The curtain had yet to fully rise on the Chūnin Exams, but beneath the surface, tension had already begun to simmer in every corner of Konoha.
Behind the façade of peace, the Four Great Shinobi Villages, under Konoha's deliberate arrangements, had reached an unprecedented agreement.
Even the smaller villages—those who normally could only look up in awe at the Great Four—were dragged into this temporary alliance, forming what appeared to be an unshakable front.
Among them was the Hidden Grass Village, a notoriously fickle force during times of war, now quietly mingling among the others.
To Uchiha Hikaru, the Hidden Grass Village was a short-sighted and spineless existence.
If there was one thing they were known for, it was their shameless pride in stealing jutsu from other villages.
They were obsessed with acquiring rare techniques by any means—be it through deals, espionage, or worse.
After the fall of the Uzumaki Clan, Karin's mother, herself a member of that clan, wandered into the Hidden Grass Village.
She awakened the physical healing Bloodline Limit, which, in Hikaru's eyes, was undeniably a natural-born gift.
After all, in this world, strength was measured by bloodline.
And yet, the Hidden Grass Village used her like a walking pill, completely ignoring her potential to become a powerful combatant.
They had no principles, no firm allegiance—only the ability to sway between the strong. Whichever side held the power, they'd follow.
In the later Shinobi World Wars, the Hidden Grass had pulled the same tricks.
They moved with the wind, always siding with the eventual victors.
Such disgraceful fence-sitting disgusted Uchiha Hikaru.
Just like now: though allied with Konoha on the surface, the Hidden Grass had secretly reached an agreement with the Four Great Shinobi Villages behind its back.
It was nothing less than betrayal.
They simply believed that this time, Konoha couldn't stand against the combined strength of the other villages—and so they chose to side with them early.
Their actions made it very clear what kind of village they truly were.
Even Mito Uzumaki felt a growing distaste for the Grass Village upon learning this.
After all, who wants to be stabbed in the back by their own ally mid-battle?
The Land of Whirlpools wasn't participating in this year's Chūnin Exams…
But they did send word to Mito Uzumaki about something. Hikaru didn't know the details.
Only that something might have gone wrong in the Land of Whirlpools.
That, Hikaru made a mental note of.
Though the nation's fall wasn't supposed to happen yet...
Uchiha Hikaru, this butterfly, had already flapped the plot beyond recognition.
Akasuna and Kurosuna led the delegation from the Hidden Sand Village, making their way toward the Chūnin Exam venue.
Their faces were full of confidence, their expressions relaxed, as if victory were already waving to them from the future.
To them, even though the exam hadn't begun, Konoha was already disqualified.
How could one village, no matter how strong, compete against the alliance of so many?
Unless someone like Hashirama Senju were to return from the grave.
And once Konoha was eliminated, none of the other villages would be able to stand against them.
Unfortunately for them… the other villages were thinking the same thing.
So, when they crossed paths at the exam venue, they all exchanged polite greetings.
'Helping us take down Konoha? What a generous soul~' x4
While they exchanged pleasantries full of false warmth, a lazy and mocking voice suddenly floated past their ears.
It sounded like the rustling of leaves in the wind, light and derisive.
"Isn't this supposed to be the Chūnin Exams? Why is it filled with a bunch of old guys?"
The voice was soft.
"No way, no way. Don't tell me there are actually people in their twenties who still aren't Chūnin?"
The atmosphere instantly shifted.
The shinobi from the Four Great Villages stared in stunned fury in the direction of the voice.
There stood a young boy, mocking smile on his face.
His gaze dripped with contempt, as if he didn't consider them worth a second thought.
Naturally, this child was none other than Uchiha Hikaru, who had just arrived.
He wore a black shinobi uniform, his entire demeanor exuding a maturity and composure far beyond his age.
The White Fang stood silently at his side, observing the scene.
Hikaru's expression was filled with disdain.
He already knew the other villages would play dirty in this exam—but he hadn't expected them to be this shameless.
Not a single one of their participants was a Genin.
Even the youngest were several years older than the White Fang. For someone that age to be in the Chūnin Exams? Please—they were obviously all Jōnin.
Every last one of them.
Hikaru's words and his attitude made the other villages' shinobi seethe inside.
But they also knew they were on Konoha's turf, and the exams were about to begin.
They didn't want to stir up trouble at this critical moment.
"This is Konoha's ground—we can't make a move that easily."
A shinobi from the Hidden Cloud murmured.
"But we can't just let him insult us like this!"
Another from the Hidden Cloud grumbled in frustration.
As they argued, a shinobi from the Hidden Stone suddenly stepped forward.
He glared at Hikaru, shouting:
"Hey, brat! This isn't a place for kids. Go home and drink milk with your mommy!"
His tone was harsh and impatient, like trying to swat away a buzzing fly.
At those words, Hikaru's gaze turned ice-cold.
He stared at the foul-mouthed shinobi from the Hidden Stone. A deep gleam flickered in his eyes.
That look made the man—Roshi—feel as if he'd been pierced by ice.
He instinctively stepped back. The Four-Tails sealed inside him shivered violently.
Suddenly, Roshi's vision blurred. The world around him changed in a blink.
He now stood in a vast, shadowed space surrounded by swirling darkness.
He recognized it instantly—his inner seal space.
Before he could react, a disdainful voice whispered beside his ear:
"Tch tch… Ōnoki sure has guts. Sending a Jinchūriki to Konoha? Not worried he won't make it back?"
Uchiha Hikaru flashed into view, now standing before him.
His gaze was like a blade—sharp, mocking, and pitiless. The look one gives prey.
The abrupt shift caused Roshi's pupils to contract. Cold sweat poured down his face.