When Naruto finished speaking, everyone's eyes locked onto Kakashi.
Even Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke couldn't stand the attention. Sakura immediately punched Naruto to shut him up and stop him from saying foolish things.
Kakashi felt extremely embarrassed.
Although he was known in the ninja world for being able to fight anyone to a draw, he had absolutely no confidence when facing Shiraishi, the strongest person in the world today. Besides, Shiraishi had already left him with more than enough psychological trauma during the Third Ninja War.
Is that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
Shiraishi actually admired Tsunade and Jiraiya for having the courage to send their village's most important future prospect here under these circumstances.
Weren't they afraid he would simply step in and seize the Nine-Tails?
However, Shiraishi had no intention of making a move on the Nine-Tails at this moment. For one, he disdained using such methods, and secondly, his supreme confidence in his own power meant he did not fear the so-called Child of Prophecy from the original timeline.
Furthermore, Shiraishi had already begun setting up his chess pieces, using special methods to interfere with and disrupt the history and destiny of this world. It was still entirely uncertain who the true child of destiny would be.
"Long time no see, Hatake Kakashi."
"Yo... Kazekage-sama."
As the leader of a village, Shiraishi naturally wouldn't argue over the words of a few brats, so he walked forward as usual. "Where is your White Light Chakra Sabre?"
"I haven't used a blade in a long time."
Because of Obito's situation, Kakashi's training focus had been completely warped, leading him down the point-of-no-return path of relying entirely on the Sharingan. Consequently, he had completely abandoned the Hatake clan's sword techniques.
Of course, one couldn't entirely blame Kakashi. Obito's Sharingan was a bottomless pit that constantly devoured energy. Even if he wanted to follow the swordsmanship path, his body simply couldn't sustain such massive chakra consumption.
"That's a pity. During the Third Ninja War, my greatest regret was failing to take that White Light blade from your hands so I could give it to Chiyo-baasama to honor the memory of her two lost family members."
Shiraishi's words actually made Naruto excited. It turned out Kakashi-sensei really was the arch-rival of the strongest person in the ninja world.
Although Naruto lived in Konoha, the Kazekage of Sunagakure was a figure nearly every villager discussed.
Some feared him, some looked down on him, and some admired him...
Naruto had witnessed too many different reactions toward the Kazekage in Konoha, almost like a mirror reflecting all walks of life.
However, upon seeing Shiraishi in person, Naruto felt a bit disappointed.
Judging by his age, although the Kazekage wore a beard, he looked to be only in his early thirties. He completely lacked the aged, weathered look of Third Grandpa or Grandma Tsunade, appearing exceptionally vital and in his prime.
The Kazekage... the strongest man in the ninja world?
Sasuke stared at Shiraishi as he conversed with Kakashi, a hint of longing flashing in his eyes.
If he possessed such overwhelming power, the Uchiha clan would never have fallen to such a state.
"Among the Genin deployed by Suna this time, there is also a member of the Uchiha clan. You can have a good exchange with him when the time comes, Sasuke."
Hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke's eyes flickered, but he did not say much.
Living in Konoha and enduring adversity for so many years had made Sasuke far more calculated and guarded than his counterpart in history. Therefore, before the Kazekage's ultimate stance became clear, Sasuke would do nothing.
"There are also members of the Uzumaki clan."
The Uzumaki clan?
Hearing this surname, both Sasuke and Sakura shifted their gazes toward Naruto.
Seeing the blank looks on the three Genin and Kakashi's continued awkwardness, Shiraishi didn't hide anything and openly explained to Naruto, "Your father was the Fourth Hokage, and your mother was a member of the Uzumaki clan."
"So Uzumaki was my mother's surname..." Naruto fell silent, appearing deeply lost in thought.
Shiraishi didn't feel like lecturing them on the history, past, or future of the Uzumaki clan in this setting, so he stopped there and turned to welcome the representatives from the other villages.
One of the Jonin leaders from the Cloud Village this time was Shiraishi's split-clone, Hagoromo Masato. Along with two other Jonin leaders, the Cloud had deployed three teams of nine Genin.
The Hidden Stone Village sent eight squads, making it the village with the largest number of teams in this tournament. With the other villages arriving one after another, there were a total of forty squads participating in this Joint Chunin Exam.
It had to be said that Sunagakure put on a grand show. The opening ceremony featured various fireworks, performances, and brilliant tech display screens that thoroughly amazed the representatives from all factions.
Finally, Shiraishi, acting as the host, slowly walked onto the stage.
Shiraishi cleared his throat and quickly initialized his speech. "As everyone knows, the current situation in the ninja world is extremely tense, filled with the atmosphere of an impending war.
Given this environment, Sunagakure has organized this meaningful competition to demonstrate that the main theme of the ninja world will always be peace."
The main theme is peace?Your Sunagakure is literally the source of the upcoming Fourth Ninja War, okay?
"Within the highly competitive and combative environment of the Chunin Exam, I hope everyone can treat this world gently with a heart full of love and peace..."
Having served as Kazekage for over a decade, Shiraishi was now an expert at official corporate speeches. His words sent most of the Genin and Jonin leaders in the audience into a state of deep drowsiness.
Meanwhile, on the frontlines of the eastern continent, in the Land of Demons.
As the last remaining priestess of this country, Shion bore the heavy responsibility of turning the tide.
This was especially true now, as the undead army controlled by Yomi was aggressively pushing forward and approaching the royal capital, plunging this eastern country into its most dangerous hour.
"Has the support from Sunagakure still not arrived?"
"Even if Suna ninja arrive to reinforce us, it won't change anything. Don't forget that it is Moryo. Traditional chakra and senjutsu power cannot cause any effective damage to it."
Several high-ranking ministers of the Land of Demons were pacing around in a panic, while the priestess Shion stood in the temple hall with a calm expression.
"Lady Shion, have you foreseen something?"
As the priestess of the Land of Demons, Shion's most critical abilities were foreseeing the future and sacrificing her own life to seal demons. Seeing her so calm, the ministers guessed that she might have seen a vision.
"I merely foresaw that another powerful priestess would appear. Her power far surpasses mine, and she can completely resolve the current crisis facing the Land of Demons."
Hearing Shion's words, the high-ranking officials shook their heads. "How is that possible? The Land of Demons possesses the most orthodox Shinto Yin-Yang heritage. How could there be a more powerful priestess out there?"
Just as the group assumed Shion was merely losing her mind, a soft, gentle light suddenly illuminated the grand hall of the temple.
What incredible spiritual power... Shion thought in astonishment as the faint spiritual energy within her own body resonated and flared up in response.
Surrounded by a pure aura of spiritual energy and holding her longbow, Kikyo calmly walked into the hall as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
"Who goes there?"
"I am Kikyo, a wandering priestess. I have come to the Land of Demons at the invitation of the Kazekage to assist in sealing the demon."
Rather than having Sunagakure directly deploy troops to resolve the Yomi incident, it was far better to have Kikyo step in. Sharing the exact same Shinto Yin-Yang lineage, Kikyo was far better suited to stabilize the broader situation within the Land of Demons.