The medical wing of the Konoha hospital was unusually quiet. Most of the beds were occupied, but the patients were resting or being treated in private rooms. Baki, from Sunagakure, stood in one of those rooms with his arms crossed, watching Gaara's unconscious form.
The red haired boy lay motionless in the bed, his breathing steady thanks to the medical chakra that had stabilized him. Bandages covered most of his torso and his face looked pale against the white pillow. Without his sand armor and the maniacal glow in his eyes, he looked like a normal child.
A nurse had just finished checking Gaara's vital signs and was taking notes on a clipboard. She noticed Baki's intense gaze and cleared her throat softly.
"Baki san," she said in a professional tone, "the patient should regain consciousness in approximately two days. His injuries are severe, but Tsunade sama has ensured that his recovery will be complete. For now, he just needs rest."
"Two days," Baki repeated, his face hidden behind the cloth mask that revealed nothing.
"His body suffered tremendous damage in that battle. The chakra exhaustion alone would have killed a normal person. But this boy..." she looked at Gaara with unease. "His body is remarkably resilient. If you will excuse me, I have other patients to attend to. Please do not disturb him; he requires absolute rest."
"Understood."
The nurse left, closing the door quietly behind her. Baki remained where he was, his dark eyes fixed on Gaara's sleeping face. His thoughts were a mess, more than they had been in a long time. That, in itself, was worrying. Baki was a man who prided himself on his tactical clarity and his focus as a jonin of Sunagakure; confusion was not something he was used to.
However, lately his memories felt as if they were wrapped in fog. Important details seemed to slip away when he tried to hold onto them. There were moments, brief flashes, where he felt that something was fundamentally wrong, but he could never quite identify what it was.
This is getting worse, he thought as he rubbed his temple under the edge of his head protector. The headaches were also becoming more frequent.
He pushed those concerns aside for the moment and focused on the current matter. The preliminaries of the Chunin Exams were over and the results were... catastrophic for Sunagakure. Every single one of Suna's genin had been eliminated.
Gaara had lost to Rock Lee. Temari had lost to Tenten. The team he himself had trained and supervised, the genin who were supposed to represent Suna's strength, had been systematically defeated by Konoha's new generation.
Baki had been a silent observer throughout the entire process. It was part of his role as a supervisor and as a loyal shinobi of his village. He had to watch, support his students, and ensure the success of the mission. That was his duty. But what he had witnessed today had shifted something in his carefully controlled thoughts.
This new generation of Konoha shinobi was different. The level of skill, determination, and growth they had shown far exceeded what he had anticipated.
Naruto Uzumaki had demolished Kiba Inuzuka with a level of speed and taijutsu that suggested intensive specialized training. Sakura Haruno had shown a combat prowess that rivaled experienced ninjas. Hinata Hyuga had exhibited the true devastating power of the Byakugan and the Gentle Fist by defeating a monster of her generation. Tenten had turned what seemed like a spatial ability into a weapon in ways that seemed almost impossible to counter.
And Rock Lee... There was no need to even mention it. The implications of that were staggering.
If this is the level of their genin, Baki thought, clenching his jaw under his mask, what about their jonin? What about their ANBU?
He had also seen the instructors. Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja with a legendary reputation. Might Guy, whose mastery of taijutsu had just been demonstrated by his student's performance. Asuma Sarutobi, son of the Hokage. Kurenai Yuhi, the Genjutsu specialist. And then there was Tsunade Senju herself, one of the Legendary Sannin, who had apparently decided to take a personal interest in these exams.
The jonin of Konoha were not to be underestimated. Each was a veteran with years of experience and proven combat records. The idea of invading a village protected by such forces suddenly seemed much more dangerous than the reports had suggested.
Baki felt his certainty about the invasion plan waver, and that feeling of hesitation made him deeply uncomfortable. He had his orders. He had his mission. The plan was already in motion. The alliance with the Sound Village had been consolidated by the Kazekage himself and the preparations were well underway.
But is it really a good idea? The question hounded him like a persistent itch. Can we really defeat Konoha with these forces?
He looked at Gaara again. This boy was supposed to be Suna's ultimate weapon, and he had been defeated by a genin who couldn't even use ninjutsu. What did that say about their chances in the invasion?
Baki shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This kind of doubt was dangerous for someone in his position. It could compromise the mission. He needed to report to the Kazekage immediately and let the leadership make the strategic decisions. His role was to follow orders and execute the plan.
He took one last look at Gaara's unconscious form before heading for the door. As he left the room, he passed several members of the medical staff. Konoha had much to be proud of today.
That pride could be their ruin, Baki thought bitterly. Or it could be what saves them.
He walked through the main doors of the medical wing and out into the cool evening air. Focus, he ordered himself. Report to the Kazekage. Fulfill your duty to Sunagakure.
He made his way through the village streets toward the diplomatic quarters where the Suna delegation was staying. The building was located in a quiet section of Konoha, far from the main thoroughfares. It was a gesture of respect and hospitality, providing visiting dignitaries with privacy and comfort.
Two Suna chunin stood guard at the entrance. They straightened up when they saw Baki approaching, recognizing their superior officer immediately.
"Baki san," one of them said with a respectful nod. "The Kazekage sama is expecting your report."
"Good," Baki replied. "Is he alone?"
"His advisors left about an hour ago. He should be alone now."
Baki nodded and walked past them into the building. The place was well equipped for a temporary headquarters, with traditional decorations and comfortable furniture. He navigated the hallways until he reached the main meeting room where the Kazekage was staying. He knocked twice on the door.
"Come in," the voice said from inside.
Baki opened the door and entered the room. The Kazekage was sitting near the window; his distinctive hat and robes made him an imposing figure.
"Kazekage sama," Baki said with a formal bow. "I have come to deliver my report on the results of the preliminary exam."
"Ah, Baki san," the Kazekage's voice was smooth and slow. "Please, sit down. I imagine you have much to tell me."
Baki sat across from the Kazekage, maintaining proper posture. He had interacted with him several times over the last few weeks, but there was always something that felt slightly off. The Kazekage seemed different somehow, though he attributed it to the stress of the secret mission.
Memory problems again, Baki thought with frustration. The fog in his mind was persistent.
"The preliminary round of the Chunin Exams has concluded. From Sunagakure, none of our genin advanced to the final round."
The Kazekage remained silent for a long moment. His face remained indecipherable under the shadow of his hat.
"I see," he finally said. "A total loss, then."
"Yes, Kazekage sama." Baki leaned forward slightly, his expression serious behind his mask. "I must be frank with you. The skill level shown by the Konoha genin today far exceeded what our intelligence suggested. These are not ordinary academy graduates. They have been trained to an exceptional standard and their growth rate is remarkable."
"You seem concerned, Baki san."
"I am concerned," Baki admitted, lowering his voice. "The invasion plan we have been preparing is based on certain assumptions about Konoha's current strength. Based on what I witnessed today, I believe those assumptions may need to be reconsidered."
The Kazekage tilted his head slightly.
"Explain yourself."
"From my point of view, the Chunin exams were a statement of Konoha's training standards and the caliber of its instructors. If their genin are this strong, then their chunin and jonin must be proportionally more powerful."
Baki paused, letting the implications sink in.
"I am not saying the plan is impossible," he continued cautiously. "I am saying it may be significantly more difficult than we initially calculated. The element of surprise will only serve us if Konoha's forces are not as potent as they appear to be."
The Kazekage leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced in front of his face. For a long moment he said nothing, and the silence in the room grew heavy.
"Your concerns are noted, Baki san," the Kazekage finally said. "And I appreciate your frankness. It takes courage to question a plan that has already been set in motion."
"I am simply reporting what I have observed, Kazekage sama," Baki replied. "The decision, of course, is yours."
"Indeed, it is." The Kazekage stood up and walked toward the window, looking out at the Konoha skyline. "You are right that Konoha's new generation has shown remarkable skill. Our genin's defeats are... unfortunate. However, they do not fundamentally change the strategic situation."
"With all due respect, Kazekage sama, I believe they do. If Konoha's genin are this strong..."
"Then we must be stronger," the Kazekage interrupted softly. "Weakness is not something Sunagakure can afford to show, Baki san. Not with the political situation as it is."
Baki frowned.
"I am not suggesting we show weakness. I am suggesting we reevaluate our position."
"To what end?" the Kazekage turned to look at him. "Do you think our alliance with the Sound Village will remain intact if we show hesitation?"
"I..." Baki hesitated, feeling that strange fog in his thoughts again. "I am not a strategist, Kazekage sama. I follow orders. But I felt it was my duty to report my observations and concerns."
"And you have done so admirably," the Kazekage said, his tone growing warmer. "Your observations are valuable, Baki san. They will be taken into account. However, the plan will proceed as scheduled. Sunagakure has committed to this course of action, and we will see it through to the end."
Baki felt a knot of unease in his stomach, but he suppressed it.
"As you command, Kazekage sama."
"Is there anything else to report?"
"Only one thing," Baki said. "Gaara's condition is stable, but he will not regain consciousness for approximately two days according to the medical staff. His injuries were severe."
"I see. Thank you for that information. You are dismissed, Baki san. Continue with your duties and keep me informed of any significant developments."
Baki stood up, gave a formal bow, and left the room. As he walked back through the hallways, that feeling of unease only grew stronger. Something wasn't right about this whole situation, but every time he tried to grasp what it was, his thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.
He shook his head and kept walking. He had his orders. That would have to be enough.
In the room, the Kazekage remained standing by the window for several minutes after Baki left. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"How tedious," Orochimaru murmured, dropping the formal tone he had been using. "These mundane political conversations are so boring."
He reached up and adjusted the Kazekage's hat slightly, feeling the sweat on his borrowed skin. Maintaining this disguise for extended periods was exhausting, even for someone of his skill. He moved away from the window and went to a small table where a map of Konoha was spread out. Various markings indicated key locations, defensive positions, and strategic targets. He had been studying this map for weeks, memorizing every detail.
Nothing is going according to plan, Orochimaru thought with intrigue. That is both annoying and fascinating.
He had expected Konoha to be relatively unprepared. The village had been at peace for too long; they should have been soft and complacent, their defenses weakened by years without significant conflict. The Chunin Exams should have been the perfect opportunity to strike when their guard was down.
Instead, he had found a Konoha significantly more fortified than intelligence suggested. Defensive preparations were thorough. Guard rotations were strict. The ANBU presence was more substantial than anticipated. It was as if someone had warned them that something was coming.
But who could have known? Orochimaru wondered. The plan was closely guarded. Only a handful of people knew all the details.
And then there was Tsunade.
That had been the biggest surprise of all. Tsunade Senju, his former teammate, had returned to Konoha after years of wandering. Her presence changed everything. She was one of the strongest medical ninjas in existence, capable of healing fatal wounds, and a formidable combatant in her own right.
Her return was not part of any intelligence report. She had simply appeared one day and, apparently, decided to get involved in the Chunin Exams. The timing was almost too convenient to be a coincidence.
Does she suspect something? Orochimaru tapped his fingers on the table. Did someone give her a tip?
It was a worrying possibility. Tsunade was not an easy person to fool. If she was here specifically because she suspected an attack, it would make the invasion significantly more complicated.
Still, Orochimaru was not overly concerned. Tsunade was powerful, yes, but she was only one person. The combined forces of Sound and Sand, along with the element of surprise during the final exam, would still be overwhelming. Konoha would fall. It was simply a matter of execution.
As for the Suna genin losing in the preliminaries... Orochimaru found he didn't really care. They were pawns. Gaara's defeat was slightly disappointing, as the boy was supposed to be the ultimate weapon, but it didn't affect the overall plan. The invasion didn't depend on the performance of a handful of children.
What did interest him, however, was a different observation he had made during the exams: Danzo Shimura.
That old war hawk had been unusually active. Deploying Root agents into the Forest of Death during the second phase, operating without official authorization, was a direct violation of protocol.
Why would Danzo risk exposing his illegal organization during an international event? Orochimaru mused. What was he looking for in that forest?
The more he thought about it, the more curious he became. Danzo was not reckless. If he had deployed Root agents like that, it meant he was after something valuable enough to risk exposure.
And Orochimaru wanted to know what it was.
He walked back to the window and looked out at the Konoha skyline. The village was beautiful in the fading light, peaceful and prosperous. Soon, it would be burning. And in that chaos, Orochimaru would achieve his goals.
Sasuke Uchiha would be his.
Perhaps it's time to pay the old man a visit, Orochimaru thought with a cold smile. A friendly chat between fellow traitors. How delightful.
******
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