Chapter 19: A Warning and a Plan
As expected, Takahashi's team took first place. The team from the Sound Village came in a close second. They were another one of Orochimaru's pawns.
This time, they hadn't picked a fight with Gaara. They played it safe, choosing a steady approach. Their team members were also strange—people no one had seen before. This gave them a big advantage, letting them easily get the scrolls they needed.
Gaara's team passed smoothly, too. Some unlucky team must have run into them.
When they came out, Might Guy had tears in his eyes. He never imagined his team would be first. It wasn't just a sign of his students' strength, but also proof his teaching worked. He was overjoyed that his students were thriving.
Tenten chattered excitedly beside him. "That Gaara from Suna has such a scary killing intent! If it weren't for Takahashi, we'd have been stuck in there for ages! And Sasuke from Team 7! He's working with Orochimaru! He had these weird black marks on him. Takahashi called it a 'Cursed Seal'."
When Guy heard "Orochimaru," he immediately sobered up.
"Wait, what did you say? Orochimaru? He got into the Chunin Exams?!"
Takahashi nodded. "Yes, it was him. And it seems he has a bigger plan. He's using a different face and identity. Guy-sensei, you should inform the Third Hokage. This guy is probably plotting something major."
Guy nodded firmly. This was too important. He had to tell the Third Hokage immediately to prepare. If something big happened, the impact on the village would be huge.
Just think about it—the exam candidates were future leaders from every village. If they died in Konoha, the village would be blamed, no matter what. It would be a disaster.
Not to mention, Konoha's reputation would plummet. The more he thought, the more worried he became.
"No, you all rest here. I'm going to see the Third Hokage right now."
Takahashi stopped him. "Wait."
"What is it?"
"There's something else. Maybe more important. Only three people are supposed to enter the Forest of Death. But the two guys with Orochimaru... they didn't look alive. I couldn't feel any living breath from them. Please tell the Hokage about this. It might be connected to something critical."
He was right. This was vital. It could even decide the Third Hokage's life or death. That forbidden jutsu was the Impure World Reincarnation. A simple fight with Orochimaru might not kill the Hokage, but with the first two Hokages brought back... that was a different story.
He couldn't reveal he knew about the reincarnation jutsu. That would be too suspicious. How would a genin know about a forbidden technique like that?
"Okay. I will definitely tell the Third Hokage everything. You've all worked hard."
A moment later, Guy rushed to the Hokage's office as fast as he could. This was too important to delay. He practically burst through the door.
The Third Hokage was surprised to see him. It felt like Guy was visiting a lot lately.
"What is it, Guy? Shouldn't you be coaching your students for the next exam? What brings you here?"
Seeing Guy's serious face, the Third Hokage knew it was important. His tone changed. "Did something happen?"
"Yes. My student found Orochimaru during the exam. We don't know what he's trying, sneaking into the Chunin Exams. We ran into him once on a mission, but that time felt like a test. This time... we should prepare."
Hearing this, the Third Hokage frowned. Of his three students, Orochimaru was the biggest headache. Quiet as a child, he'd grown into a rebel, branded a traitor to the village. All he wanted now was to destroy Konoha. His return was definitely not simple.
And he wasn't afraid of being spotted. That meant he was confident. The Third Hokage felt a real headache. He wasn't young anymore, and his strength wasn't what it used to be.
After Guy left, the Third Hokage looked up at the ceiling and muttered to himself. "It seems I really am old. Getting timid now. If I can't handle this... well, this old man will just have to do it himself. But for now... I don't like Danzo, but having him act with me might be better. And my two other foolish students... I wonder what they're doing now."
Not long after Guy left, another figure rushed in, frantic.
"Lord Hokage! It's terrible! The Fourth Kazekage has disappeared!"
"What?!"
The Third Hokage shot to his feet, shocked. This exam was hosted jointly by both villages. If the Kazekage went missing in Konoha, it would provoke a war between them. Connecting this to the news about Orochimaru, the whole picture became instantly clear.
His eyes narrowed, his voice turning cold. "Orochimaru... I should have known. You've only grown more cunning over the years."
But they were too late. Orochimaru had killed the real Fourth Kazekage long ago. The man appearing now was just a substitute.
Originally, Orochimaru planned to impersonate the Kazekage himself. But Takahashi's sudden rise changed his plans, so he chose someone else to play the part.
Of course, Gaara knew nothing about this.
Meanwhile, Takahashi and his team were eating together. It was a happy thing, getting first place in the Forest of Death.
Everyone who did well in this exam became powerful ninja later. Even if they'd had some luck, they were still number one.
Lee looked at Takahashi's thoughtful face. "Are you worried about the final matches tomorrow?"
Takahashi snapped out of it. He wasn't worried about the matches. He basically knew everyone's strengths and weaknesses. That was fine.
What worried him more was whether the Hokage could withstand Orochimaru's attack. After all, the First and Second Hokage were not pushovers.