[To: Leader Akihiko, Father, and Everyone, Please don't worry. Kabuto and I are both safe. Being in the Sound Ninja Village feels just like being back home!]
Akihiko blinked as he read Jūgo's message from the Sound Ninja Village, his eyes narrowing slightly as he scanned the words again. Sound Ninja Village... feels like home? Sure, the place had no shortage of talent, that much was true.
But still… 'Just like being back home'? If the letter hadn't sounded so normal on the surface, he might've seriously suspected that Orochimaru had brainwashed the boy.
"…Well, whatever." He shrugged to himself. He'd assign someone to keep an eye on things, just in case. As long as Orochimaru hadn't done anything too extreme, it should be fine. Especially with someone as sharp as Kabuto on the inside, Jūgo should be in good hands.
Akihiko looked up at the three kids who had come to see him, and immediately fell silent.
According to the Chūnin Exam regulations, participants had to enter in teams of three. That wasn't just a rule for the exams; it mirrored real-world mission protocol across the ninja world. Most field operations were carried out in standard four-man squads, three Genin and one Jonin leader.
Unless, of course, you were already strong enough to operate solo, like the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
For the upcoming exams, all the kids needed to be sorted into proper three-man squads. The moment Sasuke heard they'd be heading to Konoha, he immediately volunteered. And the second Naruto caught wind of that, he practically chased after him, demanding to join.
That kid, whenever Sasuke's going somewhere, he follows like a shadow.
But with Jūgo away, and Gaara being invited by Elder Chiyo to form a team with Temari and Kankuro, Naruto and Sasuke were still one teammate short.
Akihiko had briefly considered randomly selecting someone from the academy. After all, with Naruto and Sasuke's current strength, let's be honest: out of the so-called Konoha Rookie Nine, only Rock Lee, Neji, Shino Aburame, and Shikamaru Nara really stood out.
The rest? They didn't even make the cut. But then Naruto and Sasuke insisted on personally choosing their teammate. So, Akihiko thought, Fine, let them choose. It wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.
What he didn't expect was this. The two little troublemakers had actually brought this guy. Akihiko folded his hands under his chin and stared at the stunned figure in front of him, Black Zetsu. After a long pause, he spoke in a serious tone. "Black Zetsu, do you volunteer to participate in this Chūnin Exam?"
"…Can I… say no?" Black Zetsu asked weakly.
"Excellent! I didn't expect you to be so eager to bring honor to the Grass Village and the Land of Grass!" Akihiko suddenly slammed the table, causing all three kids to jump in surprise. With a satisfied grin, he nodded and added, "Though your strength may still be lacking, your spirit is admirable. I approve your participation in the Chūnin Exam."
As soon as the words left Akihiko's mouth, Black Zetsu stood there in stunned silence. After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh. Without offering any more resistance, he looked straight at the Grass Leader and said, "I… thank you."
Mom, are you watching? he thought bitterly. This guy… he's always bullying your poor little me. One day, I swear, I'll get my revenge.
The moment Akihiko finished writing the bold 'Approved' character on the registration form, Naruto lit up like a firecracker. He immediately grabbed Black Zetsu by the arm and dashed out the door, already fired up to begin preparing for the Chūnin Exams.
Even Sasuke, who usually wore that cold, indifferent look, let a small smirk tug at the corner of his lips when he saw Black Zetsu comply. It was subtle, but unmistakable, he was clearly satisfied with their new teammate.
And yet… as Akihiko watched the three familiar figures walk off together, he couldn't help letting out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples as he muttered, "This is… an absolute disaster."
The mastermind lurking in the shadows, and the so-called child of destiny, on the same team? What hope does the ninja world even have left?
At this rate, with how close those two are getting, it's only a matter of time before Naruto hears Black Zetsu's heart-wrenching tale, about his poor mother, sealed away by his own brother. And when that happens? Akihiko could already imagine it: Naruto shouting something absurd like "I'll smash the moon to save your mom!" with tears in his eyes.
…And the face that so-called Great Toad Sage from Mount Myōboku would make when he hears about it? Akihiko didn't even want to think about it.
As for the remaining participants, there wasn't much to worry about. The Rain Village had already made their decision, Old Man Hanzo planned to send the team that managed to stay hidden and survive until the end of the Sannin Academy Exams. A perfect fit, three people, no more, no less.
The Sand Village had their squad lined up too: Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro. Ever since the Three Academy Exams, the bond between the three siblings had only grown stronger. After all, they were still family, and for kids, once the misunderstandings are cleared, there's rarely any real hatred left between siblings.
Ironically, it was the Fourth Kazekage who had become the real source of embarrassment. The once-proud 'Miner-in-Chief' of the Sand Village had all but been nailed to the Pillar of Shame. Rumor had it that some of the village's ninja even proposed including him in textbooks, as a cautionary tale of leadership failure. The debate on that proposal was still ongoing.
As for the Grass Ninja Village, well, their team was now officially assembled, too.
Each village would send a single team, not only to showcase their strength but also to underscore the seriousness of the Grass Ninja Village's alliance with Konoha. There was just one matter left to resolve...
"Hmm... well, I suppose I'll lead the team myself," Akihiko muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
With the village chief leading the team, Konoha would have no choice but to take their commitment seriously. But just as he finished his thought, a sudden spatial distortion flickered before him.
Akihiko snapped his attention back to the disturbance, surprised to see Uchiha Obito materialize in front of him. This guy? What was he doing here instead of lurking on the street corner with Tobi? Was something going on?
Before Akihiko could ask, Obito beat him to it, speaking with a casual air, "I'm going to the Chūnin Exams too."
Akihiko narrowed his eyes, scanning Obito up and down. "You're... joining the exam?"
Then, his expression shifted into one of mild hesitation. "I mean, I don't really mind, but wouldn't that send the wrong message? Grass Ninja Village has always upheld its honor. If we suddenly toss you in there just to beat up a bunch of kids, how are we supposed to show our face to the other villages?"
At that, Obito's face immediately twisted in exasperation. "Who said anything about me participating in the exam? I'm not entering as a contestant!"
Seriously? he muttered inwardly with a sigh. Worried about the village's image? When have the other villages ever treated the Grass Village as some noble, respectable force anyway?
"I want to go as a team instructor," Obito said, rolling his eyes.
"Ohhh, I see~" Akihiko nodded in sudden realization, but then paused, his expression turning hesitant. "But…"
"But what?" Obito raised an eyebrow, catching the shift in Akihiko's tone. Noticing the frown deepening on the village leader's face, he narrowed his eyes. "Wait, don't tell me you're worried Konoha's going to cause a scene because I'm a missing-nin?"
"That's not it," Akihiko replied, shaking his head with a long, tired sigh. His voice dropped into something more serious. "I'm worried that when Konoha finds out both of us are coming... they'll just shut the gates and refuse to let us in at all!"
Obito stared at him, completely speechless.
…
Time passed steadily, and before long, the day of the Konoha Chūnin Exams was drawing near. Though the timing was slightly later than usual, Konoha's autumn carried a distinct charm, cool, crisp air, and skies clear enough to lift anyone's spirit. It was the perfect setting for such an important event.
Amidst the growing bustle of arriving shinobi from every hidden village, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood quietly at the top of the Hokage Tower, gazing down at the streets below. A rare, satisfied smile tugged at his lips, and he gave a slow, approving nod.
Even after three years… the world hadn't forgotten Konoha.
Despite the short notice, word of the exams had spread fast, and already, shinobi from all corners of the continent had begun to gather. Even the smaller, often-overlooked hidden villages had chosen to send their candidates. The respect it represented… warmed the heart of the aging Hokage.
"Ensure the accommodations and meals are handled properly," Hiruzen said, glancing toward Koharu Utatane with a warm smile. "We need to uphold the dignity of a major village. Let them see that, even after three years of isolation, this is still Konohagakure."
In truth, the village's reopening had gone more smoothly than he could have hoped. No major incidents. No disorder. Surprisingly, even Danzo had lent his support with uncharacteristic cooperation. Thanks to that, Konoha didn't have to grit its teeth and stretch its strained budget thin just to host the Chūnin Exams. For once, things felt… manageable. Perhaps, just perhaps, this exam could proceed peacefully, and end without incident.
This time, there were no hidden motives. No schemes in the shadows. Konoha truly just wanted to host a fair Chūnin Exam, demonstrate its strength, and begin mending ties with the rest of the ninja world.
"And remind the ANBU to maintain order, but quietly," Hiruzen added, his voice turning firm. "I want no surprises this time."
"Understood," Koharu replied with a crisp nod.
"Especially the ones from the Grass Ninja Village, " Hiruzen began, his tone shifting slightly as he prepared to elaborate. But before he could finish that thought,
Bang! The doors slammed open as an Anbu rushed in, panic etched into every line of his posture. "Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly. He picked up his pipe with deliberate calm, taking a slow, steady drag as he fixed the panicked ninja with a sharp gaze. "Compose yourself," he said, his voice low and controlled. "How many times have I said it? During the Chūnin Exams, we are to remain sharp and dignified. Don't lose face in front of the other villages."
"But, it's not that!" the Anbu gasped, still catching his breath. "It's the Grass Village… they've arrived!"
Hiruzen's shoulders tensed, but only for a heartbeat. Then, with a soft cough and measured nod, he responded coolly, "I see. So they've arrived."
His voice returned to that calm, fatherly tone as he turned toward the window and added, "We expected this. Grass Village is one of the participants, after all."
Then, with a faint but unmistakable edge of authority, he finished, "Hold your ground. Stay calm. We mustn't let the other villages think that Konoha is rattled by the arrival of the Grass Village."
"Um… well, Hokage-sama, the Grass Village leader is here. And… so is the missing-nin, Uchiha Obito!" The Anbu hesitated for a beat before blurting out the real reason behind his panic.
The moment the words left his mouth, Hiruzen, who had remained composed until now, suddenly clutched at his chest.
"Hokage-sama?!" The Anbu rushed forward in alarm. "Hokage-sama, are you alright?!"
"Hiruzen?!" Koharu stood up abruptly, her eyes wide. "What's wrong?!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Hiruzen waved them off with one shaky hand, still gripping his chest with the other. He took a long, deep breath, trying to steady himself. "They're here… they're really here… It's fine."
He forced a smile, but his body was trembling slightly. That calm, grandfatherly facade cracked just enough to show the storm beneath it. "Alright then… Come on. Let's go take a look."
Straightening his back, Hiruzen turned and began striding purposefully toward the door. But after a few steps, he glanced over his shoulder at the frozen Anbu. "Well? What are you standing around for?! Move it! Let's go see what kind of 'surprise' they've brought this time!"
But weren't you the one telling us not to panic…? the Anbu thought silently, watching as the Third Hokage practically half-jogged ahead, one hand still pressed to his chest like he was trying not to have a heart attack. Not daring to waste another second, lest the old man actually collapse before they reached the gate, he quickly caught up and reassured, "Hokage-sama, don't worry. They haven't entered the village yet."
"They haven't?" Hiruzen blinked, slowing his pace slightly. A wave of relief washed over his face. "So they were spotted outside the village? Haven't reached the gate yet?"
"No, no, they're already at the gate," the Anbu replied, shaking his head with an awkward expression.
Hiruzen froze mid-step. "Then…"
"It's just that…" the Anbu's voice shifted into something harder to describe, somewhere between helplessness and restrained laughter. "When the gatekeepers, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, saw the Grass Village Leader and Uchiha Obito show up…"
He paused, almost like he needed a moment to accept the absurdity of what he was about to say. "…They immediately slammed the gates shut."
For a long moment, silence fell. Then, with the slow, mechanical grace of a man whose soul had just floated a few inches out of his body, Hiruzen bent down to retrieve his fallen pipe. He dusted it off, placed it between his lips, and began walking again, his face utterly unreadable.
No trembling, no panicking. Just quiet, bleak understanding. As he passed the Anbu ninja, his voice came low and soft, so soft, the even Anbu ninja nearly missed it. "…Good job."