Chapter 297: Emergency Situation (Part 1)
Ninja World Continent, Eastern Sea.
In a nameless maritime area between the Land of Fire, Land of Water, and Land of Lightning.
A small boat drifted on the ocean. Three figures in straw raincoats stood on it, looking like ordinary fishermen.
One of them dipped his hand into the water, closing his eyes to sense something.
After a while, a large fish with a grey head and white forehead swam past underwater, gently touching the man's arm with its forehead, seemingly conveying a message.
"The target hasn't moved for most of the day."
His companion asked, "Should we get closer?"
"No... any closer and we'll be discovered."
One man stood at the bow, carefully taking out two items from his ninja pouch: a specially made kunai longer than average, and a black throwing knife.
He held the two items up and waited with bated breath.
Suddenly, four figures appeared out of thin air, seemingly unsurprised by their surroundings, landing steadily on the sea surface.
They were Onoki, the Third Kazekage, Sakumo Hatake, and Minato Namikaze.
The three fishermen immediately responded, "Tsuchikage-sama! The target is due north. Do you need us to lead the way?"
Onoki looked around and said gravely, "No need. The upcoming battle is not something you can participate in."
Then he looked at Sakumo, the Third Kazekage, and Minato. "Gentlemen, end this quickly!"
Outside Sunagakure.
The final round of the exam was drawing to a close. Only three people remained within the last encirclement: Tetsuo Okine, Might Guy, and Sasori.
Pakura had been poisoned by Hanzo Rain-Chiri's blade while covering Sasori, stopping at 5th place. Chiri himself was defeated by Tetsuo.
Tetsuo smashed his fists together, extremely excited. He had secured a top-three spot, but he still wanted the championship.
Guy looked like a spent arrow. The side effects of the Second Gate were gradually showing. His survival until the end had an element of luck; in the previous chaotic brawl, no one chose the exceptionally fast Guy as an opponent, allowing him to slip into the top three.
Sasori watched coldly. Only two and a half of his four puppets remained functional. However, both Tetsuo and Guy were Taijutsu types, the kind puppet masters hated most.
The encirclement was right in front of them, surrounding the sand dune tightly and still shrinking. Guy noticed many Suna examiners looking eager to jump in.
Meanwhile, in the sky, Dana had disappeared.
He no longer cared about the competition itself. He flew rapidly to the landing point of the Cloud reinforcement team, where he met the arrival: Dodai.
Due to the unavoidable commotion of the Heavenly Transfer Technique, as soon as the Cloud squad landed, Suna ninja nervously came to question them.
"What are you doing? Why did you land near Sunagakure?"
Dodai kept a straight face. "The Joint Chunin Exams are about to end. We are here to pick up Cloud personnel to return to the village."
This reason was flawless, but having such a big commotion right at their doorstep made the Suna ninja uncomfortable.
Dana said, "I wanted to inform the Kazekage-dono, but I couldn't find him. Please report this for us."
Dana instructed Dodai to send some men to protect the Cloud contestants while the others remained on alert here.
This 50-man elite team also served as a deterrent. If it could make the plotters hesitate, that was acceptable, as the Cloud preferred war to come later rather than sooner.
However, to Dana's surprise, the Suna ninja replied quickly.
"I have reported to the village. You may enter Sunagakure. The competition hasn't fully ended, and there will be an award ceremony, taking at least another day. You can stay in the contestant accommodation; other aspects will be treated the same as contestants."
Dana and Dodai exchanged a glance, both surprised.
They're actually letting us, a 50-man elite force, enter Sunagakure?
For a moment, a sense of unease descended.
"Letting us in... Even if they have no plot, they absolutely wouldn't let 50 foreign ninja into their village, especially elites."
He immediately told Dodai, "Go find our contestants, then stand by. Gather the Rain Village contestants as well."
Saying this, under the astonished gazes of the Suna ninja, he flew directly into the air, speeding toward Sunagakure.
Pushing his speed to the limit, he soon arrived above Suna and activated his "Pulse" Vision.
"Only Yagura Karatachi is still here...! Are the others hiding in the crowd? Or underground?! Did they team up with White Zetsu?"
His Pulse Vision acted like a radar. Usually, he could identify Kages by their location and the scale of their guards. But if a Kage hid in a crowd, he was helpless, just like when searching for Black Zetsu.
Just as Dana was hesitating, a resonant voice came from the golden slug.
"I... am in the... Eastern Sea... under attack!"
Dana was shocked. That voice!
It was Blue Bee!
Only a handful of people in the Cloud possessed a golden slug capable of ninja world-wide communication.
Blue Bee was sending a public distress signal!
Immediately after, intense fluctuations came through his mind. The battle had begun!
"Sakumo Hatake... Onoki... Kazekage are all here... there's another I don't rec..."
It was clear Blue Bee was under immense pressure. His voice broke intermittently as he tried his best to transmit intelligence.
Those people... are in the Eastern Sea????
Then, the Third Raikage's explosive roar echoed in his mind.
"WHAT!!!! Blue Bee, hold on! Someone! Change coordinates!! THIS OLD MAN IS COMING PERSONALLY!!!!"
The Third Raikage had been waiting at the Heavenly Transfer base just in case war broke out on Dana's side. Now, he changed coordinates immediately.
His brother was under attack; how could the Third Raikage remain indifferent? Just hearing the names of the attackers told him the situation was critically urgent.
Dana shouted hurriedly, "Blue Bee-senpai! The enemy has Space-Time Ninjutsu! They have Space-Time Ninjutsu! Be careful, don't let them get close!"
"Too late... can't..."
The little slug only transmitted human voices; Dana and the Third Raikage couldn't judge the battle situation.
Even more worryingly, not a single word came from Blue Bee afterward. Whether the slug was damaged, or he had no time... or...
Dana stared at Sunagakure below, grinding his teeth.
He really wanted to lead his men to destroy Suna right now. But inside the arena, countless spectators, merchants, and nobles were waiting for the results. On the streets, countless tourists were enjoying the festival.
This was literally tens of thousands of human shields!
"Good... Good... Good calculation!"
Faintly, for some reason, cheers erupted from the arena. It seemed the "Great Sand Escape" in the basin had reached its final result.
But Dana no longer had the heart to care. Amidst the cheers, he turned away, clasped his hands, and entered Sage Mode. Then he flew higher and faster.
Wind roared in his ears.
"In that case! The war begins!"