Celestial Path Chapter 44 (Patreon)

The pink-haired kunoichi thankfully just stayed back, allowing the Konoha squads to pass without getting further harassed. Though as we entered Kumo and we passed by a larger number of Kumo ninjas, I couldn't help an idle thought.

'While I know Bee is well accepted inside of Kumo as he has good control over the eight tails. I wonder how Yugito Nii is treated? News of the two-tailed host isn't so readily available in Konoha.' 

Once we were signed in and our identities proven. Orochimaru brought us to our hotel in the middle of the thunder-filled city of Kumogakure and said very plainly. "While you all will be here for the next month, you obviously cannot stop training and can't restrain yourselves to reside only within the hotel."

"But... You are all in a hostile village. Remember that as your very lives depend on it. I will be leading you all to the training grounds that have alotted to you all, but once again. Remember that this is a hostile village, your every move WILL be monitored." Orochimaru finished with clear annoyance.

As he clearly knew people were going to fuck up. Either going somewhere we weren't supposed to be going. Getting into a fight with one of the locals. Or doing something as utterly stupid as training in clan jutsu while in Kumo's own training grounds.

Which was going to have spying cameras out of the ass, to say the least.

The Genin hopefuls who were being stared down by Orochimaru were as quiet as a mouse who was being stared at by a serpent. That staredown lasted a good half a minute of awkward silence before Orochimaru turned towards me and said dryly.

"And that applies especially to you, Akari. Keep with your squad and make sure there is a Jonin or myself around you in the training grounds if you are planning to train in your wood style."

I nodded helplessly, as I didn't plan to give Kumo a chance to fuck with me if I could help it.

Orochimaru hummed before he then spoke more boredly. "Good, I attempted to save your lives before you all could waste it via stupidity. The first exam will take place in five days; try not to make a fool of Konoha and disappoint me. As I will be watching." 

With that... We were basically set free. Nominally, we were free to wander the public area's of Kumogakure, go to their businesses and such. But even now, inside this hotel, I could feel the Kumo Black Bolts. Their elite Anbu equivalent was watching me with their own chakra sensing jutsu.

And for a moment I considered just going back into the hotel to do jack all. Make those Black Bolts bored to tears as I would just sit there and read comfortably in peace while people who wished to start some nonsense were left with no ability to do it.

I turned to Kiyome and Kaori. And my hopes died as the two girls shared a look of excitement before putting back on their proud Uchiha gazes and speaking. "We should at least try the barbeque here. Their roasted mountain goats, yaks, and mountain-based cattle are supposed to be really good!"

Looking over at the large restaurant they were pointing at. I could only sigh and nod. As, while it would be funny to be petty and just hide in my hotel. Doing that will just lead to others being annoying to provoke me. Either in calling me a coward or actually forcing me out somehow.

The three of us headed on over to the restaurant where the two Uchiha happily ordered several plates to be delivered over to us. Making me oh so glad that I had a good bit of money to my name.

As to say nothing of these two. I was also a big eater as well.

"They aren't even being subtle." Kaori muttered with some annoyance as this restaurant was more open-designed. And with Konoha headbands and more light clothing. We were easily a target for the popular restaurant's guests to be watching.

I shrugged before saying lightly. "It's not a big deal. If they came to Konoha, we would be gawking all the same." 

After a few minutes of carefully bland conversation, our food reached us, and they both waited specifically for me to taste-test the food for poison. "Yup, no poison." I said with a frank nod.

And I could hear several people hissing in the distance as my words were to say the least. Rude as fuck, especially seeing as the gods were supposed to be watching our every move to some extent.

But while the ninja in the restaurant with better senses were simmering at my casual insult to their 'hospitality ', I didn't want to trust the village most known for mass kidnapping and forced breeding to get control over certain bloodlines.

Oh sure, every single Village had it's bad side they reveled in. Konoha, after all had Anbu, which did all their dirty jobs. Iwa, had a fuck load of terrorists with their bomb bloodline nonsense. Kiri was also naturally filled with psychos a plenty.

Hell, I think Kiri was the worst as even without the bloodline purges in this world. They were all to well known for still doing class purges to cull the weak. And even having their own Genin fight each other to the death as well.

It was only when you reached Chunin level in Kiri that you were exempted from further culling trials. It was even called Shark Week over in Kiri when they would launch a series of tests that they loved to show off to the blood-loving nobles and military of Kiri.

The food here was actually rather good and I mentally made a note to come back if it was possible. But, it was just as we left the restaurant and were in the middle of Kumo's main street that the next 'wonderful' event happened.

"Well, well, well. Isn't it the little Genin of Konoha. I am surprised you came out into Kumo's hands with how you pulled the rug out from under Grass Country haha!"

I looked over to see a monstrous figure that looked like a giant Fish Man from One Piece ate Kisame Hoshigaki. But then I realized something as it's energy flared to try to intimidate me. "Oh? I didn't think an actual god, even if a lesser one, would actually serve a ninja village as a mere guardian?" I said thoughtfully.

The serpent-looking god in only partial human form let out a hiss with it's breath being a toxic fog that it notably kept away from me and Kaori/Kiyome. But it's hiss wasn't out of anger or frustration at my light insult.

Instead, it merely chuckled afterwards and said cheerfully. "I once saw Madara Uchiha and Hashirama back in their golden days... I saw them seal and even kill several demi-gods and gods of the Land of Water. I came only to see if you had a hint of their previous majesty."

I gave the monster a look before I shrugged and said calmly. "Whelp, then I suggest you just watch on. Is that all? Or do you have any other grand declarations you wish to say?"

The lesser god grinned before saying in amusement. "Ah you have Madara's disregard for all beneath his gaze jiejie! Yes Akari Sadra, I have a bet to make with you!"

He then took out a fist-sized pearl of incredible beauty, and as it came into the opening, I could feel dozens of gazes become blazing hot upon us.

"You are new to being a champion of that frigid cowardly bitch Amaterasu, so you probably haven't learned too much of the legendary treasures of the world. To say nothing of the treasures of the sea which is bigger then the land itself!"

"This is a Dragon God Pearl that the Dragon King Ryujin made several millennia before he started making those Tide-Controlling Jewels. It has the ability to bring fertile rains to anywhere in the world to bless the soil and the only cost is the energy within this divine pearl that will recharge over the years."

While such a Pearl was... Frankly, mostly useless to me with my combat abilities. I knew I could demand a truly kingly price should I offer to sell it to the Fire Daimyo. And I could likewise make the Wind Daimyo who ruled so much of the desert offer his own greatest treasures in turn.

"What do you want of me in turn. And what are the terms of the bet?" I asked bluntly.

The lesser god pointed at me, and my face pinched as the god spoke shamelessly for all to fucking hear.

"Your bloodline. The bet is thus. You must either defeat the Mizukage's daughter and her squad during the Chunin Exams or win the finals in general. And if you lose, you will spend a month in the neutral Land of Hotsprings where you will attend several Yuuki Onna who desire the most talented young man's seed." 

Only a fucking god could be so shameless as to make sure a damned bet in the middle of such an important event as the arrival day for the Ninja Villages arriving here in Kumo.

But then I shuddered as I felt the sun that was clouded over by the dense, thunder-filled clouds of Kumo brighten before a cold voice rang out for all to hear. "Challenge Accepted."

I had been pimped out by my fucking goddess while I had been walking around with my new golden pimp cane... This wasn't how it was supposed to work! I was supposed to be beating some other dark-skinned fellas with my pimp cane and making them call me 'A Pimp Named Slick Back!'

Not being pimped out by the shut-in wolf goddess with a fox fetish!

The god smirked clearly happy with the contract struck between gods. And I, a mere humble champion, had little choice in the matter.

"Tsk... What if I decide to just throw the match and spend a month with a bunch of beautiful Yokai then?" I said crossly towards the sky.

Which made the serpent god in front of me pause and even the burning sun in the sky seemingly hide behind the clouds in embarrassment at my pointed glare.

And Amaterasu, proof to her mythology, had the best response in beams of sunlight dragging the thick cloud cover back over to cover the hole it made to beam its divinity down on us.

I looked away from the sky back to the water god who looked at me in some confusion, before I shrugged and said more to myself than anything. "Maybe I should take a note from Kaguya Houraisun's book and just hide in a pocket dimension."

The water god had zero response to me and neither did the genin troops it was leading dare to step forward when gods and their champions were talking.

I gave Kiyomi and Kaori a nudge as I stepped back, and I said with finality. "Yup... Time for bed, too much has already happened for my dear weak heart."