Inside the Hokage's office at the Hokage Building.
Aizen stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen, who sat behind his desk. The Third Hokage smiled and said,
"I didn't expect Mr. Aizen himself to lead his disciples to participate in this year's Chūnin Exams. Even the Kazekage plans to visit the finals in person."
Aizen had just handed over a letter from Rasa, stating that the Kazekage would come to Konoha for the finals and watch them alongside Hiruzen. It was also meant as a diplomatic exchange between the two nations.
Aizen chuckled.
"I've heard that Konoha's new generation has many outstanding Genin. The Kazekage is especially looking forward to seeing how our representative, Gaara of the Sand, compares with them. He wants to see how wide the gap truly is."
"Haha, you flatter us. It isn't your first time in Konoha, so the accommodations prepared for you will be the same as before. Please, make yourself at home."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled warmly.
"Hokage-sama is too kind. Forgive me for troubling you."
After exchanging pleasantries, Aizen bowed politely and left the office.
The moment the door closed, Hiruzen's smile faded. He lit his pipe and muttered to himself,
"So, you want to showcase the strength of your new generation… With a monster like Aizen, who can rival a tailed beast, and a talented successor like Gaara, perhaps the Land of Wind will no longer remain at the bottom of the Five Great Nations."
Like Kakashi, Kurenai also gathered her three disciples to explain the upcoming Chūnin Exams.
Inuzuka Kiba, ever as hot-blooded and reckless as Naruto, immediately agreed with excitement. Unfortunately, while his personality mirrored Naruto's, his destiny was not the same—after all, he wasn't the reincarnation of Asura.
Aburame Shino and Hyūga Hinata also nodded in agreement.
There were still a few days left before the first exam, and without missions to lead, the team could afford to rest.
Later, when Kurenai opened the door to her living room, she was surprised to see Kenya sitting on the sofa. He raised his hand with a smile.
"Kurenai, you're back?"
She froze for a moment, but this scene had happened three times before. Quickly regaining her composure, Kurenai rolled her ruby-red eyes at him, walked casually to the refrigerator, poured herself a glass of ice water, and took a small sip.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her slender waist from behind, and a chin pressed against her shoulder.
"Pretending to be cold doesn't suit you at all," Kenya teased.
Kurenai glared at him, grumbling,
"I come back once a year, and you have the nerve to say that. Did you sneak into Konoha again under the pretense of Sand's delegation?"
"You know?" Kenya arched a brow, glancing sideways at her beautiful eyes.
"Are you an idiot?" Kurenai huffed. "Every time I come back, it just so happens to be the same day the Sand shinobi arrive for food shipments. Once is coincidence, but three years in a row? Of course I'd notice."
She never once suspected that Aizen, now a figure of renown across the ninja world, and the supposedly dead Uchiha Kenya were the same person. She only guessed that Kenya was either infiltrating the Sand or had struck some kind of deal with its higher-ups, which allowed him to stay there.
During this time, she'd had no shortage of admirers. Some of them were even more accomplished than Sarutobi Asuma had been before his death.
And yet… for some reason, none of them stirred her heart. Whenever they tried to get close, she couldn't help but think of that infuriating Uchiha Kenya.
A traitor hidden in the shadows, dark-hearted and insufferable—and yet she could never forget him.
More than once, Kurenai had cursed herself for being weak to her own heart.
Now, hearing his teasing words again, she had to admit it: she truly liked this bastard.
Seeing her resistance melt away, Kenya smirked and lowered his lips to plant kisses along her neck.
"Ah—don't…! How am I supposed to face anyone if you leave marks like that?" Kurenai's body softened, and she pushed weakly at his shoulders.
"Why? Do you think anyone would recognize me just from that?" Kenya teased again.
Her teeth clenched as she felt his lips trace further down her skin. Deep inside, she cursed herself yet again.
Why am I so weak? Why do I like a man like this?
"…Can I stay the night?"
When Kenya whispered this, Kurenai's face flushed red. She shoved him out of her apartment with all her strength, slamming the door shut.
Kenya could only sigh. Resuming his Aizen disguise, he headed to the hotel where Konoha had arranged lodging for the Sand delegation, to meet Gaara and the others.
Unexpectedly, just before reaching the hotel, he stumbled across a familiar scene—Aizen's team crossing paths with Kakashi's team… and three noisy brats from Konohamaru's squad.