Early morning on the third day.
Everyone gathered at Konoha's main gate. Sakuma Akaba noticed that besides their squad and Orochimaru's group, there were three more people:
Gekko Nightdance, Shinku Yuhi, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
"Huh, never thought you guys would actually participate in the Chunin Exams too," Jiraiya said in surprise.
"Come on, back in school our grades were even better than yours. Why do you sound so condescending?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke sighed helplessly.
Even though he knew Jiraiya well, this comment still rubbed him the wrong way.
"Never thought you'd all be in one team."
"Well, it's mostly because you're too lazy."
Nightdance sighed but didn't explain further to Sakuma Akaba.
The more you interacted with Sakuma Akaba, the less surprised you became—he was just naturally indifferent toward everything around him.
"Hmm, you're right. Long time no see, Shinnosuke."
Sakuma Akaba waved his hand as a greeting.
"Long time no see."
Shinnosuke waved back, then formed two quick hand seals and produced a rock to sit on.
"Give me one too."
Sakuma Akaba walked over and nudged him.
"This is my private stone bench. You make your own using Earth Release."
"You two have got to be kidding me!"
Tsunade couldn't stand watching any longer. She had expected Sarutobi Shinnosuke to act responsibly, yet he had used a jutsu to conjure a seat outright.
If things kept going like this, the village gates would soon turn into a park.
The others exchanged helpless glances before going about their own business.
When even the toughest guy opened his mouth, you've gotta give face.
"Chunin-sama, may I borrow a chair? I'm honestly too weak to stand."
Leaning against a table near the entrance, Sakuma Akaba spoke up.
"You mean Sakuma Akaba, right? Normally it wouldn't be allowed, but for you, I'll make an exception."
Shige Nohara shifted his chair sideways slightly.
Sakuma Akaba hesitated briefly—landlords don't have extra grain either, huh? He felt a bit ashamed: "That's so awkward."
Before he finished speaking, he had already sat down.
"…"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. Does that look awkward to you?
But the chunin didn't seem to mind; instead, he excitedly said: "Sakuma Akaba, your performance the other day was amazing! Especially that final scene where Haku and Zabuza transformed into Ao Birds—it was incredibly moving!"
"Ah… nothing much really, I just happened to think of it."
A fanboy, huh.
Sakuma Akaba blinked in realization, then took out his sketchpad and brush.
He moved his brush rapidly across the sketchpad—
In several minutes, a drawing was completed.
"For you, thanks for offering your seat."
Sakuma Akaba smiled faintly.
After all, he's a true fan. Standing for hours while giving up his seat wasn't easy either—it only made sense to offer a small gift in return.
The chunin accepted it and looked at it closely, then exclaimed in astonishment: "This is…"
The image was clearly a miniature version of that climactic final scene—Zabuza and Haku's illusions, plus two flying Ao Birds.
"Oh right, may I ask your name?"
Sakuma Akaba asked.
"Shige Nohara."
The chunin chuckled.
"Nohara… quite a nice surname."
Sakuma Akaba paused, then quickly added a signature along with the name Shige Nohara.
"Thank you!"
Shige Nohara happily accepted the drawing.
If he went back and gave this to his son, the boy would probably be thrilled.
After finishing the drawing, Akaba sat down, preparing to take a short rest.
"Has everyone arrived?"
Just as the group anxiously waited, a voice came from afar.
Following that, a sword-carrying ninja walked down the street.
At the sight of him, Sakumo immediately stiffened up.
Jiraiya stopped looking around, and both Orochimaru and Shishio ceased their small movements.
Shinnosuke's stone seat automatically vanished, and he quickly stood up and saluted.
"Uncle Windseer! Never expected you'd be leading us!"
Tsunade seemed surprised.
"Hello Uncle Windseer!"
Akaba immediately sat up straight, awkwardly pushing back the chair. "Sorry, I—"
"Hn."
Kakashi Windseer gave a slight nod, giving away no hint of his mood.
Then, he swept his gaze across the area.
After glancing at each of them, he finally spoke. "This mission isn't on home soil—we're heading to the Land of Wind. I will be your leading Jonin."
Finally, he looked toward Akaba, eyeing the surroundings with some confusion.
"Where is the caravan?"
"They're all ordinary people. I let them leave first for the River Country to wait."
Akaba replied.
They were all ninjas; they could travel from Konoha to the border of the Land of Fire in one day. But the caravan had many people and goods—getting from Konoha to the border would take at least two or three days.
If we don't send the caravan ahead, this trip would turn into a vacation.
"Good. Let's move out!"
Saying this, Kakashi Windseer casually tossed a slip of paper onto the table.
It was the pass.
Shige Nohara naturally wouldn't obstruct over such minor matters. After bowing and saluting, he noted their names on the list.
Under Kakashi Windseer's leadership, the entire team's atmosphere became stern and disciplined.
Along the way, everyone focused entirely on moving forward, not daring to chat idly.
"Hey, Sakumo, your father..."
After running for a while, Jiraiya couldn't hold back any longer. He edged closer to Sakumo as they ran, whispering.
"Don't talk. Keep moving."
Sakumo cut him off flatly and picked up his pace.
Even Jiraiya didn't know what to say.
What's going on? This guy seems like a completely different person.
When they reached the border of the Land of Fire, Windseer stopped and after observing the surroundings said, "Rest here."
"Yes, Father!"
Sakumo sat down first, placing his tanto across his knees.
Seeing this posture, Windseer paused briefly before speaking, "Sakumo, don't be too formal—it's outside the village. All of you should relax."
"Uh... Understood."
"Lord Windseer, never expected it would be you leading us," Orochimaru smiled slightly.
The situation with Sakumo clearly showed it was his first time leaving the village with Windseer, and he really wanted to perform well in front of him.
However,
[Chidori] Since its development, Kakashi Windseer had already acknowledged him.
"Hn… I didn't expect this either."
Windseer sat directly on the ground, adopting almost the same sitting posture as Sakumo.
"Father, since you've killed quite a few Sand-nin, won't there be trouble?"
Sakumo expressed his concern.
"Compared to other villages, we've killed relatively fewer Sand-nin."
Windseer calmly responded.
"That's because the Land of Wind only wants advantages without fully committing themselves. They haven't actually deployed their main forces, considering even the Second Kazekage didn't participate in the war."
Akaba interjected.
The Second Kazekage, Shamon, was the only surviving Kage among the Five Great Ninja Villages during the First Ninja World War.
Forming an alliance with Konoha was also his initiative.
"At first, they were trying to play both sides for their own gain. But once we wiped out a group of them, they immediately switched sides and allied with us to take down the Land of Earth."
Kakashi Windseer nodded.
In fact, those were the only Suna ninja he had personally killed.
"If that group hadn't been defeated, the Land of Wind would still have formed an alliance with the Land of Fire, but definitely wouldn't have gotten the territories back."
Shishio murmured after a moment's thought.
"Obviously not. Once they've sunk their teeth into something, they won't let go."
Jiraiya smirked.
"Are there any other villages besides Suna?"
Shinnosuke asked.
"Smaller villages like Taki and Kusa have joined in too. Right after a major war, these smaller villages might send out their Genin (low-level ninja) for wartime experience."
Kakashi Windseer nodded, his tone and expression extremely serious. "So don't underestimate your enemies."
"No problem. We're the strongest anyway."
Orochimaru smiled lightly.
"Well, you can think you're the strongest. I'm not interested in Chunin either way."
Akaba leaned against the tree trunk, taking the opportunity to rest.
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