Konoha — Nighttime.
There were only five days left before the final round of the Chūnin Exams.
"Why is it you? Where's Kabuto?"
Suna jōnin Baki glared in irritation upon seeing who had arrived.
"What are you Sound ninja playing at?"
The man before him was Mizuki, a Konoha chūnin and Sound Village double agent.
"Please calm down, Baki-sensei,"
Mizuki replied with a smile that radiated fake warmth, adopting a harmless demeanor.
"Kabuto has been reassigned. Lord Orochimaru has other plans for him."
"Other plans? At a time like this?"
Baki's expression turned grim.
Kabuto's strength and intelligence had earned his respect—but Mizuki? Just a standard Konoha chūnin at best.
"Does Orochimaru even realize how critical this stage is?"
"This is not the time for screw-ups."
"If word leaks to Konoha—especially after the Kazekage personally warned against it—then even if we abandon the plan, Suna won't be taking the fall. It was your Sound Village's operation to begin with."
"So, Baki-sensei, you don't trust in my abilities?"
Mizuki didn't take offense. Seeing Baki give a subtle nod, he continued with a calm smile.
>"Right hand—Kabuto Yakushi.
Left hand—Kimimaro."
"That's correct. But…"
Mizuki leaned in slightly, speaking with confidence.
"I… am Orochimaru-sama's hidden third hand."
"Hmph. For your sake, I hope you're not lying."
Baki gave Mizuki a doubtful glare. Internally, he wasn't convinced in the slightest.
"Seems like I need to show you a little something to prove myself."
Still smiling, Mizuki pulled out a small scroll from his robe and handed it to Baki.
"This is the updated version of the operation plan."
Then, casting his eyes toward the shadows:
"And just in time… seems we've got a little mouse sneaking around."
Discovered?! No way!
The observer hiding in the shadows cursed silently.
He was using Transparent Release—a technique that allowed for perfect invisibility. It was nearly undetectable to the average person.
"Well, well. Look who it is… Konoha's Special Jōnin—Hayate Gekkō."
Hayate felt a chill run down his spine.
In front of him stood a half-human, half-beast figure, grinning wickedly.
"Your invisibility is impressive, no doubt.
But even if your body is hidden, your scent isn't."
Scent.
Realizing the gig was up, Hayate drew the katana strapped to his back and lunged at Mizuki.
"Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
His body split into three clones, each slashing at Mizuki from different angles.
Direct hits.
All three blades landed.
"That's all you've got, Special Jōnin? Too weak."
Mizuki sneered. A tiger-like claw smashed one of the blades apart. Another claw slammed into Hayate, sending blood splattering everywhere.
In Mizuki's eyes, a flash of crimson flickered.
Sharingan?! No way!
Hayate's last thought flickered—then—
His head was severed.
Instant death.
Hayate Gekkō — deceased.
"Baki-sensei, was that demonstration good enough?"
As Mizuki reverted to his original human appearance, the wounds from the Dance of the Crescent Moon visibly regenerated in seconds.
The deep slashes were completely gone in just a few breaths.
Lord Orochimaru's power… it's incredible.
Power I could never achieve in a lifetime of training.
"Not bad,"
Baki muttered, nodding slightly.
Even he had sensed a flicker of danger during Mizuki's earlier outburst.
This level of strength was nearly on par with Kabuto.
Orochimaru's "third hand," huh…?
First a Genin like Kabuto, now a Chūnin like Mizuki. What next—a Jōnin double agent from Konoha?
Konoha's Main Gate
Two men wearing black cloaks with red clouds stepped through the front gate.
The Akatsuki mercenaries hired by Sunagakure.
They hadn't forced their way in. Instead, they had registered through official channels, entering under the guise of "business purposes."
"Thanks to Mr. Shinno, we got in without issue."
The speaker was someone Naruto had seen before: Kakuzu.
He chuckled:
"Walking openly into Konoha… never thought I'd see the day."
"You're too kind, Kakuzu-san."
The man called Shinno was a refined elderly gentleman with graying sideburns and a circular hat.
"It was all arranged by the company. Without that, I'd never have gotten in either."
"Kakuzu, why are we the ones entering Konoha?"
The gruff man beside him—wearing a ring marked "San" (Three) and a face marked by scars and stubble—grumbled nervously.
"Getting into one of the Five Great Nations is no small matter."
"You're too slow, 'Three.'"
Kakuzu gave him a disapproving glare, then explained:
"The organization needs funds. Suna offered a generous payment."
A pause—
"All in pure gold."
He stressed the word gold with great emphasis.
"I have a name, you know. Stop calling me by my codename."
The gruff man either didn't hear—or didn't care about the gold.
He kept muttering under his breath.
Kakuzu gave him a long, loaded look.
"You talk too much."
Together, Kakuzu and the unnamed man entered Konoha—Akatsuki's advance unit—to begin gathering intel.
"Mr. Hiruko,"
Shennong turned to the cloaked man following behind them, whose beige robe swayed as he walked.
"How does it feel to return to Konoha?"
Hiruko's gaze was cold and indifferent.
"I only care about retrieving what I came for."
"You said it would be here."
"Of course," Shinno assured him.
"In three days, you'll see it with your own eyes."
"Good."
Hiruko nodded and fell silent again.
His apathetic demeanor made it seem as though nothing in this world could affect him.
This year's Chūnin Exams, co-hosted by Konoha, had reached an unprecedented scale.
Ninja from across the entire world had descended upon the village.
Even the monsters and oddballs of the ninja world had shown up.
"Shumoku (OC), Shumoku! Look at this!"
A young girl with short, turquoise-blue hair, dark skin, and bright orange eyes, bounced excitedly in front of a candy stall.
She stared wide-eyed at the cotton candy for sale, her whole face glowing with enthusiasm.
"It looks delicious! Is it sweet? It has to be sweet, right?"
She dashed from one street vendor to another, looking at everything with eyes full of wonder.
Full of energy and curiosity, she seemed incapable of staying still—everything amazed her.
"Fu, calm down."
The young man named Shumoku seemed shy and uncomfortable.
With so many people giving them strange looks—like they were country bumpkins—he blushed with embarrassment.
"We were invited here. We represent Takigakure. Don't embarrass the village."
"Hehe~"
The girl named Fu stuck out her tongue, totally unbothered by the stares.
In fact, she seemed even more energetic, her personality a stark contrast to her shy companion.
"I came to Konoha to make friends, remember?"
They were other villages' Jinchūriki.
From the Hidden Waterfall Village—Fu, host of the Seven-Tails.
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