While the joint Chunin Exams were hosted by the Five Great Nations, it wasn't just the five great ninja villages that participated. As a microcosm of the ninja world's wars, even ninja villages from ordinary countries had to make an appearance. If they performed well, they might even be able to establish a certain level of cooperation with other great nations, and even serving as a subordinate would be more enjoyable, wouldn't it?
As the host, Konoha Village had to strictly vet the participating ninjas. They had already notified each ninja village to submit a list of their examinees early on. Of course, these were only basic details. If too much information was revealed, Konoha ninjas might gain an advantage, and they didn't believe Konoha Village would simply accept information without using it to prepare their own examinees.
As the date of the joint Chunin Exams approached, the lists of examinees from each ninja village had already been sent to Konoha Village. As a supervisor, Fumori Masaki rightfully went to look at the examinee lists. The original story didn't describe much about the period before and after the Second Great Ninja War, so he basically didn't recognize these young ninjas.
Ah, it's not that he didn't recognize anyone at all. There were two people he still remembered. Fumori Masaki held the two lists and shook his head with a smile. The examinees on the lists were a man and a woman from Sunagakure. The information for one of them explicitly stated, "Chiyo's child."
These two should be Sasori's parents. Considering their age, they could indeed participate in the Chunin Exams at this time. He wondered if it was fate; their mother Chiyo had a rift with Fumori Masaki, and in the original history, they would eventually die at the hands of Hatake Sakumo.
"What's so funny? Did you see any examinees worth noting?" Mitokado Homura asked when he saw Fumori Masaki's actions.
"Nothing, just the children of an old acquaintance." Fumori Masaki handed over the lists. Mitokado Homura took them and glanced at them, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"Chiyo's son, huh? Although children aren't necessarily as outstanding as their parents, since he comes from such a ninja family, his strength won't be too bad," Mitokado Homura said.
"That's a fair point." Fumori Masaki nodded. A recent example was Uzumaki Naruto. He didn't inherit his father's brilliant mind or his mother's powerful bloodline; at best, he was a half-baked talent. Going further back, there was Asura, the second son of the Sage of Six Paths. Unlike his elder brother Indra, who inherited his father's immense power, Asura only managed to fully develop his physical potential with the help of others.
"Their actual performance will still need to be seen in the Chunin Exams. I expect they'll target your students, after all, you did make that woman Chiyo lose a lot of face," Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses. "However, I don't think there will be any problems. Sakumo and Hirazou, those two kids, are both very strong."
"To receive such praise from you, that truly is an honor," Fumori Masaki chuckled.
Mitokado Homura was a very rational person, intelligent, and without ambition for power or status. He simply adhered to the principle of "acting in one's position and fulfilling one's duties." Therefore, his views were generally very fair and wouldn't be influenced by personal feelings, but precisely because of this, he could sometimes appear somewhat heartless.
In later generations, Sarutobi Hiruzen failed to gain the support of his two advisors, leading to his defeat by Shimura Danzo in the debate over how to handle the Uchiha clan. This was because Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, adhering to rationality, recognized the danger and suspicion surrounding the Uchiha clan, and thus agreed to relocate and monitor them.
However, they didn't despise the Uchiha clan like Shimura Danzo. Besides relocation and surveillance, they didn't excessively pressure the Uchiha clan. Those who should go to school could still go, the Anbu operated normally, and active ninjas were still given important assignments. But when the Uchiha clan showed signs of rebellion, the two of them began to support the plan to eradicate the Uchiha clan—everything for the sake of the village. If anyone attempted to harm the village, even their own comrades, they would be punished. This was their philosophy and their way of repaying the two Hokage who had given them a new lease on life.
Fumori Masaki felt that Mitokado Homura was usually quite normal, just like other intelligent people, but once politics were involved, he would become somewhat rigid, even seeming unfeeling. Despite this, people like him were essential.
Mitokado Homura was primarily responsible for diplomatic missions. His calm and rational nature allowed him to maximize benefits for the village. With Tobirama gradually letting go, Mitokado Homura had already gained ample experience, no longer as inexperienced as he was on his first trip to the capital, but able to converse naturally and eloquently in front of nobles and even the Daimyo.
Fumori Masaki believed that once Konoha Village established its legal system in the future, Mitokado Homura would be well-suited for roles in judgment and prosecution. People like Mitokado Homura were best suited for such work, ensuring the fairness of the law.
Fumori Masaki flipped through the lists and let out a soft "Eh," saying, "It seems the ninjas from Uzushiogakure didn't come to participate in the Chunin Exams."
"Hmm, they're not very interested in the joint Chunin Exams. Honestly, the Uzumaki clan members don't particularly like to get involved in ninja wars. The last time, it was only because they were allies with our village that they actively intervened in the ninja world war," Mitokado Homura explained the underlying reason.
"After all, it's a peace-loving country, just like the Land of Hot Water." Fumori Masaki, however, added in his mind: This isn't a good thing.
Because Uzushiogakure had blocked the attacks of Kirigakure for Konoha Village during the First Great Ninja War, the relationship between Uzushiogakure and the Land of Water became increasingly strained. During peacetime, with Uzushiogakure reliant on the Land of Fire, perhaps nothing would happen, but once war broke out, Uzushiogakure, with its powerful bloodline limit but without focusing on improving its military strength, would find it difficult to protect itself.
Even with the Land of Fire nearby, the Land of Fire is a continental country with little experience in naval warfare, while the Land of Water is an island nation, most adept at naval warfare. During the last ninja war, Kirigakure actively advanced onto the continent. If Konoha ninjas were to fight Kirigakure at sea, it would be a huge disadvantage, making it easy for them to be beyond reach for Uzushiogakure.
If the Second Great Ninja War broke out, Fumori Masaki believed that Kirigakure would likely eliminate Uzushiogakure first. Calculating the time of Uzushiogakure's destruction in the original story, it was on the eve of the Second Great Ninja War. Uzushiogakure's sealing and barrier techniques were very troublesome, and from a strategic perspective, removing one of Konoha Village's arms was the correct choice.
—I need to quickly find a way to relocate the Uzumaki clan to Konoha Village. Even if not the entire clan, at least a portion of them must be moved.
Fumori Masaki didn't believe Uzushiogakure would be willing to relocate their entire clan. Aside from their attachment to their homeland, as the only clan in the ninja world that was both a royal family and the leader of a ninja village, asking them to abandon their status as rulers of a nation and become just another ninja family in Konoha Village was no easy feat.
Only under extreme duress might Uzushiogakure make such a decision, but Fumori Masaki clearly couldn't create that sense of crisis. Even if he presented an analysis of Uzushiogakure's potential danger, he doubted whether Uzushiogakure would truly grasp the underlying threat. If they held onto a lucky (stroke of luck) mentality and refused to agree, it would be troublesome.
In recent years, Mito's health had been declining. Although she still looked well, according to the original story, Mito could at most live for another ten years. Currently, the friendship between Konoha Village and Uzushiogakure relied entirely on Mito and her daughter Misaki, with Mito's influence being more significant. If Mito were to pass away, the relationship between Konoha Village and Uzushiogakure would not be as close as it is now. Therefore, things must be handled while Mito is still alive, otherwise, after Mito's death, things would only become more troublesome.
Fumori Masaki thought to himself, then put down all the lists, cheered on Mitokado Homura, and then left the room. After overseeing all the matters he was responsible for, he returned to his home.
Sitting at his desk, Fumori Masaki pondered deeply. He planned to write an analytical report for Mito and Tobirama based on the situation after the joint Chunin Exams. By then, he should have become Hokage and could officially begin diplomatic efforts with Uzushiogakure. Mito, who cared deeply for her clan, surely wouldn't stand idly by while Uzushiogakure faced danger, would she?
Although the joint Chunin Exams hadn't started yet, Fumori Masaki had already begun drafting. A report written by combining the situation after the joint Chunin Exams would be well-reasoned and supported by evidence, which would surely make Tobirama and Mito understand it at a glance. He had done this countless times before.
"Alright, let's begin," Fumori Masaki murmured to himself, then picked up his pen and began writing furiously on the paper. Since it was just a draft, the sentences weren't very smooth, and the logical connections weren't great, but he could refine it later. After all, it still depended on the results of the joint Chunin Exams. First, he would discuss it based on the current situation of the ninja world, the geographical issues of the Land of Fire, Uzushiogakure, and the Land of Water, and the impact of the First Great Ninja War.