Chapter 594: Nine-Tails: I'm going to suffer a great sin later!

"Big cousin?"

Uchiha Izuna had just walked out the door when he saw a familiar curly-haired figure.

"Yo~ finished greeting little Mirror?"

Uchiha Gin, who was chatting with Uchiha Hi-no-ki—who had come along with his little cousin—smiled and greeted him after hearing the surprised voice.

"Huh? How come you're all alone?"

Looking around in confusion, Uchiha Izuna did not spot the other few familiar figures; logically, for a spectacle like this, the women usually by his big cousin's side shouldn't have missed it.

"Them? They were just here, but who knows where they ran off to now? Perhaps they went to buy snacks?"

Scratching his head with a puzzled look, Uchiha Gin, who had been abandoned by Uchiha Hikari and the others, was not the least bit worried about their safety.

"Is that so? Are you coming with us?"

Looking at the lonely Uchiha Gin, Izuna offered a polite invitation.

"That would be great!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin immediately revealed a brilliant smile; he had finally managed to snag a ticket.

That's right, the small group, having suffered heavy losses in this recruitment drive, had shamelessly started charging for tickets to recoup their funds as quickly as possible.

The ticket price was 100,000 ryo, with a 1% discount available for disabled ninja with a certificate of merit.

100,000 ryo to catch a glimpse of the Tailed Beast Knight's style—the price could be considered very conscientious, and the audience queuing up to buy tickets was endless.

Villagers with their families in tow packed the entire forest, and the Shimura clan members responsible for this exam had to pull in a large number of volunteers for crowd control, all of them busy and sweating profusely.

"Lord Izuna, the tickets have been purchased."

As he spoke, a clansman who had been sent out to buy tickets earlier hurried back, clutching a stack of tickets in his hand; Uchiha Gin's eyes were quick and his hands fast as he snatched one away first.

"Thanks~"

"Huh?"

The clansman who bought the tickets was dumbfounded; he had waited in line for a very long time to get these.

"Go buy another one, we're going in first."

Glancing helplessly at Uchiha Gin, Izuna shook his head lightly.

"Yes."

Feeling deeply aggrieved, the clansman glared secretly at Uchiha Gin, daring only to be angry but not speak; after all, he hadn't been spanked by this hateful curly-head few times when he was a child, and usually, when he ran into him on the road, he had to cover his buttocks and walk against the wall.

"I didn't expect it to attract so many spectators."

Fiddling with the 100,000-ryo ticket, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but sigh; the bustling crowd around him gave him the illusion of attending a grand fair during the New Year.

But in reality, the atmosphere was no different from a grand fair; clever small vendors had already set up stalls along the sides of the road, selling snacks, drinks, and some peripheral products of the Tailed Beast Knight.

"Take a look, come and see, Nine-Tails dolls on special sale, only 998 for one!"

Among the crowd of vendors, Uchiha Gin even discovered an acquaintance: Uzumaki Masahiko, who had matured much more than a few years ago, was holding a Tailed Beast doll of the same style as the one displayed in his home, shouting energetically; the small stall was surrounded by children with stars in their eyes.

998?

Has it devalued so quickly?

Blinking in confusion, Uchiha Gin temporarily suppressed the urge to go and demand a refund for the price difference for the sake of his old friend, and followed his little cousin's group to the gate of the venue.

The massive exam site, surrounded by black cloth, had two entrances, one large and one small; the large one was prepared for the audience, and several diligent Shimura clansmen were checking tickets at the entrance.

As for the other small gate, it was crowded with applicants waiting for the exam, but for some reason, the small gate remained unopened, and many of them had already started to complain.

Many ordinary villagers who considered themselves the chosen ones had been standing under the scorching sun for a long time, their legs beginning to go weak, fatigue and thirst intertwining.

"I paid two million ryo, and there isn't even a folding stool? Damn it, refund my money!"

Thinking of the exam he had spent his entire fortune to participate in, only to find it lacked even the most basic amenities, he immediately cursed in anger.

"Exactly, they won't even give us a cup of water. What kind of organizer is this? I suggest a thorough investigation into where the funds went!"

"Thorough investigation!"

"Otherwise we're going to demand an invoice!"

"Demand an invoice!"

"..."

"Young Clan Leader, this is bad!"

The resentment of the applicants was gradually fermenting; the Shimura clansmen responsible for maintenance saw this and hurriedly reported it to Danzo.

"Don't call me Young Clan Leader, call me Advisor!"

Hearing the clansman's address, Danzo's expression turned cold.

"Yes! Advisor, the applicants are causing a scene!"

"Huh?"

Danzo, who was currently having a headache over Uchiha Izuna's pension issue, was stunned upon hearing this.

"They are demanding a thorough investigation into the funds collected from the application fees by the Shimura clan, and they also want invoices..."

"Damn it!"

Why did nothing go his way? He had been busy running around, hadn't gained any benefits, and instead had been saddled with a lot of infamy and bad debts.

"Danzo, I think they've waited long enough. Start it quickly."

Sarutobi Hiruzen saw through the nature of the disturbance and reminded Danzo to start the exam as soon as possible to silence the public outcry.

"Hmph... move it to the entrance of the passage!"

Danzo frowned and nodded, waving his hand to order his clansmen to carry out the Nine-Tails statue he had carved himself.

"Look, it's Shimura Danzo!"

Among the rioting applicants, someone saw Danzo walking slowly from afar and immediately shouted; upon hearing this, the crowd raised their arms and cheered.

"Refund! Refund! Refund!"

"..."

With a dark face, Danzo said nothing and quickly walked to the entrance of the passage with the Nine-Tails statue.

"Boom—"

With the landing of the huge statue, the voices of the rioting crowd stalled; they looked at the abstractly shaped Nine-Tails statue behind Danzo with confusion and began to point and whisper.

"What kind of thing is that?"

"It looks a bit like the stray dog at the entrance of the village."

"So ugly, so abstract."

Danzo took a deep breath, and only after imagining the people causing trouble in front of him as stacks of green banknotes did his angry mood improve slightly, and a professional fake smile couldn't help but hang on his face.

"Lord Danzo, when exactly will the exam start?"

There were many members of the Ninja Alliance in the crowd; although they had many complaints about Danzo, they had to suppress their anger and ask due to his status.

"Such an important exam cannot be treated as child's play. Naturally, this Advisor must make full preparations before announcing the start of the exam. This is also for the sake of the village and everyone here."

For the sake of the banknotes, Danzo patiently explained.

"Then is it ready now?"

The contestants who had been waiting for a long time were already impatient; in order to compete for the title of Tailed Beast Knight, they had gambled away most of their life savings.

"Since I have come, I naturally declare that the exam is about to begin."

Danzo nodded, and the eyes of the crowd lit up upon hearing this; the time to prove themselves had finally arrived, and one by one they rubbed their hands, unable to wait to start pushing forward.

Seeing the scene gradually becoming chaotic, Danzo frowned and continued to explain.

"However, because the number of applicants exceeded expectations, in order to save everyone's time, this Advisor has specially prepared a test. Only those who pass this test are qualified to participate in the subsequent exam."

"Huh? You didn't say there was a threshold when you were collecting the fees!"

"Those who cannot even pass the first test are not worthy of becoming knights."

Danzo's voice turned cold, and those standing in the front row felt a chill enter their bodies.

Reminded by the aura Danzo emitted, some applicants who had been blinded by anger finally realized belatedly that this man with the huge buttocks was one of the top powerhouses in the village.

"It's just a test, bring it on! I am the man who is going to become a Tailed Beast Knight!"

"Charge, charge, charge!"

"..."

"Very good, very spirited!"

Danzo nodded with satisfaction, then stepped aside to reveal the abstract Nine-Tails standing at the entrance of the passage behind him.

"A trace of the Nine-Tails' malice is sealed within this statue. Those who can successfully pass it and enter the passage will have passed the test."

"Just this?"

Many people curiously examined the abstract Nine-Tails statue; this statue, which could be called ugly, couldn't stir up a shred of fear in them at all. Not laughing out loud was already giving Danzo enough face.

"Hmph! Now, the exam begins!"

Hearing the jeers and hisses rising one after another in the crowd, Danzo sneered and directly announced the start of the exam.

"Hey hey hey! Tailed Beast Knight, I'm definitely going to be it!"

The applicants in the first row had been queuing since yesterday just to be the first; seeing Danzo wave his hand, they immediately rushed toward the passage, fearing they would fall behind and miss out on becoming a Tailed Beast Knight.

"It's just a funny statue, this master doesn't even... ah ah ah!"

An applicant from a commoner background who wanted to try his luck rushed to the front of the Nine-Tails statue and was just about to mock it a few times when he realized with horror that his whole body was beginning to tremble uncontrollably; under the terrifying pressure, screams were heard one after another.

The next second, unable to withstand the malice of the Nine-Tails, his screams stopped abruptly, and he collapsed to the ground, rolling his eyes and foaming at the mouth.

"Quick! It's our turn to go on!"

The medical team that had been waiting for a long time finally came in handy; the first applicant who fainted was quickly carried away, followed by the second, the third...

"That thing is strange."

Seeing the applicants who rushed to the front fall like chives, the people behind immediately stopped in their tracks, their faces grave.

"This thing is really useful!"

Shimura Danzo watched the applicants falling row after row and couldn't help but nod repeatedly.

Just as the applicants were hesitating, a burly figure stepped out, walked slowly to the front of the Nine-Tails statue, and looked up directly at it.

"Huff... huff..."

Although he was panting heavily, the burly man did not fall like the others before him; after a pause of a full ten seconds, he struggled to step forward, becoming the first applicant to cross the statue.

"He actually passed! That guy is a Jonin from the Senju clan!"

While surprised, the crowd also recognized the burly man's identity; if even a Jonin found it this difficult, this trial was truly not simple.

"Damn it, I'll risk it!"

The money had already been paid, and if they retreated now, they would likely regret it for the rest of their lives; many applicants who weren't even ninjas decided to give it a shot after a period of internal struggle.

What if they really were the chosen ones?

However, the truth was always so cruel.

Ordinary people without chakra to protect their bodies could not last more than three seconds in the face of the Nine-Tails' malicious chakra.

Ordinary people holding onto unrealistic fantasies were carried away one after another by the medical team, and their two-million-ryo experience cards were declared void.

"My fate is determined by me, not by heaven!"

"Mom, give me strength!"

"..."

Of course, it was not as if no one succeeded in crossing.

Quite a few powerful Jonin with solid foundations, relying on the undying belief in their hearts, crossed the Nine-Tails statue and earned the qualification to face the Tailed Beast card.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a cruel trial~"

Uchiha Gin, who was already sitting in the spectator stands, looked at the failures twitching on the ground with a sigh, clicking his tongue in exclamation.

"If they can't even withstand this bit of malice, what qualification do they have to become the successor of Big Brother?"

Uchiha Izuna shook his head in disdain, his eyes full of disappointment; among those who had passed the trial earlier, there wasn't a single one he could look upon with favor, and if these pieces of trash really managed to pick up a bargain, he feared his intestines would turn green with regret.

"Great Cousin, it should still be in time to sign up now, right?"

"It's too late, registration closed yesterday."

Seeing the anxiety hidden deep in his little cousin's eyes, Uchiha Gin shrugged regretfully.

"Damn it! Huh? Isn't that the illegitimate daughter of the white-haired one?"

Izuna, who was annoyed and about to curse, saw a white-haired girl walking gracefully out of the crowd and felt a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

"Uh... did she sign up too?"

Uchiha Gin scratched his head; he hadn't expected the white-haired one to also covet the Nine-Tails, it seemed the experience of the transformation earlier had been quite good.

"Although she knows the white-haired one's signature techniques, she is still too young and lacks experience, I'm afraid..."

Uchiha Izuna shook his head with some pity; if she had a few more years of training, this Senju Toka might have had a fraction of her father's skill.

"The handiwork of the Uzumaki clan; where did Shimura Danzo get this thing?"

Standing in front of the highly abstract Nine-Tails statue, Senju Toka frowned slightly; the Nine-Tails' malice did not have any effect on her.

The reason she stopped was that she was curious about when Shimura Danzo had made contact with the Uzumaki clan.

"Forget it, the Tailed Beast Knight System is more important."

"She actually hasn't fallen yet; she is worthy of being the daughter of Senju Tobirama."

"To be able to do this at such a young age is truly not easy."

"Ah? She moved! She went in~!"

Just as the spectators were marveling at Senju Toka's firm will, she easily stepped past the Nine-Tails statue, her entire movement smooth and flowing, without a hint of obstruction.

"Cough... if the white-haired one knows this in the afterlife, he can close his eyes in peace."

Watching Senju Toka pass the trial with ease, Izuna, having been slapped in the face, felt a burning sensation on his cheeks; bearing Uchiha Gin's mocking gaze, he coughed lightly and said with a serious air.

"Heh heh."

"Uh... Great Cousin! Look! Why did that woman come too?"

Before Uchiha Gin could mock him, Uchiha Izuna, catching a glimpse of bright red out of the corner of his eye, changed his expression.

A slender figure in a white robe walked out of the crowd, and under the gaze of everyone, she crossed the Nine-Tails statue as if taking a leisurely stroll, disappearing into the passage.

"That woman just now... was from the Uzumaki clan, right?"

"Didn't they say only people from Konoha could participate? If I had known, I would have let my distant cousin from the Land of Lightning come to participate too~"

"Black curtain! Black curtain!"

"Shimura Danzo! I need an explanation!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head with a dark expression and questioned Shimura Danzo behind him.

The recruitment announcement clearly stated a residency restriction, and now you've brought me a foreigner; do you, as an elder, not want to be one anymore?

"Monkey, rest assured, she just came to experience it..."

Just as Shimura Danzo was explaining to his good friend the reason for Uzumaki Mito's participation in the recruitment, Uchiha Gin was also lecturing his jittery little cousin.

"Izuna, stay calm. You're going to be a grandfather soon; can't you be as unflappable as me? Even if Mount Tai collapses before you, don't—huh???"

As a result, before he could finish his sentence, his peripheral vision caught three familiar figures who should have gone to buy snacks, and his half-closed dead fish eyes instantly widened.

"Senior Hikari, Itama, this isn't the line for popcorn, is it?"

(End of chapter)