Chapter 164– Sensei, Long Time No See
The warm sunshine poured over Konoha.
It was clearly a beautiful day, and many of the village's residents were up early.
Laughing and chatting, they made their way toward the village's largest training ground—after all, today marked the final round of the Joint Chūnin Exams!
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"Wow, there's a huge crowd."
In the stands, Deidara glanced at the dense mass of people before turning to glare at Kitagawa Gen.
"Hey, you bastard—you better not run off again today."
"You've got some nerve accusing others of running, considering you're the one who's always wandering off."
"And you didn't just follow the contestants around—you abandoned them halfway through! That's way over the line."
"Tch. Compared to this guy, what I did is nothing. Hmph."
Deidara clicked his tongue and cast a sulky glance at Gen.
"Damn you. We were supposed to have an art showdown, and you bailed the moment things got intense. I've been stuck in lockdown ever since! Hmph!"
"Idiot. You've got no sense and that's somehow my fault?"
Gen rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't fall out of his head. He leaned against the railing and looked down at the arena with mild disdain.
"Even your junior sister probably knew the village would tighten security for such an important event. You caused a massive scene and still didn't think to run? And that's my fault?"
"Eh?"
Deidara froze. He turned to glance at Kurotsuchi, who was now covering her face in embarrassment.
His cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
"W-whatever! I was immersed in my art! Yeah, that must've been it. Hmph!"
"Tch."
Gen didn't bother to reply again. Still, a thought crossed his mind.
"Why are you two here anyway? Shouldn't you be with the Tsuchikage?"
"Who cares? It's free time. I'll go where I want."
Deidara waved it off with his usual indifference, leaving Kurotsuchi completely speechless.
She took the opportunity to quietly study Kitagawa Gen.
She had long heard of his name—whether from Deidara or her grandfather—his reputation was practically legendary.
She had always wondered: what kind of man could make her grandfather so cautious, and have someone like Deidara speak so highly of him?
"Can't gauge his strength just yet… but if he really fought Dust Release head-on like Deidara says, he must be insanely powerful. And… he's kind of handsome too…?"
As she mused silently, her mood turned a little sour.
She watched Deidara chat excitedly with Gen, asking questions nonstop, while Gen replied with visible impatience.
"Wait... isn't this exactly how Deidara acted when I was looking for him...?"
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"Senpai!"
Before she could finish the thought, a red-haired girl came running up—Karin.
Gen looked up and greeted her with a smile.
"Karin. How's everything?"
"I've checked the venue, Senpai. No suspicious activity detected so far."
Karin nodded seriously, glancing briefly at Deidara and Kurotsuchi before lowering her voice.
Though she wasn't participating in the exams, Karin had been training under Tsunade and had been given a special mission during this event.
Her sensory abilities were simply too valuable. Naturally, Konoha put them to use. For her, this was her own version of the Chūnin Exams.
"Good."
Gen smiled, then added with a subtle warning:
"Still, stay sharp. Watch everything around you. And no matter what happens… don't be too surprised."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it. Just enjoy the match."
"O-okay."
Karin blinked, unsure what he meant, but nodded obediently in the end. She turned her attention back to the match, eager to watch—it was her first time witnessing an event like this, after all.
---
Meanwhile, on the grandstand above the arena, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled warmly at the assembled guests.
"It's truly rare for us all to gather like this."
"Indeed."
The Fourth Raikage swept his gaze across the others, then gave a cold chuckle.
"Only Konoha would have the audacity and strength to pull something like this off."
"Quite right."
Ōnoki chuckled as well, his eyes lingering for a moment on the Raikage's empty left sleeve. His smile grew just a bit wider.
"Konoha's strength is truly… extraordinary."
"You…"
The Fourth Raikage knew exactly what Ōnoki was implying. He scowled, but before he could retort, the old Tsuchikage turned toward the other guests.
"What a shame that the Fourth Mizukage couldn't make it. I heard Kirigakure is already nominating a Fifth? Isn't he… quite young?"
"…"
Master Genji maintained his composure, replying with only an awkward smile. Ōnoki didn't press him and instead turned to Rasa.
"I also heard that Sunagakure even sent their own Jinchūriki to compete. Tsk tsk… such a loyal ally indeed."
"That's enough."
Hiruzen quickly interrupted, sensing the rising tension.
"The match is about to begin. Let's focus on that instead."
"True. Let's enjoy the show," Rasa said with a nod, though the Fourth Raikage still wore a frosty smile.
"Let's just hope… nothing unfortunate happens today."
That single sentence silenced many on the platform. In such a volatile situation, no one could say for sure what might unfold.
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"…Looks like I'm late."
Just then, a calm voice echoed through the grandstand.
Everyone turned—and saw Danzo Shimura, walking up the steps.
"Danzo, you made it."
Hiruzen visibly relaxed. He hadn't liked the tension earlier either.
"I was worried you'd turn down the invitation."
"With such a grand event, how could I refuse?"
Danzo shook his head, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Besides… didn't you say you wanted to talk? I think now's the perfect time."
---
Elsewhere, near the barrier overlooking the arena, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Tsunade were gathered in a quiet group.
"Everything's in place, right?" Jiraiya asked in a low voice.
"What about Gen? Where'd he go?"
"There."
Tsunade pointed toward Gen, still surrounded by Deidara.
"That Iwa brat is still glued to him. I don't get what's up with that kid."
"Something about 'art,' I think. I don't really get it either."
Kakashi shook his head and chuckled.
"Gen said it's due to Flying Thunder God. Either way, it works out—Deidara's destructive power isn't exactly subtle. But if he's on good terms with Gen…"
"…He might influence Onoki's decisions," Jiraiya finished with a grin.
"That brat even mastered Dust Release. Incredible."
"Well, he's a participant too. Jiraiya-sama, how's your preparation been this month?"
"Not bad. Naruto's improving. I still can't completely handle those two conflicting chakra sources inside him, but he's already learned Rasengan—and even a summoning jutsu that Gen didn't learn."
Jiraiya smiled proudly. Kakashi grinned back.
"Nice. I've been working with Sasuke on refining his Sharingan. He's got Chidori down now. Might be time to introduce him to Gen's Purple Lightning next."
"You two keep bringing up Gen," Tsunade teased with a chuckle.
The two men blinked, then shared a look. She was right. They really had started using Gen as a benchmark without even realizing it.
Just then, Genma Shiranui called out the first match, based on the pre-drawn lots:
Uzumaki Naruto vs. Hyūga Neji.
"Yes! I'm up first!"
Naruto practically bounced with excitement. Neji, however, remained silent. He gave Naruto a single glance before heading straight into the arena.
"Be careful, Naruto. He's really strong," Sakura warned.
"Hmph. Don't embarrass us, idiot," Sasuke muttered.
"Tch, I'll be fine!"
Naruto gave a confident thumbs-up and strode into the arena.
But up above, unnoticed by all, in the shadowed upper floors of the viewing tower—
A voice emerged.
"Quite the event, huh?"
"Indeed," Black Zetsu replied beside him, his voice low.
"Orochimaru's Sound Ninja have been deployed, and he's made plenty of preparations."
"As for the other Kage, who knows… But the Fourth Raikage won't let things go quietly. And with Sunagakure sending their jinchūriki, this is the perfect opportunity."
"Right. Two tailed beasts rampaging at once—it'll be glorious," Obito said, eyes glinting as he looked toward the Hokage Rock.
"I want to see how Kitagawa Gen handles it… and whether Ōtsutsuki Genshiki shows up."
"…Yes."
Even though Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had been eerily quiet lately, his very existence was enough to instill fear in Black Zetsu.
"I'm curious too. Let's see if he makes an appearance."
"Alright. Let's go. First, we secure Shukaku."
"Yes… then we move on to the Nine-Tails."
As the two vanished into the shadows, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the match unfold below.
Naruto had improved greatly—he wasn't being overwhelmed by Neji at all. In fact, he was starting to turn the tide.
"To think they sent out a jinchūriki in the first round… how bold."
Danzo suddenly laughed beside him.
"And not just that—even the One-Tail is here. I wonder, is this overconfidence… or is Konoha's defense just that lax?"
"…Hmm?"
Sarutobi frowned—but before he could respond, he felt an unusual surge of chakra.
That sudden spike made Rasa leap to his feet in disbelief, his gaze snapping toward the contestant tower.
"That chakra… it's Shukaku's! Gaara, he's—!"
"You're not Danzo. Who are you really?"
Sarutobi turned a sharp eye to the man beside him, a grim suspicion forming.
The imposter smiled playfully.
"You really are getting old, sensei. Otherwise, you'd have recognized me by now…"
"…Long time no see, Sensei."
As the words fell, a massive wave of chakra exploded into the air—and the deafening roar of the One-Tail echoed across the sky.
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