The Iwagakure shinobi were extremely unconvinced.
"Akatsuchi actually lost?"
"He's Tsuchikage-sama's disciple!"
"What kind of background does that Kisame Hoshigaki have?"
Some people had also noticed that Kisame Hoshigaki was not originally a Sunagakure shinobi.
"Sunagakure is too shameless. Their own village's shinobi aren't strong enough, so they hire outside help. This isn't fair!"
"That Kisame Hoshigaki isn't a Sunagakure shinobi at all. And he used some underhanded method. I didn't even see how Akatsuchi lost to that ugly-looking bastard."
The Sunagakure shinobi had already been holding in their anger after losing the first round.
Even those who had not fully accepted Kisame Hoshigaki because of his Kirigakure background now completely treated him as one of their own.
"Can't Iwagakure afford to lose?"
"If you lose, admit it."
"Akatsuchi is the Tsuchikage's disciple, so he can't lose? Maki is our Kazekage-sama's disciple too."
"Did we complain at all?"
"Don't act like sore losers, whining like resentful women. Kisame Hoshigaki used to be a Kirigakure shinobi, but now he is a Sunagakure shinobi. In the future, he will still be a Sunagakure shinobi."
The shinobi of the two villages began cursing each other nonstop.
Before long, Mui entered the arena with the third list.
"Third match, Iwagakure versus Konoha."
"Bunya versus Kakashi."
Onoki was still brooding over Akatsuchi's defeat just now.
He did not hold much hope for this match.
First, among the three names Iwagakure had submitted, Bunya was the weakest.
If he lost, it would be normal.
If he won, it would be a pleasant surprise.
More importantly, Bunya's luck was not good. He had drawn Kakashi.
As the son of the once-famous Konoha White Fang, Kakashi had carried the name of genius since childhood. Graduating early was one thing, but on the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War, Kakashi had also performed very well.
And many of those achievements had come against Iwagakure.
Because of that, Iwa shinobi understood Kakashi very well.
"Bunya is probably no match for him."
"Kakashi became even stronger after obtaining Uchiha Obito's Sharingan."
The Iwagakure shinobi revealed worried expressions.
The Konoha shinobi, however, were filled with confidence in Kakashi.
Kakashi's expression was serious.
"If not for Iwagakure, Obito would not have died."
"If Obito hadn't died, Rin wouldn't have died either."
Scenes of being attacked by Iwagakure shinobi in the past continuously surfaced in Kakashi's mind.
"Begin!"
Bunya knew that he most likely was not Kakashi's opponent.
But he wanted to seize the beginning and use his full strength to catch Kakashi off guard. Even if he lost, he could still display his own strength.
But Bunya had not expected Kakashi's attack to come even faster.
Even more fiercely.
In an instant, Kakashi was already in front of him.
Then came a storm of attacks, crashing down one after another, violent and relentless.
Bunya realized that he did not even have a chance to attack.
Facing Kakashi's ferocious assault, he could only defend and dodge passively.
"This is too miserable!"
"The gap between them is too large."
The Konoha shinobi had already begun laughing.
The Iwagakure shinobi's expressions turned extremely ugly.
In the first three matches, every single one had involved an Iwagakure contestant. They had already lost once before. If they lost again now, that would mean Iwagakure had lost two out of three matches.
"Bunya, keep going!"
"You have to win!"
But not long after the Iwa shinobi shouted those words—
"Winner, Kakashi!"
Mui announced the result.
Kakashi turned and walked down from the arena. Bunya climbed up from a corner of the stage, head lowered, extremely depressed.
"I'm sorry."
Some Iwagakure shinobi were dissatisfied with Bunya, feeling that his performance had been far too poor.
But there were also some Iwa shinobi who were not controlled by emotion and looked at the matter more fairly.
"Bunya's loss is understandable. We can't blame him. After all, his opponent was Kakashi."
"Bunya himself was the lower horse of our Iwagakure lineup."
"The one who should have won was actually Akatsuchi."
Onoki's expression was dark.
The direction things were developing in was somewhat different from what he had expected.
According to the intelligence Iwagakure possessed, among Sunagakure's younger generation, only Maki could be considered presentable.
But unexpectedly, Sunagakure had brought in Kisame Hoshigaki.
And he possessed such strength.
His ability also greatly countered Akatsuchi.
"It isn't only Kisame Hoshigaki's own strength. It's also that ninja tool."
Onoki's gaze landed on Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Rasa is really that confident? Such a ninja tool must be extremely valuable, yet he actually dares to let an outsider use it. Isn't he afraid Kisame Hoshigaki will flee with that ninja tool?"
Onoki's eyes flickered.
"If Kisame Hoshigaki has such thoughts, could I help create an opportunity for him?"
Onoki was somewhat tempted.
"In that case, even if Sunagakure wins a greater share of Kusagakure's compensation through this victory, losing a ninja tool like that would still mean Sunagakure suffers a loss."
Mui returned to the arena with the list for the fourth match.
"Fourth match, Sunagakure versus Konoha."
"Maki versus Asuma Sarutobi."
Hearing his own name, Maki froze for a moment.
The first match had been him.
Now the fourth match was him again?
But when he heard Asuma Sarutobi's name, Maki immediately became interested.
Facing Gari, Maki had used all his strength, but he truly had no good way to deal with him.
Bloodline shinobi had a natural advantage.
And in terms of ability, he had been the one restrained.
But Asuma Sarutobi was different.
He had no Kekkei Genkai. Like Maki, he was an ordinary elemental shinobi.
He carried the title of the Hokage's son.
But Maki did not think Asuma Sarutobi's strength was that impressive.
As for the battle achievements Konoha had spread about Asuma Sarutobi, in Maki's eyes, they were not solid at all.
They were hollow.
Like some kind of deliberate gilding.
"I will win this match!"
Maki stepped into the arena and looked at Asuma Sarutobi across from him.
On the raised platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly.
"It's Maki?"
"Who is Sunagakure's third person?"
"Is there something wrong with this draw?"
"Did Sunagakure bribe Mui?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered.
"Still, against Maki, Asuma doesn't have no chance of winning."
"As long as Asuma can bring out his true strength."
After confirming that neither side had any problems, Mui announced the start.
The moment his voice fell—
The two moved at the same time.
Compared to the earlier matches, this match was clearly much fiercer.
Both of them used Wind Release, even if their styles were different.
More importantly, the difference in strength between the two of them was not large.
That meant either side had a chance to win.
The surrounding spectators grew tense as they watched.
"Who do you think will win?"