Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 131: Scorch Release, Pakura!

Unlike the battered and worn-down participants who had returned from the misty swamp, Minato and his group appeared pristine, with barely any mud on them. It was hard not to wonder if they had taken a scenic detour instead of enduring the treacherous conditions of the poison fog swamp.

Of course, not all Konoha participants were as lucky. A team led back by Sakumo Hatake looked far worse, with one member missing an arm entirely.

Tonari could have offered them assistance earlier, but he hadn't. For one, they weren't familiar, and for another, they had ignored the snakes he sent to offer guidance. Their current predicament was the price of that negligence.

Still, seeing the state of other village shinobi, some of the hostility toward Konoha softened—at least for now.

As for those trapped in the very epicenter of the salamander king's frenzy, not one of them had made it back yet.

---

Inside the Serpent's Maw

"How long do you think this chaos will last? It feels like things are only escalating," Uchiha Yoshinari asked uneasily.

They had been hiding within the giant serpent's mouth for over three hours. Instead of calming down, the commotion outside seemed to be growing worse.

Tonari, who had been meditating with closed eyes, opened them slowly. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… doesn't look like this will settle anytime soon. Let's get out of here. It's not just the Sand Village shinobi—every village has probably suffered heavy losses by now.

"Remember this: when we return, don't mention a single word about what happened here. All anyone needs to know is that we caught three salamanders and decided to lay low."

Yoshinari and Yoshino exchanged glances, speechless.

Under Tonari's direction, the serpent began slithering through the muddy terrain, weaving its way out of the swamp.

For reasons it couldn't quite understand, the serpent felt less like a majestic predator and more like… an oversized eel.

Stretching lazily, Tonari turned to his teammates.

"Remember, the final round of the Chūnin Exams will be one-on-one combat. This is where individual skill shines. Just like we won't hold back, our opponents won't either.

"If things go south, don't hesitate to surrender. With Orochimaru-sensei and Sakumo-san watching, they'll step in before anything serious happens.

"Don't underestimate anyone. If they've made it this far, they're not amateurs. Becoming a Chūnin isn't just about winning—it's about showing your capability. Focus on that."

Yoshinari nodded solemnly. He was confident in his combat prowess, especially with his newly evolved two-tomoe Sharingan.

Yoshino, however, was less assured. As a support-type ninja, her Shadow Imitation Jutsu wasn't ideal for direct confrontations.

---

Back at the Rain Village Training Grounds

The shinobi trickling back from the swamp were visibly worse for wear. Those who had survived the heart of the salamander king's frenzy returned battered and broken, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and bitterness.

Their eyes, filled with hatred, naturally turned toward the Konoha shinobi. Even their supposed allies from the Cloud Village couldn't completely suppress their resentment.

Minato and his group, feeling the weight of hostility, couldn't help but think they were bearing the brunt of the world's wrath.

Suddenly, the ground rumbled.

Everyone tensed, thinking the salamanders might have reached the training grounds. But it was just a massive serpent emerging from the swamp.

"Of course," Dikayi muttered under his breath as Tonari and his team emerged from the serpent's mouth.

"Hey, everyone! Looks like we're the last ones back. You guys are amazing!" Tonari waved as though greeting old friends, utterly unfazed by the murderous glares directed his way.

Standing amidst the injured and weary shinobi, Tonari and his team looked positively unscathed, adding insult to injury.

Scanning the crowd, Tonari's confidence only grew.

On our side, we've got Sakumo Hatake and Orochimaru. Over there? A ragtag bunch of has-beens and never-weres.

To Tonari, the assembled opponents were nothing more than fodder.

With an exaggeratedly friendly smile, Tonari sauntered over to stand beside Orochimaru, giving his enemies one last infuriating grin.

Orochimaru observed Tonari with mild amusement, silently inquiring about his condition.

Tonari made an "OK" gesture, signaling success.

Satisfied, Orochimaru licked his lips, his expression unreadable.

Just as the crowd's tension reached a boiling point, Hanzo appeared.

Still bearing signs of his own ordeal, the Rain Village leader walked to the front, holding three blackened orbs in his hand.

"These caused the salamander king's frenzy," Hanzo announced, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Unsurprisingly, most eyes turned toward Tonari.

Hanzo, seeing the state of the crowd and sensing their collective animosity, sighed inwardly. He wanted to lash out but knew it was futile.

The Rain Village couldn't afford to alienate Konoha—not now.

Steeling himself, Hanzo announced, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the third round of the exams will be postponed until tomorrow. Those who feel ready to participate should register with the exam proctor."

The extra day was a thinly veiled attempt to inconvenience Konoha, but no one could openly object.

---

Later, Orochimaru's Lab

In the dimly lit lab, Tonari and Orochimaru worked in tandem.

Several snakes slithered out from Tonari's sleeves, each carrying small samples—blood, hair, or tissue fragments.

Orochimaru watched with growing interest as Tonari carefully labeled each sample.

"You never cease to amaze me, Tonari-kun. Taking you on as my disciple was the best decision I've ever made. We're so alike," Orochimaru remarked, his voice tinged with admiration.

Tonari, unperturbed, replied, "Sensei, these samples are valuable, but they're just from lower-ranked shinobi. The real treasures are samples from prominent figures—like Cloud Village's Tutai."

Orochimaru nodded thoughtfully. "True. Higher-ranked individuals offer more useful data. But for now, this will suffice."

With their current materials prepared, the two immersed themselves in their research.

---

The Final Round

The next day, the final round of the Chūnin Exams began in a more fitting venue. Despite the venue upgrade, the drizzling rain of the Rain Village persisted.

The proctor stepped forward, holding a list of participants and a lottery box. "Each participant will draw lots. Those with matching numbers will face each other."

The earlier rounds quickly whittled the remaining participants down to sixteen. Konoha's contingent still held strong with five members advancing.

The other eleven participants represented the remaining villages:

Sunagakure: Pakura, Gariro

Iwagakure: Kari, Hikaru

Kumogakure: Dikayi, Killer B

Kirigakure: Kiri ninja trio (Kaden, Zabuza, Mei Terumi)

Others: Summer from Kusagakure and a Rain Village shinobi

In the second round, Tonari's luck ran out as he faced Uchiha Yoshinari.

---

Tonari vs. Yoshinari

Facing each other, Yoshinari's eyes glinted with determination. For over a year, he had harbored a desire to surpass Tonari.

The fight was fierce. Fire Jutsu clashed with Lightning, and kunai sparked against Tonari's short blade. Despite his progress, Yoshinari found himself outmatched.

"Your progress is impressive," Tonari admitted, standing unscathed as Yoshinari panted heavily.

Yoshinari smiled wryly, lowering his weapon. "Thanks… but I still have a long way to go."

With that, he surrendered.

---

Tonari vs. Pakura

Tonari's next opponent was Pakura, the Scorch Release kunoichi from Sunagakure.

Her fiery orange orbs of chakra floated menacingly around her, radiating heat so intense it vaporized the falling rain.

"'Konoha's Little White Fang'? You're a disgrace to that name!" Pakura spat, her tone venomous.

Tonari shrugged nonchalantly. "Define 'ninja.'"

Pakura's fury flared, and the battle began.

Despite his speed and agility, Tonari struggled against Pakura's Scorch Release. Her fireballs not only burned but drained moisture, threatening to desiccate him completely.

Dodging one of her orbs, Tonari noted, "Her technique is potent, but her temper's a liability…"

As the fight raged on, Tonari knew he'd have to be cunning to secure victory.

---

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