Naruto and Sasuke are doing nothing; Madara and I will set an example.

Page 43

“Our Dark Shadow is a bit special in this respect, because we are not affiliated with any country and operate completely independently.”

"I wonder if we'll encounter any obstacles when Konoha verifies our credentials."

“That’s easy.” Chen stood up and went to the map of the ninja world hanging on the wall. He traced the mountains and rivers, the five lakes and four seas, and the vast countries with his finger.

It stopped in the nameless land in the southwest corner of the ninja world, where the Hidden Peach Blossom Spring is located, on the neighboring 'Bird Country'.

"Let the Land of Birds vouch for us. This country is very poor and can't even afford to hire ninjas. Its people are also displaced."

“Give the Bird Kingdom some aid funds to help them improve their livelihoods, and also subtly solve our qualification problem.”

Xiao Nan nodded: "Good idea."

Madara chuckled inwardly: "It's always been the state that aids the ninja village. A ninja village aiding the state—this is the first time since the chaos of war has ended... Hashirama, look at the state of our clan's Kage, Chen."

Konan said, "I'll instruct Kakuzu to handle the matter of the Bird Country later."

"Yes, tell him not to keep a long face when discussing things, but to be enthusiastic, courteous, and open."

"By the way," Xiao Nan suggested, "what if they ask for an exorbitant price? There have been precedents for this."

Chen smiled slightly, returned to his seat, and took a sip of the hot tea that Xiao Nan had just poured for him.

"If they're sensible, we'll give them more without them asking. If they're not sensible, then we'll kick them out and replace them with someone sensible. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but there are plenty of two-legged big names."

Banxin smiled: Well said, that's how it should be done.

Xiao Nan nodded: "Understood."

"That solves the qualification issue."

"The next issue is the number of participants."

"The rules of the Chunin Exams stipulate that participants must attend in groups of three."

"Currently, in our Hidden Ninja Academy, there are four people who are qualified to receive ninja headbands and become official ninjas this year."

"They are wind, flower, snow, and Yamato's son, Kansuke."

"In addition, I have already asked those kids what they think about the Chunin Exams."

"Hana expressed little interest in taking the exam, while Yuki and Kaze were both clear about their intention to participate. Kansuke also wanted to go, but he wasn't very confident in his current Bamboo Wood Release and was afraid of encountering strong genin opponents from other villages during the exam, which would bring shame to his village."

"Is that so? Hua doesn't want to go?" Chen took a sip of tea and then smiled, seemingly unsurprised.

Well, Uchiha Hana, his little niece's personality is like the 'lying-down-and-waiting' type that Chen once knew in the real world.

I've never liked joining in the fun since I was little.

As for dreams, yes, I do have some.

I remember that year when Chen celebrated Feng and Hua's tenth birthday, he asked the two children about their dreams.

At that time, Hana said in a childish yet mature voice, "Uncle, my ideal is to eat, drink, and have fun in this hidden ninja village for the rest of my life!"

"In the future, I'll just find a boy who is fair-skinned, has some ability, is emotionally stable, listens to me, treats me well, can cook, is filial to my mother, and can take care of my children!"

After hearing this, Chen was filled with admiration.

First of all, kids these days are truly remarkable.

At such a young age, have you already refined your criteria for choosing a partner to this extent?

The greatest blessing in life is knowing exactly what you want and being able to honestly tell it to someone you trust.

Therefore, Chen chose to respect his niece's opinion.

"If Xiaohua doesn't want to participate, then forget it."

"Let Snow, Wind, and Dare to form a three-person team."

Xiao Nan nodded, added another round of tea, and said.

"On the surface, our Hidden Cave Village still needs to send a Jonin to lead the team."

"Who should we send?"

Chen thought for a moment and said, "Let Yamato go. After all, his son is also participating, so how can a father not go and support him?"

Konan said hesitantly, "Isn't there a risk of being recognized? He's been recognized as a hero who died in the great war, and his name is on the Konoha Memorial Monument."

Captain Yamato was not seen at all during the Fourth Shinobi World War and was initially considered missing after the war.

It wasn't until Kabuto Yakushi surrendered to Konoha that he revealed he had captured Yamato to strengthen Obito's White Zetsu army.

Kakashi immediately organized a force to search Obito's old hideout, but they did not find Yamato's remains.

Later, Kakashi remembered Yamato's contributions to Team 7's growth and indirectly helped Naruto grow into a hero.

Therefore, Yamato was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Ninja Wars, and a cenotaph was also erected for him.

Chen laughed and said, "It's alright~, I will insure Yamato so that he can enter and leave Konoha openly and without anyone being able to detect his insurance."

At this moment, Konan put down the fairness cup and said, "Then the Chunin Exams are settled. So, Shadow, you must have come to see me today for something else, right?"

Obito sipped his tea, his ears perking up.

After enduring most of the day, the topic he cared about most finally arrived.

Chen put down his teacup, wiped his mouth with a towel, straightened his posture, and said solemnly.

"Sister Xiaonan, I want to borrow your body again."

Chapter 60 The Secret of the Twin Flowers (Part 4)

"Pfft!" Obito spat out his tea again.

"Oh?" Ban's expression became meaningful.

His mind worked incredibly fast. As soon as Chen finished speaking, he realized that Chen's mention of borrowing Xiao Nan's body meant using the Twin Flowers to replicate Xiao Nan's body and store it in the Fengyu Qizun for later use.

The word "borrow" is worth examining.

In the primordial space, the bodies that Dust showed us using the twin flowers were not 'borrowed' but rather 'requisitioned'!

That makes sense. Apart from the Zen master's granddaughter Jinghua, those people must have all been possessed by other gods.

Regardless of whether Chen, out of humanitarianism, stripped them of their dignity, to put it cruelly, they were all Chen's 'prisoners'.

There's no question of 'borrowing' from prisoners of war.

Therefore, Chen certainly wouldn't be so idle as to seek the opinions of these prisoners.

Xiao Nan is different; she is an individual treated equally by Chen Ping.

Only when respect is a prerequisite can we discuss "borrowing".

Furthermore, the word "again" was added before "borrowed," indicating that Chen had previously borrowed Xiao Nan's body and then returned it, right?

Ban couldn't help but look at Konan with new eyes once again.

The fact that Chen valued Xiao Nan and offered to "borrow" her at the cost of a favor proves that Xiao Nan's physical abilities were worthy of his attention!

Xiao Nan remained calm throughout. She picked up the tablecloth, wiping away the tea that had sprayed out with dirt, and asked Chen, "Do you find my body useful?"

Chen nodded truthfully and said, "Yes, among all the bodies I've ever had, it's one of the best. I can foresee that I'll be going through a fierce battle soon, and your body will be of great use!"

After wiping the table clean, Xiao Nan wrung out a towel in front of the wastewater bucket and put it down, looking down thoughtfully.

Chen just called me Sister Xiao Nan, which means this wasn't an order given in his capacity as Shadow.

Instead, he spoke to me as an equal, as my younger brother, which gave me the right to refuse.

At that moment, Obito picked up the fairness cup and poured himself a cup of tea.

The conversation he overheard was so explicit and heavy that it made his ears ache, and he needed to drink some water to calm down.

"What should we do then, little brother Chen?" Xiao Nan changed her form of address, and after pondering with her chin in her hand, a hopeful smile suddenly appeared on her lips.

"Lending you my body isn't out of the question, but in exchange, you have to show me your 'thing' again!"

"Pfft!" Obito spat out the tea he had just taken a sip of.

Obito didn't know which one Konan was referring to, but he instinctively thought of that one!

"Cough!" "Cough!" "Cough!"

He choked and started coughing.

Xiao Nan's suggestion left Chen speechless.

After regaining his composure, he said, "Are you sure you want to see my 'that,' Sister Xiao Nan?"

Xiao Nan said confidently, "That's right. If you're willing to let me see 'that' again, I'm willing to lend you my body for a year!"

Chen was at a loss for words.

The problem isn't the length of time the loan is used. It's that what Xiao Nan wants to see is something Chen would absolutely never easily show to anyone.

He was even troubled by having that ability, because deep down he was a very pure man, with absolutely no other side to him!

But ability is a gift from heaven, and there's nothing he can do about it.

“'That' has been buried for many years, and I had originally decided never to show it to anyone again.”

Chen clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and as if he had made up his mind, stood up.

"Alright, since Sister Xiaonan insists on watching, then I have no choice but to accompany her, even at the cost of my life!"

Obito suddenly panicked and said, "Chen, are you going to take it out here? Is it really appropriate for us to stay here?"

It seems things are not as simple as he thought before he came.

He had no intention of getting involved in Chen's secret deal with this woman!

It's better to avoid getting involved in anything concerning Xiao Nan.

At this moment, Tobi, who had been behaving himself since sitting down, suddenly leaned over and said mysteriously, "Obito, you'll regret it if you don't stay and witness this. What you're about to see is a spectacle that only a handful of people in this Hidden Ninja Village, no, in this entire ninja world, have ever had the privilege of witnessing!"

Really? That's amazing!

Obito was astonished.

Even now, Chen still harbors secrets of this level? His abilities should be completely transparent to me and Madara by now!

Holy land, Shibkushi Forest.

The founder of Shikkotsu Forest, who is also the true form of the slug—the Living Slug Sage—is a young girl who sits cross-legged beneath the Holy Spirit Waterfall of Shikkotsu Forest, dressed in a light and airy pale green haori.

Because the slug's body is so large, it would be impossible to communicate face-to-face without this method.

(Katsuyu is not a typo; it is the real name of the founder of Shikkotsu Forest. It is the split entity that Tsunade and Sakura summon, which is called 'Katsuyu'.)

On the waterfall rock in front of her sat Naruto and Sasuke, who had rushed over overnight to visit her, their injuries not yet fully healed.

The two of them came here for only one thing.

Learn more about Uchiha Chen from the Living Slug Sage who once taught him the Dust Sage Technique.

To understand what kind of person Chen is, what his beliefs and ideals are, and what his motives and schemes are.

Learn more about the truth behind his abilities and how to break them.

Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you defeat this formidable foe who has brought them such a crushing defeat, and stop him from wreaking havoc on the ninja world.

Naruto said in a tactful tone, "Lord Katsuyu, yesterday during the day, your clone saw Sasuke's yard, right? We were injured by Uchiha Chen..."

The lively young girl, Yi Jing, spoke with a graceful and ethereal voice: "Yes, you and Sasuke are badly injured. Fortunately, Sakura's medical ninjutsu skills are now superb, otherwise my clone alone wouldn't have been able to heal your injuries!"

"Are you alright? You should still be quite weak. Why aren't you resting and recuperating instead of coming here as guests?"

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, both seeing the confusion and bewilderment in each other's eyes.

What's going on? Doesn't the Living Slug Sage know that it was Uchiha Chen who did it?

I just mentioned the name Uchiha Chen again.

Naruto scratched his head and said with a smile, "Um, Lord Katsuyu, do you have anything to say about Uchiha Chen?"

"Hmm..." The lively girl's delicate eyelashes curled up as she said, "Uchiha Chen is very powerful. He was able to severely injure both of you when you joined forces. He must be even stronger than Uchiha Madara when he fought against Lady Tsunade!"

This... Naruto was in a dilemma.

Is that all?

"Hmm." The slug girl tapped her chin with her slender fingers and pondered for a moment. "If I had to say something, I feel that this Uchiha Chen is not a particularly extreme person. Although your injuries are serious, you all avoided the vital points that would have killed you immediately, leaving Sakura and me a chance to save you."