This year's "King of Fighting" challenge once again saw a new high in the number of participants, and its scope of influence far exceeded previous expectations.
Even in the Snow Country as far away as the North Sea, there are wandering ninjas who form teams to try their luck.
Year after year, the name of "Fighter" becomes more and more famous, attracting more and more people's attention.
After two and a half months of auditions, nearly 180 contestants of all ages entered the semi-finals, including 48 in the individual competition and the others in the team competition.
The youth group competition serves as an important warm-up. There is only a team competition of three people, and the number of people is much smaller.
Last year, Yayoi, a member of the "Female Fighter" team, went to Konoha Village to study. This year, she formed a new "Female Fighter" team with Hoshinin Sasame and Kageno to compete. It was a little girl named "Kasumi" who was dressed in a very simple dress. Wearing a samurai uniform, wearing a dark red ribbon on her head, and looking like a powerful young lady, she is actually one of the many "secret guards" of the Gushan family, similar to Chai Zhou. Her ancestors have been loyal servants for dozens of generations.
For hundreds of years, these confidants have multiplied from generation to generation, and their number is not small, but they still maintain the tradition of training outstanding children in the family to become talents and then use them for the Gushan family.
If Shimura Danzo and the "Root" organization are the dark side of Konoha Village, these groups that have grown up and grown attached to the Furusugi family are the confidants that the young family governor relies on most.
Compared to the elites of the Ninja Village who were afraid that their reputation would not be famous enough to attract money from sponsors, Gushan Bushui felt that his group of people were more like ninjas in the traditional sense.
If it weren't for the Ninja sect taught by the Sage of Six Paths, ninjas would be nothing more than servants of the nobles who could take whatever they wanted, and their status would not be as good as that of farmers who could provide taxes and support their masters' families with their own flesh and blood.
Chakra and ninjutsu have changed everything. Nowadays, those special forces who bear the name of "ninja" but are actually "magic and martial arts masters" have reversed the stereotype of low social status by relying on their own force.
Not everyone in the "Servants of the World" group has to contribute everything they have to the main family. Only the top talents will be accepted as the backbone of the Gushan family's control of their forces.
Kasumi's original plan was to become a waitress at a barbecue restaurant, grow up as an ordinary girl, get married, have children and live out her life.
After the opening of Inaba Academy, Kasumi, as a "one of our own" who broke into the student body, showed extremely good talent in physical arts, and was unanimously favored by the Konoha ninjas who came to "support teaching".
Although she is a slightly rigid and traditional little girl who does not know how to adapt, she has received extremely rigorous enlightenment education and classical samurai training. In terms of foundation and mental rest, nine-year-old Kasumi is better than most children in the Leaf Village Ninja School. All must be excellent.
As for the enthusiastic Mizuki's suggestion to flatter Kosugi Bosui and invite Kasumi to further his studies in Konoha Village, the young family governor had to give up due to some unspoken rules.
Ordinary Konoha ninjas with low status don't know, but the past Hokages and consultant elders know that in the Land of Fire and surrounding areas, the large and small Kaga clan, Yin He clan, Xuanyuan clan and other ninja groups are either members of the Furusugi family Spokesmen who control directly, or thugs who finance and control indirectly.
Even the underground bounty house that seems to have no connection with each other has the involvement of the Furusugi family.
Individually, they are not worth mentioning, but together they are a powerful force.
After taking over the power of the family and reviewing a lot of past information, the young family governor was surprised to find that his family actually had "business dealings" with the "Xiao" organization, which really shocked the "well-informed" Gu Shan Bu Shui. .
The third generation of the Tsuchikage, Onoki, hired members of the Akatsuki organization to intervene in local wars between small countries. Of course, it was a recipe for disaster. The Kosugi family also provided support at the beginning of the creation of the villain who would bring trouble to the ninja world in the future. Its purpose is easy to understand. When the "Akatsuki" organization was established, it was similar to other large and small ninja organizations. It had one or two leaders with good abilities. With a program that looked like that, it started very smoothly.
The Kingdom of Rain was indeed in chaos at that time. There was such a "handle" that could influence its internal affairs, so there was nothing wrong with trying to pull it.
As for the "Akatsuki" organization's later "deterioration" and becoming a notorious rebel ninja group, it actually happened in the past few years. When Gu Shanbu Shui gradually grew up, the relationship with the Land of Rain became sour.
A child like Kasumi, who was a close friend of the Furusugi family, was not easy to be randomly sent to Konoha Village.
With such a basic talent, Gushan Bushui actually didn't know how to use it, so he allowed it to develop freely.
When Hansaki asked Furugi Bosui to support the "Female Fighter" team, allowing Sasame and Kageno to become famous and make the Hoshi Ninja Village famous, this girl of the right age and decent strength would have a place to be used.
Compared with Ryuudouin Akira's "taijutsu cross method" that frequently cuts off hands and feet and injures vital parts, the "old martial arts" school that Kasumi learned is essentially a samurai training method that emphasizes spiritual will. The training is not purely a means of killing.
Although not strong enough, he is very suitable in the ring. He is sassy and majestic, which actually overshadows Sasame and Kageno.
Fortunately, there were really no outstanding children in this year's youth group. The "Female Fighters" team fought hard all the way and won the championship without any danger.
After all, they are just fledgling children. Kasumi proudly wears the winner's wreath, Sasame is a little shy and weak, and Kageno is relatively cold and distant.
The three people who formed a team for the first time have developed some friendship and have agreed to compete in the all-age group competition next year.
The youth group has been conquered, and the next step is naturally to go a step further and show off on a bigger stage.
In the distance, watching the audience applaud and congratulate the three young girls, Gushan Bushui said to Chai Zhou beside him:
"Are there many girls like this in 'In the Shadow'?"
"There is no one else in the same age group."
Chai Zhou smiled awkwardly and said,
"Young Master, you also know that the old guys there insist on tradition to an almost harsh level. The threshold for female selection is already extremely high, and the number is limited. The more outstanding the girl, the more she is regarded as a fairy. The mother who gave birth to beautiful children.”
In cultivating traditional "female ninjas", except for a few individuals who are proficient in disguise, infiltration and gathering intelligence, that is, they use women's strengths - seducing and seducing the enemy's vital points. All other combat tasks are completed by men.
Excellent girls are there to help cultivate outstanding men, not to train them into elites to go on the front line of the battlefield.
"It's no use complaining to me. Those seniors who are older than me and my parents combined, are powerful generals who used their swords to kill people during the Warring States Period. They were able to kill hundreds of people at the age of thirteen. Many of them planned the attacks on Uchiha Madara and Uchiha. The madman who planned the assassination of Senju Hashirama.”
The young family governor once confidently went to talk to those "living fossils" who had escaped from the times, nestled in their lairs in the deep mountains and old forests, and adhered to ancient rules. He was told, "The ancient Shan family temple is not easy, and the ancestral laws are immutable." Pushed back.
To put it bluntly, everything there was set up to cultivate "consumables" who would devote their bodies and minds to the Gushan family and be absolutely loyal. It is not inappropriate at all to think of them as "root" tissue at the back of the head without long backbones.
As for the assassination of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara that Major Governor Kosugi said, it was definitely not a joke. Not only them, but also the fire country daimyo, disobedient retainers, and rebellious ninjas who were rampant in the ninja world had similar experiences. "Tenchu" plan, no matter who the opponent is, as long as it is an enemy of the Gushan family, they will become their imaginary enemy.
Every plan is lying intact in the family's secret file cabinet. It has been submitted to a certain head of the family. As long as the head of the family nods, they will move forward and complete it at all costs.
Of course, absolutely loyal subordinates can come up with "reasonable" plans regardless of the cost, but the head of the Gusugi family, who is still in his right mind, will weigh the pros and cons and will not put these risky plans into practice.
Years ago, the young family governor Gusugi received a planning letter about Konoha Village and Xianglin, about dispatching bodyguards to protect Xianglin and be responsible for Xianglin's safety.
In the past, there would never have been such an overly concerned suggestion, because an illegitimate daughter without status was not recognized as the descendant of her master at all.
Now the situation has changed slightly. Even if there has not been a decisive reversal, at least some elites in the clan have begun to realize Gu Shan Bu Shui's determination. They cannot rule out the possibility of serving a female head of the family in the future, so they must make preparations in advance. Prepare.
"There are a few others who are second best, but none of them are as calm as Kasumi. In fact, Kasumi is not without her shortcomings. She has been successfully educated by those old guys. Once she is determined about something, it is difficult to be persuaded. "
Stubbornness and resignation are advantages most of the time, but occasionally they become fatal flaws.
"Don't worry, Xianglin will graduate in several years, and she is still gathering momentum. It's still early to cause a disturbance. I also have a few good children under my command, and they are barely enough for now."
"Young Master, the family is actually not ready to welcome the next female head of the family. The sudden arrival of Princess Liuli has caught people off guard. The surface turmoil has subsided, but the undercurrent is still there..."
"I see."
Gu Shan Bu Shui's marital status has been overturned by many people's calculations due to Hong Ye's unexpected intervention. If Xiang Lin were to come again, where would he be able to find an outstanding son from all the mountains under his command to marry him?
In the end, you have to take advantage of outsiders?
Once three generations have not formed internal marriage alliances, separation is inevitable, unless there are greater interests that people cannot let go of.
"We'll talk about it then. Although Kasumi's fighting style is similar to that of Steel Fist, it is also very different from Ryuudouin Akira. She must be given a suitable growth environment."
If the taijutsu steel boxing of Metkai, Ryuudouin Akira and others is the Bajiquan with a hard bridge and a hard horse, Kasumi's fighting style is like a combination of sumo wrestling, judo and wrestling, and is a close throwing type. , make full use of the body, control and strike the perfect combination of terminators.
"I don't know what those old guys think. Isn't it a bit abnormal for a girl to learn this style?"
The complaining Gu Shan Bu Shui chuckled and shook his head. Chai Zhou replied very calmly:
"This is the battle maid preparing for the possible birth of the eldest son of the young master. Therefore, it does not require skills in using weapons or too sharp killing methods. Once the effect is good, continue to deepen. Just..."
Unexpectedly, Gushan Bushui's first child came so early, and she was an illegitimate daughter, which disrupted the plan.
"All right!"
Gushan Bushui was silent for a moment, and then ordered,
"I remember that the Kosugi clan has a relatively unpopular branch called Todo, which is not prosperous. The Kasumi family was included in it and was given the Miao character of 'Todo'. Then, let Kasumi go to Fushimi Palace, where is The place where my daughter often hangs out, Ryuudouin Akira and his private class are also there. Although I can’t get the true biography, I can still have a few competitors.”
"As you wish."
Among the several newcomers who came out of Fushimi Palace, Kimimaro, who was born out of nowhere, performed the most outstandingly. It was precisely because the young family governor Kosugi "introduced" outstanding children one after another from outside that "Kage no Sato" "The old guy also has a sense of worry.
If the next head of the Furusugi family no longer relies on the power of tradition, it will be a huge blow to them. Therefore, talents like Kasumi who are not yet mature but are just the right age are pushed out.
The two people were discussing important matters and the progress of the construction of the Kingdom of Whirlpool when they suddenly heard a commotion below. After the "King of Fighting" challenge for the youth group, the rematch for all age groups officially kicked off.
The first person to appear was Kimimaro, who had a sudden expression on his face. Opposite him was a young man who was posing in a taijutsu stance and preparing for the attack. Looking at the two of them, they seemed to be about the same age.
"Huh? That person is your son, I guess. I have an impression. Did he stand up for his friends, fight with the older children, and come home with injuries all over his body? He was afraid of being blamed by his mother and did not dare to speak openly. He hid it and suffered a lot. The little ghost head?"
"That's him. His name is Jing. You, the young master, gave him to him personally. After so many years, I didn't expect you to still remember him."
"The naughty kid who stole tributes at the Bon Festival and was discovered by Xianglin and tried to bribe him with small favors must be bold. I didn't expect that he would be able to enter the semi-finals at such an old age. It's really amazing."
Chai Zhou responded modestly:
"It's still a bit of a convenience for the host. Although there is no cheating or tricking the lot, each opponent has a dedicated person to analyze the strengths and weaknesses and formulate a battle plan. The real ability is still inferior to that of Kimimaro on the opposite side who just came over. A lot."
"It's good to have the ability to seize opportunities. If you don't have enough strength, no matter how many 'advisers' you have, it won't help."
While looking forward to the results, the audience below became a little impatient.
"What the hell? It's obviously an adult group, why are there two brats on the stage again?"
"Shut up, it's for the whole age group, not the adult group. Children can join if they have the ability. Don't think that you are less powerful if you are younger. Take a look at this year's betting guide. These two little guys are already amazing, especially It’s the one named Kimimaro, and a lot of ‘insider information’ favors upsets and good results.”
