Chapter 94: Suigetsu, You’re Still Young
The plan to dispatch the entire team was finalized. Next came the selection of participants for the Chūnin Exams. After all, to lower Danzō's guard, appearances had to be maintained.
"Kurotsuchi, Suigetsu, Karin—you three will be the Rain Village's seed team this time," Deidara announced, looking at the trio before him.
This Chūnin Exam, scheduled a year earlier than in the original timeline, meant that at most, they'd encounter Neji, Tenten, and Lee.
Without Naruto and Sasuke, the two protagonists of destiny, and with Sunagakure wiped out, the familial trio of Rasa's children was no more. Thus, the strength of the three before him shouldn't pose any issues.
"Really? I can't wait to cut down Konoha's ninja!" Suigetsu exclaimed, brandishing his massive blade. He had an unusual obsession with the idea of "cutting," which explained his preference for executioner-style swords.
"Alright, that's settled. Use this time to prepare well," Deidara instructed. Special training wasn't on the table; after all, aside from his clay techniques, he had nothing else to teach.
"Let's go. My treat today—barbecue!" Deidara declared, leading the four of them toward a barbecue spot they frequented. Kurotsuchi clung affectionately to his side, a sight that made Suigetsu itch with frustration.
He wanted so badly to separate that couple!
As Suigetsu zoned out, Deidara's voice snapped him back.
"Suigetsu, how's it going with Haku?"
Suigetsu's face twisted into one of utter discomfort.
"Deidara-sama, can we not bring that up?"
"What? Giving up so easily? That's not like you."
"It's not about giving up! Haku's a guy! You knew that and still tricked me into chasing him!"
Suigetsu growled, resentment dripping from his words. If he could beat Deidara, he'd teach him a lesson about why flowers are red.
"How do you know Haku's a guy?" Deidara countered with a smirk.
Suigetsu was dumbfounded.
"He said so himself! You were there! You heard him, clear as day!"
"Ah, youth," Deidara sighed dramatically. "So gullible."
"When someone says something, you just believe it?"
Turning to Kurotsuchi, Deidara asked, "Kurotsuchi, are you a boy or a girl?"
Catching on immediately, Kurotsuchi mimicked Haku's tone. "I'm a boy, of course."
Deidara calmly ate two slices of barbecue and wiped his hands.
"See? Kurotsuchi just said she's a boy. Do you think that's true?"
Suigetsu felt his brain short-circuit.
"But Haku's different!"
"How is he different?"
"Look at his clothes, his face, his demeanor—none of it screams 'guy'!"
"Maybe he's just using it as an excuse to reject you. After all, compared to Zabuza, you're nowhere near as important to him."
"Is that it?" Suigetsu felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint what.
"Of course!" Karin chimed in, nodding vigorously.
Bam!
Suigetsu slammed his fist on the table. "Damn Zabuza! He took my blade and now wants to steal my woman!"
"No way! I, Suigetsu of the Hōzuki clan, won't back down!"
Deidara nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit, Suigetsu! You'll definitely succeed!"
"And then you'll have a child who inherits both the Hōzuki clan's Hydration Technique and the Yuki clan's Ice Release!"
...
Konoha Village
Two figures in green jumpsuits ran upside down through the village, their hands supporting their weight as they moved. The villagers barely spared them a glance, accustomed to the sight.
"Ah, another morning workout complete!"
"One hundred laps around the village, done while handstanding! Mission accomplished!" Might Guy stopped at a training ground, giving a proud thumbs-up with his usual fervor.
"This is the essence of youth, Guy-sensei!" Lee mimicked his teacher's pose, also giving a thumbs-up. The scene turned strangely comical.
"Hmm? Where's Tenten?" After a moment of self-indulgence, Might Guy realized one of his students was missing.
"No idea," Neji replied, shaking his head, his Byakugan inactive but his expression indifferent.
"She's been skipping practice a lot lately. Is something troubling her?" Guy wondered aloud, holding three registration forms for the upcoming Chūnin Exams.
"Let's visit her house directly," he decided. The Chūnin Exam registration was crucial and couldn't wait.
"Yes, Guy-sensei! Let's race to her house! Loser runs 500 laps around the village!" Lee proposed enthusiastically.
"Excellent idea, Lee! Let's go!" Guy roared back.
As the two dashed off, Neji sighed in exasperation. His teacher's antics were exhausting, but his strength was undeniable. Even his uncle had to pull strings to get Neji assigned to Guy's team.
Soon, the trio reached Tenten's estate—or rather, her family's grand residence.
Despite its usual grandeur, the estate seemed desolate today, its lively atmosphere replaced by fear and unease. Even the gatekeepers were absent.
After wandering through the compound, they finally found Tenten in the main hall.
"Tenten, what's going on?" Guy asked, puzzled.
"Guy-sensei, please save my father!" Tenten cried, her face streaked with tears. Seeing Guy rekindled a spark of hope in her desolate eyes.
"What happened to your father?"
"He was arrested by the village's security force! They're demanding twenty million ryō for bail, but we can't afford that!"
"Twenty million?" Lee exclaimed. "Did he commit a serious crime?"
"No! The security force just wants to extort money from us!" Tenten explained angrily through her tears.
"This month alone, they've already come several times, but this time their demand is outrageous. When we couldn't pay, they took my father away."
Neji nodded grimly. "It's not just the security force. Even the ANBU have been extorting wealthy merchants and small clans lately."
"This is Konoha?" Guy muttered, his brows furrowing. "I'll speak to the Hokage!"
"Please, Guy-sensei, save my husband," Tenten's mother, a refined woman, pleaded as she approached.
Guy straightened, determination etched on his face. "Leave it to me."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (241 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)