Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

Chapter 531 Nine-Tailed Fox: You're in for a lot of trouble!

"Big cousin?"

As soon as Uchiha Izuna stepped out the door, he saw a familiar curly-haired man.

"Hey~ You've said hello to Jingzi?"

Uchiha Gin, who was chatting with Uchiha Hikaru who had come with his younger cousin, greeted the surprised voice with a smile.

"Huh? Why are you all alone?"

Looking around in confusion, Uchiha Izuna didn't spot the other familiar figures. Logically, the women around his older cousin shouldn't have missed this spectacle.

"They were just here a moment ago, but I wonder where they've gone. Maybe they went to buy snacks?"

Scratching his head in confusion, Uchiha Gin, who had been abandoned by Uchiha Hikaru and the others, showed no concern for the safety of the girls.

"Is that so? Would you like to come with us?"

Seeing the lonely and miserable Uchiha Gin, Izuna extended a polite invitation.

"That's great!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin immediately broke into a bright smile; he had finally managed to snag a ticket!

That's right, in order to recover its losses as quickly as possible after suffering heavy losses in this recruitment wave, Xiao Tuantuan shamelessly started making money from ticket sales.

The entrance fee is 100,000 taels of silver. Disabled ninjas can enjoy a 1% discount with their preferential treatment card.

For just 100,000 taels, you can witness the power of a Tailed Beast Rider. The price is incredibly reasonable, and the lines of spectators eager to buy tickets are endless.

The forest was packed with villagers, families and all, and the Shimura clan, who were in charge of the exam, had to mobilize a large number of volunteers to manage the flow of people. They were all working up a sweat.

"Lord Izuna, the tickets have been purchased."

Just then, a clansman who had been sent out to buy tickets returned, carrying a stack of tickets. Uchiha Gin quickly grabbed one.

"Thanks!"

"what?"

The tribesman who bought the tickets was dumbfounded; he had queued for a very long time to get these tickets.

"Go buy another one, let's go inside first."

Izuna glanced helplessly at Uchiha Gin and gently shook his head.

"Yes"

Feeling utterly aggrieved, the clansman secretly glared at Uchiha Gin, daring only to be angry but not daring to speak out. After all, he had been spanked countless times by this wretched curly-haired guy when he was a child, and he would have to cover his backside and walk close to the wall whenever he encountered him on the street.

"I didn't expect it to attract so many viewers."

As he fiddled with the ticket worth 100,000 taels of silver, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but sigh. The bustling crowd around him gave him the illusion of attending a grand market during the Lunar New Year.

But the atmosphere was actually no different from a large market. Savvy vendors had already set up stalls on both sides of the road, selling snacks, drinks, and some Tailed Beast Rider merchandise.

"Look, take a look! Nine-tailed dolls on special offer, only 998 each!"

Among the vendors, Uchiha Gin spotted a familiar face: Uzumaki Masahiko, who looked much more mature than a few years ago. Masahiko was enthusiastically hawking a Tailed Beast doll, the same model that Gin had displayed in his home. The small stall was surrounded by children with starry eyes.

998?

Is it depreciating that fast?

Blinking in confusion, out of consideration for his older brother Zhou Xuan, Uchiha Gin temporarily suppressed his desire to get a refund for the price difference and followed his younger cousin and his group to the entrance of the venue.

The huge examination hall, surrounded by black cloth, had two entrances, one large and one small. The larger one was for the audience, and several diligent members of the Shimura tribe were checking tickets at the entrance.

Outside the other small door, a large crowd of applicants waited to take the exam, but for some reason, the door remained closed, and many of them had begun to complain.

Many ordinary villagers, who considered themselves the chosen ones, found their legs starting to weaken after standing for a long time under the scorching sun, overwhelmed by exhaustion and thirst.

"I paid two million taels, and I don't even get a stool?! Give me my money back!"

The thought that he had spent his entire fortune on the exam, only to receive no basic benefits, immediately made him shout out in anger.

"Exactly! They didn't even provide a glass of water. What kind of organizers are they? I suggest a thorough investigation into where the funds went!"

"Investigate thoroughly!"

"Otherwise, we'll have to get an invoice!"

"Issue an invoice!"

"."

"Young clan leader, something terrible has happened!"

The resentment among the applicants gradually escalated, and the Shimura clan members responsible for maintaining order quickly reported this to Danzo.

"Don't call me Young Clan Chief, call me Advisor!"

Upon hearing the way his clansmen addressed him, Danzo's expression turned cold.

"Yes, sir! The registered contestants are causing a disturbance!"

"ha?"

Danzo, who was struggling with the issue of Uchiha Izuna's retirement pension, was taken aback upon hearing this.

"They demanded a thorough investigation into where the registration fees collected by the Shimura family went, and they also wanted invoices."

"Holy shit!"

Why does nothing ever go his way? He's been running around doing all the work, but he hasn't gotten any benefit from it. Instead, he's been burdened with a lot of criticism and bad reputation.

"Danzo, I think they're just impatient. Let's get started."

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw through the true nature of the disturbance and reminded Danzo to start the exam as soon as possible to silence the critics.

"Please carry it to the entrance of the passage!"

Danzo frowned and nodded, then waved his hand, ordering his clansmen to carry out the nine-tailed fox statue he had personally carved.

"Look, it's Shimura Danzo!"

Among the troublemakers who had registered, someone spotted Danzo walking slowly in the distance and immediately shouted, prompting the crowd to raise their arms and cheer.

"Refund! Refund! Refund!"

"."

Danzo, his face dark, remained silent and quickly led the Nine-Tailed Fox statue to the entrance of the passage.

"Boom—"

As the massive statue landed, the commotion subsided, and the crowd, their faces filled with confusion, looked at the abstractly designed nine-tailed fox statue behind Danzo, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.

"What is that thing?"

"It looks a bit like a stray dog ​​at the edge of the village."

"So ugly, so abstract."

Danzo took a deep breath, imagining the troublemakers before him as stacks of green banknotes. His anger subsided somewhat, and a professional, fake smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

"Lord Danzo, when exactly does the exam begin?"

Among the crowd were many members of the Ninja Alliance. Although they harbored resentment towards Danzo, they could only suppress their anger and inquire due to his status.

"Such an important exam cannot be taken lightly. This advisor must make thorough preparations before announcing the start of the exam. This is also for the sake of the village and everyone."

Looking at the banknotes, Danzo patiently explained.

"Are you ready now?"

The contestants, who had been waiting anxiously, were already impatient. They had staked most of their life savings on the title of Tailed Beast Rider.

"Now that I'm here, I naturally declare that the exam is about to begin."

Danzo nodded, and everyone's eyes lit up. They had finally waited for their chance to prove themselves, and they eagerly began to push forward.

Seeing the scene gradually becoming chaotic, Danzo frowned and continued to explain.

"However, since the number of applicants exceeded expectations, in order to save everyone's time, this consultant has prepared a special test. Only those who pass this test will be eligible to participate in the next exam."

"Huh? They didn't mention any prerequisites when they started charging!"

"A person who cannot even pass the first test is not worthy of being a knight."

Danzo's voice turned icy, and those standing in the front row felt a chill creep into their bodies.

Reminded by Danzo's imposing aura, some of the applicants, blinded by anger, belatedly realized that the man with the enormous buttocks before them was one of the village's top fighters.

"It's just a test, bring it on! I'm going to be the man who becomes a Tailed Beast Knight!"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

"."

"Very good, very energetic!"

Danzo nodded in satisfaction, then stepped aside, revealing the abstract Nine-Tails standing at the entrance of the passage behind him.

"This statue contains a trace of the Nine-Tailed Fox's malice. Anyone who can successfully pass through it and enter the passage will pass the test."

"this one?"

Many people curiously examined the abstract nine-tailed fox statue. This rather ugly statue did not evoke any fear in them whatsoever; the fact that they didn't laugh out loud was already a great favor to Danzo.

"Hmph! Now, the exam begins!"

Hearing the disdainful hisses rising and falling from the crowd, Danzo sneered and announced the start of the exam.

"Hey hey hey! I'm going to be a Tailed Beast Rider!"

Those who had registered in the first row had been lining up since yesterday, all hoping to be the first to register. Seeing Danzo wave his hand, they immediately surged towards the passage, afraid of falling behind and missing out on becoming a Tailed Beast Rider.

"It's just a funny statue, I, the great one, don't care at all! Ahhh!"

A commoner, hoping to try his luck, rushed to the nine-tailed fox statue, about to scoff, when he was horrified to find himself trembling uncontrollably. Under the terrifying pressure, screams filled the air.

The next second, unable to withstand the Nine-Tails' malice, his screams stopped abruptly, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolling back and foaming at the mouth.

"Quick! It's our turn!"

The medical team, which had been waiting for a long time, finally came in handy. The first person to faint was quickly carried away, followed by the second, and the third.

"That thing is strange."

Upon seeing the front-line applicants collapse like leeks, those behind immediately stopped in their tracks, their faces grave.

"This thing is really useful!"

Danzo watched as wave after wave of applicants fell, and couldn't help but nod repeatedly.

Just as the applicants were hesitating, a burly figure stepped forward, walked slowly to the Nine-Tailed Fox statue, and looked up directly at it.

"Huff, huff."

Although panting heavily, the burly man did not collapse like the others. After pausing for a full ten seconds, he stepped forward with difficulty, becoming the first applicant to cross the statue.

"He actually passed! That guy is a Jonin from the Senju clan!"

To everyone's surprise, they also recognized the burly man's identity. Even a Jonin was struggling so much; this test was indeed no simple matter.

"Damn it, I'll risk it!"

The money has already been paid; if they back out at the last minute, they might regret it for the rest of their lives. Many who weren't even ninjas and hadn't signed up decided to give it their all after a period of internal struggle.

What if I really am the chosen one?

However, the truth is always so cruel.

An ordinary person without chakra protection wouldn't last more than three seconds against the Nine-Tails' malicious chakra.

Ordinary people with unrealistic fantasies were carried away one after another by the medical team, and their two million yuan trial cards were rendered invalid.

"My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven!"

"Mom, give me strength!"

"."

Of course, there are also people who have successfully overcome this obstacle.

Many powerful and well-established Jonin, relying on their unwavering faith, overcame the Nine-Tails statue and gained the qualification to face the Tailed Beast Cards directly.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a cruel test~"

Uchiha Gin, who had successfully taken his seat in the audience, looked at the defeated man convulsing on the ground with a sigh, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"If you can't even withstand this much malice, what right do you have to be the eldest brother's successor?"

Uchiha Izuna shook his head dismissively, his eyes filled with disappointment. Of all those who had passed the test, not a single one of them met his approval. If these good-for-nothings really managed to get the prize, he would be kicking himself.

"Big cousin, is it still possible to register now?"

"It's too late, registration closed yesterday."

Seeing the anxiety hidden in his younger cousin's eyes, Uchiha Gin shrugged regretfully.

"Damn it! Wait, isn't that the white-haired guy's illegitimate daughter?"

Just as Izuna was about to curse in frustration, he saw the white-haired girl gracefully walking out of the crowd, and a look of astonishment rose in his eyes.

"Did she sign up too?"

Uchiha Gin scratched his head, surprised that the white-haired guy also coveted the Nine-Tails. It seems that the experience of transforming before was quite good.

"Although she knows the White Hair's signature skills, she is still too young and inexperienced. I'm afraid..."

Uchiha Izuna shook his head with some regret. If she had a few more years of training, Senju Hisana might have reached some of her father's level.

"The work of the Uzumaki clan, where did Danzo get this thing from?"

Standing before the incredibly abstract Nine-Tails statue, Senju Hisami frowned slightly; the Nine-Tails' malice had no effect on her whatsoever.

The reason she hesitated was because she was curious about when Danzo had made contact with the Uzumaki clan.

"Never mind, the Tailed Beast Rider System is more important."

"She's still standing. No wonder she's Tobirama Senju's daughter."

"It's truly remarkable that someone so young has achieved this."

"Huh? She moved! She went in!"

Just as the audience was marveling at Senju Hisama's unwavering will, she effortlessly stepped over the Nine-Tailed Fox statue, her entire movement fluid and without the slightest obstruction.

"If Bai Mao could know this in the afterlife, he could close his eyes in peace now."

Seeing Senju Hisama pass the test with ease, Izuna felt a burning sensation on his face, feeling humiliated. Under Uchiha Gin's mocking gaze, he coughed lightly and said with feigned seriousness,

"hehe."

"Big cousin! Look! What's that woman doing here too?"

Before Uchiha Gin could utter a sarcastic remark, Uchiha Izuna's expression changed upon catching a glimpse of bright red blood out of the corner of his eye.

A slender figure in a white robe stepped out of the crowd, and under the watchful eyes of everyone, strolled leisurely past the nine-tailed statue and disappeared into the passageway.

"That woman just now... was she from the Uzumaki clan?"

"Wasn't it said that only people from Konoha could participate? I should have sent my distant cousin from the Land of Lightning too~"

"A cover-up! A cover-up!"

"Danzo! I need an explanation!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head, his face dark, and questioned Danzo behind him.

The recruitment notice clearly stated the residency restrictions, but now you've brought in a foreigner. Do you not want to be an elder anymore?

"Don't worry, Monkey, she's just here to experience it."

Just as Danzo was explaining to his friends why Mito Uzumaki had participated in the recruitment, Gin Uchiha was also lecturing his easily startled younger cousin.

"Izuna, calm down. You're about to be a grandfather. Can't you be as composed as me, unfazed even if Mount Tai collapses before you???"

Before he could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of three familiar figures out of the corner of his eye—they were supposed to be buying snacks. His half-closed, dead-fish eyes instantly widened in astonishment.

"Himitsu-senpai, Itama, isn't this the popcorn line?"

(End of this chapter)