After delivering that speech, Hanabi had intended to check how the audience on the Stage side was reacting.
The Stage was live most of the time, but since events had been unfolding in multiple locations simultaneously, there was often a delay. And occasionally the Stage would throw in flashback sequences and the like.
Take right now, for instance—ANBU were briefing Baki and the others about the Kazekage having already been dead for some time. After the initial shock, Baki's face also showed a mix of relief and resignation.
—Well, of course. If the Kazekage had been dead all along, then Gaara didn't need to commit patricide, and their side couldn't really be called rebels either.
The ones who'd stubbornly insisted on pressing the attack alongside the Sound ninja? Those were the "misled" batch.
Only after all that did the feed finally get to Kabuto's question to Hanabi.
When Hanabi said "the past and future," the screen actually froze—and then began inserting scenes of "events that never happened."
It seemed to show the Sand summoning giant snakes to attack Konoha, along with Konoha shinobi battling Sand ninja and summoned beasts…
"Huh?"
It almost looked like scenes from the "original story."
[A history that doesn't exist]
[Fictional historian strikes again]
[Memories that don't exist have been added!]
[Parallel world?]
[Holy crap, can she actually predict the future?]
[Hanabi really can see through the future, can't she]
[Insane]
[Can Hanabi's eyes actually see the future right now?]
[No way—Intel Hanabi is becoming reality]
[What does "Intel Hanabi" mean?]
[Remember when Hanabi said "Don't underestimate my intelligence network"? Someone screencapped it, and now it's a meme]
[I think it's more like a parallel world]
[What are you on about? The production team is just showing what would've happened if things had actually gone south]
[Suddenly reminded of that novel I read about comparing two parallel worlds]
[Holy crap, someone actually reads that stuff]
The audience was stunned for quite a while.
And after that, once Hanabi had raised the stakes with her philosophical speech, she farmed another wave of Popularity Points.
The Chūnin Exam arc had entered its final stretch, but it wasn't over yet.
The Stage would only run its final tally once this entire major arc concluded.
The so-called "Konoha Crush" had effectively become "Sound Ninja Invasion" or "Orochimaru's Assault" in this version. The Stage, however, primarily showcased content related to the protagonist Naruto.
In short: the upheaval of the Konoha invasion got trimmed down, Sasuke's screen time and narrative weight were reduced, and the dynamic between Naruto and Gaara was put front and center.
"Can't help it. The client's brief called for giving Naruto his spotlight. Sorry about that, Sasuke-kun~"
After the Chūnin Exam arc, the original storyline should've moved into the Search for Tsunade arc with Jiraiya and Naruto.
If this world followed the manga's trajectory, then after the Sannin arc would come Sasuke's defection. If it followed the anime, there'd be far more material—and if you counted parallel worlds too, even more.
In the "original story," this arc would've ended at the Third Hokage's funeral. Although that was just a single cut in the original, it was probably set several days later.
But here, the Third was still alive and kicking, so there was no telling where the "Chūnin Exam" endpoint would land.
And before then, the chaos would need to settle for a while yet.
"Honestly."
Meanwhile, Sasuke's squad had finally found Naruto.
Naruto and Gaara lay on the sand, heads together, out cold.
Less "unconscious" and more just… asleep.
Sleeping like babies, too.
"We rushed all the way here, and this guy's sleeping like a log." Shikamaru's face was pure disgust.
The Sand's Jinchūriki, huh? Sasuke looked at Gaara, the thought turning over in his mind.
In the end, these two were on equal footing after all.
"Anyway, let's bring them both back." Shikamaru yawned.
The mission was more or less complete. Finally, time to slack off.
"So—what's my job?"
On Hanabi's side, she'd seen her father Hiashi briefly, then returned to the annex.
That was when Kabuto asked the question.
The main cameras had already moved on.
Now it was time for the scheming soundtrack to start playing.
Time to work the board behind the curtain.
"The Rain shinobi—you know about them, right?" Hanabi said.
"…What are you getting at?" Kabuto asked.
"Hanzō of the Salamander. I don't think he'll survive past August… or he might already be dead, for all I know."
Amegakure's Genin had been dispatched by Hanzō.
And in the "original," the Akatsuki had made their appearance at the Third Hokage's funeral.
Which meant Hanzō of the Salamander had died during precisely this window.
"You've investigated that deeply?" Kabuto asked.
"I simply know the things I should know."
A lot of things needed a "pretext."
And that was exactly what Hanabi needed most.
Kabuto could be useful in many ways.
"Unfortunately, I probably can't offer much on that front." Kabuto said.
"Mm, then let's change the subject." Hanabi said. "The Third Hokage-sama mentioned that name. You know who he meant—Danzo."
"Ah… the Darkness of Konoha. Root—the shadow unit within ANBU. Danzo Shimura. You want to move against them?" This was right up Kabuto's alley. He wasn't sleepy anymore.
"Are we taking them out?!" Hikari was suddenly wide awake too.
"It's tricky," Hanabi said. "Think about it this way. After the Uchiha clan was massacred, do you really think all those Sharingan were burned? Or might they have found… other uses?"
"Ah, right. If someone pulled a Kakashi and grafted a Sharingan onto themselves, that'd be a real problem." Hikari could see the logic.
"—One?" Hanabi smiled.
"A pair?" Hikari tilted her head.
Hanabi continued: "Hikari—does a Sharingan only work when it's in an eye socket?"
That question fell squarely outside Hikari's area of knowledge.
"It doesn't have to be. At least some dōjutsu don't require it." It was Kabuto who answered, pushing up his glasses. "For example, Izanagi. A Sharingan dōjutsu that turns all injuries into illusion. The eye loses its light afterward, but it's essentially an extra life."
"Useless jutsu. Seriously, how bored were the Uchiha to develop something that pointless?"
Whether Hikari had gone a little sideways was debatable, but at this point, she'd take any opportunity to trash-talk the Uchiha.
"But if that's the case, then that man really might be trouble." Hikari tilted her head again.
Uchiha business aside, Hikari genuinely didn't know much about the present-day Uchiha situation.
"Before we get to that, though, I'd like Kabuto-senpai to share as much intel on Danzo's side as you can." Hanabi continued.
"No problem." That was the easiest ask of all.
"Oh, one last thing." Hanabi said. "Hikari isn't a ninja right now. Kabuto-senpai, you're quite experienced in that department, aren't you? Since your skills are on par with Kakashi-sensei's, then naturally, you'd be qualified to serve as a jōnin instructor, yes?"
"Huh?"
Me—teach this Uchiha?
Seriously?