In the living room, Tsunade squinted at Kaito, scoffed, and said, "You don't actually think you're invincible, do you?"
"Why not?" Kaito spread his hands. "Your good old master, the Third Hokage, is getting on in years. To protect his reputation, he definitely won't step into the ring to fight with us young folk. If he wins, people will say he's bullying the younger generation. If he loses, his legacy will be tarnished."
"Without the Third Hokage, the only one left who could barely be my opponent is the Third Raikage. The Third Raikage is most famous for his nintaijutsu. Although the rumors say he's extremely powerful, even you and Jiraiya combined couldn't defeat him. So it seems he's just so-so."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying Jiraiya and I are weak?" Tsunade's chest ached with anger. She clenched her fists. "How about a match? Let me see just how much you've improved."
"No thanks. I'm not interested in sparring." Kaito glanced at her heaving chest and refused. "There's no benefit in beating you, and it would be easy to reveal my strength. Why would I do something so unprofitable?"
"Then what kind of benefit do you want?"
"Well, what do you have to offer?"
"Money?"
"Talking about money is so vulgar!"
"Mmm..."
This stumped Tsunade. She realized that besides money, she didn't seem to have anything else to offer.
"Can't think of anything? If you can't, then forget it. I'm leaving!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Kaito slowly departed, leaving Tsunade still lost in deep thought.
After leaving Tsunade's residence, Kaito sighed and silently cursed himself.
I'm still too righteous. If I had made that kind of request, I might have been able to trick my way into some romance.
But he didn't want a relationship mixed with other interests. If he wanted a woman, couldn't he just beckon with his finger and have whichever one he wanted?
Why bother playing such a mentally taxing emotional game with Tsunade?
Kaito shook his head, glanced at the gate, and left decisively. I might as well go mess with Orochimaru. He should have already embraced the world of science by now. Orochimaru is a talent who has mastered core technology.
He activated his [Aura Power], blanketing most of Konoha in his perception, and quickly located Orochimaru.
"Heh heh, hiding in a dark underground chamber, as expected. I hope he won't be too surprised when he sees me."
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his figure vanished.
In a dim underground research facility, Orochimaru was alone, tinkering with his experiments on a lab table.
After a long while, he put down his tools with a grim expression.
"Still not working. The bodies cultivated this way are too unstable. The cells proliferate so quickly... what method did the First Hokage use to control them? Willpower? The soul?..."
Lost in thought, he left the operating table, walked past rows of large culture tanks that seemed to contain something, and exited the lab.
When he reached the rest area, Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, looking at the uninvited guest before him. He said coldly, "You really are impressive. You just arrived in Konoha at this hour, yet you've already found your way here so quickly."
Kaito was flipping through a notebook in his hands. He smiled. "What can I say? I was thinking of you. I've long since memorized your aura."
"How honored I feel, to be held in such high regard by Lord Amekage." Orochimaru glanced at the notebook in his hand. "So? Can you understand it? Do you need me to explain?"
"No need. Don't forget, I also studied the Second Hokage's experimental techniques. Reading this is a piece of cake."
Kaito muttered to himself, "Let's see... you're researching the First Hokage's cells, aren't you? Trying to replicate something like Wood Style? Or are you trying to switch to a body with stronger life force?"
"I am conducting research on Wood Style under the Third's orders."
"It's been so many years, and you're still researching so slowly. Do you want me to point you down the right path?"
Orochimaru didn't rush to refuse. Instead, he nodded. "Elaborate."
"Then we'll really have to have a long chat." Kaito flashed a wide, toothy grin.
As time went on, the delegations from the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water successively arrived in Konoha.
Konoha had truly become a bustling tourist destination.
With the village filled with elites from various nations, friction was inevitable. However, under the mediation of Konoha's shinobi, no major incidents occurred.
The night before the tournament's opening ceremony, the Five Kage gathered again for a detailed discussion.
"This is the first time this tournament is being held. Currently, three hundred and sixty-eight people have qualified to participate, with roughly over a hundred in each major group. The general process is divided into three stages. First is the preliminary round, a battle royale format, to determine the top sixteen contestants in each group. Second is the one-on-one elimination tournament for these sixteen contestants to determine the final winner. Third is a round-robin tournament between the winners of the three groups. The ultimate winner will receive the title of 'World's Strongest'."
At the meeting, the Third Hokage had his secretary read out the general competition procedure.
No one had any objections.
"During the competition, Konoha will do its utmost to be responsible for security. However, we also hope to receive your assistance, because right now, there are four jinchuriki in Konoha."
The Third Hokage's gaze turned to the Raikage. He said gravely, "Besides Konoha's Nine-Tails, there are also the Cloud Village's Eight-Tails and Two-Tails, and the Mist Village's Six-Tails."
"What do you mean by that? Do you think I would let my jinchuriki run wild in Konoha?"
The Third Raikage glared. "I would never do something so dishonorable."
"You misunderstand me, Raikage," the Third Hokage explained. "Have you not heard the news that the Seven-Tails jinchuriki from the Village Hidden in the Waterfalls was abducted?"
"I've heard. So what?"
"Through our investigation, we've discovered that this was the work of a mysterious organization called Kara. Among their members, there is one who possesses the Rinnegan."
"What? You said the Rinnegan?!"
The others didn't react much, but it was Kaito who showed great alarm. "The Rinnegan is the eye of the Sage, a symbol that, according to legend, only the Sage himself possessed."
"Mmm, that is correct. Therefore, this mysterious organization is worthy of our vigilance. Perhaps they will take advantage of this grand event to try and capture our jinchuriki," the Third Hokage said.
"Hmph, then let them come!" The Third Raikage was not afraid at all, but rather eager to try. "The legendary Sage... I'd like to see just how powerful they are!"
"That's right. With so many of us here, if they appear, they will surely not be able to escape."
The Kazekage nodded. "I'm more worried about the Tailed Beasts still in our villages. They won't take advantage of our undefended villages to go and capture them, will they?"
"That is indeed a strong possibility. But we can't possibly bring all the Tailed Beasts to Konoha."
If Konoha had malicious intentions, they could be wiped out in one fell swoop.
"Why think so much? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We can only act according to the situation."
"Agreed."