"How do I see it?"
Qingshui thought quietly to himself after hearing Pakura's question.
How did he view Yahiko's ideals about peace?
The answer was simple.
He could see the reality clearly.
Observing Konan's current strength and calm demeanor, Qingshui felt somewhat reassured. At least the girl had grown stronger and more capable of protecting herself.
Still, Pakura's question lingered in his mind.
If he had still been living his previous life, perhaps he might have agreed with Yahiko's vision.
A world where peace was achieved through mutual understanding.
A world where people simply talked to each other instead of fighting.
But this was not the idealistic world he once knew.
This was the ninja world.
And here, such ideals sounded beautiful—but unrealistic.
Qingshui did not believe in peace born from understanding.
He believed only in power.
In his view, the ninja world would only truly know peace when it was unified under one authority.
Only absolute strength could end endless conflict.
However, those thoughts were things he would never openly share with Pakura.
Even though the two of them had developed something close to a friendly relationship, they still represented different villages.
In the end, they were not truly on the same side.
"What he said sounds beautiful," Qingshui finally replied calmly.
"But it's not realistic."
Pakura glanced at him thoughtfully, but Qingshui didn't continue the topic.
Instead, he changed the subject.
"Let's hurry. Everyone has already gone far ahead."
As the chief supervisors of the joint Chunin Exams, both of them needed to monitor the entire process.
With that, Qingshui accelerated his pace and caught up with the group of examinees ahead.
Pakura followed shortly afterward.
Three days passed quickly.
After traveling through the harsh desert environment, the examinees finally reached the designated destination within Sunagakure.
This location would serve as the temporary resting area for the next stage of the exam.
A tall Sunagakure jonin stood before the assembled examinees.
His name was Yusuke Kitada, the chief examiner for the second stage.
Kitada was a puppeteer ninja.
He specialized in puppet techniques and poison crafting, both highly respected and feared arts in Sunagakure.
He scanned the group of exhausted participants with a gentle smile.
"Excellent."
"I originally estimated that only half of you would make it here."
"But it seems many more have arrived than expected."
He nodded approvingly.
"You are all very outstanding candidates."
"I hope each of you performs well in the upcoming examination."
"Perhaps many of you will soon become Chunin."
In truth, the larger number of surviving examinees was largely thanks to Yahiko and his companions.
During the journey, several examinees attempted to ambush others in order to eliminate competitors.
But whenever that happened, Yahiko frequently stepped forward to intervene.
And once Yahiko acted, Konan and Nagato naturally joined him.
Nagato participated less often than the others.
After all, revealing the Rinnegan would attract too much attention.
Still, the trio's strength quickly became obvious.
Despite their young age, they were easily among the strongest participants in the exam.
At one point, several examinees even formed a temporary alliance to try and defeat them.
But the attempt failed.
The three young ninjas defeated them decisively.
After that, no one dared challenge them again.
Most examinees only wanted to increase their chances of passing.
Attacking Yahiko's team risked being eliminated from the exam entirely.
That would defeat the purpose.
"Tonight everyone should rest well," Kitada announced.
"Tomorrow the second stage of the exam will officially begin."
Under his arrangements, the examinees were provided with dinner and assigned rooms for the night.
Soon the once noisy gathering area gradually quieted.
Meanwhile, Kitada personally guided Qingshui and Pakura toward their rooms.
"Lady Pakura, Lord Hirakawa, your rooms are this way."
Despite also being a jonin, Kitada treated the two with extreme respect.
In truth, he knew the difference between them.
Not all jonin were equal.
Both Qingshui and Pakura possessed strength capable of killing him instantly.
"Thank you for your assistance, Kitada Jonin," Qingshui said politely.
"Oh no, the honor is mine."
Kitada smiled obsequiously.
Then he suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Oh, by the way."
"Lord Hirakawa, since this is your first time in the Land of Wind, you might not know something."
"At night, sandstorms can become very strong."
"So it's best to close your windows."
As he spoke, Kitada personally walked to the window and shut it tightly.
The room instantly became sealed from the outside.
No sandstorm could enter.
Qingshui watched quietly.
The smile on his face slowly widened.
"I see," he said casually.
"Thank you for the reminder."
Kitada nodded respectfully.
"Then I will not disturb your rest."
"I hope you have a pleasant dream tonight."
After he left, the smile remained on Qingshui's face.
But now there was a faint hint of coldness within it.
Late that night.
The desert was silent.
Under the moonlight, a group of figures dressed entirely in black moved swiftly across the sand.
They were fully armed.
Their direction was unmistakable.
They were heading directly toward the resting place of Qingshui and the others.
Clearly, their intentions were hostile.
When the group finally reached their destination, an impatient voice suddenly spoke.
"You're late."
The speaker stepped forward.
It was Yusuke Kitada.
"How are the preparations?" asked the leader of the black-clad figures.
He ignored Kitada's dissatisfaction.
Kitada smirked confidently.
"Relax."
"Hirakawa Qingshui and Pakura were careless."
"They have already been poisoned."
"This is my newest poison."
"It's completely colorless and odorless."
"If someone inhales it without realizing, their chakra circulation becomes restricted."
Kitada's expression was filled with pride.
This poison was his masterpiece.
From his words, one terrifying fact became clear.
He and the masked attackers were working together.
Their goal was simple.
To eliminate Qingshui and Pakura.
In any village, power struggles existed.
Sunagakure was no exception.
Ambitious individuals were always willing to betray others to climb higher.
Kitada had chosen his side.
"Well done," said the leader calmly.
"When the operation succeeds, I will report your contribution to the elders."
"You will be credited with great merit."
This was not their first cooperation.
In fact, Kitada's current position as chief examiner had been arranged by those same elders.
"Once we take control of Sunagakure," the leader continued, "you will become the captain of the Puppet Brigade."
Just like Iwagakure had its Explosion Corps, Sunagakure possessed its own elite Puppet Brigade.
Becoming its captain meant gaining immense power and status.
Perhaps even becoming an elder in the future.
Kitada's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He could already imagine his glorious future.
"Enough talking," he said eagerly.
"It's time."
"You may enter."
He stepped aside, clearing the path.
The night guards had already been eliminated by him.
Everything was prepared.
The black-clad leader nodded.
He signaled his subordinates to move.
But just as they prepared to advance—
A calm voice suddenly spoke from the darkness.
"See?"
"I told you he had a problem."
"But you didn't believe me."
Everyone froze.
Two figures stepped out from the shadows.
One was a blue-haired man wearing dark glasses.
The other was a woman whose expression had turned extremely cold.
Qingshui and Pakura.
They had heard everything.
Yusuke Kitada's confidence instantly collapsed.
"Impossible!"
His voice trembled with panic.
"You… shouldn't you be in your rooms?"
"How could you be here?!"
Qingshui smiled slightly.
"You want to know how?"
He shrugged.
"It's simple."
"Your poison is very effective."
"But my medical ninjutsu is also quite good."
In truth, Qingshui had discovered Kitada's hostility long before tonight.
Ever since gaining his Malice Perception ability, he had formed a habit.
Whenever he entered a new environment, he would quietly scan for hostile intent.
The experience in the Land of Rain had taught him a valuable lesson.
And that lesson had saved him now.
From the beginning, Kitada's malice toward him had been obvious.
Despite the fact that they had never met before.
That alone was suspicious.
When Kitada brought them to their rooms, Qingshui became completely certain.
The poison had already been released into the air.
Prolonged exposure would weaken chakra circulation.
Fortunately, Qingshui detected it in time.
Using medical ninjutsu, he neutralized the toxin.
Then he contacted Pakura using the Mind Communication Technique he had learned after healing Yamanaka Fu.
At first, Pakura refused to believe him.
But eventually she agreed to play along.
And that led to this moment.
Kitada screamed angrily.
"That's impossible!"
"How could you neutralize my poison so quickly?!"
Pakura stepped forward, her eyes filled with killing intent.
"Who ordered you to do this?"
But no one answered.
The black-clad leader shouted:
"You fools! Attack now or none of us will escape!"
The assassins rushed forward.
Pakura's expression turned icy.
"You're courting death."
She formed hand seals.
Several blazing fireballs instantly appeared around her.
They floated in the air like miniature suns.
Each one radiated terrifying heat.
This was her signature technique.
Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!
The fireballs illuminated the dark desert night.
And they also delivered death.
Only the leader managed to dodge.
All the other attackers were struck.
Screams echoed across the desert.
Steam burst from their bodies as their moisture was instantly evaporated.
Within seconds—
They collapsed.
Their bodies reduced to nothing more than dried corpses lying in the sand.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)