Naruto: The Information Broker from the Uchiha Clan.

Chapter 347 Black Soil (Not yet finished, 5,000 words, 6,000 words tomorrow)

money?

What money?

It's all money?

The little nine-tailed fox, who was about to leap up, froze. In its mind, money meant being able to eat delicious food and drink alcohol!

In that moment of hesitation, the giant ink-wash birds in mid-air had already flown far away, carrying everyone with them.

In this situation, if we chase after them, what if that Uchiha brat uses another genjutsu, and then the Uzumaki girl uses the Adamantine Sealing Technique...?

Although his pupil power was average and his Vajra Lock couldn't hold him for long, the blond brat's eager look just now seemed a little off.

Thinking of this, the Nine-Tails' vertical pupils looked at the genin from Kirigakure and Iwagakure.

Although the Nara family brats are all heartless, there's one thing he wasn't lying to himself: these guys in front of him are all money!

Although Uchiha Yun had instructed that Konoha's genin should be given higher priority, haven't those kids already run far away?

I tried my best to chase after it, but it can fly! What can I do?

The large Tailed Beast Balls are unusable, and the smaller ones were simply eaten by the opponent's insects. What can we do? There's nothing we can do!

Yes, that's it.

Thinking of this, the Nine-Tails' gaze towards the Hidden Mist Village and the Hidden Iwa Village genin gradually turned ferocious.

"Lord Nine-Tailed Fox! We'll pay!"

Eh?

So easy to talk to?

"Ahem! That's still nine hundred thousand taels, okay? You'll need the corpses of the dead, so that's also charged."

Indeed, although the Chunin Exams are just an exam, the signed agreement is not just for show.

Death is a normal thing. I had just had physical contact with Aburame Torane, and now I have lost all vital signs.

For ninjas, death is a normal occurrence.

The villagers might be angry, but they also understood that this was the fate of ninjas, a fate they had learned from the very beginning of their training.

……

"Karin, you can relax now, but you still need to check the location of Kurama and those guys every now and then."

Shikamaru gave the order, then looked at Neji and the other two who had just been rescued: "Could you tell me the details?"

Neji nodded and immediately recounted all his experiences. Lee, standing to the side, was weeping bitterly, while Tian Tian looked at him with utter disdain.

After Neji finished speaking, Shikamaru nodded and said, "It seems that's how it is... Although the existence of the Nine-Tails will cause trouble for both sides, we are naturally at a disadvantage compared to them, who can solve the problem with money."

Karin, who was standing nearby, said, "In that case, it is indeed necessary to keep an eye on Kurama. Letting in the strongest tailed beast to target our own village, I really don't know what Brother Yun was thinking."

Shino frowned: "In that case, it means that the key to the scroll battle in this survival exercise lies in which side can make the best use of the Nine-Tails' power..."

Sasuke looked at Shikamaru: "But we're naturally at a disadvantage because of the rules set by Brother Yun; even the Nine-Tails can't take our money..."

Sasuke paused for a moment at this point.

The next second, his eyes met Shikamaru's, and the two of them gave a wry smile at the same time.

Shikamaru sighed, "What kind of confidence makes Brother Yun think that our group has the power to fight the Nine-Tails?"

???

These words stunned everyone.

Kiba comforted the still trembling Akamaru: "How could that be? If that power were unleashed, we would all be finished. Shikamaru, I don't believe you didn't see it. Kurama wasn't even using its full strength just now."

Ino, who was resting against Sakura, looked a little pale.

"The power of the miniature Tailed Beast Ball has been reduced to its lowest level, but even so, the defenses of Iwagakure were still riddled with holes."

As she spoke, Ino ate the soldier pill that Sakura handed her: "And that guy from Kirigakure just now, he's definitely not an ordinary genin. When I entered his body, the power I felt was not much weaker than Izumi-sensei's."

Shikamaru glanced at Ino: "He clashed with Izumi-sensei five years ago during the Chunin Exams. Apart from not having the Nine-Tails, the situation wasn't too different from now."

"A three-tomoe Sharingan and a Hyuga clan Byakugan, plus Kiba's older sister has excellent medical ninjutsu and that... monstrous strength."

At this point, Shikamaru let out a breath: "Based on Kurama's reaction just now, some of my guesses have been verified."

Shikamaru looked at everyone.

"First: In the rules that Brother Yun set for Kurama, our priority was definitely higher than that of the genin from other villages, because at that time Kurama actually wanted to abandon them and chase after us."

"Secondly, this set of rules is not without loopholes, the biggest of which is probably the personality of the Nine-Tails. Money... that's the loophole, but also the most fatal one."

After saying that, Naruto scratched his head, puzzled, and said, "If we can get money by capturing them, this loophole is our biggest advantage, right? Why do you say it's fatal?"

Shikamaru shook his head slightly: "The arrival of the Nine-Tails was an accident for us. In missions and wars, the unexpected appearance of a powerful force means that whichever side can utilize it will gain the real advantage."

"The reason we were able to escape just now was because we took advantage of Kurama's love of money with that last sentence. But it's also the same thing that will prevent us from continuing if they realize what's going on."

???

Is it that serious?

Shikamaru frowned; there were still some things he hadn't figured out.

If it were that simple, none of us would have a chance to play. So why did Brother Yun create such a rule?

Will all the genin in this generation of Konoha be eliminated?

The Hokage will not allow such a thing to happen during the Chunin Exams.

But if that's not the case, then does our side have the power to seize the turning point?

Break the seal?

No, it shouldn't be this point.

Although the seal on Team 7 was set up by Brother Yun, if the reason for the eventual reversal is breaking the seal, then it will be a joke for the other four major ninja villages.

The main reason they held onto hope was that most of Team 7's power had been sealed away.

If the seal is left open, and the bald man eventually breaks through, it would be a joke and would be meaningless.

So... what exactly is it?

Sasuke and Karin's combined efforts could indeed trap Kurama for a while, but that time was far from enough to turn the tide...

"Sai, let's find a place to land first. Staying in mid-air makes us an easy target for concentrated fire."

After landing, everyone began to rest and recuperate.

Shikamaru remained in a daze for a long while before making his next move.

"Karin's perception range is very long, so Karin will continue to keep track of the Nine-Tails' location and the Iwagakure and Kirigakure genin's positions."

"Furthermore, Sai's secret technique, combined with Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, helped them find traces of those small ninja villages and Kumogakure."

"If my guess is correct, then our next step is to quickly seize the scroll, find the vicinity of the tower, and then use our reconnaissance advantage to take advantage of the situation."

Taking shortcuts?

Sasuke looked over: "Is this the only way? If so, I don't feel like this is what Brother Yun really wanted."

Shikamaru gave a wry smile: "Although we can still try to provoke them at this time, after that encounter, we don't know if there are any smart people in Iwagakure and Kumogakure. If there are, then it's a huge trap waiting for us to walk into."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke nodded.

But no matter what, Sasuke still felt that something was definitely wrong. Brother Yun's purpose was definitely not to let people like him take shortcuts to complete the second exam.

……

"Ah!! Put me down! Put me down, you Sunagakure bastards!"

"Please don't kill us. Just take the scrolls and stuff. Killing us is pointless. (>﹏<)"

"Shut up! Do you want us all to die?"

Three genin, suspended in mid-air by sand, were making a ruckus when a stream of quicksand pulled out the scroll and delivered it to Gaara's hands.

Temari glanced at it and said, "The third one matched. It's neither good nor bad luck."

Masaki glanced at the three genin standing to the side: "So... are they still the same as before?"

Gaara nodded, and all the sand was collected back into the gourd on his back.

"This exam is not suitable for your small ninja village, you should know that, so why do you still insist on coming?"

"Hmph! If a ninja gives up because of fear, he might as well go back to farming!"

"Is that so? But if you lose your life, doesn't that mean you have nothing at all?"

The guy who had just been bound by sand and cursed loudly looked at Gaara: "Compared to the five great ninja villages, we are indeed insignificant, but in order to break this situation, we will fight one after another, even if it means losing our lives."

"You great ninja villages will never understand this feeling! Even in death, my successors will know my name and will work even harder because of my sacrifice..."

"There are many unfair things in this world, but if you don't even have the courage to fight for them, what's the point of living?"

After speaking, Gaara fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, he finally raised his head and said, "You should leave. Without the scroll, find a place to hide. There should be some big commotion soon. Compared to dying like this, you should feel sorry for yourself, right?"

The opposing genin was stunned for a moment, but with his companions pulling him away, he left without saying a word.

Temari, standing to the side, chuckled dismissively: "They rush headlong into it like moths to a flame, but what's the point?"

Gaara shook his head slightly.

Does it have no meaning?

Shouldn't those who die for their village be heroes?

My mother's will protects me, and I want to use that power to protect the village.

In reality, what's the difference between me and them?

The difference... lies in courage, perhaps?

Thinking of this, a wisp of sand floated up in front of Gaara and quickly formed the shape of an eye.

Temari glanced at them and asked, "Should we continue to keep an eye on them?"

Gaara shook his head slightly: "No, I want to find those two from Kumogakure. I have to try, no matter what."

……

at the same time.

Iwagakure and Kirigakure, having paid another 900,000 ryo, were quite frustrated. Although they knew this would happen when they signed the agreement, not everyone among the forty-two people was prepared for it.

Three people died after being touched by the Aburame.

"Those bastards! They actually used the Nine-Tails to block us, and they even used poison!"

The grumbling and cursing of the creatures did not disturb the black soil.

He was staring blankly, seemingly deep in thought.

After a while, Kurotsuchi looked at Zhitu and asked, "Tell me the details of your operation again, as thoroughly as possible, and don't overlook any detail."

Although, Zhidou recounted everything again.

As soon as he finished speaking, Heitu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

"It seems that sir is far more confident than we imagined..."

As he spoke, Kurotsuchi stood up and instructed the reconnaissance team to keep a close eye on the Nine-Tails' movements.

He then turned around and looked at Zhi Tu and the other two, saying, "Nine people were waiting for you, and we had been scouting twelve people all along. But when they escaped, there were fifteen of them."

"After that Nara kid said the timing was just right, the Nine-Tails' roar came from another direction, and then the nine people became fifteen, of which the three new ones were very weak."

"This situation can only mean that three people initially went on a rescue mission. And based on the Nine-Tails' roar, it goes without saying that the entity that kidnapped those three and needed rescue is the one who did it."

Zhi Tu asked with some doubt, "But... it's also possible that they were penniless when they encountered the Nine-Tails. If they were penniless, they would have been kidnapped. Who knows?"

Kurotsuchi glanced at him: "After Itachi Uchiha explained it, even we outsiders knew we needed to prepare some things. How could they not know?"

"The Nine-Tails has always been with Uchiha Izumi, and among those fifteen people, the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho happens to be Uchiha Izumi's disciples. Do you think they wouldn't understand the Nine-Tails? Or do you think the Nara clan's brains have degenerated?"

Zhi Tu waved his hand and smiled awkwardly.

Although she doesn't want to admit it, Kurotsuchi, as the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage, does indeed have a very impressive vision and plan.

Wu Ye, who was standing nearby, then asked, "So you mean... the Nine-Tails should impose even harsher rules on Konoha, like charging 200,000 ryo per person?"

After thinking for a moment, Heitu shook his head: "Two hundred thousand taels is definitely enough for those fifteen people, since they must have prepared money when they came in."

"The Fourth Hokage's son used a shadow clone to go out while he was making hair curlers, so there's still no way he won't have enough money."

"Considering the three guys who were rescued, could it be concluded that Konoha didn't want to spend money, but simply bound them and threw them into a barrier that shielded their senses?"

"And the words of that brat from the Nara family when they finally escaped also represented a lot of things."

"I need to speak with Kurama in person!"

……

After the reconnaissance team sensed Kurama, Kurotsuchi prepared to go and have a talk with him.

But Zhi Tu tried to stop her.

"You alone? No, no, I promised the Tsuchikage-sama I would take good care of you."

"Take care of? Shouldn't it be said that I've been taking care of you all along?"

"Anyway, that won't work. If you get slapped to pieces by Kurama, I won't be able to explain it to the Tsuchikage."

Kurotsuchi frowned and replied, "The second exam lasts for five days, and everyone has signed a death pact. You should know that if you want to give up, Nine-Tails is the best refuge."

"We don't have much money left. If I go alone, I can save as much as I can. And if I'm not mistaken, then the other side won't have much to struggle against."

"I wonder what that confident adult will do when he finds out that everyone in Konoha has been eliminated."

With a smile and a wave of his hand, Kurotsuchi bypassed the still-dazed Chito and sped off towards Kurama.

"That's really brave..."

Wu Ye sighed, "But if something unexpected happens, we'll just have to collect her corpse. This isn't Iwagakure; nobody knows how the Nine-Tails will react."

Chito frowned slightly as he looked at Muya: "You should know very well why we came to participate in this Chunin Exams. Her pressure... is actually quite great."

"Phew... Pressure really can change a person. This guy wasn't this smart three years ago, but he still has a sharp tongue."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Ye sighed.

"Although I feel it's not very meaningful, I also think the idea of ​​a spark makes sense. Otherwise, who would take this exam?"

"We were once hailed as geniuses in the Chunin Exams, but five years have passed, and we're still just genin, having to compete with Uchiha Izumi's students..."

"Thinking about it, it's really embarrassing."

……

"Oh? Someone actually came to deliver money in person?"

The shrunken Nine-Tails, having suppressed its crimson chakra, looked somewhat adorable.

Looking at the black soil, Little Nine-Tailed Fox smiled and said, "Twenty thousand taels per person, pay up."

Without hesitation, Kurotsuchi took out 20,000 taels and respectfully handed it over: "Lord Nine-Tailed Fox, I would like to discuss a plan with you."

Plan? What plan?

Are you planning to queue up and give yourself money?

Little Nine-Tails laughed, leaped up and patted Kurotsuchi on the shoulder: "The girl from Iwagakure is indeed good, much better than your old man who is the Kage, and of course a hundred times better than the Nara family."

Kurotsuchi was taken aback, but then she realized from those words that Kurama seemed to dislike the Nara clan.

"If you, Lord Nine-Tails, like money, perhaps I can help you."

Eh?

Little Nine-Tailed Fox was stunned. Had her dream come true?

"Lord Nine-Tails, if I'm not mistaken, you shouldn't have been able to get money from those Konoha genin, right?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Kurotsuchi noticed the resentment in Kurama's eyes.

It seems I was right after all.

In that case, things will be much easier to discuss later.

"Looks like I guessed right."

"With that as a premise, many things can be guessed."

"Lord Nine-Tails... do you really want to make money?"

Little Nine-Tails pouted upon hearing this: "You have no idea, there's not a single good person in the Nara family. If it weren't for him, would I still be here making money?"

……

(End of this chapter)