Twenty candidates participated in ten preliminary rounds, but only nine advanced to the third final.
The nine candidates are Naruto, Sasuke, Shino, Shikamaru, Neji, Gaara, Kankuro, Temari and Toss.
After the preliminaries, the Sandaime who had always been a transparent person stood up again. In addition to announcing that the finals would be in one month, he organized the nine candidates to draw lots.
As the eight Narutos drew a lot from the box in Anko's hand, the match list also came out.
The first game was between Naruto, who drew number 1, and Hinata Neji, who drew number 2.
The second game was between Gaara, who drew number three, and Sasuke, who drew number four.
Next is Kankuro from the Suna Ninja Village on the 5th versus Shino Aburame from Konoha on the 6th, and finally, the Suna Ninja Temari on the 8th versus Konoha Nara Shikamaru on the 9th.
As for No. 7 Toss, since there is one less person, he can only wait for the winner between Shikamaru and Temari.
To be honest, looking at the match list in Ibiki's hand, Hao Shuai sometimes had to wonder whether the old guy Sandaime could predict the future. Did he know in advance that Toss would challenge Gaara privately and be killed instantly, so he deliberately didn't give it to Gaara.
He arranges for his opponents.
The Sandaime didn't know that Hao Shuai was slandering him in his heart again. After the match list came out, he didn't pay attention to the candidates with different thoughts. After answering a few questions from Shikamaru, he announced loudly: "See you next month. That's it.
Disband."
The Sandaime's very powerful shout was originally expected to get an equally energetic response from the candidates, but in the end no one paid attention to him. Several candidates complained, muttered, or turned around and left the martial arts hall with a plain look on their faces.
, causing the Sandaime to lower his head with a black line on his forehead, covering his embarrassed old face with the shadow of his bamboo hat.
After watching the excitement, Hao Shuai followed the candidates and walked home boredly.
Unexpectedly, on the way, two idiots, Naruto and Sasuke, were greeted.
"Brother Hao Shuai, please give us special training within this month!" As soon as they met, Naruto made the request straight to the point, and the two pillars on the side also nodded in agreement.
It's a pity that Hao Shuai doesn't have the spare time to play with two little kids!
The reason why I trained them before was partly to get familiar with them, and partly to find something to do to paralyze the Sandaime.
Now that the Sandaime is going to die in a month, how can Hao Shuai care about his attention.
Therefore, Hao Shuai decisively refused on the pretext that he wanted to retreat, but he also pointed out a clear path for the two of them.
He just asked Sasuke to find Kakashi, while Naruto asked him to wander around the hot springs every day for the past few days.
"You said you want me to find a tall person in the hot spring resort, wearing a forehead protector with the word "oil" written on it, with white hair, wearing a red coat, brown clothes underneath the coat, and wearing oily wooden clogs.
Dirty uncle?" Naruto said with a confused look on his face after hearing Hao Shuai's request.
"Yes~ As long as you find this person, he will guide you in your next practice." Hao Shuai said.
"Who is he? Is he very strong? Why can't he be found only in the hot springs?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"Because he is a voyeur and likes to watch women bathing, so he will definitely appear in the hot springs." Hao Shuai vowed: "As for his name and strength, you will know this later."
"You just need to know that he is a ninja of the same level as Orochimaru you met in the Forest of Death before."
"Ah!!"*2
Hao Shuai's words made Naruto and Sasuke show expressions of disbelief.
They have experienced Orochimaru's strength personally, and it can be said that he was tortured to death. Unexpectedly, now that Hao Shuai said that a greasy uncle has Orochimaru's strength, they would be surprised if they could not be confused.
Hao Shuai ignored the two people's mood, and after explaining, he let them go, and he returned to his mansion.
As soon as he arrived home, Hao Shuai saw Uzumaki Xianglan who had left the Death Forest first.
After entertaining Xiang Lian a sumptuous dinner, Hao Shuai arranged for her to stay with him temporarily. After the Sandaime died a month later, he got her a residence permit and arranged for her to go with Naruto.
live.
…
night.
The moon is extraordinarily bright tonight, and thousands of lights on the street light up at the same time, making it extraordinarily gorgeous and beautiful.
Hao Shuai left his house alone and walked on the bustling street, looking at the bustling crowds of people, playing around in twos and threes.
Walking on the street, he looked up at the Hokage Rock, which was faintly visible under the moonlight. The next second, he came to the Sandaime Hokage Rock.
From here, you can overlook the entire Konoha Village.
I took out a lounge chair and lay on the Hokage Rock. The breeze blew on my face, which was particularly comfortable.
Hao Shuai closed his eyes and enjoyed the rare tranquility at this moment.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry, I'm late."
Suddenly, Orochimaru's figure appeared.
Hao Shuai was not surprised by Orochimaru's appearance, because he was the one who originally asked Orochimaru to meet at the Hokage Rock at this time. After all, he was in the Death Forest before, and time was tight, so many things could not be discussed in detail.
At this time, Hao Shuai did not get up, but still lay down, and said calmly: "No need to apologize, I was there early. And don't call me Your Majesty, just call the boss."
"Okay, boss." Orochimaru walked up to Hao Shuai and looked at him sincerely.
At this time, Hao Shuai sat up straight, then waved his hand, and a coffee table and a chair suddenly appeared next to the recliner, and he began to make tea with his own hands.
"Sit down and let's have a good chat."
Hao Shuai said as he handed Orochimaru a cup of tea he had brewed himself.
Orochimaru followed his words and sat opposite Hao Shuai, took the tea cup respectfully, and then asked sincerely: "Boss, when will we leave the ninja world and go to other worlds?"
Hao Shuai was used to Orochimaru's eyes, so he said calmly: "Don't worry~ I haven't played here yet, and I won't leave the ninja world for the time being."
"Oh~~" Hao Shuai's words made Orochimaru disappointed.
"The days are long, and you will have plenty of time to wander around in other worlds." Hao Shuai also had a headache. All the scientists under him had this kind of behavior.
So he decisively changed the subject and said, "I will remove the soul imprint you left in Sasuke's cursed seal for him."
"Yes, I sensed it, boss." Orochimaru nodded to show that he understood.
"I know that curse seal was used by you to perform the art of immortal reincarnation, but I still did it. Don't you think it's strange?" Hao Shuai asked again.
"Boss, please make it clear." This is also the strange thing about Orochimaru. It can't be said that he did this because the boss has a good relationship with Sasuke, right?!
Based on Orochimaru's observation, his boss is obviously the kind of character who is unwilling to take advantage of others, so this shouldn't be the reason.
Hao Shuai: "I'm actually doing this for your own good."