.Danzo Shimura: [Coldly] "Did you see... that person..."
Hiruzen sighed deeply as he sat at his desk, aware of the gravity of the situation.
.Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Yes, I saw him. Katahara Metsudo... has returned. His presence here cannot simply be a coincidence."
.Danzo Shimura: [Frowning] "I never trusted him, Hiruzen. From the beginning, his power on the battlefield was comparable to Hashirama's... No, perhaps even superior. You saw it yourself... I can't help but think his visit here has a purpose beyond the Chunin Exams."
.Hiruzen Sarutobi: [Gravely] "I know, Danzo. Katahara has always been a man of deep intentions, but we can't act hastily. We must observe and wait... to see what he really seeks."
.Danzo Shimura: [Nods] "I'll keep Root on alert. If he makes any suspicious moves, we'll know."
.Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Do it. But remember, Danzo, we can't let a single misstep trigger a conflict. Katahara is not an enemy we can underestimate."
.Danzo Shimura: [With a hard look] "I've never underestimated him, Hiruzen. But I won't allow the shadow of an ancient warrior to endanger Konoha."
Meanwhile, the Chunin Exams were approaching, and the atmosphere in Konoha was filled with excitement and anticipation.
Momonosuke was walking around Konoha with his two companions.
As they walked, Momo noticed a girl.
Momonosuke: "Tsunade."
Tsunade wore the standard outfit of Konoha ninjas, consisting of a dark blue protective vest with her village's emblem on the back. Under the vest, she wore a long-sleeved black shirt and dark pants that fit snugly against her agile legs. She had ninja boots and arm and leg protectors for safety during missions.
Momonosuke tried to approach her, but he realized she was with two other young men.
Momonosuke: "Jiraiya and Orochimaru."
Jiraiya was a tall, muscular young man with a strong, athletic build. He had long white hair that reached his shoulders, and his large, dark eyes reflected his wisdom and experience as a ninja. He wore the standard outfit of Konoha ninjas, consisting of an olive-green protective vest with the village emblem on the back, a long-sleeved dark shirt, and fitted pants.
Orochimaru was a tall, slender ninja with a sleek, enigmatic appearance. He had long black hair that reached his waist, and his sharp, intense golden eyes gave him a reptilian look. He wore a high-collared black cloak with wide sleeves, a long-sleeved dark shirt, and fitted pants.
.Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru noticed the presence of Momonosuke and his companions. Tsunade stepped forward with a warm smile.
.Tsunade: "Hello, guys. What brings you here?"
.Momonosuke: [Somewhat nervous, but] "Hello, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru. We are from Kirigakure; we've come to participate in the Chunin Exams."
.Jiraiya: [Enthusiastically] "Kirigakure, huh? Welcome to Konoha. The Chunin Exams are the perfect opportunity to show what you're made of."
.Orochimaru: [With a piercing gaze] "That's right. You better be well prepared. The exams can be deadly."
.Matsu: [With a slight nod] "We appreciate the advice. We're eager to show what we've learned."
.Tsunade: [Confidently] "I'm sure you'll do great. Good luck!"
As the future Sannin walked away, Momonosuke followed them with his gaze, a mix of nostalgia and longing in his expression.
.Momonosuke: [Talking to himself] "So you didn't recognize me..."
.Sao Temuri: [Intrigued] "Do you know Tsunade, Momo?"
.Momonosuke: [Smiling nostalgically] "Yes, I've known her since I was very small. It's been years since I last saw her, and I guess I've changed so much that she doesn't recognize me anymore."
.Sao Temuri: [Surprised] "Wow, Momo! I had no idea you had such a close connection with someone from Konoha."
.Matsu: "We should head to the training field."
As they made their way to the training field, they noticed two ninjas in the midst of combat: Sakumo Hatake and Kato Dan. Sakumo, with his superior skill, was clearly dominating the fight.
.Sao Temuri: [Whispering] "That's Sakumo Hatake, isn't it?"
.Momonosuke: [Nodding] "Yes, that's right. Sakumo is one of the most talented Chunin of his generation."
.Matsu: "It looks like he's facing that guy Kato Dan. The battle is intense."
At that moment, Momonosuke felt a fixed gaze on him. Turning his head, he saw a young girl from Iwagakure watching him with curiosity.
.Momonosuke: [Serious] "Staring like that isn't exactly polite."
.Rotsuchi, the daughter of the Third Tsuchikage, didn't look away and flashed a confident smile.
.Rotsuchi: "You're right. It's not good manners to stare without introducing oneself. I'm Rotsuchi, and these are my teammates."
One of Rotsuchi's teammates, a young ninja with dark hair and a serious expression, stepped forward with a challenging tone.
.Rotsuchi's teammate: "We're from Iwagakure. We've come to participate in the Chunin Exams. I hope you're ready to face us."
.Momonosuke: [With a calm smile] "It's a pleasure, Rotsuchi. I'm Momonosuke, and these are Sao Temuri and Matsu, my teammates. We're also participating in the exams, so I'm sure we'll face each other at some point."
.Sao Temuri: [Nodding] "That's what we hope. It'll be an opportunity for all of us to show what we can do."
.Matsu: [With a determined look] "It will be an honor to face the shinobi of Iwagakure. We're ready for any challenge."
.Rotsuchi: [Smiling] "Then we'll see each other in the competition. I'm sure it will be a memorable experience."
While all this was happening, Katahara observed from his quarters, his eyes narrowed in contemplation.
Katahara: "This exam will be more interesting than we imagined, don't you think, Dabi?"
Dabi, who was beside him, nodded with an enigmatic smile.
Katahara: "The future Sannin, the White Fang of Konoha, the daughter of the Third Tsuchikage... All great names that will, in the future, forge their legends in blood... And all, without exception, will know defeat."