Up on the high platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen beamed as he looked at those seated around him.
“Everyone, this is truly rare, for us all to gather like this.”
“Indeed, rare,” the Fourth Raikage muttered. He cast a sweeping glance at the others, then sneered.
“Likely only Konohagakure has the nerve and the strength to bring everyone together like this.”
“That’s right.”
Ōnoki chuckled beside him. His gaze lingered on the Raikage’s empty left sleeve, and his grin grew even clearer.
“Konoha’s strength is truly something out of the ordinary.”
“You—”
Of course the Fourth Raikage understood the jab, but before he could reply, Ōnoki had already turned toward the others.
“Quite a pity the Fourth Mizukage couldn’t come. Though I hear Kirigakure is about to appoint a Fifth? Isn’t he still very young?”
“...”
Genji’s expression betrayed nothing. He simply smiled awkwardly and said nothing, while Ōnoki turned next to Rasa.
“And I’ve also heard that Sunagakure even sent its own jinchūriki to take part in the exams. Tsk, tsk… worthy of being an ally indeed.”
“That’s enough. Let’s not get into that.”
Seeing Ōnoki firing shots in every direction, Hiruzen quickly stepped in to cut him off.
“The matches are about to begin. No more of this talk.”
“Quite so. Let’s enjoy the competition.”
Rasa nodded lightly, though the Fourth Raikage still let out a cold laugh.
“Let’s just hope everything goes smoothly today.”
His words cast a brief silence over the gathering. In an event like this, no one could be sure how things might turn out.
“Seems I’m late.”
Just as the mood grew heavy, a voice rang out.
They all turned to see Shimura Danzō making his way steadily up onto the platform.
“Danzō, you’re here.”
Hiruzen let out a breath of relief; he disliked that stifling tension from moments before.
“I was worried you might refuse my invitation.”
“With such a grand occasion, it would be difficult for me to decline.”
Shimura Danzō shook his head, his face expressionless as his eyes settled on Hiruzen.
“Besides, you wished to speak with me, didn’t you? Now seems the perfect time.”
The high platform brimmed with great figures, while down below, by the railing, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Tsunade, and the others had gathered together.
“All the arrangements have been set, right?”
Jiraiya asked in a low voice.
“And what about Gen? Where has he gone? Why isn’t he here?”
“Over there.”
Tsunade pointed toward the not-so-distant figure of Kitagawa Gen, who was standing together with Deidara.
“That brat from Iwagakure is clinging to him again. I really don’t get what’s with that kid.”
“Something about ‘art’ or whatever… I’m not too sure myself.”
Kakashi shook his head, then smiled as he spoke.
“Gen once said it was because of the Flying Thunder God. But that’s not a bad thing—Deidara’s destructive power is nothing to scoff at, and since he’s close to Gen…”
“…he might even be able to sway some of Ōnoki’s views. After all, isn’t he Ōnoki’s cherished disciple?”
Jiraiya understood perfectly well what Kakashi meant, and he couldn’t help but grin.
“That kid even managed to learn Dust Release. Unbelievable.”
“Well, he’s in the competition too. Jiraiya-sama, how have you been preparing this past month?”
Kakashi tilted his head, his curiosity turning toward Naruto’s progress.
“Naruto’s doing pretty well. I still haven’t figured out how to handle those two chakras inside him, but he’s learned the Rasengan—and even a Summoning Technique that Gen himself hasn’t mastered yet.”
At the mention of Naruto, Jiraiya’s face lit up with a pleased smile, clearly satisfied with the boy’s progress. Hearing this, Kakashi chuckled as well.
“Not bad at all. I’ve been training Sasuke too, teaching him how to better use his Sharingan. He’s even learned Chidori. Who knows, maybe one day he’ll be able to pick up Gen’s Purple Lightning.”
“You two—why is it that every time you open your mouths, it’s about Kitagawa Gen?”
Tsunade gave them both an amused look, leaving them momentarily stunned.
Thinking about it, though, it was true. Perhaps both of them had unconsciously begun using Kitagawa Gen as the standard to measure against.
But while they were chatting idly, Shiranui Genma stepped forward to announce the first match according to the draw.
The first bout—
Uzumaki Naruto versus Hyūga Neji.
“Yes! I’m up first!”
Naruto’s excitement was plain on his face. By contrast, Hyūga Neji remained silent, casting a single glance at Naruto before walking straight out.
“Be careful, Naruto. He’s really strong.”
Sakura’s voice carried a note of worry, but Sasuke’s eyes followed Neji briefly before he muttered, “Oi, idiot—don’t embarrass yourself.”
“Tch, no problem at all!”
Naruto gave a thumbs-up and strode toward the arena.
Yet no one in the stands noticed that high above, in the shadowed loft of the competitors’ rest building, a quiet voice slipped into the air.
“What a spectacle this is.”
“Indeed.”
Black Zetsu nodded at Obito’s side, then spoke in a low voice.
“Orochimaru’s Otogakure has already set its plans in motion, and he’s made quite a few preparations."
"As for how the other Kage will act, it’s hard to say—but the Fourth Raikage will never let things rest."
"And Sunagakure has even brought their own jinchūriki here. That gives us an even greater opportunity.”
“Exactly. If two tailed beasts erupt at once, it’ll be quite a spectacle.”
Uchiha Obito nodded, lifting his gaze toward the distant Hokage Rock.
“I want to see how that Kitagawa Gen intends to handle this. And whether that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki will show up!”
“Indeed.”
Hearing this, Black Zetsu also nodded. Even though Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had been unusually quiet of late, a being like him was terrifying simply by existing—Zetsu wouldn’t dare let his guard down in the slightest.
“I too am waiting, to see whether he’ll appear.”
“All right, let’s go. We’ll capture the One-Tail first.”
“Mm. Once we deal with the One-Tail, it’ll be easier to move on to the Nine-Tails!”
As the two made their move, up on the high platform Sarutobi Hiruzen was watching the fight between Naruto and Neji.
With his tremendous growth, Naruto’s performance was impressive. At the very least, he wasn’t being overwhelmed by Neji—on the contrary, the momentum had already swung in his favor!
“To think they’d let a jinchūriki fight in the very first round. Quite interesting.”
But just then, Shimura Danzō suddenly laughed at his side.
“Not only that—even the One-Tail is here. I can’t tell if you’re simply overconfident, or if Konoha’s defenses have become far too lax.”
“Hm?”
Hiruzen frowned slightly. But before he could respond, he suddenly sensed a strange chakra surge!
That chakra made Rasa leap to his feet, staring in disbelief toward the nearby competitors’ building.
“That’s… Shukaku’s chakra! Gaara, he…”
“You’re not Danzō. Who are you really?”
Hiruzen’s eyes grew cold as he fixed them on the man before him, his mind already forming suspicions.
But “Danzō” only shook his head lightly, his face twisting into a mocking grin.
“You truly have grown old. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have failed to recognize me until now.”
“Long time no see… sensei!”
As his words fell, an even more violent chakra erupted. The roar of the One-Tail shook the skies.
...
“Huh? What’s going on?”
Inside the arena, Naruto suddenly sensed something. Instinctively, he turned his head toward the competitors’ building nearby.
For some reason, the chakra within his body began to roar as well.
“What… what is this?”
Clutching his stomach, Naruto grimaced. This sensation was far from ordinary—it was downright awful!
“Something’s happened.”
Jiraiya and the others immediately noticed that something was wrong. Naturally, they could feel that surge of chakra as well.
“It should be the One-Tail. Could it be that Sunagakure…”
Kakashi focused for a moment, then murmured in a low voice. But Tsunade shook her head.
“Not certain. But it’s hard to say if Rasa brought the One-Tail here with his own agenda. After all…”
After all, Sunagakure’s situation was hardly optimistic. Especially after allying with Konohagakure, the daimyō of the Land of Wind had slashed their subsidies and aid.
The one most eager to see chaos in Konoha was likely Rasa himself—only then could he force the Land of Wind’s daimyō to open his coffers again.
“No… more likely the One-Tail has been stirred by Akatsuki.”
At that moment, Jiraiya gave his judgment. He lifted his head toward the distant high platform, then spoke quickly.
“Move out—right now! We’ve drilled for this countless times already!”
...
“Huh? What’s happening now?”
Elsewhere, Deidara looked around with a puzzled expression, uncertain about what exactly was unfolding.
“Looks like things really are about to get messy.”
Kitagawa Gen, however, remained calm. He knew very well what was going on.
After all, with a mole inside Akatsuki, much of their activity was already within his grasp—
Even if, right now, he was only operating through a clone.
“Watch yourself. Someone’s about to stir up trouble in Konoha, and I don’t have time to babysit you.”
Glancing at the panicked villagers and the shinobi hurrying to evacuate them, Kitagawa Gen gave Deidara that simple warning before turning to Karin.
“Head straight to the medical corps. Coordinate with the med-nin and get ready.”
“Yes, senpai. But please—be careful.”
Karin nodded quickly. Even as she rushed off, she made sure to call out her warning to him.
Kitagawa Gen chuckled softly, then lifted his gaze back toward the high platform.
'The main body should be making its move soon. Which means it’s time for this side of me to get a little active too.'
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> /TitoVillar
---