"Is this Konoha? …It's ridiculously luxurious."
As the Chūnin Exams approached, more and more shinobi gathered within the village.
And once they saw Konoha with their own eyes, many couldn't help feeling a sting of envy.
Konoha truly occupied the most fertile land in the ninja world.
The best resources.
The most prosperous trade routes.
Everything here made visiting shinobi feel sour with jealousy—especially those from smaller villages.
"...Tch. Konoha."
Darui led the Cloud delegation through the village streets, glancing around as he walked.
Even though he didn't want to admit it—
The atmosphere here was better than Kumogakure.
Still.
That was something he would never say out loud.
No matter how good another place looked, home was still home.
And in his opinion, all of this prosperity was just piles of money.
What meaning did it really have?
"Yo. Darui, right? Didn't expect to see you here."
A light, almost mocking voice came from behind him.
Darui frowned and turned.
A blond shinobi wearing an Iwagakure headband approached casually.
"…Deidara."
Darui immediately recognized him.
Ōnoki's disciple.
A likely future Fourth Tsuchikage.
Any jōnin in Kumogakure knew that name.
The two had crossed paths multiple times over the years. When delicate matters needed handling, only trusted aides of the Kage were sent.
By coincidence—
They both held that role.
"Tch. I didn't even want to come," Deidara scoffed. "That old geezer forced me."
He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Didn't come himself, sent me instead. Looks like the same thing happened to you."
Darui sighed.
"We're not the same. I came willingly."
He paused before adding dryly,
"I'm just leading a team for the exams. Everything else? Not my business."
"Ha! I hate people like you."
Deidara rolled his eyes.
Honestly—
He hated this mission.
He understood the logic.
He was smart enough.
But at sixteen or seventeen, patience wasn't exactly his strong suit.
In his view—
Either fight properly.
Or don't fight at all.
If they fought, he could unleash his art.
If they didn't, he could focus on refining his art.
This half-war, half-peace nonsense?
Infuriating.
"Tch. You political types are annoying."
Deidara turned away.
Looking up at Konoha's colorful rooftops, he snorted.
"Boring place. At least the quarries outside Iwa let me explode things."
After all—
"Explosion is art."
—
Far away in Iwagakure.
Under the blazing sun, the rocky village shimmered with heat.
Inside the Tsuchikage's house, Huangtu paced anxiously.
Ōnoki sat calmly reading a scroll.
"Father… was sending Deidara really a good idea?"
Ōnoki didn't even look up.
"He's my disciple. If not him, then who?"
"And I sent Kurotsuchi to keep him in check."
Huangtu hesitated.
Then finally spoke.
"They might run into Ren."
The name alone froze the room.
Ōnoki's hand stopped turning the page.
That name—
Carried weight.
Not far below the terror of Madara Uchiha.
Years ago—
He still remembered.
The colossal thousand-meter Buddha statue.
The relentless bombardment that shattered the Eight-Tails.
His own Earth Style crushed apart.
The terrain of the Grass Country completely deformed.
And in the end—
Iwagakure forced to retreat entirely.
Grass Country lost.
Trade routes severed.
The humiliation rivaled the day Madara mocked him.
Ōnoki glared at his son.
He hated hearing that name.
Huangtu persisted.
"You know how dangerous he is. If he decides to escalate—"
"I said Iwagakure will not move recklessly."
Ōnoki interrupted sharply.
"I know the risks."
"But everything I do is for Iwa—and for the entire shinobi world."
He clenched his fists.
"That man is destabilizing everything."
"Look at those small countries."
"Look at Konoha now that he's Hokage Advisor."
"If we do nothing, Konoha will eventually devour the world."
He paused before continuing coldly.
"Frankly, I hope he oversteps."
"That would unite the entire shinobi world against him."
Ōnoki's voice hardened.
"No one—not even Madara or Hashirama—can fight the whole world."
Shinobi potential was limitless.
Especially when cornered.
He knew Madara's power.
Yet Madara hadn't killed him.
Which proved—
Even Madara feared the consequences.
"And Ren," Ōnoki muttered, "is not yet Hashirama or Madara."
—
High above the clouds.
Kumogakure.
Inside the Raikage's office, Mabui reported calmly.
"Our supplies have arrived in the Fire Country."
"Iwa's shipments arrived as well."
"Akatsuki operatives are infiltrating Konoha."
The Fourth Raikage nodded.
He had waited for this moment.
Three years ago—
He had lost.
Again.
To that boy.
The humiliation was unbearable.
Worse—
Kumo had been forced to negotiate.
Forced to retrieve him.
And Bee.
The price had been enormous.
That shame—
Would not be forgotten.
"Raikage-sama… what do you think will happen?"
The Raikage looked out the window.
"Ren is terrifying."
"I won't deny that."
"But look at Konoha's actions."
"His ambition is obvious."
"If we do nothing, we'll be consumed."
He clenched his fists.
"We can't rely on the goodwill of monsters."
"This operation is both a test and a declaration."
"The era has changed."
"No one will allow him to dominate the world."
"And the humiliation he gave us…"
"…will be repaid."
—
Meanwhile—
"Chūnin Exams! I'm here!"
Naruto practically bounced with excitement.
Even though he had only just graduated, he felt like he had endured years of suffering.
"Idiot. Quiet down."
Sasuke muttered.
But truthfully—
He was excited too.
After the Land of Waves mission—
After seeing what true high-level shinobi looked like—
He craved stronger battles.
Especially after witnessing Ren and Hikari.
Their power had been terrifying.
He had tried gathering information.
But Karin barely spoke about them.
Kakashi followed strict shinobi rules.
All he said was one thing:
"If you want to stand where they stand, you must become stronger."
"They're at the top of Konoha."
"You're still just a fledgling."
So Sasuke clenched his fists.
This exam—
He had to pass.
Karin thought the same.
Her entire household was elite.
Except her.
The embarrassment was unbearable.
This exam was her chance to redeem herself.
"I have to pass…"
"I have to pass…"
—
Inside the exam monitoring room.
Ren stood with several jōnin watching the candidates.
"Seems these kids are working hard."
Kakashi crossed his arms.
"Other villages sent strong candidates too."
"Especially Kirigakure."
Asuma exhaled smoke.
"The Hōzuki kid is here. They're serious."
Might Guy flashed a thumbs-up.
"Trust the youth!"
Ren chuckled.
"Guy is right."
"Besides, Mist is technically our ally now."
"I've already spoken to their leader. They won't kill our kids during the later stages."
The jōnin exchanged strange looks.
That sounded suspiciously like… favoritism.
Ibiki entered carrying documents.
"The information you requested."
Ren opened the scroll.
Kakashi leaned closer.
"Team leaders from each village?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"Just being cautious."
"Maybe we'll capture someone interesting for research."
Kakashi rubbed his forehead.
Typical Ren.
"Ah… Deidara and Darui."
Ren tapped the scroll.
"Ōnoki's disciple and Raikage's trusted aide."
"Capturing them might yield useful intelligence."
The jōnin stared silently.
Only Kakashi sighed.
"I'll keep an eye on them."
Ren grinned.
"Excellent."
—
Down in the exam hall.
The written test began.
Sasuke quickly understood the trick.
Information gathering.
Karin smirked confidently.
Her Uzumaki sensory ability made cheating easy.
Naruto—
Started strong.
"I know this one."
"This one too."
Then his confidence faded.
By the end—
His face turned pale.
Oh no.
I'm doomed.
—
In the monitoring room, Ren had already left.
But the jōnin continued watching.
When Ibiki finally announced the tenth question, everyone looked at Kakashi.
Kakashi's eye twitched.
This blame was definitely landing on him.
—
Late that night.
At the Senju residence.
Yugao stepped out of the bath, hair still damp.
"I heard the exam eliminated many candidates."
"Stricter than usual."
"You even watched the first stage personally."
Ren pulled her into his arms.
"Well… with so many participants, we need to reduce numbers early."
"But Karin passed."
"I was worried about her."
Yugao smiled faintly.
"I hope she keeps succeeding."
Then she noticed something.
His head resting on her chest.
"You're the Hokage's advisor now."
"Still behaving like this?"
Ren laughed.
"Everyone in Konoha knows about us."
"Only ANBU really knows…"
She hugged him gently.
"…Are you sure everything will go according to plan?"
Ren smiled calmly.
"Yes."
"I've waited a long time for this Chūnin Exam."
Especially when he saw one name on the list.
Darui.
After years of accumulating points—
Balancing every attribute to Level 10 or higher—
He was finally approaching the final stage.
Only one thing remained.
Bloodline Network (Kekkei Mōra).
And the key—
Was Storm Release.
If everything went right—
He would obtain the final piece.
The final step—
Toward ascending his own path to godhood.
Ren reached over and extinguished the lamp.
Darkness filled the room.
"You… why didn't you go back to your room first?" Yugao murmured.
"Wait for what?"
"Hikari… I noticed she's been…"
Her words cut off.
Outside—
Clouds slowly covered the moon.
Even the night seemed unwilling to watch further.
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