Finals day. Clear skies stretched endlessly.
Gekiryū City. Grand Martial Exhibition Arena.
High walls enclosed the venue. Spectator seating—all sides.
Similar layout to the old Leaf Chūnin Exam grounds. But dozens of times grander.
Surrounding stands featured private boxes. Reserved for each nation's daimyo.
Fire Country Daimyo Ichiyasu gazed at the packed seats. Deafening crowd noise. He fanned himself. Small fan fluttering. "The Exhibition gets more magnificent every year. Even provincial inspections don't draw crowds like this." He glanced at Naruto. "You're truly remarkable."
Naruto's shadow clone smiled. "Not at all. If you hadn't defied opposition back then—enabled ninja reform—how could we have today's prosperity? You deserve the credit."
Ichiyasu half-covered his face with the fan. Pleased. "Don't flatter me. At most I was a facilitator. Ninja gained mass support—that's all Ashura's doing."
Yes. Ashura. The indispensable one.
Two years. Traveling the world. Educating billions about extraterrestrial threats. Guiding people to participate in the world's tide. Securing broad support for the niche ninja community.
But Ichiyasu worried. "Though that 'Silla Kingdom' of his has us all on edge..."
The situation: While spreading Ōtsutsuki awareness, Ashura also promoted Ninshū philosophy. To attract followers—adapt to the environment—he proposed New Ninshū. No longer blindly advocating love. Instead: love internally, strength externally.
Result: massive believer influx.
Two years ended. He didn't return to Rain Village. Instead—other side of the planet—he opened new territory. Established the Silla Kingdom.
This nation of Ninshū believers? Population: one billion. Nearly half the world's total.
Ashura—revered as the Great Land Master Deity. Achievements and status surpassing the Sage of Six Paths.
Ichiyasu's voice—uneasy. "Terrifying. Naruto, if you hadn't vouched for him, the nations would list him as public enemy number one."
Naruto—impassive. "I've had him restrain himself. When proselytizing, he avoids the Land of Fire."
Ichiyasu tapped his palm with the fan. Nodding. "Good. He should. If this continues, no one farms. Productivity drops. National finances suffer."
His eyes shifted. "Speaking of which—the gold for defensive fortifications this year. Could the price be more favorable?"
Naruto looked troubled. "Personally I'd discount it. But you know—someone else controls finances."
Ichiyasu's small eyes gleamed. "Right. You're issuing ninja currency. If the Land of Fire prioritizes implementation..."
Naruto—immediate. "Public quote matches other nations. Privately—internal price. I'll handle Kakuzu."
Snap.
Fan closed. Ichiyasu sealed the deal. "Done."
Whooom.
Giant screen—top of the stands. Images appeared.
Broadcast studio. Tobi and A-Curl. Live commentary beginning.
Tobi—cheerful opening. "Odooo~! I'm Tobi~ I want to ask—what kind of feeling is the urge to poop~!"
A-Curl spread his hands. "Kekeke~ You've used that bit for years. Time to retire it, don't you think~?"
"Mm..." Tobi rubbed his chin. Serious thought. "Have you pooped today?"
Entire venue—laughter. "Hahaha! This guy can't go three sentences without mentioning crap!"
"Bad news and good news. Which first?"
"Kekeke, convention says bad news!"
"Bad news: during matches, no one uses restrooms."
"Kekeke, not allowed? You want everyone shitting their pants?"
"No. We advocate scientific defecation. We've equipped everyone with auto-excretion shit bags. Check behind your seats~!"
People looked. Shit bags. Real.
"Hey! They're not seriously making us use these?!"
"Kekeke, truly odorous. But if bags are provided, shouldn't that be good news?"
"Actually, the real good news... Rain Village's Heavenly Shit Lady Konan will demonstrate shit bag usage for the entire venue!!!"
"SERIOUSLY?! I WANT TO SEE ANGEL-SAMA POOP!"
"SIT DOWN! YOU'RE EMBARRASSING US!"
"...But I really want to see."
Stand corner.
"LET ME GO!"
"Lady Konan, PLEASE CALM DOWN!"
Obito's lips curled. "Well done, Tobi."
"Kekeke, if everyone excretes in bags, won't it stink?"
"It won't. The other end connects to Obito's dimensional space. No odor. Course, poop residue on butts—room for improvement."
Obito's face stiffened. "Tobi. If you die, I definitely won't revive you."
"Enough about shit bags. Interested parties—contact Kakuzu about franchises. Enough chitchat—everyone rise for the Heaven Board opening!"
Heaven Board. Heaven-class Ninja Rankings.
Whoosh.
Hundreds of thousands. Standing in unison. Saluting the sky.
Whooom.
Invisible airship materialized above the arena. Dropping a gold-foil banner from hundreds of meters up.
Ten names. Highest title. Heaven-class.
Naruto Uzumaki Obito Uchiha Madara Uchiha Hashirama Senju Sasuke Uchiha Hinata Hyūga Neji Hyūga Tobirama Senju Minato Namikaze Kakashi Hatake
Contestant seating.
Mitsuki's eyes widened. "That's the Heaven Board. Recording the ten Heaven-class ninja."
Toneri looked at Sarada. Her complexion—haggard. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No. I'm fine."
Toneri frowned. "You say fine. But your voice is hoarse."
He stepped forward. Small hand on her forehead. Intense heat. "How did you get such a high fever?"
"I..."
"You didn't spend the entire night using the Magic Card, did you? Training that technique?"
Just then.
Scrolling board. Matchup list appeared.
TONERI UZUMAKI VS. SARADA UCHIHA
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