Inside the Ninja Academy classroom—
"Hehe, that's the grown-up me!"
"And me!"
"Me too!"
"..."
Everyone watched the screen excitedly, thrilled to see their future selves.
[Fū: Hehe, that's me! That's me! Yay! I'm going to make one hundred friends!]
[Shibuki: No! Fū, you can't participate!]
[Fū: Huh? Why not, Shibuki-nii? I can make lots of friends there!]
[Shibuki: …This is bad.]
In the parallel timeline, Shibuki had seen himself drink the Hero Water to defend TakigaShiranui Kūre during the Hero Water Incident.
He had overcome his cowardice, joined forces with the villagers, and driven off Suien and the hidden AmegaShiranui Kūre shinobi.
He was proud to see that he would one day become TakigaShiranui Kūre's leader—able to better protect everyone.
But the version of himself in the video didn't know the true purpose behind this Chūnin Exams. The footage had revealed that the Akatsuki would infiltrate the event to gather intelligence.
If Fū participated, she might be walking straight into danger.
He hurriedly pulled her aside.
"Fū, have you forgotten about the Akatsuki? Their target was you."
"Huh? But weren't they tricked?"
"They were tricked in our world. But in that timeline, they don't know that. And if MEidara Uchiha truly becomes the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki there… then Fū, something may have happened to you."
Shibuki's gaze darkened. In that future, his hesitation had cost her dearly.
Fū quickly comforted him.
"Relax, Shibuki-nii. I'm fine right now, aren't I?"
After the first written exam concluded, the final thirty candidates were eliminated according to the rules.
The remaining examinees immediately set off from KonohagaShiranui Kūre toward SunagaShiranui Kūre.
Nagi donned his old fox mask and headed to SunagaShiranui Kūre as a proctor, carrying the credentials Tsunade had provided.
Night — Kazekage's Office
A masked man in black quietly cut through a window and slipped into the Kazekage's building, intent on assassinating Gaara.
He rushed toward the office—
"…What?"
He felt as though he was running in circles, unable to advance.
"Genjutsu—"
Thud.
Before he could finish the thought, he collapsed face-first onto the floor.
Nagi, Gaara, and the others stepped out from behind him.
KanShiranui Kūrō moved forward to inspect the body—but the moment he touched the man, his expression changed drastically.
Explosive tags were strapped across the assassin's body.
The fuses were already burning.
Gaara was about to shield everyone with sand—
But Nagi instantly teleported in front of the assassin and struck him with a palm.
The flames on the explosive tags abruptly died out.
KanShiranui Kūrō blinked in disbelief.
"…A dud?"
Within the Akatsuki—
[Deidara: What the hell?! He snuffed out explosive tags with his bare hands? That's not art at all!]
Konan fell silent. Since when could explosive tags be extinguished like that?
Nagato glanced at his legs, thinking bitterly that such a technique would have been useful in the past.
The method Nagi used had been taught by Tobirama Senju.
In preparation for countering the Uchiha clan's Susanoo, Tobirama had developed the Tandem Explosive Tags and thoroughly researched the mechanism and weaknesses of explosive tags.
Nagi coated his palm in chakra, disrupting the ignition flow at its source.
He then placed his hand atop the assassin's head.
"Mind Body Distinction Technique."
By probing deeper memories, Nagi identified the members of the opposing faction.
After a while, he gave Gaara a slight nod.
Third Day
The remaining examinees arrived in SunagaShiranui Kūre. The final thirty eliminated candidates were formally dismissed by Asuma Sarutobi and Shiranui Kūrenai Yūhi.
That evening, Gaara summoned the elders, claiming urgent matters concerning the Chūnin Exams.
Given that this was another joint exam with KonohagaShiranui Kūre, the elders assembled promptly.
Once everyone was seated, Gaara introduced the masked Nagi as the Konoha proctor.
Nagi briefly displayed Tsunade's authorization—while silently murmuring:
"Shatter… Kyōka Suigetsu."
(Genjutsu overlay activated.)
He then distributed documents regarding Konoha–Suna cooperation and began discussing the future of both villages with the elders.
After some time, the meeting adjourned.
[Rasa: That… that's the same genjutsu as before!]
[Chiyo: Hmph. Let's see how it unfolds this time.]
The Following Night
The examinees rested in their quarters.
Certain hidden opposition forces planned to act the next day—
But suddenly, they received urgent summons from their superiors, calling them back for "important discussions."
Day Two — Second Stage
The second exam was held in the Demon Desert: a scroll-grabbing survival battle.
After Temari finished explaining the rules, each team departed for separate starting points.
Meanwhile, Might Guy, Asuma, and Shiranui Kūrenai infiltrated the Demon Desert under Tsunade's secret orders to eliminate any threats to Gaara.
Across the vast sands, the Rookie Nine showcased over two years of training.
Rock Lee clashed in a fierce taijutsu duel with Shira.
Tenten coordinated Summoning Technique combinations against Ajisai.
Each team displayed remarkable growth.
Nagi maintained a wide-range Sensory Technique—monitoring both the Konoha teams and any hidden opposition.
Suddenly—
"…This chakra?"
Shiranui Kūra, Ino, and Chōji's squad encountered a trio led by Ameno (雨乃), alongside Kōji and Shishio.
Ameno possessed fair skin, refined features, chestnut-brown hair, and tea-colored eyes—carrying herself with a dignified grace.
The two teams immediately engaged.
Ino launched the first strike, throwing Shiranui Kūnai.
Shishio responded by manipulating sand to form several sand beasts, which blocked the Shiranui Kūnai before ramming into Ino.
She was knocked unconscious instantly—eliminated without resistance.
"…I heard Konoha had two medical-nin teams this year. I was looking forward to it. But this one lacks composure," Ameno remarked coolly.
Just as they prepared to attack Shiranui Kūra and Chōji—
"Stop! Something terrifying is coming!"
Shishio's eyes widened in alarm.
He turned toward the horizon.
A sand dune suddenly collapsed in a plume of dust.
When the dust cleared, a white "shark fin" emerged—cutting through the desert at incredible speed.
Shiranui Kūra quickly hoisted the unconscious Ino, and the others leapt aside as the fin charged past.
Then the "shark" burst upward from beneath the sand.
"So I found someone already. How fortunate."
The newcomer had deep blue hair, shark-like facial features, sharp teeth, and golden eyes.
Kisame Hoshigaki.
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