As the days passed, delegations from the Amegakure and Takigakure finally arrived in Konoha.
When the shinobi from Amegakure entered the reception hall, Roshi happened to be passing by. His gaze swept across their ranks—unfamiliar faces, all reserved and watchful, their metal headbands glinting with the Rain's distinctive four vertical lines. After a brief glance, he found nothing of note among them and continued on his way.
Ten days before the Chūnin Exams, the Kumogakure team arrived—led by the veteran jōnin, Dodai.
Among their genin, one boy drew Roshi's attention—light blond hair, sharp eyes, a calm aura. C, if he remembered correctly—the one who would one day serve as the Fourth Raikage's right-hand man.
It seemed the Cloud was testing the waters. They hadn't sent their brightest prodigies—only a modest delegation, meant to observe rather than impress.
Sunagakure, who had arrived the earliest, looked even less enthusiastic. Their genin team was unimpressive—as if they were merely fulfilling an obligation, not a challenge.
The daily back-and-forth with Chiyo had become a mental battlefield of its own. Though Roshi had long grown used to the old woman's relentless verbal assaults, even he could feel fatigue creeping into his mind.
So, when a rare lull came between meetings, he decided to step away.
He left the Hokage Building, wandering through the familiar bustle of the village.
Unconsciously, his steps led him toward the Uchiha district.
It had been a while since he'd last seen Itachi.
The guards at the entrance recognized him by now. Whether it was due to Fugaku's instructions or simple familiarity, the Uchiha no longer regarded him with their usual suspicion. Most simply offered a brief glance before returning to their own affairs.
The clan compound itself felt slightly more relaxed than before. The tension that once hung in the air like smoke had thinned—though the deep-rooted caution, still lingered beneath the surface.
Konoha's plan to integrate Uchiha into the Anbu had already begun taking shape during Roshi's Suna mission, and from the look of things, it was now underway. Tsunade had mentioned that the vacant positions left in the Military Police Force would be filled only after the Chūnin Exams concluded.
Not far from the main street, Roshi spotted two familiar figures standing near a corner house.
Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha were stepping out of a doorway. Izumi bowed politely toward someone inside, her voice soft and warm, while Itachi waited silently beside her. Only after she finished speaking did they turn to leave together.
"Itachi," Roshi called out, his tone casual. Then, nodding to the girl beside him, "Hello, Izumi."
Being Itachi's captain—and having visited the Uchiha compound multiple times—Roshi was no stranger to Izumi.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she broke into a bright smile. "Ah—Roshi-senpai! What a coincidence."
"Senpai, why are you here?" Itachi asked politely.
"I had some time to spare," Roshi replied lightly, glancing toward the house they'd just left. "Thought I'd drop by to see how you've been. Though it seems you two were already busy."
Izumi gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "We just visited Aunt Misa. She wasn't feeling well these past few days, so we brought her some things."
Itachi nodded slightly, confirming her words. Then he turned to Izumi. "Izumi, let's stop here for today."
"Alright." She smiled knowingly, realizing the two probably had things to discuss. "Then, Itachi-kun, Roshi-senpai—I'll head home first!" She waved cheerfully before disappearing down the quiet street.
Only when her silhouette vanished from view did Roshi start walking. Itachi followed silently, half a step behind, his composure as calm as ever.
"How are your preparations?" Roshi asked, his tone even.
"For the Chūnin Exams? Everything is ready, Captain," Itachi replied. Then, as if to clarify earlier, he added, "Izumi wanted to visit Aunt Misa. Her husband works in the Military Police's logistics division. I accompanied her—it seemed like a good chance to understand the situation firsthand."
Using Izumi's natural warmth as a cover to gather insight—discreet, unforced, and unlikely to draw suspicion. Smart.
Roshi gave a quiet nod. "And? What did you learn?"
Itachi hesitated briefly, organizing his thoughts. When he spoke again, his voice carried a quiet depth—faint, but sincere.
"I didn't realize before… not everyone in the clan is bound by the same ideals." He looked ahead, his gaze distant. "Most of them aren't thinking about the clan's pride, or its place in the village. They're worried about ordinary things—their jobs, their mission pay, and their children's future. Whether they can afford to buy medicine when someone gets sick…"
He looked up at the narrow patch of sky framed between rooftops, the late sunlight tracing the edge of his jaw.
"They're just like everyone else in the Village," he said softly. "And maybe… I've been too narrow-minded. Too arrogant."
The confession hung in the air.
Roshi didn't reply. He simply reached out and placed a hand on Itachi's head—a gesture neither commanding nor pitying, but one that said you're growing, and that's enough.
Itachi blinked, caught off guard, but didn't move away.
The wind rustled through the maple trees lining the Uchiha street, carrying with it the faint scent of rain and dusk.
For a moment, Konoha was quiet.
And in that silence, the world felt almost peaceful.
Itachi suddenly changed the subject, his tone returning to its usual composed calm.
"Anko-senpai came by a few days ago," he said. "She mentioned that your mission to Kusa this time… involved something rather extraordinary."
"Oh?" Roshi raised an eyebrow slightly. "So she came herself?'
"Yes," Itachi replied. "She said you were occupied, so she came in your stead—mainly to check on my Chūnin Exam preparations."
"And she didn't tell you what happened?"
"No." A faint crease appeared between Itachi's brows. "She just smiled… that mischievous smile of hers. But she didn't say anything specific."
Roshi's lips curved in the faintest hint of amusement—barely there.
"Nothing much," he said lightly. "Just stole someone from Kusagakure."
Itachi's steps faltered. He turned toward Roshi, eyes widening slightly. "Stole someone?"
"Mm." Roshi resumed walking, his tone unbothered. "A woman.'
Itachi blinked once. Twice. "...What?'
He fell silent again, following a few paces behind, still processing the offhand remark that sounded far too casual for what it implied. The two continued down the quiet street, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone path.
Elsewhere—In Amegakure
"Abnormal activity from both Kusa and Konoha?"
Normally, the stirrings of a small backwater like Kusa wouldn't have caught his attention at all. But when Konoha's Root began sweeping through the area killing missing-nin, it left a faint scent that Obito couldn't ignore.
Zetsu's whisper slithered up beside him.
"Speaking of Kusa, I heard they're hiding something... curious."
"Oh?" Obito's voice came through the spiral mask, cold and devoid of interest.
"The Box of Paradise," murmured Black Zetsu. "A relic said to date back to the Sage of Six Paths himself. Legend says the sage tried to use it to absorb all the despair in the world, leaving only hope behind."
A sharp, derisive laugh escaped Obito.
"Hope?" The crimson Sharingan beneath his mask rotated slowly. "This world has no such thing. Only hypocrisy, pain… and endless delusion."
"And the result?" he asked flatly.
"The attempt failed," Zetsu replied. "The box absorbed too much hatred—too much suffering—and from it, a monster was born. It's said to be called Satori."
"A monster born from despair…" Obito repeated softly. His voice carried a strange, cold amusement. "That does sound… entertaining."
The space around him began to twist, the edges of his form dissolving into the void.
"Well," he murmured as the distortion consumed him, "it's boring here anyway. Let's see what kind of "hope" the Box of Paradise can bring."
With a faint ripple of chakra, his figure vanished into the distortion—leaving behind only the whisper of Zetsu's laughter echoing in the mist.
Konoha—Hokage's Office
The air inside the room was thick—a blend of tobacco, paper, and tension.
Among all the villages invited to the Chūnin Exams, only one had yet to arrive.
Kusagakure.
Danzo stood before the Hokage's desk, his expression hidden in shadow.
"How's the investigation into Kusa progressing?" Hiruzen asked, setting down his pipe with deliberate calm.
Danzo's voice was gravelly and low. "According to Root's latest reports, Kusa has grown… unusually silent."
"Their earlier frenzy—capturing rogue ninja, gathering wanderers—it's all stopped. The entire village appears to have entered a dormant state, tightening internal control and cutting off nearly all external communication."
"In short, they've severed most of their ties with the outside world."
Hiruzen's brows drew together. Deep lines carved into his face.
If Kusa had merely sensed Konoha's warning and decided to stay quiet, they would have at least sent a token team to the Exams—pretending nothing was amiss. That was the logical choice.
But this level of isolation… suggested preparation. Not fear.
And that was far worse.
"Regarding the Box of Paradise," Danzo continued, "Root's analysis suggests the most likely location is Hōzuki Castle—the prison under Kusa's jurisdiction."
He paused. "I've already dispatched reconnaissance specialists to infiltrate and confirm. However… the defenses are far tighter than anticipated. The castle is layered with complex seals—someone has reactivated ancient barriers."
Hiruzen exhaled a long plume of smoke, his eyes dark behind the haze.
"...So that's their game."
He tapped the pipe once against the ashtray, then set it aside.
"Regardless of their intentions, we cannot afford to take chances." His voice hardened, carrying the quiet authority that had once led Konoha through war. "Issue immediate orders: raise the alert level along every border adjacent to Grass Country."
"Double the patrol rotations. Increase sensor ninja deployment. Activate the highest-level detection barriers around the Fire Country perimeter."
His gaze sharpened. "The Chūnin Exams are days away. With so many shinobi from other nations in our walls, we can't risk any incident—not even a rumor. Keep all potential threats outside the village."
Danzo inclined his head silently and disappeared into the shadows.
For a long while after he was gone, Hiruzen sat alone—pipe smoldering in his hand.
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