Naruto: The Information Broker from the Uchiha Clan.

"bump."

After clinking their glasses, they drank it all in one gulp. Several mothers felt that they should have a drink today, so for the sake of their sons and daughters, they all stayed home and rested.

The reason given is for tomorrow's final; as for the few already eliminated in the semifinals...

You've already lost, and you still have the nerve to come out and freeload?

Instead of properly training and preparing for the next Chunin Exams, you want to go out for barbecue? Where's your shame?

So... this is a mom's party.

"Tenten, forget about those few, but Yako, Yu, and Sarada should have been brought along to celebrate."

Temari poured herself another cup and also filled Sakura's cup.

Ino, who was standing nearby, replied, "Tomorrow is the final match against Sunagakure. Although the first place is not determined by the village, under the rule of a three-on-three free-for-all, the first match will inevitably be between Konoha and Sunagakure."

"In a team-based final, understanding your teammates' abilities and planning tactics is a given. Also... I heard from Yu that Lutai was with them today."

Temari nodded, then sighed, "That's all the kid can do now, but at least he inherited his father's brains."

Sakura teased, "If you say that, doesn't it prove that Temari isn't very bright? Hahaha..."

Temari was annoyed by this and grabbed the sake she had just poured for Sakura and drank it: "I'm very smart! Back in the day, I was the Kazekage's reliable support, just like Shikamaru."

Tenten sighed, "I wonder if Yako can keep up. Sarada's Sharingan, Yu's Eight Gates, only Yako..."

"day by day……"

Hinata's gentle voice rang out. She glanced at Ino and then at Tenten: "I heard from Ino that... Mei's Flying Thunder God Technique is already at a basic level."

"Huh? Really?"

Tian Tian looked surprised, then said angrily, "This child didn't tell me? Is he afraid I'll tell others? I'm not...

Tenten stopped talking at this point, but her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Temari.

That one glance made it clear to everyone; the root cause lay in their identities.

The Changsheng Technology scandal is widely known, and Ino obviously knows who it is because of Yun.

Furthermore, once Konoha announced the reward for the first place winner of the Joint Chunin Exams, this conspiracy targeting Konoha's next unification strategy was exposed.

And everyone present... has some connection to the upper echelons of Konoha. Even Temari, originally from Sunagakure, has a husband, Shikamaru, who is now the second-in-command in the Hokage Building's administrative office.

Many things are actually known to everyone.

"Temari, um... I didn't... I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

I feel a bit helpless every day.

However, Temari simply waved her hand and said, "There's no need to apologize. The fact that you blurted that out clearly shows you weren't wary of me. We're just friends, so there's no need to be on guard."

As she spoke, Temari looked at Tenten, who still looked uneasy, and said, "Since those stinky men aren't here today, it's okay to say some private things about our mom group..."

"At that time, although I did have feelings for Shikamaru at first, those feelings weren't enough for me to leave Sunagakure and come to Konoha. After all, that was the village where I grew up. My mind wouldn't allow me to do something so foolish as to move to an environment full of enemies and strangers for the sake of a man."

After he finished speaking, neither Sakura, Ino, nor the others present said a word.

There's no way to judge, but rationally speaking, what the other party said was their true opinion.

If they were in the same situation, none of the women would be fools, and they wouldn't have made that choice either.

Temari continued, "In fact, more than a decade ago, the situation in Sunagakure was not going well. Gaara succeeded as the Fifth Kazekage, but among the five great ninja villages, Sunagakure's overall strength was the weakest, a fact that both Gaara and I were well aware of."

"It was precisely because of this that we did not participate in many of the four great ninja villages' plans against Konoha at that time."

She couldn't help but sigh as she spoke, after all, it was the village where she grew up.

"When Konoha's Research Department officially developed the technology for desert greening, the biggest problem of Sunagakure itself was solved. That was also the time when I chose to come to Konoha."

"Later... the Second Research Department expanded the feasibility and convenience of this technology, and resources were already overflowing. The attitude of Sunagakure, or rather the attitude of the lower and middle levels, Gaara, and some of the higher-ups, changed even more."

"That proverb that the Nine-Tails often says: 'The most valuable thing about a person is self-awareness.' Sunagakure is very self-aware in this regard. My arrival is also meant to strengthen our relationship and set an example."

As soon as she finished speaking, Temari stopped and downed a glass of sake by herself.

He then slightly raised his head to look at the group.

Ino smiled, picked up the bottle and poured her another glass, saying something to reassure Temari.

"Yun sometimes mentions that helping Gaara back then was the best choice he ever made. Because of that choice, the Fifth Kazekage didn't become an obstacle on the road to peace; instead, he was able to truly maintain peace."

"The Sand Village and the Leaf Village are very close, but once the resource problem is solved, the hearts of the people of the Land of Wind will gradually become those of the people of the ninja world."

Temari nodded: "Peace has been maintained for so many years, and the rapid advancement of technology has made life better and better. No one is willing to give up this hard-won peace."

At this moment, Hinata raised her wine cup and extended it to Temari, saying softly, "Naruto and I both believe in you, and we also believe in the Kazekage and Sunagakure."

Tenten and Sakura followed closely behind.

So the women put aside their earlier awkwardness, and the atmosphere became lively again.

They chatted about everyday matters, how busy the men in their families were with work, treating the lounge in the Naruto Building as their home, either coming home in the middle of the night or not coming home at all.

After forming a united front, their relationship clearly improved.

After all, there will always be resentment. Even Kushina sometimes kicked Minato Namikaze out, let alone these guys...

However, although he knew perfectly well what was going on, he didn't mention it to Karui at all.

……

On the other side, the Hokage Building.

Fearing being overheard by special technology or abilities, the group of kids, at Boruto's urging, applied for a meeting room right here.

The Hokage Building is protected by a barrier that is kept open year-round. The research department is responsible for the latest technologies and preventing any information from leaking out, making it the best place for such protection.

"Boruto, you shouldn't be involved tomorrow, right?"

Upon meeting, Sarada immediately retorted to Boruto.

Boruto retorted, "Even though I lost, I'm still a member of Team 7. I can help with the planning for such a big event tomorrow, and it was my suggestion to come here."

Lu Tai glanced at him: "I thought of that too, and it was actually the father I found. You, the crown prince, are utterly useless."

Boruto retorted angrily, "Who said that? Dad only refused because Uncle Sasuke was there, otherwise..."

Naruto would never want to use his position for personal gain, especially since Sasuke, who was also a candidate for Hokage, was present...

As they were talking, Boruto spotted Yu watching the show out of the corner of his eye.

"This guy is the real prince, okay? Why don't you talk about him? I think if you went to his house to talk, even if that big devil wanted to eavesdrop, he would have to come back empty-handed."

Yu's eye twitched. He was just watching the show, how did he get shot while lying down?

And this great demon... am I talking about the one from Amegakure?

Time is running out.

Yako's voice rang out. She looked at the group and said, "The finals are tomorrow, so make sure you get some rest today. If this pointless conversation continues, I think we should all go home and sleep."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone stopped arguing.

Shikadai nodded, then turned his attention to Uchiha Yu: "First, Yu, which of the Eight Gates can you open?"

Yu didn't mince words and replied directly, "The seventh gate. And the eighth gate, the gate of death, is almost here too. I can feel it, and my physique seems to be getting stronger all the time these past few days."

Lutai: ⊙_⊙

Boruto: →_→

Sarada Meko: (⊙o⊙)!

The Seventh Gate?

Is the Eighth Gate of Death coming soon?

What chilling words are these?

It should be noted that after his father's battle on the coast of the Land of Fire, the terrifying increase in the power of the Eight Gates was already known throughout the ninja world.

And the seventh gate...

That's the power to compress air and create a violent explosion; if the Eighth Gate could be opened, it would be the kind of power that could shatter a corner of the continent...

Is there any need to hold the Chunin Exams anymore?

That Sunagakure's Shinki, with iron sand imbued with chakra, could withstand such power?

They should have crumbled at the first blow!

"Hey!"

Uchiha Yu waved his hand at the stunned group: "Don't overthink it. The Eight Gates are different in everyone's hands. Me, Rock Lee, Guy, and my father are three different levels. Don't think I can really dominate everyone!"

Aren't they the same?

After thinking for a moment, Lu Tai nodded.

That makes sense; that explains why Uncle Tongyun continues to train with Mr. Kai day after day.

"So, what is the specific power of the seventh gate?"

Yu smiled and said, "If it were before this, I might not have been able to reach Mr. Kai's level after opening my seventh gate, and I would have been severely injured and unable to move afterward."

"But today I discovered... maybe Dad wasn't lying to me, there's a hidden power within me."

"So now... I can say with certainty that the power can compress air, and it won't immediately stop working after use."

Boruto pouted, but still gave Yu a pat on the shoulder: "You've been hiding this too well, haven't you? But this way, we'll definitely be able to teach that guy playing in the sand a lesson tomorrow."

Lu Tai thought for a moment, then looked at Ya Zi.

Before she could even speak, Hyuga Yako said directly, "The Flying Thunder God Technique can already be used in actual combat at a basic level..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shikadai's face lit up with joy: "You guys are really giving me a huge surprise! With the Flying Thunder God Technique, if used properly, the opponent's iron sand will be nothing but decoration. If we strike unexpectedly, we can achieve our goal with just one blow!"

"You're celebrating too soon..."

Yako interrupted Shikadai's fantasy: "Being able to apply it to actual combat is only the beginning. I have indeed learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, but that doesn't mean I can use it at will."

"Uncle Yun said that without the corresponding reaction speed, the Flying Thunder God Technique is nothing more than handing your head over to the enemy to be chopped off. A specially made kunai serves as a positioning tool, but the correct body position during teleportation requires constant practice."

After he finished speaking, Lu Tai was stunned for a moment.

He then gave a wry smile, realizing that it was indeed true. Without a strong reaction speed, the Flying Thunder God Technique was practically just a convenient way to get around.

What should we do?

They all seem to possess powerful abilities, yet none of them seem able to fully utilize them.

"Lutai, you've gone a bit too far."

Sarada, who had been eagerly waiting, never received a question from Shikadai.

What? There's still strength discrimination even in the finals?

Shikadai scratched his head: "Sorry, I was just thinking about how to formulate a battle plan, so I was a little distracted. Well then, Sarada, tell me about your power."

Sarada snorted coldly: "Two-tomoe Sharingan, skilled in Fire Release, Lightning Release, and shuriken throwing, and has also mastered some genjutsu."

Lu Tai casually remarked, "Haven't you activated the Kaleidoscope yet? Oh, if you're buying two jades..."

Sarada fumed, "And the Lightning Release: Chidori, and Mom's monstrous strength."

Soon, Shikadai ignored Sarada's pouting face, reached for a stack of papers, and began to record the abilities he had just learned.

As for physical skills, given that Yu has already been able to open the Seven Gates, Lan Luo's personality is not a problem.

Iron sand... electromagnetic forces require lightning to disintegrate them.

However, that guy from Sunagakure named Shinki isn't quite enough with just Sarada...

Lightning can have a certain restraining effect, but the power of lightning needs to be very strong.

and so……

"King against king, general against general. Yu, your target is that Lan Luo, and you need to finish this quickly. After defeating him, immediately rush to support Sarada, so you cannot open the Seventh Gate; you must preserve your fighting strength."

As Shikadai spoke, he looked at Sarada and said, "The Shinki you need to face is Shinki. Lightning ninjutsu can counter his iron sand, but I hope you can just stall him until your teammates arrive before crushing him."

"As it stands, the combined strength of our group, which has only been out of school for six months, is most likely insufficient to break through his iron sand, so you need to stall for time."

Sarada nodded, pouting.

Yako, standing to the side, looked at Shikadai: "So my target is that guy who uses Wind Release, right? Flying Thunder God Technique combined with the Byakugan's Gentle Fist, I have both close-range and counter techniques. I'll get there as soon as possible."

Lu Tai: "That's about right. However, we still need to elaborate on the specific details, as those guys might not necessarily follow our plan."

……