The return trip to Konoha passed in an unusual silence. The surrounding environment no longer felt so hostile, and the genin, who had been fully tense soldiers just hours ago, now looked more like exhausted children.
Orochimaru walked behind the group, a faint look of interest on his face. And suddenly—the corner of his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Hm, it seems the reinforcements finally decided to show up. A bit late, of course."
Kuro, carrying the unconscious Nawaki over his shoulder, frowned slightly.
"Reinforcements?"
Mikoto instinctively tensed, her hand sliding closer to her weapon. Nara, however, focused immediately. His sensory abilities picked up several chakra signatures rapidly approaching them. All of them moved with precise, dangerous synchronization.
The next moment, shadows flickered between the trees. Soon, a group of nine ANBU members appeared before Orochimaru's team. Their movements were precise, their gazes cold, and the air around them seemed to grow heavier. At the front stood the only man without a mask.
A tall, calm man with silvery hair and a stern, tired gaze that nonetheless radiated strength. A sword hung at his back in a simple scabbard, yet it seemed to emanate danger.
"Orochimaru," he said evenly. "I didn't expect to see you here—especially with genin."
"Sakumo," Orochimaru replied with a hint of respect. "I'm glad the Hokage finally decided to investigate why an ANBU squad stopped responding."
Hatake's gaze swept over the group, pausing in turn on Mikoto, the unconscious Nawaki, and Kuro.
"Will you explain what happened?" he asked shortly.
Orochimaru didn't delay. Calmly and without unnecessary emotion, he recounted everything that had occurred: the ambush, the dead bodies, the disguise, the pursuit, and the battle. When he finished, Hatake slowly closed his eyes and clenched his fist for a brief second.
Then he opened his eyes and looked at Kuro.
"Can you take me to the burial site?"
Kuro glanced at his sensei and, after a brief confirmation, nodded.
"Yes. Yami remembers the scent."
He formed a hand seal, and from the shadow beside him emerged a black Divine Dog. It let out a short growl, sensing its master's tension.
"Lead the captain to the bodies of our shinobi," Nara ordered.
Yami dipped his head and darted into the forest. Sakumo followed him, while the rest of the ANBU took up positions around Orochimaru's team.
"We'll escort you back to Konoha," one of the ANBU said in a faceless voice.
Orochimaru smirked.
"How considerate of you."
Mikoto let out a quiet breath, allowing herself to relax just a little. Nara, meanwhile, stared in the direction Sakumo had gone, his expression a mix of exhaustion and heavy realization.
End of Flashback
Kuro blinked and sharply surfaced from the memories of the last mission. The familiar aroma of herbal tea filled his nose, and before his eyes was once again a quiet room bathed in soft sunlight.
"Yes, we really have become stronger. So don't worry—I'll definitely pass the upcoming Chunin Exam."
"And who's worrying about you at all, brat?" came the reply. "It'd just be annoying to waste so much effort and time on someone who dies too quickly!"
"That's exactly what I thought," Kuro replied with a smile, continuing to sip his tea.
Enzo snorted, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. His gaze grew serious for a moment, as if he were weighing all the risks of the upcoming trial. But instead of lecturing, the old man simply nodded.
"All right, go prepare. And don't you dare disgrace yourself—otherwise I'll kill you myself."
Kuro laughed as he stood up from the table. He already knew that beneath the rough words lay genuine concern.
Meanwhile, in the very heart of Konoha, inside the spacious Hokage's office, the air was thick with tension. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting long shadows across the wooden desk piled high with scrolls and maps.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at the head of the room, his face—usually calm and wise—now clouded with deep thought. Before him stood the focused Hatake, while a relaxed Orochimaru leaned against the wall nearby.
"So," Hiruzen began, unrolling one of the scrolls retrieved from the Sunagakure spies' camp, "tell me more about this incident. You mentioned that your team stumbled upon them by chance?"
Orochimaru nodded, his eyes gleaming with interest, as if recalling not a bloody battle but a curious experiment.
"Not entirely by chance. We were returning from a mission when I noticed traces of a recent fight. The bodies of our shinobi had been disguised as Sunagakure nukenin, and the enemies as a Konoha squad. It was a clever ruse meant to allow them to penetrate deeper into our territory. We decided to pursue them and… resolve the matter."
"The losses are confirmed," Sakumo added. "The entire Tobu squad was killed. They were returning from a secret mission in the Land of Water."
Hearing this, Sarutobi nodded grimly and then asked,
"What did you manage to find out from the prisoner? Izou, was it?"
Orochimaru allowed himself a faint smirk, crossing his arms.
"He turned out to be quite cooperative after certain persuasion methods. Sunagakure is clearly planning something large-scale. We learned that they're forming numerous secret alliances with smaller villages, and that the Kazekage has already made contact with Hanzo."
"And we shouldn't forget about Iwagakure," Hatake added, clenching his fists in anger. "As you know, many ANBU members have been attacked by nukenin recently, and many threads lead straight to Ōnoki. He clearly sees us as a threat after the First War. And if the Sand dares to make the first move, the Stone may take it as a signal to act."
"Then war will be inevitable," Hiruzen remarked darkly. "We must reinforce the borders and increase patrols. Sakumo, your ANBU team will handle reconnaissance in the north."
"It will be done. But I fear their next target may not be the ANBU," Hatake noted.
"I know," the Hokage replied quietly. "The youth. The future of our village."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly.
"It's curious that all of this is happening on the eve of the Chunin Exam."
Silence settled over the office.
"Do you think it should be canceled?" Sakumo asked.
"On the contrary," Hiruzen turned to them. "Canceling it would show weakness. But we must strengthen security."
"And besides," Orochimaru added, a subtle note of interest in his voice, "it's a perfect opportunity to see which of the young shinobi are truly ready for a world that's beginning to crack at the seams."
Sarutobi studied him with a long, attentive gaze.
"You're confident in your team?"
"More than," Orochimaru smiled. "I must admit—this generation may pleasantly surprise us."
For the first time during the conversation, Sakumo allowed himself a faint smile.
"Very well. Then we'll hold it in a month, and this time it will be internal, without inviting other villages. It's too risky right now. But if your team passes, they'll become a valuable asset. Just… keep an eye on them, Orochimaru. Believe me—war spares not even geniuses."
Orochimaru agreed with his sensei's words, though a glimmer of something more—ambition and curiosity—flickered in his eyes.
"Of course, Hokage-sama. They won't disappoint."
The conversation faded, but the tension in the room remained. Outside the office window, life in the village continued as usual, unaware of how drastically everything might soon change.
At the same time, deep within the dark underground of the Root base hidden beneath Konoha, a stifling atmosphere reigned. Torches on the walls cast trembling shadows over damp stone and winding corridors, where the echo of footsteps sounded like a warning.
At the center of the hall stood Danzō Shimura—a figure who inspired fear by his presence alone. His single visible eye glinted coldly in the half-light, while the bandage over his right eye hinted at secrets he kept even from his closest subordinates. Danzō was the embodiment of Konoha's darkness—a man willing to do anything for the village's "protection," even if it meant sacrifices.
The door creaked open, and an ANBU shinobi in a mask appeared in the doorway. He approached silently, dropped to one knee, and bowed his head in absolute submission.
"Reporting, Danzō-sama," he said in a flat, emotionless voice. "As planned, our shinobi have successfully infiltrated the Land of Rain. They've taken up positions and are awaiting further orders. Their movements went unnoticed."
Shimura didn't move, his eye narrowing slightly.
"Good. Continue observing. And what of Hanzo?"
"He's ready to meet with you, Danzō-sama. His messenger confirmed it—the Salamander awaits at the designated location and will receive you personally. He's open to negotiations."
Danzō allowed himself a faint, cold smirk, tapping his cane against the floor.
"Excellent. Everything is proceeding according to plan. The shinobi world has balanced on illusions for far too long," he continued quietly. "It's time to remind them that true order is born not from peace, but from control."
The shinobi nodded and vanished soundlessly into the shadows, leaving Danzō alone. He turned toward the map on the wall, his eye burning with resolve. War was approaching, and he was ready to manipulate it so that Konoha would emerge victorious.