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They don't aim to surpass Konoha as the top ninja village—that's no longer realistic.
However, they must at least live up to the reputation of the Sixth Great Shinobi Nations.
If they don't strive now, there might be no place for them in the future. Therefore, every ninja village is currently mobilizing their forces.
In the Land of Earth, at Iwagakure, hundreds of ninjas are standing ready at the village gate.
Iwagakure is known for its overwhelming numbers, so a few hundred ninjas might not seem like much.
But the current lineup would surely cause a great stir. Apart from a few young Genin and Chūnin, all the ninjas are Iwagakure's elite Jōnin.
Led by Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, each elite Jōnin holds an important position within Iwagakure.
Even the young Genin and Chūnin present are undisputed prodigies of the village.
Notable talents like Deidara, who the Tsuchikage personally favoured, and Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, are among them.
Their talents are exceptional, even on a global scale.
However, the most notable figure is the small elderly man floating in front of them—Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage and the last active Kage from his generation.
Ōnoki's stern gaze sweeps over the present and future of Iwagakure.
Despite the village's abundance of elite ninjas, few can shoulder major responsibilities.
Otherwise, he wouldn't still be serving as Tsuchikage at his age. Konoha's recent surge in strength has only increased Ōnoki's pressure.
Therefore, this time, Iwagakure is sending their finest to ensure as many as possible join the Ogami Clan.
A month ago, he had already begun sending ninjas to the coastal cities.
Their task wasn't to join the Ogami Clan but to assist the current group in doing so.
Without hesitation, Ōnoki addressed Iwagakure's elite, "You all know your mission well. The future of Iwagakure rests on your shoulders."
"Now, move out!" At his command, a determined light shone in everyone's eyes.
Deidara, leading the new generation, exuded an air of superiority. As the village's notorious troublemaker, he wasn't particularly liked.
His daily experiments with his Explosive Release techniques often caused havoc.
Additionally, his ties and loyalty to the village seemed weak. Despite this, his talent and strength were undeniable.
Though not yet a Jōnin, his Explosive Release made even seasoned Jōnin wary.
Sensing Deidara's resolute spirit, everyone began to see him in a new light.
His decision to join this mission had already changed many opinions.
Typically, even a direct order from the Tsuchikage might not have compelled Deidara to act. Regardless, he seemed to be showing promise now.
Meanwhile, Nagato was back at the Ogami Clan, organizing the entrance ceremony.
The influx of talented ninjas from various villages underscored the clan's influence and reputation.
As he worked, Nagato felt both pride and responsibility.
The future of the clan and the ninja world seemed brighter than ever, and he was at the centre, ready to lead and uphold the clan's legacy.
At the very least, when the village truly needs him, Deidara can step up and fulfil his responsibilities.
But is that the case? Is Deidara as noble as they think? Of course not!
The real reason for Deidara's actions is simply the pursuit of his dream.
Deidara could never forget that incomparably terrifying explosion six years ago.
Unlike other children who hid in their houses, Deidara, always a bold child, looked up at the sky with curiosity.
It was because of this that he discovered the most beautiful thing in the world.
The continuous explosions were already awe-inspiring, but the final explosion, which seemed to illuminate the entire world, gave him a lifelong goal.
Through various inquiries, he learned that it was the residual effect of the Ogami Clan's intervention.
That final, sky-reaching explosion was personally caused by the clan leader of the Ogami Clan.
He wasn't interested in the Ogami Clan's stories of saving the world; he was captivated only by the magnificent explosions.
Young and having never left the village, Deidara didn't know what the Ogami Clan truly was.
But from that day forward, he dreamed of joining the Ogami Clan to pursue the ultimate art.
It was that experience that set him on the path of explosive art. From then on, Deidara became increasingly aloof.
He viewed conversations as a waste of time; studying explosive release and pursuing art was far more appealing.
Apart from Deidara, the explosive art fanatic, all Iwagakure ninjas understood the gravity of this mission. If successful, Iwagakure would thrive.
But if they failed, they could be written off by history. They were the future of Iwagakure.
Thus, no one slacked off; even Deidara and the rest set out with determination.
Following Iwagakure's departure, Sunagakure in the Land of Wind also mobilized.
Unlike Iwagakure's massive numbers, Sunagakure, plagued by harsh environments, scarce resources, and tight budgets, had to adopt a policy of elite troops.
Consequently, the Sunagakure contingent was barely a hundred strong.
Excluding the village's new generation, only a few dozen Jōnin participated.
This was the maximum force Sunagakure could muster.
While many Jōnin remained in the village to protect it from unexpected threats, the ordinary Genin and Chūnin were left behind—they would be more of a hindrance than help.
Leading this contingent was the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, who was very confident.
Not only did he have a genius son, but also a top disciple of Pakura, another key asset.
Pakura, having been a key figure in the last Ogami Clan entrance ceremony, was expected to aid the village again this time.
They didn't expect Pakura to open any backdoors for them, but even a small bit of leniency could give Sunagakure a significant edge over other villages.
While they might not surpass Konoha, they could at least outdo Iwagakure and Kirigakure.
However, Rasa's hope that Pakura would go easy on them was misplaced. Even if Pakura wanted to, she couldn't.
By the time the Ogami Clan's entrance ceremony concluded, Pakura would likely still be at the Dragon Vein Altar in the Roran, focusing on her breakthrough.
Similarly, Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning and Kirigakure of the Land of Water also deployed a significant number of their ninjas and geniuses.
Compared to other villages, Kumogakure and Kirigakure had logistical advantages.
The Land of Lightning was already in the northern part of the ninja world, near the ocean, which greatly reduced travel time.
The Land of Water, being a maritime nation, was the closest to the far northern regions among the Sixth Great Villages.
This geographical advantage was particularly beneficial in the early stages.
Unlike the other villages, Konoha adopted a remarkably democratic approach to personnel deployment.
Until now, most of the new generation of Konoha ninjas, except for a few clan members who had heard rumours, were unaware of the Ogami Clan's entrance ceremony.
However, within the higher ranks of Konoha, especially among the Jonin team leaders, the situation in the Hokage's office was chaotic.
With the Chunin Exams approaching alongside the Ogami Clan's entrance ceremony, the Hokage had delegated the decision-making power regarding their subordinates to the Jonin leaders.
Of course, this Hokage was the retired Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was still breaking through at the Dragon Vein.
Now that the task was in their hands, the Jonin leaders found themselves in a quandary. This wasn't a regular decision.
Many of the team leaders were temporarily filling in for those Ogami Clan disciples who were in the process of breaking through.
Making the wrong choice could lead to significant offence.
While many were eager to recommend their subordinates for the Ogami Clan entrance ceremony, they hesitated due to the fierce competition and slim chances of success.
In contrast, the Chunin Exams offered a much higher probability of success, as most elite ninjas would be away.
After much discussion, everyone reached a consensus.
One Jonin leader stepped forward and said to the Third Hokage, "Lord Third, I believe this decision should be left to the Genin themselves. Our choices might not reflect their desires."
Hiruzen nodded and said, "Yamato has a point. They should take responsibility for their own decisions. What do you all think?"
Yes, the first to speak up was Yamato, the Wood Release ninja. However, this Yamato was not the same as the one we know.
Due to Orochimaru's early departure from Konoha, he did not have the chance to integrate Hashirama's cells into an infant.
But there was still Danzo, who, after Minato's rise to power and the significant reduction of his influence, turned to other schemes.
Using the techniques left by Orochimaru, Danzo started producing a batch of super infants.
Various mutants were created, forming the core members of the Root organization today.
Yamato was the most successful of these super infants.
Not only did he successfully integrate Hashirama's cells, but he also gradually developed his abilities.
However, this plan was eventually uncovered by Minato.
Although Danzo, as a Konoha elder, had Hiruzen Sarutobi's plea for leniency, Minato couldn't let him off completely.
Danzo's plan was forcibly terminated, he was stripped of his elder position, and most importantly, his prized experimental subjects were all taken away by Minato.
Yamato was one of them. Now, these details were of little concern to most in Konoha.
Especially to the current group standing here, who, after hearing Hiruzen's words, were more focused on the task at hand.
Asuma Sarutobi then spoke up, "Lord Third, I agree with Yamato. Among this group of Genin, some come from prominent clans and have likely already made their decisions."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement and said, "Very well. Each of you take an application form for the Ogami Clan and the Chunin Exam."
"Discuss it with your subordinates and return to the Hokage's office in the afternoon with their decisions. Dismissed!"
With his command, the group responded affirmatively, took their forms, and left.
As Asuma had mentioned, many of the clan ninjas already had their plans.
However, some were exceptions, like Sakura Haruno, who was currently in a team with the Hokage's son, Naruto Uzumaki, and the Uchiha clan leader's son, Sasuke Uchiha.
She was utterly confused as she looked at Yamato, her temporary team leader, not understanding a word he said.
Not long ago, she had been reflecting on the vast gap between her and her teammates.
A recent mission to eliminate rogue ninjas had made it clear.
Naruto and Sasuke could effortlessly defeat Chunin-level opponents, and even Jonin could be a match for them if they teamed up.
In contrast, Sakura had been paralyzed with fear in the face of a Chunin, unable to move.
When it came to fighting back, she was quickly overpowered.
The training that Yamato was teaching them had already been mastered by Naruto and Sasuke long ago.
No wonder Kakashi never seemed to train them in these basics. Sakura had thought it was due to their arrogance, but now she understood.
It wasn't arrogance; they simply didn't need such elementary training. She had even considered advising them but felt too inferior to speak up.
In hindsight, she was relieved she hadn't—otherwise, she would have embarrassed herself terribly, especially in front of Sasuke.
According to Naruto and Sasuke, their lack of progress was because their families had them focusing on foundational skills, preventing them from advancing too quickly.
Aware of the disparity between her and her teammates, Sakura had spent the journey back pondering her strengths.
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