Chapter 142: The New Chūnin Exam (Patreon)

"What are you doing here?" Colt asked without looking back, continuing to take out a piece of drawing paper.

"Come, Yakumo, I'll paint you a portrait."

"Sir, why don't we just forget it?" Yakumo smiled reluctantly.

Colt's artistic skills made her wonder if she looked that ugly in his eyes.

She didn't want to see it!

Not only Yakumo, but Hinata and the others also fell silent after seeing Colt's portraits of them.

They wished he’d drop painting soon.

"All right," Colt said with a look of regret as Kakashi walked in front of him, looking sullen.

"Come on, Tsunade-sama is looking for you," Kakashi said, feeling undignified as an Elite Jōnin reduced to a messenger.

Colt stretched and stood up.

If Tsunade was sending Kakashi to fetch him, it certainly wasn't about going out to gamble.

"Yakumo, go back with Hinata and the others later. Also, can you cook beef for us today?" Colt said and saw the girl nod with a smile before he placed his hand on Kakashi's shoulder and activated the [Flying Thunder God Technique].

They suddenly appeared in Tsunade's office.

"Colt!" It wasn't Tsunade's expected roar, but a different voice’s cry of surprise.

"Temari? When did you arrive?" Colt asked, noticing not only Tsunade and Shizune but also Temari, Baki, and Kankuro in the office.

Resisting the urge to run to his side, Temari explained, "We're here to discuss the Chūnin exam on behalf of the Sand Village."

Chūnin exam? Was Konoha going to hold a Chūnin exam? Colt looked at Tsunade, who nodded.

"The reason for calling you is this: Konoha is going to hold a joint Chūnin exam with the Sand Village," Tsunade explained.

"After all, Neji and the others have been Genins for a long time, and they need a stage to show themselves. Also, Gaara has just become the Kazekage, and being new to the position he really needs this opportunity."

Colt sat beside Temari, and the two were close to each other.

Temari's face flushed, an expression hard to imagine on her usually carefree face.

Baki said sincerely.

"I hope Colt-san can help Gaara-sama. With your prestige backing him, anyone wishing to stand against him will certainly be afraid."

Indeed, apart from Jiraiya and Tsunade, Colt was now the most famous ninja in Konoha.

Even for many villages, Colt's deterrent effect was greater.

Jiraiya wandered the ninja world, while Tsunade stayed in the village, but only Colt could move freely.

He had been lazy in recent times and hadn't taken on missions.

Otherwise, the ninja world might have another iron rule:

"You can abandon an important mission if you encounter Kamiyo Colt."

"Colt..." Temari carefully pulled at the corner of his clothes.

Two years later, the once-spirited girl had grown a lot.

After some subtle gestures, even Colt was a little moved.

Damn it, it was the pitiful beauty trick of the Sand Village after all!

"Okay, what do you need me to do?" Colt sighed, accepting the job.

Tsunade smiled slightly, happy to see his relationship with Temari.

"Become the chief examiner of this Chūnin exam, and be responsible for all of Konoha's affairs."

As Tsunade explained, Colt understood the process of the exam.

This time it was different from the last; the first part would be held in Konoha, and the second part in the Sand Village's Desert.

All he needed to do was oversee the first part of the exam, then follow the candidates to the Sand Village to protect the genins and support Gaara.

"No problem, I'll take this job. Am I to choose the questions for the first exam?" Colt asked with a smile, finding being an examiner much more interesting than being a candidate.

Temari was also excited; with Colt there, Gaara's position would be more secure this time.

Without much fuss, Colt directly brought in Ibiki Morino and his group of torture specialists.

Ibiki had served as an examiner for the Chūnin exam many times, which would save Colt a lot of trouble.

He didn't intend to engage in the previous set of psychological torture. In Colt's view, strength was still the most important factor. Even people with flaws in their hearts could play a greater role than those who were weak but resolute.

After all, aside from a protagonist, how often did you see anyone who could win through sheer willpower?

Meanwhile, in the Hidden Rain Village...

This village was covered in rain year-round, with at least 300 rainy days annually.

To cope with this harsh weather, the Rain Village had numerous tower buildings equipped with a developed drainage system. These buildings were all made of iron; wooden structures would have molded and rotted within a year.

In the tallest tower, countless pieces of paper gathered to form a beautiful woman with blue hair.

It was Konan.

"Pain, Konoha has sent us an invitation to participate in the Chūnin exam they're holding jointly with the Sand Village," she said, using origami cranes to deliver the scroll to Pain who was sitting nearby.

After reading it, Pain didn't give an immediate answer but instead asked, "What do you think? Should we go?"

Konan shook her head.

"We should not go. I feel that Konoha already has suspicions. This time it was Kakashi who came to deliver the scroll, obviously wanting to gather information."

To the outside world, the leader of the Rain Village was still Hanzo, a well-known legend in the ninja world.

However, many years ago, Hanzo had been killed by Nagato.

Pain was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Then we won't go. Akatsuki's secrets cannot be exposed. Try to behave normally…”

He nodded her head.

“How's the situation with the Three-Tails?"

Konan replied, "Two days ago, news came from Itachi Uchiha that there was a chakra disturbance in a lake in the Land of Water. It's possible that the Three-Tails will be surfacing in less than a year."

Pain nodded.

"Take this opportunity to investigate the news of the other Jinchūrikis. The person sent must be someone from the Rain Village and cannot have any connection to the Akatsuki."

He claimed to be a god, but he wasn't without brains.

Even ants could kill an elephant, let alone the Five Great Ninja Villages. If the Akatsuki organization was exposed, they would certainly face hostility from everyone.

Konan understood.

She happened to have a few subordinates who had just become Genin of the Rain Village and could be useful for this task.