The long-awaited Chūnin Exams were about to begin.
Standing at the highest point of the Hokage Tower, looking down at the bustling streets of Konoha filled with nobles from all over the nations, the Third Hokage took a deep drag from his pipe. Slowly exhaling several smoke rings, he spoke with a complicated expression.
"It's finally about to start."
This year's joint Chūnin Exams, hosted by Konoha, were unprecedented in scale. The turnout of nobles was unexpectedly huge—practically the entire shinobi continent was represented.
For example: the world-famous tycoon and president of the largest maritime shipping company, Mr. Hattori; Kazahana Doto, the daimyō of the Land of Snow; Sebone, daimyō of the Land of Grass; the lord of Hozuki Castle, Mui; Shion, daimyō of the Land of Demons; and even the daimyō of the Land of Waves and the daimyō of the Land of Rain, Rasen (OC).
In addition, there were the Fourth Kazekage from Sunagakure, the next leader of Takigakure—Shumoku, the ruler of the Land of Birds, the head of the Land of Hot Water's shinobi village, and more. Other than the Five Great Nations' major villages and daimyō, only a handful of places—such as the Land of Iron—were absent.
Because there were so many dignitaries, tickets to the Chūnin Exams became nearly impossible to get.
This was a first in the history of Konoha.
Even the daimyō of the Land of Fire—who usually cared for nothing but his own pleasures—took interest and decided to come join the festivities.
To accommodate this "Heavenly Dragon" of the Hokage world, the original date of the exam had been postponed for several days.
As a result, Konoha made a fortune just from ticket sales, and the influx of visitors gave the village's entire economy a big boost.
They had earned a full pot—and then some.
The exams hadn't even ended yet, and people were already hoping the next Chūnin Exams would come as soon as possible.
If there is a next time, that is.
"Daimyō-sama, it must have been tiring to travel so far."
As the ruler of the Land of Fire, the daimyō was personally greeted by the Third Hokage.
The political structure of the shinobi world was a strange one—despite Konoha controlling the military might of the Land of Fire, the Hokage was still officially subordinate to the daimyō.
Stranger still, the daimyō of the Land of Wind had once wanted to abolish his own Sunagakure and instead hire Konoha's forces.
"Hohohohoho—" From the palanquin stepped a thin, dried-up man wearing a ridiculous fan-shaped hat. Hiding his mouth behind a folding fan, he let out a series of inexplicably sharp laughs before greeting the Third Hokage:
"It's been a long time, old man Sarutobi. How's your health?"
Fortunately, the previous Land of Fire daimyō hadn't been a complete fool. In order to bind Hashirama Senju to him, he had married his own daughter to Hashirama's son.
Thus, Hashirama's grandchildren and the daimyō's family were related by blood.
Tsunade—also called Princess Tsunade—was, in fact, a cousin of the current daimyō.
Compared to his predecessor, however, this daimyō was more like the idiot son of a wealthy landlord.
The moment he saw the Third Hokage, he pulled him aside and whispered with great secrecy:
"I hear that the biggest highlight of this Chūnin Exam is the descendant of Konoha's Momo (OC) clan going up against some Roro (OC) from Suna. I hear both are extremely strong ninja."
"One has eyes filled with a sea of blood and hatred—stare at someone and they drop dead."
"The other is fated under a lone-star curse, here to regain his lost eyebrows, specializing in defeating people with the Death Omen Star."
The daimyō, gesturing wildly, spoke with such enthusiasm that his spit flew. The Third Hokage, listening, was utterly baffled and at a loss for words.
At last, after a string of 'scientific' deductions, the daimyō concluded:
"I think the 'stare and they die' ability sounds stronger. So I've put a heavy bet on Momo."
"He's one of your Konoha people, old man Sarutobi—don't let me down."
What in the world…
Listening to the daimyō's nonsensical chatter, the Third Hokage could only force a bitter smile. Talking with the daimyō was exhausting—especially since, even if he was completely wrong, you couldn't correct him. You had to keep a face that said 'Ah, I see. You're right. How wise you are, my lord.'
They rambled from weather patterns to physiognomy, from "the face reflects the heart" to fortunes and destiny. Finally managing to amuse the daimyō, Sarutobi, under the man's delighted "hohoho" laugh, wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
This was more tiring than fighting the Fourth Kazekage.
This was not work suited for the elderly.
Other than the ever-troublesome Land of Fire daimyō, the other daimyō were much calmer in demeanor.
As the rulers of smaller nations, they faced greater survival pressures, thought about more practical concerns, and possessed deeper political shrewdness.
It was said that the Land of Rain's daimyō, Rasen , had only recently taken the throne—a hooded red-haired man in his thirties. To ascend to the position of daimyō at such a young age, and in the Land of Rain whose military might was second only to the Five Great Nations, meant he was certainly no ordinary man.
Another similarly young leader was Shumoku, the next head of Takigakure.
Naive, spineless fool—that was the Third Hokage's evaluation of him.
The third round of the exams was held in a giant domed arena, divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers. The top tier was originally meant for the hosts—the Third Hokage and Fourth Kazekage—but with the Land of Fire daimyō present, that level was given to him.
After all, in name, a Kage was beneath a daimyō.
The other smaller nations' daimyō and leaders sat in the middle tier, while a specially separated section in the center was reserved for the Third Hokage and Fourth Kazekage.
Not long after the Land of Fire daimyō had taken his seat, the Third Hokage saw someone completely unexpected.
"Danzō? What are you doing here?"
Danzō slowly approached, leaning on a cane, two Root operatives following as always.
"That's the daimyō's seat—you're not allowed up there," the Third Hokage stopped him as he moved to go higher.
"The daimyō invited me to watch the matches with him," Danzō replied unhurriedly.
For once, the usually calm Sarutobi sounded more anxious than Danzō.
"What? Are you saying I can't go?"
"Danzō." Sarutobi's voice grew stern as he watched the man advance. "What are you plotting this time?"
He emphasized heavily:
"That's the daimyō you're dealing with."
"Sarutobi, how can you slander someone without evidence?" Danzō put on a face of righteous indignation. "I'm simply going to keep the daimyō company. What possible ill intent could I have?"
"Elder Danzō! Is that you?"
Before Sarutobi could say more, the daimyō's voice called down from above.
"My lord, it is I."
"Then hurry up and come!"
Seeing that it truly was the daimyō who had invited him, Sarutobi had no choice but to let Danzō pass, though not without another warning:
"Whatever your intentions, don't go too far."
This unexpected move from Danzō was entirely beyond Sarutobi's calculations.
When had Danzō established ties with the daimyō?
And why had he not known about it?
"Sarutobi, you really shouldn't always assume the worst of people."
As they passed each other, Danzō leaned close and spoke with smug satisfaction—one of the rare moments in his life he had managed to get the upper hand over Sarutobi in words.
The delight in him was like the sheer refreshment of gulping down an ice-cold drink in the middle of a scorching summer.
Not even glancing at Sarutobi's face—now black as the bottom of a pot—Danzō strode quickly toward the upper level.
Konoha Destruction Countdown
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