Zabuza turned his head sharply, his sharp eyes landing on the stern-faced Yugito. His brows furrowed as a realization struck him.
"Lady Mei," he said in a low tone, "that woman… she's the Two-Tails Jinchūriki."
Mei Terumī's pupils constricted slightly at the words. The name alone carried weight.
The Chūnin Selection Exams were supposed to be a stage for Genin—youths still polishing their skills, eager to prove their worth. Yet, everyone knew the truth. Konoha was holding this exam to show off, to restore the prestige it had lost in the Third Great Ninja War.
None of the major Hidden Villages were naïve enough to send mere Genin. They all had reputations to uphold, and that meant sending stronger participants disguised as "Genin." Mei herself, a shinobi of near-Jōnin strength, and Zabuza, infamous for his brutality, were proof enough.
Still, there were limits. Sending someone like Yugito, a Jinchūriki, to such an event? That was a declaration in itself. Yugito was no ordinary shinobi; she had been a recognized genius for years, feared and respected across the Five Nations. Her appearance in the exams was no coincidence.
Mei's gaze slid from Yugito to the rest of the Cloud contingent—Darui, Karui—and finally settled on the calm figure walking a step behind them. Neji, with his eyes as pale and crystalline as polished jade. Her expression tightened.
Byakugan?
Her lips parted slightly in disbelief. "Why… does Kumogakure have the Byakugan?"
Mei knew what those eyes were capable of. During the war, the Mist's elite shinobi Ao had transplanted a Byakugan, and the power boost he received had been terrifying. His sensory ability became unmatched, his combat prowess advanced by leaps and bounds.
That eye had become one of Kirigakure's most closely guarded strategic weapons. Such a treasure should never leave its village. Yet here was this boy, striding confidently into Konoha with a pair of Byakugan shining naturally in his sockets.
Zabuza leaned close to her ear and muttered, "Lady Mei, I've heard rumors. About two years ago, when the Kumo delegation visited Konoha for peace talks, they tried to abduct a young Hyūga from the clan. Konoha and the Hyūga elders denied it, saying it was slander… but now, looking at this, perhaps the rumors were true."
Mei's lips curved into a cold smile. "So, the Byakugan was stolen… and now, it returns to Konoha, not as an ally but as a challenger in the Chūnin Exams. Interesting." She chuckled lightly, then added, "Zabuza, just watch. These exams are going to be far more entertaining than I thought."
Her expression turned serious again as she addressed her comrades. "During the exams, avoid unnecessary conflict with Kumogakure's Byakugan user. His situation is… sensitive. Konoha will surely suppress him to maintain its dignity. Too much contact will only invite trouble."
The Mist-nin nodded quietly.
---
The group continued on, but after half an hour of steady walking, Neji abruptly stopped in his tracks.
Yugito and Darui glanced at him curiously. "What is it?"
Neji's white eyes narrowed, his expression flickering with surprise. He tilted his chin toward the northwest.
There, in the sky, a small black speck was growing larger and larger, moving impossibly fast. Within moments, it revealed itself—a massive white clay bird soaring against the wind. On its back, a lone figure stood proudly.
Neji murmured under his breath, "So… he came too."
Yugito followed his gaze. Her lips quirked in mild interest. "Deidara. The Third Tsuchikage's prized disciple. He's been wreaking havoc across the Land of Earth with his Explosion Release, carrying out bombing raids like a mad artist. I didn't expect Ōnoki to send him to the Chūnin Exams."
Darui's jaw slackened slightly as he watched the giant bird pass overhead. "Wait… there's only one person? Iwagakure sent just him?"
The thought was unsettling. These weren't exams anymore—they were turning into a gathering of monsters.
Karui let out a nervous laugh. "Lightning counters Earth, doesn't it? If Neji fights him, he has the advantage." She cast a glance at Neji, her smile carrying a teasing edge. "Still, I'm more worried about what the other villages are hiding."
Darui's usual laid-back demeanor was shaken. "Yeah… this is no ordinary exam. Too many hidden talents are gathering."
Neji, however, seemed unbothered. His calm voice cut through their tension. "Don't let nerves cloud your judgment. Do your best. Leave the rest to fate."
In truth, he wasn't concerned about the exam itself. His true focus lay elsewhere—the four secret missions he had to complete. The Chūnin Exams were nothing more than a stage, a convenient cover for his real goals.
---
By the time they reached Konoha's massive gates, the sun had begun its descent. Both Kumo's group and Mei Terumī's party arrived at nearly the same moment.
Konoha's security had been heightened for the event. At the checkpoint, all who entered—be they shinobi, merchants, or ordinary travelers—were required to register and undergo inspection.
The ones in charge were none other than members of the Uchiha Clan, clad in the dark uniforms of the Military Police Force. Their red eyes gleamed with quiet authority as they scrutinized every entrant.
When it came to Neji's team's turn, Inaho Uchiha's gaze fell on Yugito, standing at the front. Recognition dawned in an instant.
His eyes widened. "The Two-Tails Jinchūriki… Yugito?!"
The words slipped out louder than he intended.
Yugito arched an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. Her feline eyes glinted dangerously. "Uchiha… has no one taught you that when speaking to the strong, basic respect is required?"
Though Inaho had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and carried himself with the arrogance of an elite Jōnin, Yugito's presence pressed down on him like a crushing weight. He lowered his head quickly. "Forgive me, Lady Yugito. I… spoke out of turn. You don't need to be checked. Please, this way."
"Hmph." Yugito gave a sharp snort, but to his surprise, she didn't simply walk past. Instead, she stepped into the checkpoint calmly and submitted to inspection, setting an example of discipline.
---
Meanwhile, within the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Fugaku's stern voice filled the room.
"Itachi, in these Chūnin Exams, you must defeat all opposition. Raise the prestige of our clan."
The words hung heavily in the air. To Fugaku, the clan came before everything—before the village, before family, before happiness.
But to Itachi, those words felt suffocating. Father, I am first a shinobi of Konoha, and only then an Uchiha.
He remembered vividly—back when he was only eight, his comrades Tenma and Shinko had been killed by a mysterious masked man. His squad's Jōnin leader was slain too. The grief had nearly broken him. Yet his father had shown no mourning, only congratulations that Itachi had awakened his Sharingan from the trauma.
From that day forward, Itachi learned to wear a mask, to never show his true thoughts before his parents.
So now, though disappointment simmered in his heart, his face remained calm. "Father, I will not disappoint you."
Fugaku studied him carefully. "These exams will be unusual. The other villages won't send true Genin. Are you still determined to participate alone?"
Itachi's eyes darkened briefly as he remembered his lost comrades. His voice was steady, though laced with quiet pain. "Yes. Alone is enough."
Fugaku nodded. "Then so be it. Do not disgrace the Uchiha name."
"Yes."
---
Later, with Sasuke clinging to his back, Itachi walked through the compound.
"Brother!" Sasuke's voice was cheerful, innocent.
Itachi smiled faintly. "Sasuke."
Before he could continue, Inaho appeared, breathless. He greeted Sasuke warmly, gifting him a rusty old shuriken with a story attached. Sasuke's eyes sparkled as he held the weapon like treasure.
Watching the boy's delight, Itachi's heart ached. Sasuke… being too talented is not always a blessing. It only means being consumed faster, used more thoroughly.
He wanted to shield his brother from the cruelty of the shinobi world. But could he?
To soften his own heavy words, he ruffled Sasuke's hair gently. "Come. Let's go get dango."
Sasuke cheered instantly, his worries forgotten. Itachi, however, carried a sadness in his eyes. If only you could have been born outside of Konoha, just as an ordinary boy…
---
Suddenly, his senses flared. His gaze snapped to a tree branch nearby, where a small white snake coiled lazily. For a moment, he had felt chakra from it. But when he focused again, it was nothing more than a normal snake.
"An illusion?" he muttered under his breath.
Unbeknownst to him, beneath the ground, Guren observed him silently, her eyes sharp. So that's Uchiha Itachi… perceptive, even when distracted.
A tiny white snake slid up her arm. "Did you memorize his scent? Good. You'll help me track him."
---
Elsewhere, the streets of Konoha bustled with excitement. Neji and his group had stopped before a grand gambling hall. The signboard outside displayed the odds for each participating village's shinobi.
Yugito frowned at the sight. "Don't tell me you dragged us here… to gamble?"
She shot him a look. This wasn't the Neji she thought she knew. He must have been corrupted by Samui's influence.
But Neji folded his arms across his chest, his voice calm and certain. "Captain, I'm not gambling. I'm making money."
Yugito jabbed him in the forehead with her finger. "That's what every gambler says. Who's ever gotten rich in a casino?"
"I'm not like them." Neji's tone was unwavering. "I only bet on games I'm certain to win."
The casino was alive with chatter. Merchants, travelers, and locals alike clustered around the posted odds.
"No way! Iwagakure only sent one guy, and his odds are the lowest?"
"You don't get it. That's Deidara—the Tsuchikage's favored disciple. Betting on him is like betting on Ōnoki himself."
"If you want safe money, put it on Iwa. Easy win."
"Bah, the odds are too low. Better to risk it on an underdog. The payout's bigger."
Inside, the noise doubled, dice rattling, coins clinking, gamblers shouting.
When Neji and his companions entered, the manager recognized them instantly as Kumogakure's exam representatives. He hurried over, bowing deeply.
Neji wasted no time. "I want to place a bet."
The manager's face didn't change; shinobi betting wasn't unusual. Even Tsunade, the legendary Sannin, was infamous for her terrible gambling habits.
"Of course. Which village are you betting on, and how much?"
Neji's eyes gleamed. His voice was steady. "On myself. One hundred million."
The words rippled through the casino like a thrown stone in a pond. Gamblers turned to stare. One hundred million was astronomical—enough to ruin even the wealthiest merchants.
The manager blinked, startled. "One hundred million? May I have your name, shinobi?"
Neji stood tall, his pale eyes sharp. "Hyūga Neji, representing Kumogakure."
The manager verified his identity quickly, then smiled politely. "Lord Neji, the wager must be paid in advance. Please deposit the funds, and I'll personally arrange the bet."
Neji's response was calm, almost too calm. "I'm sorry. I don't have the money."
The entire casino fell silent.
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