MTLNOVEL Chapter 38 – Nagi’s “Low-Key” Dominance!
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"What are you talking about, Kabuto? Who's about to get wrecked?"
The moment that person arrived, Kabuto's expression changed instantly.
"Nagi! I didn't think it was really you!"
He hadn't even shown this much respect when talking to Naruto's group earlier.
Truth be told, the shadow Nagi had cast over Kabuto's heart last time was still far from fading.
He could still remember the moment he received intel about Nagi.
The rogue ninja from Kirigakure who wielded the Executioner's Blade—Zabuza—hadn't even lasted a full minute against Nagi.
Back when Orochimaru had raved to him about Nagi's talent, Kabuto hadn't really bought it.
But reading that report? That shook him.
"Mission work gets boring. I figured I'd join the Chūnin Exams for fun."
Nagi's offhand comment made Kabuto tense up like never before.
"So... what were you all talking about just now?"
Nagi obviously knew the answer, but asked anyway.
Kabuto knew there was no way he hadn't overheard the earlier conversation.
"Ah—well, everyone was curious about you, so I just told them a little about how you defeated a Jōnin in the Land of Waves."
"Yeah! And they even had the nerve to say the Jōnin you beat wasn't impressive at all. Can you believe that?" Sakura jumped in indignantly.
She'd been there when Nagi beat Zabuza. Seeing people talk down on that just pissed her off.
But what shocked everyone more was Nagi's reaction—he wasn't the slightest bit angry. In fact, he agreed.
"Yeah, defeating Zabuza really wasn't anything special."
To Nagi, calling Zabuza strong would've been dishonest.
Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—
Whether it was Kisame or the prodigy Mangetsu Hōzuki, Zabuza wasn't even close to their level.
Even the other Executioner's Blade wielder, Jūzō Biwa, was arguably stronger.
There had to be a reason the Akatsuki recruited Jūzō and not Zabuza, right?
That said, calling Zabuza weak wasn't fair either.
In the end, Zabuza's reputation just sat in an awkward spot.
Of course, that was only from Nagi's perspective. To everyone else, this was utterly mind-blowing.
"You mean... Zabuza the Demon of the Hidden Mist?!"
Just hearing that name sent a chill through many of the shinobi from other villages.
"They say he was a master of Water Style and assassination. His Silent Killing technique was infamous across the entire shinobi world!"
"No way..."
Temari and Kankurō were stunned.
"You're telling me that guy came to take the Chūnin Exams too?!"
"Then the rest of us might as well just quit now."
It was undeniable—Nagi's arrival was a psychological blow to everyone else.
Still, they couldn't just forfeit. In an exam like this, quitting would mean punishment from their villages.
"So what, Kabuto? That's all the intel you've got on Nagi?"
Kabuto looked increasingly nervous.
"After what happened last time, I haven't dared leak any more of Lord Nagi's information..."
Nagi almost laughed.
All he'd done was say a few casual words last time, and Kabuto had taken it to heart this badly?
"You're Nagi? You don't seem all that impressive."
Just then, someone actually stepped up to challenge him.
Nagi turned toward the Sound Ninja trio—and his gaze locked onto one of them.
In the very next second—
Nagi moved.
He grabbed Zaku's throat in one clean motion, clenching it tight.
"Kh–kgh!! I—!!"
Zaku's face turned bright red. He couldn't utter a word.
"So fast..."
Even Gaara was stunned. What the hell just happened? No one had even seen him move.
Zaku's eyes bulged in disbelief as he dangled helplessly.
Nagi didn't kill him though. After a moment, he flung him away like trash.
"Cough—cough!!"
Zaku lay there dazed for several long seconds before regaining his senses.
"H-He's the one who said it! Why'd you hit me?!"
It was rare—very rare—to see a shinobi look this pitiful.
He hadn't even done anything. It was the guy next to him who questioned Nagi.
So why the hell was he the one who got choked?
"You questioned me?"
Nagi didn't even answer the complaint.
In short: because he wanted to.
The actual culprit—Dosu—was now so terrified he could barely stand.
"All right, that's enough! The first part of the Chūnin Exams is about to begin. Keep this up and your qualifications will be revoked!"
Right on cue, the proctor arrived and intervened.
Perfect timing. A second earlier and Nagi might've ignored him. Any later, and there might've been blood.
The crowd quickly scattered, though none of them would ever forget Nagi's overwhelming presence.
From now on, everyone silently prayed not to end up matched against him.
Otherwise... it'd be no different than forfeiting.
Oh, and if you did forfeit, at least you wouldn't get beat up first.
"Thanks for waiting, everyone. I'm your proctor: Morino Ibiki."
Once the room had quieted down, a man with a deep facial scar stepped forward.
The first round of the Chūnin Exams was a written test.
But Nagi, well aware of how the exam actually worked, wasn't worried at all.
In fact, even if he did nothing, he'd still pass.
Though now that he thought about it… an idea popped into his head.
A very, very nice idea.
[End of Chapter]