The air in Konoha crackled with a nervous, anticipatory energy that had been building for weeks. Three months had passed since Genma's announcement, 90 days of hellish training that had pushed Team Twelve to their absolute limits and, in Ryuu's case, far beyond.
The trees, once vibrant with autumn hues, now stood bare against a steely grey sky.
Today was the day. The Konoha contingent for the Chunin Selection Exams, hosted this cycle by Sunagakure, was to depart.
Ryuu, Izumi, and Renji, their travel packs cinched tight, wearing attires different to their usual ones, found themselves not at the main village gates, but in the bustling courtyard of a large, utilitarian building a few blocks away. This was the headquarters of the Konoha Auxiliary Shinobi Cadre (Konoha Hojo Shinobi Butai), more commonly known throughout the village simply as the Auxiliary Cadre (Hojo Butai) or, by more cynical shinobi, as "The Ranks."
It was a well-known, if less glamorous, institution within Konoha's structure. Ryuu, through his own observations and snippets of information gleaned over the past years, understood its purpose well.
The main Ninja Academy, particularly under Lord Fourth's more stringent post-war standards, produced a relatively small number of graduates deemed suitable for Jonin-led, three-man cells. These were the teams expected to handle C-Rank missions and above, to become the village's front-line strength and future leaders.
But Konoha, like any great shinobi village, had a vast array of lower-level tasks essential for its daily functioning – tasks ill-suited for highly-trained Chunin or Jonin, yet still requiring a shinobi's discipline and basic skills.
This was the domain of the Auxiliary Cadre.
Graduates who, for various reasons, didn't pass their Jonin sensei's infamous initial "bell test" or its equivalent, or whose teams disbanded prematurely, often found themselves assigned here.
It wasn't a punishment, precisely. Konoha had invested too much in their training to simply discard them. Rather, it was a pragmatic solution, a way to utilize every trained hand. Members of the Hojo Butai formed the backbone of Konoha's internal logistics and low-level security, endless D-Ranks like weeding the Hokage's private herb garden, maintaining village infrastructure, running in-country courier routes between Konoha outposts, providing supplementary guards for supply depots, and even assisting the Uchiha-led Konoha Military Police Force with crowd control during festivals.
The career path within the Hojo Butai was generally slower, less prestigious. Promotion to Chunin was possible, either through exceptional merit accumulated over years of dedicated, if mundane, service, or by successfully navigating the grueling Chunin Exams.
It was this latter route that drew a significant number of ASC members to every exam cycle, many of them older, more seasoned in the hard knocks of low-level shinobi life, viewing the exams as their one real chance to escape the relative anonymity of the Cadre and perhaps, finally, catch the eye of a Jonin who might see their untapped potential.
The concept of the Auxiliary Cadre, and similar institutions in other villages, was simply a logical necessity that often went unmentioned in the grand tales of legendary Sannin or heroic Kage – after all, grand armies like the Allied Shinobi Forces, with their tens of thousands, didn't materialize solely from a handful of elite three-man cells graduating each year.
Ryuu mused that it was the kind of background detail that never made it into the heroic narratives of the manga he remembered, simply because the main characters, the chosen few, rarely had cause to interact with it directly.
The courtyard of the Hojo Butai headquarters was a chaotic, thrumming hive of activity this morning. Dozens of Genin teams, most noticeably older than Ryuu, Izumi, and Renji, milled about, their expressions a mixture of nervous excitement, grim determination, and the forced bravado common to those about to face a significant trial.
These were the ASC teams chosen to represent Konoha alongside the Jonin-led squads. Their gear was often more worn, their flak jackets less pristine, but their eyes held a hunger, a desperation, that was palpable. Sprinkled amongst them were the Jonin-led teams, all looking remarkably fresh-faced and, to Ryuu's eye, somewhat naive compared to the harder-edged ASC Genin.
Genma, who had instructed them to meet here, was leaning against a wall, senbon between his lips, an island of bored calm in the surrounding chaos. He was chatting with a few other Jonin instructors, their expressions equally stoic.
"About time, brats," Genma drawled as Team Twelve approached, though there was no real heat in his voice. "Thought you'd decided to sleep in and spare Suna the embarrassment."
"We are punctual, Sensei," Izumi stated, her composure firmly in place, though Ryuu sensed the slight tremor of anticipation in her chakra.
Renji, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Wow, look at all these guys! We're really doing this, huh? Suna! Chunin Exams!"
He looked around at the older ASC Genin. "Some of these dudes look tough!"
"Tough doesn't always mean smart, Kazama," Genma commented, pushing himself off the wall. "Remember that. The Chunin Exams aren't just about who can hit the hardest. It's about who can think under pressure, who can lead, who can adapt. Most of these Hojo Butai teams have experience, yes, but often it's the same experience, repeated endlessly. They lack the diversified training and focused mentorship you three have, however much you complain about it."
He gestured towards a slightly raised platform where a stern-faced Chunin from the exam administration was preparing to make an announcement.
"Looks like they're about to start the roll call and assign travel formations. Stick together. Don't wander off. And try not to look like fresh meat for the grinder, even if that's exactly what some of you are." A pointed glance at Renji, who gulped.
The Chunin on the platform cleared his throat, a series of sharp hand-claps demanding silence. The courtyard quieted, the nervous chatter replaced by a tense expectancy.
"Alright, Konoha contingent for the Chunin Selection Exams in Sunagakure!" the Chunin barked.
"Listen up! Standard inter-village travel protocols are in effect. We will be traveling as a single, large formation until we reach the Fire Country border, under the overall command of Jonin Hatake Kakashi." A ripple of murmurs went through the crowd at the mention of the renowned Copy Ninja.
"Once we cross into the neutral territories and then the Land of Wind, the formation will break down into smaller, more defensible units, each led by their assigned Jonin or a senior Chunin for the Hojo Butai teams. Your individual sensei will brief you on specific travel assignments."
He began to read from a list, calling out team numbers and Jonin instructors. Ryuu listened intently, cataloging. There were also several ASC teams led by senior Chunin Ryuu didn't recognize, their members older, their expressions harder.
"Team Twelve, instructor Shiranui Genma!" the Chunin called. Genma gave a lazy wave.
The roll call continued. Ryuu noted the sheer number of Genin. At least fifteen, maybe twenty teams in total from Konoha alone. Even if half were from the Auxiliary Cadre, it was a significant force. This wasn't just a test, it was a statement of village strength, a diplomatic display.
Once the roll call was complete, the Chunin continued, "The journey to Sunagakure is approximately five days. We depart in thirty minutes. Jonin and Chunin team leaders, collect your final travel directives from the administration desk. Genin, a final gear check. Any issues, report to your sensei immediately. Dismissed!"
The courtyard erupted into a controlled chaos of movement as teams gathered, instructors conferred, and Genin made last-minute adjustments to their packs.
"Alright, Team Twelve," Genma said, strolling back over to them. "Kakashi's leading the overall caravan. Predictably, he'll probably be late for the actual departure. Means we'll have some fun waiting at the main gate."
He grinned, a flash of his old, dangerous amusement. "For now, standard procedure. Izumi, you'll be part of the forward scouting rotation with a few other sensor-types once we're on the road. Renji, you'll be mid-flank, ready for quick intercepts or reinforcing weaker Hojo Butai teams if needed. Ryuu…"
Genma's gaze lingered on him. "You're with me, rear guard initially. Your wider sensory net will be crucial for detecting any stragglers or anyone trying to shadow a group this large. But more importantly," his voice dropped slightly, "your primary job is to remain inconspicuous. Blend. Observe. Your… unique attributes are for my eyes and Lord Fourth's, not for every hopeful Chunin candidate and their gossip-hungry sensei."
Ryuu nodded, understanding the implicit warning. The larger the group, the more eyes would be on him, the harder it would be to maintain the S-Rank secrecy of his Ice Release.
This journey itself would be a test of his control, his discretion.
"Don't worry, Sensei," Renji said, puffing out his chest slightly. "We won't let Konoha down! We'll show those Suna guys what Leaf Genin are made of!"
Izumi sighed softly, a look of weary resignation passing over her face that perfectly mirrored Genma's own at Renji's boisterous declaration.
The thirty minutes allocated for final preparations passed in a blur of tightened pack straps, re-checked kunai pouches, and hushed, nervous conversations among the other teams. Team Twelve, under Genma's watchful eye, performed their own meticulous checks. Their usual Academy-era training clothes, practical but hardly suited for extended travel or serious combat, had been replaced.
Izumi wore a darker, more practical version of her Uchiha attire: a high-collared, deep indigo tunic that allowed for free movement, sturdy black shinobi pants, and reinforced combat sandals. The Uchiha fan was still proudly displayed on her back, but smaller, less ostentatious than some of her clan members.
Her long hair was tied back in a severe, functional knot, and her kunai holster was strapped high on her thigh, easily accessible. She looked every bit the composed, dangerous Uchiha kunoichi.
Renji, true to his nature, had opted for something that allowed for maximum speed. His usual light-colored shirt was replaced with a close-fitting, dark green mesh undershirt beneath a sleeveless, earth-toned flak jacket that was clearly a hand-me-down, slightly too large but offering good protection. His pants were similarly dark, tucked into tightly bound combat boots.
He carried a pair of short, sharp-looking trench knives strapped to his forearms, in addition to his standard kunai and shuriken, hinting at his preference for close-quarters, wind-enhanced strikes.
Ryuu's attire was, as always, dictated by necessity as much as preference. Anticipating the harsh desert sun of Sunagakure and the prolonged exposure of the journey, Kasumi had painstakingly crafted his new outfit.
He wore a lightweight, long-sleeved tunic of a tightly woven, pale grey fabric designed to reflect heat, the collar high and secured snugly around his neck. Similar pale grey, slightly baggy shinobi pants were tucked into sturdy, dark-colored desert boots that came up over his ankles. His hands were covered in thin, fingerless gloves of the same material, offering some protection while allowing for hand seal dexterity.
The most striking feature, however, was the addition of a hooded cloak, also in pale grey. The hood was deep, designed to be pulled up to shadow his face completely, and the cloak itself was long enough to provide significant coverage. Beneath it, his bandaged head was further protected by a tight-fitting headwrap under his Konoha hitai-ate.
His ever-present goggles, now with slightly darker lenses, completed the ensemble. He looked like a small, anachronistic desert nomad, every inch of his skin shielded from the sun's harmful rays. While practical, it also served to further obscure his features, adding to his enigmatic presence.
"Alright, caravan's moving out!" a Chunin barked from the direction of the main gate. "Team leaders, get your brats in line!"
Genma jerked his head. "That's us. Let's go try not to get lost before we even leave the village."
The mass of Konoha Genin, a river of green and blue and brown, began to flow out of the West Gate.
Kakashi Hatake, as predicted, materialized silently at the head of the column just as the last teams were exiting, his single visible eye already scanning the horizon, his posture radiating a quiet, almost bored competence that nevertheless commanded instant respect. He exchanged a brief nod with Genma and the other Jonin, then, with a simple hand signal, set the pace.
The journey began.
The initial leg, through the familiar forests of the Land of Fire, was relatively uneventful. The sheer number of shinobi in the caravan – nearly sixty Genin plus their Jonin and Chunin leaders – was a significant deterrent to any opportunistic bandits or common rogues.
The Hojo Butai teams, while perhaps less individually skilled than the Jonin-led squads, moved with a practiced, if somewhat stolid, discipline born from countless low-level patrols and courier missions. They knew how to maintain formation, how to cover ground efficiently, how to set up a basic perimeter.
Ryuu, positioned with Genma at the rear, focused his senses. The task was immense – filtering through the sixty-plus friendly chakra signatures, the ambient noise of so many marching feet, the creak of gear, the low murmur of conversation, all while trying to detect any hostile anomalies, any stragglers, any sign of a shadow.
He layered his sensory perception, using Jiraiya's "Unseen River" principles to feel for disturbances in the energy flow around their column, while also maintaining a more conventional chakra scan for individual signatures.
Genma, despite his casual posture on the few occasions they spoke, was clearly doing the same, his own senses a far wider, more experienced net. Occasionally, he would ask Ryuu a curt question.
"Yuki. Anything unusual, three klicks back, ridge line to the west?"
Ryuu would focus, analyze. "Nothing, Sensei. Standard wildlife signatures. Wind patterns are consistent for this terrain."
A nod. "Good. Don't just listen for chakra. Listen for what's not there. A sudden silence in the birdsong. A deer path with no recent tracks. Complacency kills."
By the third day, they had left the dense forests behind and entered the more open, rolling hills that marked the approach to the Land of Fire's border with the neutral territories. The pace quickened slightly. Kakashi, at the head of the column, seemed to sense the change in terrain, the increased exposure, and pushed them harder.
It was here, as they navigated a narrow pass between two rocky bluffs, that Ryuu felt it.
A flicker.
Not hostile, not yet. But… deliberate.
A single, suppressed chakra signature, a considerable distance away, paralleling their route, hidden within a cluster of wind-carved rock formations. It was an expert at concealment, almost indistinguishable from the natural background chakra, but the focus, the intent behind the suppression, was what Ryuu's enhanced senses picked up on.
He didn't react overtly. He maintained his steady pace, his gaze sweeping the rear, but he subtly shifted the focus of his sensory net, trying to get a clearer read on the distant signature. It was faint, almost like a ghost, but it was definitely there. Watching.
"Sensei," Ryuu murmured, his voice barely audible above the crunch of their boots on the gravel path, his words intended for Genma alone. "Single signature, significant distance, east flank, paralleling. Expert suppression. Unsure of intent, but… not natural."
Genma's eyes, which had been lazily scanning the horizon, sharpened instantly. His senbon stopped its casual twitch. He didn't turn his head, didn't give any outward sign, but Ryuu felt the Jonin's own chakra subtly extend, a wave of focused energy sweeping out in the direction Ryuu had indicated.
A long moment passed. The caravan continued its steady march.
"Acknowledged, Yuki," Genma finally said, his voice equally low. "Maintain observation. Do not engage. Report any change."