Kosuke Maruboshi agreed.
This Eternal Genin from the Konoha Village didn't want to be promoted but couldn't refuse the request to protect the village. He had also heard that this joint Chunin Exam was to be a grand event.
As an elder of the Konoha, sacrificing for the future of the village was his duty. Should Akihara Kagura issue a direct order, he would have no choice but to comply.
"Lord Kagura."
Karin was somewhat surprised as she looked at Akihara Kagura, curiously asking, "Why should I take the exam with that old man?"
"Because he cooks delicious food!"
The reason given by Akihara Kagura was quite pure and honest: "When I took the Chunin Exam, I had no one to help me cook. Having a teammate who can cook will make your exam experience a bit more comfortable..."
Karin slowly bowed her head.
"Lord Kagura!"
A member of the ANBU appeared in a flash, kneeling on one knee beside Akihara Kagura, and whispered, "The Third Hokage requests your immediate presence at the Hokage Tower!"
"I'll be right there."
Akihara Kagura nodded and vanished from the spot.
"Karin, what's wrong?"
A Root ninja looked curiously at the stunned redhead girl.
"I'm fine."
Karin remained in place, watching as Akihara Kagura left his ninja headband on the mission assembly office desk, and carefully picked it up: "How can one not admire Lord Kagura for taking such care of his subordinates?"
Inside the Hokage Tower.
A group of Jōnin stood in the office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a pipe in his mouth, sat at the desk, seriously briefing the gathered Jōnin on the matter at hand: "The people I've called today are the village's guiding Jōnin, you should understand what I'm about to discuss..."
"The Chunin Selection Exam?"
Hatake Kakashi had already heard rumors.
Sarutobi Asuma looked up, recalling a recent shopping trip with his girlfriend, Kurenai Yūhi, when they encountered people from other ninja villages: "We've indeed seen people from other villages around here..."
"When is it?"
Kurenai Yūhi asked anxiously.
"I wanted to start earlier..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a ring of smoke and picked up a letter from the desk, softly saying, "But the Mist Village sent a message; they might be a couple of days late. Let's set it for July 3rd, then, to start the joint Chunin Selection Exam..."
"Do you have anything to add?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked towards Akihara Kagura and the two Hokage advisors seated across from him.
"We should still be cautious during this time..."
Koharu Utatane voiced her objection quietly: "After all, this is a Chunin Selection Exam jointly held by three major countries and several minor ones. With many foreign ninjas coming to Konoha, we must be careful to avoid any disputes or conflicts..."
Homura Mitokado also voiced his concern: "And we must also be careful with our hospitality to avoid any discourtesy that might lead to disputes..."
"Don't worry."
Akihara Kagura nonchalantly poured tea, even offering a cup to the two Hokage advisors, and leisurely said, "If anyone dares cause a dispute in the village, after thirteen years, when they participate in the Chunin Exam again, they'll be more cautious."
"Ban troublemakers from the Chunin Exam for thirteen years?"
Koharu Utatane looked at Akihara Kagura, frowning: "Isn't that punishment a bit severe for a ninja..."
"You misunderstand me," Akihara Kagura said, taking a sip of tea before continuing, "Thirteen years is the time it takes for them to reincarnate and grow back to twelve years old..."
Koharu Utatane nearly choked.
The expressions of everyone present turned peculiar.
Hatake Kakashi, who had dealt with Akihara Kagura the most, was already used to such things, merely rolling his eyes in resignation: "This guy..."
"Killing them outright would cause even greater disputes!"
Koharu Utatane was highly dissatisfied with Akihara Kagura's attitude, sternly saying, "It could even lead to war. It would be better to use a more gentle approach..."
"That's indeed a bit too extreme."
Homura Mitokado also nodded repeatedly and couldn't help but say, "After this, there won't be anyone coming to participate in the Chunin Exam organized by Konoha anymore. This will affect our relations with our allies..."
"I will send the Anbu to maintain order."
After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, he looked towards the instructing Jonin present: "Do you have any Genin you would recommend for the exam? Formally, any Genin who has completed more than eight missions can participate in the Chunin Exam. It is entirely up to you to recommend them, although Genin with double the mission experience might be more suitable. It might be a bit early for them now, but I want to hear your thoughts. Who would like to speak first?"
"I'll start!"
Akihara Kagura gave his superior face, and actively said, "I would like to recommend a suitable team: Yakushi Kabuto, Karin, and Kosuke Maruboshi. They have ample mission experience. Karin alone has completed over eight S-rank missions in the Root, which is more than enough to handle the Chunin Exam..."
The instructing Jonin present all changed their expressions.
This is because Karin's performance was indeed outstanding, even surpassing some Jonin in their lifetime count of S-rank missions.
"Can Genin perform S-rank missions?"
"It's normal for ninjas from Root to go on S-rank missions..."
"That's a bit frightening..."
While the other instructing Jounin were still chattering, Sarutobi Asuma, knowing that Hatake Kakashi and Akihara Kagura were familiar with each other, asked, "Hey, Kakashi, how is that kid Karin's ability?"
Kakashi looked up at the sky in thought. He hadn't actually seen Karin in battle and could only honestly say, "I don't know, but she is certainly strong..."
After Hatake Kakashi finished speaking, he then mentioned another person: "But this person called Kosuke Maruboshi sounds very familiar. Where have I heard it before..."
"Is Kosuke also going to participate in the Chunin Exam?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew Kosuke Maruboshi and took the initiative to say, "If Kosuke wishes to be promoted, there's no need for him to take the exam, just promote him directly to Jonin..."
"Jonin?"
The instructing Jonin present all acknowledged the potential of Akihara Kagura's team.
"He doesn't want to be promoted."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, unconcerned about his arrangement in the Chunin Exam: "Kosuke Maruboshi, a Genin, is just a chef for a team. He'll help cook during the second stage of the exam, since I once went hungry for an entire day during the second stage of a Chunin Exam..."
"Is that so..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but chuckle, recalling his first encounter with this youngster and nodded in satisfaction: "Kagura, you really do treat your subordinates well..."
After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, he looked at a group instructing Jonin: "Does anyone else want to recommend their subordinates for this Chunin Exam?"
"Team 7, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto, in my name, Hatake Kakashi, I recommend them for the Chunin Exam!"
"Team 8, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino, in my name, Kurenai Yuhi, I recommend them for the Chunin Exam!"
"Team 10, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino, in my name, Sarutobi Asuma, I recommend them for the Chunin Exam!"
With Akihara Kagura being the first to recommend, the other instructing Jonin quickly made their recommendations, but their words immediately sparked discussion.
"It's been five years, hasn't it?"
"Are the new Genin graduating this year going directly to the Chunin Exam?"
"Isn't that too dangerous for them..."
"Please wait!"
Umino Iruka, standing among the Chunin, hurriedly spoke up to intervene: "Maybe I'm being a bit meddlesome, but all nine are students I once had at the Ninja Academy..."
"If you think you're being meddlesome, then don't speak."
Akihara Kagura interrupted Umino Iruka with a light chuckle: "Iruka-sensei, have you forgotten? Karin was also your student..."
"Karin is different..."
Umino Iruka stuttered, trying to argue, but Akihara Kagura disrupted his train of thought, making it hard for him to explain: "After all, Naruto and the other nine..."
"They are no longer your students."
Hatake Kakashi interrupted Umino Iruka, softly stating a fact: "Now, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura are my subordinates, and you can't always protect them under your wings..."
"Iruka, I understand how you feel."
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted their conversation, softly saying, "But give these newcomers a special preparatory Chunin Exam."
While they were discussing, an Anbu member rushed in, kneeling on one knee in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Lord Hokage, a group of kids in the village had a conflict with the Genin from Sand Village!"
"Kill those Sand Genin."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand without mercy, with an attitude that this matter was easily resolved: "Send another letter to inquire from the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, are the ninjas from Sand out of their minds? Coming to Konoha to cause trouble, are they trying to start a war between Konoha and Sand Village..."
"Huh?"
This Anbu ninja was a bit taken aback.
The people present all felt somewhat helpless; this method of handling things looked like Akihara Kagura was trying to provoke a war between the Konoha and the Sand Village!
However...
They had gotten used to it.
"It's just a bunch of kids fooling around..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled, glanced at the crystal ball on the table, and waved his hand: "Alright, let's not worry about these trifles. Everyone go back and prepare by notifying your subordinates."
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja could only bow his head.
Akihara Kagura, however, was very interested and stood up: "I'm quite interested, take me there to see."
"Kagura!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped Kagura, speaking solemnly: "Those are just children, do not kill anyone."
"How could I?"
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, pushed open the door to the Hokage's office, and left just one sentence behind: "I would never bully a child, I'd only kill the Kazekage..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Akihara Kagura's retreating figure, furrowed his brows, and waved his hand: "Everyone, please leave!"
"Yes."
A group of ninjas filed out.
After they had left, Koharu Utatane spoke up: "Hiruzen, this child is still somewhat unfit, his thoughts of slaughter are too heavy..."
Homura Mitokado also nodded, continuing: "He would be suitable as the leader of the Root, he could handle some troubles for the village."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a while, then finally said: "Send someone immediately to message Jiraiya, ask Jiraiya to come back quickly!"
"Jiraiya would be suitable."
The two Hokage advisors nodded in satisfaction.
On the commercial street of Konoha.
A few teenagers were confronting each other here.
Originally, a Genin from the Sand named Kankuro was bumped into by a group of little brats from the Konoha Ninja Academy and wanted to bully the little brat to show off the strength of a Sand ninja, but he was stopped by Uchiha Sasuke, which led to a minor conflict.
A Genin from the Sand named Gaara, controlling the dancing sand, easily subdued Uchiha Sasuke, but Uzumaki Naruto couldn't stand it and got into a conflict with Gaara, which led to the escalation of the conflict.
Then...
Karin happened to pass by.
Whether as a Konoha ninja or a classmate who grew up together, Karin couldn't just stand by and directly confronted Gaara with a move, and the two turned out to be evenly matched!
"You are very interesting."
Gaara raised his hand, controlling the sand to converge into a giant claw of sand, grinned and said: "Killing you would definitely bring a great sense of achievement, it would also be very happy..."
"Then give it a try!"
Karin adjusted her glasses, and slowly golden chains drilled out from her back, the curse mark on her arm also slowly activating, ready to enter the cursed seal state.
Because this guy named Gaara... was very strong!
Just as the two red-haired youngsters were about to clash, a voice stopped their conflict, or rather, wanted to provoke a bigger conflict.
"Killing me would probably give you even more of a sense of achievement, right?"
Akihara Kagura stood next to Karin, looking at Gaara who was controlling the sand claw, with a mocking smile on his lips: "Let's see who this is, thinking he can cause trouble in the Konoha just because he thinks he's the son of the Kazekage, has it been too long since you've been beaten?"
Gaara's face suddenly turned ugly.
If Gaara were to rank the psychological shadows of his childhood, the assassination of his uncle Yashamaru would come first, the repeated beatings from Akihara Kagura would definitely come second...
"Akihara Kagura..."
Standing beside Gaara, Kankuro and Temari also recognized Akihara Kagura, they had not seen him bullying, but they knew this person often beat Shukaku.
"Let me see..."
"The three children of the Kazekage are causing trouble in the Konoha..."
Akihara Kagura recognized Kankuro and Temari, having occasionally seen them in the Sand Village: "It's really unnecessary to let Rasa live, teaching children is still so careless, it seems I really need to find an opportunity to kill your useless father…"
~~~
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