Sarutobi Hiruzen first expressed his full understanding and appreciation for everything Shikage had done, then chuckled warmly.
"You're not upset that I had you eliminated, are you?"
Shikage shook his head, completely unbothered.
"Why would I be?"
"Hahaha, good."
Hiruzen's approval of the boy deepened even further.
Anyone else in his position might have felt targeted and started resenting the village.
But that wasn't why Hiruzen had done it.
A tree that stands too tall catches the wind.
Shikage had shone far too brightly. Enemy villages were already taking notice.
Covering up some of that brilliance was actually protecting him.
At the same time, it was a small peace offering to the other villages.
Even though Shikage had killed a few Konoha shinobi during the exams, most of his kills had been outsiders.
This time around, aside from Konoha, the other villages had barely anyone left alive—let alone anyone who passed.
Giving them a couple of chunin slots to calm their nerves felt like a fair trade to Hiruzen.
He stood up, walked over, and patted Shikage on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. Konoha won't let you suffer any loss."
"Your chunin rank isn't tied to the exam—it's through Anbu."
He pulled out an official ninja registration form. Shikage's name was clearly listed there as an Anbu chunin.
Hiruzen had prepared this long ago. No matter how the exam turned out, the promotion was always going to happen.
Looking at the form in his hands, Shikage was genuinely surprised.
Not by the rank itself, but by how much importance the Third was placing on him.
The old man seemed to value him even more than he'd realized.
He respectfully handed the form back, expressed his sincere thanks, then looked up and asked,
"Hokage-sama, what do I need to do now?"
He was asking about his official Anbu career path.
Seeing how eager and proactive the boy was, Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
"For now, you've been assigned to Anbu Team Six. Your captain is Kakashi."
"Team Six is already out on a mission. You wouldn't make it in time even if you left now, and their operation is too important for someone without experience…"
He gave a long explanation that basically boiled down to: you're still not ready.
At the end, Hiruzen's tone shifted and his expression grew serious.
"But there is one task I need you to handle."
"Protect the leader of Takigakure and ensure he returns to his village safely."
Shikage's mind started turning immediately.
The Takigakure leader had done shady business with Danzo, yet Hiruzen wasn't arresting the man—he was sending protection instead.
Clearly the illegal deal wasn't as simple as it looked.
There was a good chance Hiruzen himself was involved.
Thinking about Anbu Team Six currently on their mission, Shikage had a faint suspicion.
—Is the old man fishing…?
The thoughts raced through his head, but in reality only a single breath had passed.
He didn't ask for details. He simply lowered his head and answered crisply.
"Understood!"
Hiruzen nodded lightly and tapped his pipe on the desk.
"Here is your Anbu uniform and mask. Put them on and begin the mission."
"Yes, sir."
Watching Shikage's departing back, Hiruzen exhaled a long plume of smoke, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.
The more time he spent around the boy, the more he liked him.
His conduct, his manners, his personality, his way of thinking, his combat ability—every single aspect left Hiruzen deeply impressed.
Even if he never became Hokage, he would definitely become one of Konoha's future pillars!
—Future pillar…
Hiruzen's thoughts drifted to another figure he had once placed high hopes on.
He walked to the window, gazing at the crimson sunset, eyes deep and unreadable.
In truth, Shikage had only guessed half right.
Hiruzen really was setting bait.
But the fish he was trying to catch wasn't Danzo.
It was Orochimaru!
Because Danzo was controllable. Orochimaru was not.
The snake had already reached for young Naruto and, without anyone noticing, had already wormed his way into the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.
If Shikage hadn't spotted the anomaly in time, Hiruzen still wouldn't know what Orochimaru was doing.
And that was only what had surfaced. In the unseen darkness, there were surely even more of the snake's schemes.
Hiruzen had already decided to make changes, so this time he would correct his past mistakes.
Anbu Team Six was the most elite unit under his command.
Even against Orochimaru, they would never fall behind!
...
Shikage had zero interest in whatever secret plan Hiruzen was cooking up.
Whatever it was, the target was Danzo, so it had nothing to do with him.
What he was thinking about right now was how to squeeze the maximum benefit out of the mission to protect the Takigakure leader.
Hiruzen's move had given him an idea.
—Maybe I should set some bait of my own?
Shikage stroked his chin, quietly weighing the odds of a successful fishing trip.
Soon, a bright, sunny smile spread across the young man's face.
...
The Chunin Exams had ended.
The shinobi from the other villages had no reason to stay in Konoha any longer.
They packed their bags and prepared to head home.
In the Sunagakure lodgings, jonin leader Pakura glanced at the dejected-looking juniors behind her and said sternly,
"Stop dragging your feet. Move faster."
Maki, who had finished packing first and hadn't been hit as hard by Shikage's dominance, stood respectfully behind her teacher. Her cute, serious almond eyes were full of admiration.
Pakura was her life's idol!
So aside from Pakura, no one could shake her heart—not even the overwhelmingly powerful Nara Shikage.
Pakura gently stroked Maki's soft hair. A certain handsome face flashed through her mind.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked,
"Maki, what do you think of Nara Shikage?"
She had great confidence in her disciple—pretty, serious, and already plenty of admirers back in the village.
Pakura suspected Shikage might feel some affection toward Maki.
Otherwise, why would he have helped her specifically?
If she could match her disciple with that genius, Pakura felt it would be a great outcome for both Maki and Sunagakure!
Maki froze. The scene from the Forest of Death flashed in her mind.
She remembered the embarrassing state she'd been in right in front of Shikage.
Instantly, the sunset's crimson climbed from her slender neck to her cheeks.
"I…"
Seeing her reaction, Pakura blinked in surprise. She had assumed her straight-laced disciple would be disgusted by the idea.
That was exactly why she had hesitated—she knew Maki's personality too well.
But the shy girl in front of her right now suggested she might have been wrong.
With that thought, Pakura decided it might be worth trying to play matchmaker.
What Pakura didn't know was that the only reason Shikage had helped Maki… was because of her.