"Tsunade?"
As one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, how could Mei Terumī not have heard that name?
"But finding her won't be easy," Mei murmured thoughtfully.
She knew of Tsunade — the world-famous medical ninja and gambler who owed more debts than most small nations. Rumor had it she was constantly on the move, never staying in one place for long.
For someone of Kage-level strength, hiding was effortless.
Even the best intelligence operatives or tracking units of the Hidden Mist wouldn't be able to locate her easily.
Finding Tsunade would come down to one thing—luck.
If luck was on their side, some trace might surface.
If not, she might as well be a ghost.
Shigure smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. There's always a way."
"Right now, you should focus on returning the Tailed Beast to the village and making me its sole Jinchūriki."
Mei Terumī nodded. That was the more pressing matter. Whether Yuyuri could be saved or not was beyond their control—it was in fate's hands now.
"Still," Mei said after a moment, "keeping you as a Genin isn't a long-term solution."
Her eyes sharpened. "Tomorrow, I'll arrange a Chūnin Exam—for you alone."
"Chūnin Exam?"
Shigure raised an eyebrow.
Another one?
The idea of taking the exam alone was unusual, but the thought of using it to establish his name in the Hidden Mist… was appealing.
"Very well," Shigure said calmly.
"I'll await your arrangements."
The next morning, Hidden Mist Village was buzzing with excitement.
Its newly reopened arena—a massive enclosed structure—stood at the heart of the village.
Unlike Konoha's open-air stadium, Kirigakure's arena was completely indoors. The endless fog and constant drizzle made that a necessity.
The village had only recently lifted its isolation policies, and people were just beginning to walk freely again. So when word spread that a special Chūnin Exam was being held today—one with only a single examinee—the entire village stirred.
It wasn't just any exam.
It was a public event, open for everyone to witness.
Nearly one-tenth of the village's population crowded into the arena, filling the stands until not a seat was left empty. The circular battleground in the center gleamed under the lamps, surrounded by tens of thousands of curious spectators.
"I heard Lady Mizukage herself will be presiding over the exam!"
"Who's the examinee? Holding an exam just for one person… that's unheard of!"
"They say he's a boy Lady Mizukage personally brought back from outside the village. A child of a family that once defected from the Mist!"
At that, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"A Missing-nin's child?" someone said with distaste.
But another voice countered, "A Missing-nin's child isn't a Missing-nin. The sins of the parents don't belong to the child. If he's strong, then he's strength for the Hidden Mist!"
A few nodded in agreement.
"Besides," someone else added, "if Lady Mizukage brought him back herself, he must be a prodigy!"
The debate ended as a hush swept through the stands.
Mei Terumī entered the arena.
As the Fifth Mizukage, her presence alone commanded respect from every shinobi in Kirigakure. Her strength was unquestioned, her beauty legendary—even among civilians, she was adored like a symbol of the village's rebirth.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Standing before tens of thousands, Mei allowed herself a small smile. Watching the excitement in their eyes, she made a mental note—
Kirigakure needed more of this.
More unity.
More spirit.
More moments that brought its people together.
Holding events like this wouldn't just test the strength of her ninja—it would strengthen the heart of the Hidden Mist itself.
This event would also go a long way toward healing the rift between civilians and shinobi — a wound left festering since the dark days of the Bloody Mist era.
From her high seat, Mei Terumī looked toward the center of the arena.
"It's your turn, Shigure."
With Zangetsu strapped across his back and clad in a brand-new blue Mist robe, Shigure stepped forward.
He didn't look like a Genin.
He didn't even look like a typical shinobi.
He moved like a swordsman — calm, confident, and resolute.
The metal gleam of his Kirigakure forehead protector caught the light, completing the image.
The crowd murmured, their earlier suspicion giving way to curiosity and admiration.
"Look at that kid—he's got presence!"
"He's carrying a blade. Must be a kenjutsu user!"
"It's a shame… the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are long gone."
"Maybe this boy will be part of the next generation."
As the whispers spread through the stands, the Chūnin Exam officially began.
To give Shigure a true stage to prove himself, Mei Terumī had designed a three-round trial.
The first round: ten Genin.
When the ten opponents appeared, the audience gasped.
Was she really going to make one boy face ten opponents at once?
"One against ten? Is she serious?"
"If he's truly Chūnin-level, it's not impossible—but still…"
"Go on, kid! Show us what you've got!"
But before the crowd's cheers could even build—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
All ten Genin were already sprawled unconscious on the ground.
Shigure hadn't even drawn his sword.
"So fast!"
"He didn't even use a weapon!"
For someone his age, this level of strength was almost unbelievable.
The second round began immediately.
Dozens of shinobi leapt down from the viewing platform — thirty Chūnin, each armed and ready.
Steel flashed as they surrounded Shigure, forming a deadly circle.
"What kind of test is this!?"
"Thirty at once? Are they trying to kill him?"
But Shigure didn't wait.
With a single breath, he charged forward — his body flickering between blades like a phantom.
The sound of steel rang out again and again.
By the time the crowd could blink, thirty Chūnin were down, scattered across the arena floor.
For a moment, silence.
Then the arena exploded with cheers.
"Unbelievable!"
"That's swordsmanship beyond compare!"
"He took them all down without even a second strike!"
But the test wasn't over.
The third round began — this time, a single Jōnin dropped into the ring.
He wore a mask, but Shigure recognized the stance instantly.
Zabuza Momochi.
The Demon of the Hidden Mist himself.
A grin crossed Shigure's face. He formed two one-handed seals, and twin torrents of chakra burst forth — Water Dragon Jutsu roaring to life.
The water dragons crashed through the mist, forcing Zabuza to retreat under a barrage of strikes.
The audience gasped as the masked Jōnin — a name whispered in fear throughout the village — was being overpowered.
Ten seconds.
That's all it took.
Shigure's Zangetsu stopped just short of Zabuza's throat, its edge gleaming coldly.
One more step, and it would've pierced flesh.
For a long moment, the two stared at each other — then Zabuza slowly removed his mask.
The crowd's confusion deepened into disbelief.
"Zabuza Momochi!?"
"The Demon of the Hidden Mist—it's really him!"
"No wonder his movements felt so familiar!"
"But… how could that boy from the Yuki Clan defeat Zabuza so easily!?"
"He's a Missing-nin! Why is he even here!?"
The tension spiked.
A few Jōnin instantly moved to attack.
In Kirigakure, there was only one rule for Missing-nin — kill on sight.
But just as they closed in—
Crack! Crack!
Five or six of them froze mid-motion, literally.
Their bodies turned solid white, encased in thick frost. The icy chakra spread outward in waves, and the temperature inside the entire arena dropped by ten degrees in an instant.
Frost formed on the walls, and the audience fell silent.
...
TN:
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)