43 Chapter 43: Got the Task Rewards
The Chunin Exam has come to an end.
This Chunin Exam was shorter than the past ones but was the most spectacular in the history of Konoha. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, announced the promotion of two individuals to Chunin rank.
Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi's loss to Akihara Kagura certainly made the Uchiha clan somewhat discontent, but Uchiha Shisui's use of Susanoo to dramatically save the situation regained their pride.
Akihara Kagura didn't have time to concern himself with these matters.
After all, there were two tasks associated with this exam, which provided Akihara Kagura with an opportunity to understand more about the rewards system of this part time employee system.
[System Prompt]: [Participate in the Chunin Exam as requested by Sarutobi Hiruzen] task completed. Awarded skill [Konoha-Style Taijutsu].
[Konoha-Style Taijutsu (Basic taijutsu of Konoha Village, including techniques like Shadow Dance Leaf, Leaf Whirlwind, Leaf Gale, Leaf Rising Wind, Great Leaf Whirlwind, and Strong Leaf Whirlwind, originating from the task reward given by Sarutobi Hiruzen.)]
Wow! That's a big win!
Just a bunch of taijutsu techniques! Perhaps the task wasn't very difficult. Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't have any special requirements; he just asked Akihara Kagura to participate in the Chunin Exam.
But that's not quite right...
Hiruzen probably had Akihara Kagura, a Wood Release ninja, participate in the exam with the intention of having him suppress Uchiha Itachi. But, thinking like a politician, Hiruzen wouldn't explicitly state such intentions.
No wonder Shimura Danzo always criticizes him...
Akihara Kagura could only console himself, knowing his close-combat skills were quite basic. This was a way to strengthen his weaknesses. A Konoha Chunin who doesn't know taijutsu would be quite the anomaly.
With the powerful physical abilities granted by Hashirama's cells, it was like adding a tooth to a tiger...
Comparatively...
His other superior, Shimura Danzo, wasn't a good leader either.
[System Notification]: [Participate in the Chunin Exam as requested by Shimura Danzo and defeat Uchiha Itachi in the exam] task completed. Awarded [Wind Release: Vacuum Blade].
[Wind Release: Vacuum Blade (B-rank Wind Release ninjutsu, infusing Wind Release chakra into a kunai to form a sharp blade, originating from the task reward given by Shimura Danzo.)]
This technique reward is somewhat deceptive.
Akihara Kagura doesn't even have a proper kunai.
If it were as per Shimura Danzo's requirements, it wouldn't be easy for a regular Genin to defeat Uchiha Itachi. Akihara Kagura's victory was purely due to the power of Wood Release ninjutsu.
After tallying his rewards, Akihara Kagura leisurely headed back to the Root base, planning to report to the Anbu the next morning.
However,
Two gatekeepers stopped him.
This time, the gatekeepers no longer feared Akihara Kagura; their attitude was as cold as if he were an outsider intruding into the Root base.
In fact...
Akihara Kagura was indeed an outsider now.
"Akihara Kagura, you are no longer a member of the Root."
The gatekeepers stopped Akihara Kagura from entering, speaking bluntly: "Lord Danzo has removed you from the Root. We are not allowed to let you enter and exit the base freely. If you wish to see Lord Danzo, we can help to inform him."
That's what they said…
The two gatekeepers were prepared for Akihara Kagura's intrusion, even considering the possibility that he might cause a big scene. However, they could not disobey Shimura Danzo's orders.
In fact, Shimura Danzo had reprimanded all members of the Root division, believing they failed to adhere to the Root's will and had even 'tried to please' Akihara Kagura in the past days...
Was that really trying to please...
It was clearly forced respect!
At that time, Akihara Kagura, the young man, was wielding Danzo's authority and was more powerful than them. What could these ordinary Root ninjas do? As a result, Danzo no longer indulged the young man and blamed them for the problems.
Regardless...
The Root division had finally become normal again.
This time, the two gatekeepers were resolute in their attitude towards Akihara Kagura. Even if he caused trouble, they would not let him pass anymore.
"I understand."
This time, however, Akihara Kagura did nothing. He just deeply looked at the dark base and calmly turned to leave.
Konoha.
The moon in the sky was still bright.
Akihara Kagura looked up at the moon. This ninja world's moon was not a real moon but an artificially created moon.
Akihara Kagura lowered his head and overlooked the scenery of the village.
This village had many people, but none were his relatives. It had many houses, but not one for him to live in.
Akihara Kagura found a bench in a park, lay down on his side, and decided to rest there for the night, planning to report to the Anbu the next day.
The night in the village was a bit chilly. Akihara Kagura hugged his shoulders, his body slowly curling up. People always find a way to get through a night.
In a dark corner.
A mysterious masked man quietly appeared.
A pitcher plant monster also slowly emerged from underground.
"It seems we don't need to do much..."
The black half-face of the pitcher plant monster showed a sinister and terrifying smile as it looked at Akihara Kagura lying on the bench. Its voice carried a hint of mockery: "Is Shimura Danzo always so stoopid? To carelessly throw away a Wood Release ninja who is loyal to him?"
"Hmph, everyone in Konoha is a fool."
The mysterious masked man snorted coldly and continued coldly: "Those fools always think they can control everyone..."
"What should we do now?"
The white half-face of the pitcher plant monster seemed puzzled and curiously asked, "According to your plan, where would it be appropriate to dispose of the corpse of Aburame Tatsuma?"
"Anywhere will do."
The mysterious masked man didn't care and coldly continued, "No one will vouch for this kid; he can no longer explain himself clearly..."
"It's unexpected..."
The black half-face of the pitcher plant monster smiled somewhat joyfully, "Our plan is going so smoothly, we don't even need to think too much about it..."
"This kid must be feeling desperate, right?"
"Just abandoned by Shimura Danzo, and now he has to face baseless accusations and can't even find evidence to prove his innocence..."
"Alright, let's start."
The mysterious masked man didn't want to waste too much time at this moment and instructed, "Let this kid see how cruel this false world can be!"
As his words ended.
A spacetime vortex appeared around the mysterious masked man. His body rapidly spun and disappeared from the spot.
After seeing the mysterious masked man disappear, the pitcher plant monster's body slowly sank into the ground.
The park remained silent.
It was as if those two people had never been there.
A young girl with a bun hairstyle passed by the park and was startled to see a homeless on the park bench.
"Eh?"
However, the girl, seeing that the figure was just a boy and probably not much older than her, calmed down.
"..."
"Although I often find weird things in the village since I was little, finding a person is still too strange!"
The girl's face wrinkled together.
In the end, the girl gave up the terrifying thought of picking up a person and instead cheerfully went to fetch a small blanket, covering the ten-year-old boy with it.
"..."
Akihara Kagura slowly opened his eyes, touched the blanket on his body, and quietly watched the bun-haired girl's departing figure.
"Kind people are always lucky."
"It seems my luck is indeed good today."
