Raikage nodded. “I’ve noticed that as well. Itachi Uchiha, heir of that damned Uchiha , is among the partits…” He waited for a moment before saying, “Let Darui participate in this in Exam as well. Repce the weakest member of the team and make him the leader.”

  Darui, who was a couple of years older than Itachi, was still not a in. Like Konoha, A was also pnning on using him to assert dominan a in Exam hosted by another vilge, but with the current situation, he o modify his pn.

  Sihere was no way he could let others win in his fortress, the ministers bowed ahe Raikage alone in his office, deep in thought. The storm clouds above the mountains seemed to mirror his mood.

  ---

  Kaida, Kabuto, and Itachi, after briefly surveying their petitors, decided to explore more of Kumogakure with Jiraiya’s permission. The uructure of the vilge intrigued them, with its t, rock-built houses and massive bridges that ected one part of the vilge to ahe vilge seemed to grow out of the mountains themselves, a testament to the strength aermination of the people of Kumogakure.

  As they wahrough the streets, they came across a bustling market where vendors sold exotic goods not found in Konoha—spices, onry, and rare mountain herbs.

  "This pce feels like a fortress," Kabuto remarked, adjusting his gsses. "Evereets are built for defense."

  Itaodded, his sharp eyes catg sight of several shinobi strategically positioned on rooftops. “Kumogakure’s focus has always been military might. They aren’t ied in the diplomacy that Konoha values.”

  They walked past a bcksmith’s shop where massive hammers ged against metal, f ons Kaida had never seen before. Kabuto stopped to examine a particurly iing bde—a serrated sword infused with peared to be lightning chakra.

  “Iing,” Kabuto muttered. “It seems like Kumogakure uses chakra in their ons more often than we do in Konoha.” He also picked a sword for himself.

  They moved oually reag one of Kumogakure’s famous waterfalls that cascaded down from the cliffs, creating a natural barrier between the vilge and the world below.

  Kaida stood for a moment, watg the water rush by. “Kumogakure is impressive,” he said, his voice tinged with respect.

  Itachi looked out over the view. "Yes, but these wonders e at a cost. Their people suffer more than ours."

  Kaida nodded. His mind fshed back to the poor vilges they had passed on the way here, but only for a sed.

  “As! There is nothing we do for now. Let’s just focus oask ahead of us first and think about that after winning,” Kabuto, the least affected among the three, said. Having lived his whole life in an orphanage a with poverty too, it was not a fn cept for him.

  “You are right. There is no use thinking about it if we ’t do anything. Let’s focus on what’s ahead of us,” Kaida said.

  “The waterfall…”

  Kaida and Kabuto looked toward Itachi as if he were an intruder. They even dispersed their chakra to make sure they weren’t under genjutsu.

  “I was just joking, guys,” Itachi said, turning his face away.

  “Man, this is the first time he’s tried to make a joke. Now I uand why he always remains serious—he’s really bad at being funny,” Kabuto said, ughing.

  “Hey, don’t disce him. At least he’s trying to improve,” Kaida added, ughing as well.

  “I’m going back,” Itachi said, starting to walk back toward the hotel.

  “Hey, we’re ing too.”

  Kaida and Kabuto followed Itachi back toward their lodging, but the air between them remained light-hearted. It was a rare moment for them to rex and enjoy, especially since, from the time they came together as a team, the only thing they had done was train.

  This was one of the reasons Jiraiya allowed them to go around and explore the vilge a little, particurly sihe looming in Exams promised fierpetition.

  As they walked back through the crowded market, a team from Amegakure passed by, catg their attention. The rain ninja, dressed in their sleek, dark raincoats, moved silently, their faces hiddeh rge hats.

  One of them, a silver-haired boy with a steely gaze, briefly made eye tact with Itachi before the group tinued on their way.

  "They say the rain ops in their vilge," Kabuto murmured, watg them disappear into the crowd. "I wonder what kind of jutsu they’ll bring to the table."

  “Rain ninja are known for their stealth and water-based teiques,” Itachi said. “But in a pce like Kumogakure, they’ll be at a disadvahout stant rain."

  “Without stant rain? See above us, captaimosphere is always cloudy. Maybe luck will be on their side, and they get their home advantage here too,” Kaida said, pointing toward the sky, which was filled with dense clouds, thunder ringing from time to time.

  “Yes, as sensei said, there’s o uimate anyone,” Itachi added, maintaining his aloof persona.

  ‘But by this time, Pain should be in charge of Amegakure. Why the hell is he sending ninja for something like this?’ Kaida thought, but sihere was no way to find out, he let go of his thoughts and decided to focus on what y ahead.

  ---

  Meanwhile, in the Raikage’s office, preparations for the exams were in full swing. Raikage A sat behind his massive desk, reviewis from his scouts and intelligence officers.

  "Darui has already been briefed," one of his senior ministers informed him. "He’ll take charge of the team and represent Kumogakure."

  Raikage A nodded in approval, but his mind was elsewhere. His eyes lingered on a map of the vilge id out before him, showing the various exam locations and the security surrounding the Daimyo, as well as the locations where other teams had taken lodgings.

  Normally, one or, at most, two Daimyo would e to watch a in Exam, the distaween the tries being the major reason behind it. But this time, for some reason, three Daimyo had decided to visit: the Lightning Daimyo, the Fire Daimyo, and the earth Daimyo. With three Daimyo present, the responsibility of their security y on Kumogakure’s shoulders, especially because the number of fn ninja in the vilge was unusually high during this time.

  A, being a straightforerson, hated these hidden moves the most, but he also khat such tactics were the most effective. That’s why he was w extra hours to maintain order during the in Exam, which was why he didn’t pay much attention to Konoha. Even Iwagakure had sent Deidara for the exam this time, so for Konoha to send Itachi was not that big of a deal to him.

  He looked out the window, watg the gathering clouds, his eyes narrowing in thought. Then, once again, he focused on the piles of work in front of him.

  ---

  Back at the hotel, Kaida and his team finally arrived. Jiraiya was waiting for them outside, arms crossed, a casual smile on his face as he greeted them.

  “You boys have a good look around?” Jiraiya asked.

  Kaida nodded. "Kumogakure’s quite impressive. Their ons are heavily infused with chakra. Even its natural beauty doesn’t fall behind Konoha that much. There were many breathtaking views, and their security is tight."