug gift" from the Aburame Clan. Maybe that grudge never faded.

She didn't even use the Yin Seal left by Akio and Mito—and still defeated the Aburame ninja.

"Nice!" the Daimyō shouted beside him, startling Akio, who rubbed his ear in resignation.

"Was that payback?"

He turned to Chiyo. "Chiyo, wrong again."

Chiyo didn't respond. She glanced behind her. "Misaki will definitely win," she said with confidence.

Akio chuckled. "Easy now, you might be jinxing them."

Chiyo didn't understand the reference to "jinxing," but her heart started to tighten.

"Let me introduce his opponent. He's a civilian ninja from our village—name's Jiraiya. He was the dead-last back in the Academy."

Chiyo relaxed. "Then Misaki is sure to win."

Akio simply smiled.

Half an hour later...

Jiraiya stood victorious, battered and bruised, with a gleaming smile that reflected the arena lights. Misaki lay unconscious nearby.

"Chiyo, wrong again."

Chiyo's expression shifted repeatedly. "Lord Akio, your village's ninja suddenly drew upon power that wasn't his, right? If I'm not mistaken… that was your chakra. This—"

Akio waved dismissively. "You had Jōnin participate in the exam. I just gave a Chūnin a little boost. What's there to complain about?"

"Mother…"

A red-haired boy walked up behind her.

Chiyo looked back at him and sighed. "It's fine. You two go check on Misaki. He shouldn't be too badly hurt."

She nodded at Akio. "Forget it. If Konoha had to resort to external power, then Misaki did well."

Akio smiled. "He is two years older than Jiraiya. Who knows what the future holds?"

"Besides, your 'victories' today were all thanks to you. Every ninja you predicted to win… lost."

Chiyo froze, her expression growing complicated.

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