"This..."
"Lord Hokage!"
On the high platform, upon hearing the conditions stated by Shigeru, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, abruptly turned his head, his gaze locked onto the nonchalantly seated Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"The disciple of Lord Orochimaru... is everything they said true?"
The Third Kazekage and the Third Raikage, suppressing the sudden panic rising in their hearts, also turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi along with Onoki.
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could reply, the Third Mizukage, seated beside him, slightly widened his narrowed eyes.
His chakra surged, and the three black magatama on his neck spun, dark, eerie patterns instantly spreading across his entire body.
A chilling chakra, imbued with terrifying evil, then diffused around the three Kage. Within the tangible mist of ice, densely packed, sharp ice spikes glinted menacingly, poised for release.
"Have you all perhaps forgotten?"
"Lord Third Hokage is Lord Orochimaru's esteemed teacher..."
The Third Mizukage's threatening posture and the name spoken in his words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the rage that had begun to rise in the hearts of the three Kage who had questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gently patted the Third Mizukage's arm, offering him a benevolent smile.
"There's no need for this."
"These three are reasonable individuals. In a situation like this, they wouldn't dare attack me."
The Third Mizukage nodded, slowly retracting his chakra, returning to his usual眯眯眼 (mīmīyǎn -眯眯眼) demeanor.
"Regarding your questions, I am afraid I cannot provide a definitive answer."
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, looking at the three of them and shaking his head slightly.
"As I mentioned before, all important matters in Konoha are now primarily decided by Orochimaru himself."
"As Kage of your respective villages, you should understand this situation in Konoha, where the old generation is gradually handing over everything to the next generation, correct?"
Onoki, with a wary glance at the Third Mizukage who was pretending to doze beside him, slowly nodded.
"We understand, but..."
"The ninja world has never had 'honorary ninjas,' nor these promised benefits..."
"Once those younger generation ninjas can't resist the temptation and flock to Konoha, then we..."
"Orochimaru's current actions are tantamount to severing the roots of our other ninja villages from the source."
"This kind of thing... this kind of thing..."
Onoki's question was sharp and to the point; even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't find fault with it.
But he couldn't agree.
"Lord Tsuchikage, you worry too much, too much..."
His mind racing, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head with a smile, his expression conveying "you're overthinking it."
"It's merely a forehead protector symbolizing the status of an honorary ninja, it doesn't represent anything significant."
"Even if those children become Konoha's honorary ninjas, once they remove the Konoha forehead protector, aren't they still members of their original village?"
"As for the benefits Orochimaru has promised..."
"Alas..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, a look of regret on his face.
"This matter is actually my fault!"
The three Kage simultaneously shivered, and in unison, they cursed in their hearts.
"Old fox, so the root of it is still with you!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi adjusted his Hokage hat, his gaze fixed ahead, his eyes slowly becoming distant and profound.
"Thanks to the favor of the ninja world, when I first trained my three disciples, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, the ninja world bestowed upon me the title of 'Ninja Professor.'"
"Whenever I recall this title, I am filled with shame and have nowhere to hide!"
Onoki's eyes widened, staring at this shameless old man in disbelief.
Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi had foreseen this and shifted his gaze forward. He didn't meet Onoki's eyes, so their stares couldn't penetrate his thousand-times-tempered thick skin in the slightest.
"What shames me the most isn't even these things..."
"That child Orochimaru, he doesn't seem satisfied with his title of Sannin."
"After returning from the Land of Rain battlefield, upon hearing that I was called the 'Ninja Professor,' he immediately declared his ambition to me..."
"Orochimaru said..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused here, shaking his head with a sigh.
"He wanted to become a powerful being who surpassed me, and that surpassing wasn't just in terms of strength..."
"What he desired was an all-around dominance in areas like ninjutsu research, secret jutsu development, and teaching disciples..."
"What teacher wouldn't want their disciples to surpass them?"
"So, when I heard Orochimaru's ambition, I immediately declared my full support."
"But I never expected..."
"That Orochimaru... has now completely surpassed me and still isn't satisfied, actually bringing his desire to teach more disciples to this ninja world's Chunin selection competition."
"It is all my fault for not disciplining him properly, that Orochimaru's actions have brought so much unnecessary trouble to all of you. I am truly unworthy of the title 'Ninja Professor'..."
Onoki: ...
A: ...
Third Kazekage: ...
Even the Third Mizukage, who had been sitting there like an iceberg, couldn't help but twitch his lips after hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's nonsensical speech.
...
Putting aside the bickering between the Kage on the high platform, below the number one arena, the group of Genin onlookers was growing restless.
Ninjas from the five great villages like Firelight and Daishi, with the profound foundations provided by their villages, were still relatively composed.
However, children from smaller ninja villages, or those who had become ninjas by chance, were clearly enticed.
Natsuhi, who had previously voiced the collective confusion, saw his question ignite such explosive news. A flicker of joy flashed in his eyes, and he leaped onto the number one arena, clenching his small fists.
"Although Lord Orochimaru had promised at Hoshigakure that if we participated in this Chunin exam, he would impart the true method of practicing the Peacock Myōhō."
"But after so long, a great figure like Lord Orochimaru must have forgotten."
"This time is an opportunity!"
"I... I must become Lord Orochimaru's disciple!"
Just as he usually did when sparring with Hotaru, Natsuhi formed the mutual seal in front of him and respectfully bowed to the somewhat surprised Shigeru.
"Senior Shigeru, Natsuhi from Hoshigakure challenges you!"
"Please guide me!"
Shigeru only then snapped out of his surprise. With a smile of admiration in his eyes, he formed the exact same mutual seal towards Natsuhi.
"Konohagakure, Shigeru."
"Natsuhi-san, don't be afraid of hurting me, use your full strength!"
"Even if your challenge fails, I will recommend your name to Teacher Orochimaru."
Natsuhi, suppressing the joy surging in his heart, nodded forcefully.
"Thank you, here I come!"
Releasing the mutual seal, Natsuhi's hands intertwined smoothly, instantly transforming into the '酉' (yǒu) seal.
Pale blue chakra surged from his back, forming two pairs of almost transparent, light wings in an instant.
"Peacock Myōhō - Wings!"