"I don't need that, just get me some Dango." Anko snorted, brushing away a jar of medicine.
Anko laid down on the couch rather tired from her recent encounter.
"Excuse me!" Izumo panted, throwing the wooden door open.
"This is important!" Instead of waiting for approval, Izumo dashed towards a nearby TV.
Plugging in a sample of surveillance footage, the pixelated silhouette of Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke came into view. Instantly trailed by Gaara, Temari and Kankuro, this group of competing Genin arrived at the same time.
"U-... Impossible." Anko gasped with disbelief, straining to stand up.
"This is footage was taken at 1:37pm, barely an hour and a half after the 2nd exam began..." Izumo explained.
Left utterly speechless by this revelation, Anko charged towards the TV, gripping the screen with both hands. Gazing at the timestamp with trembling eyes, she was startled by this realization.
"They finished the Exam in 97 minutes?!" Anko stuttered.
"This has never happened before, in the history of the Chunin Exams." A squirrel masked Anbu slurred.
"These kids, they're abnormal. There isn't a spot of dirt on them." Izumo felt a sense of unease.
Leaning closer to the screen, Anko caught a faint glimpse of ripple-patterned violet eyes. Hiding under Naruto's bangs, they glimmered and glowed in sunlight, traumatizing everyone who saw them.
At this moment, Anko finally understood what Orochimaru was talking about, the child he wanted. Orochimaru didn't want Sasuke, or Gaara or even Anko, his true goal was Naruto.
"Hi, dear." Kakashi interrupted, carrying a delivery bag of dango.
Inspired by this sweet aroma, Anko promptly screeched for everyone to leave the room. Isolated with her boyfriend, she ordered Kakashi to sit down, stretching across his lap before eating.
Meanwhile.
"Four squads of Anbu are searching, but he's too elusive." Hiruzen spoke, walking down a dim hallway.
"Why would he return now? After all these years?" Jiraiya stroked his chin.
"There's a reason he's returned, something he is after, something that will benefit him." Hiruzen inhaled a hit of leaf.
The 3rd Hokage knew that Konoha was weak, no one in the village could stand against Orochimaru. Not Anko, not Kakashi, not Jiraiya, not even himself, they couldn't stop Orochimaru.
"Do you recall those orphans from the Land of Rain, you trained them during the 2nd Shinobi War." He released a puff of smoke.
"I'll never forget them, they were all one of a kind." Jiraiya replied.
"Yahiko, Konan and of course Nagato." Twitching, he was haunted by the rippled Rinnegan that Nagato possessed.
Hiruzen heard this story before, a fabled orphan that held the sacred eyes of Hagaromo. Known as the Sage of Six Paths, he saved the world from demons, before dying in the final battle.
"He mastered every single jutsu I taught him... By the age of 10, he could preform all six Nature transformations." Jiraiya marveled at his former student. ." Jiraiya replied.
Well versed in dozens of jutsu, Nagato demonstrated more control than a veteran like Hiruzen. The result of his sacred eyes, he could preform any jutsu without trouble, only bloodline were beyond his capability.
"Legends say that the Sage of Six Paths used his Rinnegan to create the moon..." His voice was muffled by footsteps.
"They're the tools of god, capable of bringing holy salvation, or great destruction." He fell silent after speaking.
In my dream, I saw that you'd become a great shinobi, perverted and all. A giant, wrinkle covered toad spoke inside Jiraiya's mind.
And in time, you will have a student of your own. The enormous toad asserted.
That student will become a ninja that will bring about great change to the shinobi world. The large toad glared at a youthful shinobi, a child version of Jiraiya.
Change of great stability and peace or unending destruction and death. The toad stated.
This was Jiraiya's destiny, the dreamed that he lived for, the Child of Prophecy. In the past, he believed Nagato was this child, until he fell during the 3rd Shinobi War, dying beside Konan and Yahiko.
"Then perhaps, destiny shines upon you again." Hiruzen remarked, causing puff to pour from his nose.
"The Rinnegan has resurfaced inside this village." This statement caused his student to gasp.
Detailing the strange events that recently tormented Konoha, the death of Iruka was the trigger. Since that moment, Naruto had forever changed, he grew eyes that would never leave, he possessed the Rinnegan.
Meanwhile.
The midnight sky was illuminated by the blazing fire that roared underneath it. Scorching the Forest of Death, geysers of smoke billowed into the darkened skyline, forcing animals to flee.
Seated atop a wooden balcony, Naruto's legs dangled over the side, glancing at the moon. Positioned on the 16th floor of the central tower, only two-stories rested above him.
The pathway leading from the door was narrow, opening up to a circular area, encompassed by railings. Veiled by a rustling green banner in the background, the swirl of Konoha was sewn into it.
He was so close, so close to my friends, and I could barely stop him. Naruto thought, focused on Shiore.
If I can't keep my friends safe, how can I call myself a shinobi? How can I call myself your student? He was haunted by Iruka's smiling face.
Glancing up at the moon, blond bangs fell to the side, exposing his Rinnegan eyes. Startled by the click of an opening door, Naruto glared on his shoulder, twitching with shock.
"I just love a nice midnight breeze, don't you?" Jiraiya spoke mere inches from Naruto's face.
"Yeah...I do..." Naruto murmured.
Taking a seat beside this whiskered Genin, Jiraiya chuckled as moonlight sparkled down. Observing the fiery outline of a massive blaze, the Forest Of Death was partially reduced to ash.
"I hear you already finished the exam." Jiraiya cheered.
Congratulating the youthful shinobi beside him, Jiraiya patted Naruto on the back. Eventually, he nudged and poked the whiskers are his face, acting like the grandparent he never had.
"What's your secret kiddo?" Leering forward, he already knew the answer.
Humming with confusion, Naruto titled his head towards the moonbasked sky. Causing blond bangs to part, his left eye was concealed while his right eye was revealed to the world.
"I haven't had much in my life, ut I have friends, and people who care about me." Naruto exclaimed.
"I just want to protect those people, no matter what type of pain I'm forced to endure." These whispers gave Jiraiya saucer-like eyes.
A sign - this is my second chance - my destiny. Jiraiya found his new purpose.
Since the life of Nagato, the life that was lost, Jiraiya constantly blamed himself. He focused only on writing to distract from his failures, to find a new reason to life, the Child of Prophecy.
"Stick with me then, and you'll go far." Stroking Naruto's hair, he promised he would protect this boy with his life.
Five days later.
There were 78 runts when I got a hold of them, now theres only 21 left. Anko smiled at her handy work.
Fresh off the 2nd stage of the Chunin Exam, dozens of Genin were grouped together. Standing in a large stood room, the walls were lined with exterior staircases and iron-railed walkways.
Standing in the center of this room, the 3rd Hokage was flanked by eight proctors. Additionally, seven sensei's were gathered, five from Konoha, one from Oto and the last from Suna.
"Your team doesn't have a single scratch, not bad Ka-Ka-Shi." Guy enunciated the name of his rival.
"But face it, your students are nothing compared to mine... The truth is sweat and sour." Nodding in triumph, he held both arms against his chest.
"Did you say something?" Kakashi mumbled, reading from his book.
"NOOO!" Guy screamed in defeat.
Dramatically falling to his knees, he held his black scalp with trembling hands. Lowering his face to the ground, he cried and whimpered like a baby, oblivious to his elite status.
This attack is somewhat 'modern', as the kids would say... It's a sick burn... Guy concluded.
"So that's Guy-Sensei's eternal rival, the one he's been telling us about." Tenten spoke.
"The one he wouldn't shut up about." Neji replied.
"Guy-Sensei is the coolest among all, he's shining!" Lee mimicked his sensei.
"That a boy Lee, make me proud!" Guy directed an iconic thumbs up.
Oh no - he's exactly like Guy. Asuma remarked.
Muffled by the frantic shouting of his teammate, Neji discreetly glared at Sasuke. Snarling and curling his teeth with disgust, he was eager to fight this Uchiha, the erase the final honor of his fallen clan.
So you're unharmed, just as I suspected. Baki glared at his crimson haired student.
A towering Jonin from the the Land of Wind, Baki was a veteran of the 3rd Shinobi War. With dirt-colored skin and red markings on the right side of his face, the left side was obscured by a sandy turban.
Dressed in a full-bodied blue jumpsuit, this attire was wrapped in a tan flak jacket. Exposing the headband of Suna on his layered scalp, he was barely 30 years old, filled with experience.
The exam is over, why are they releasing so much chakra? Kiba was awed by Gaara and Naruto.
Naruto passed, I'm glad... Hinata timidly twirled her fingers.
In truth, the Chunin Exams weren't about promotions, or the vague ideal of titles. Instead, they were designed to foster unity and brotherhood among the neighboring nations.
Originally created by the 2nd Hokage, the exams were supposed to ease global conflict. By training together, testing together and graduating together, the goal was too promote peace and dignity.
"In this 3rd Exam, feudal lords, famous individuals and even fellow Kage will all visit." Hiruzen boomed.
"These guests are hoping to scout potential clients and shinobi for future missions." Inhaling a fresh hit of leaf, smoke poured from his nose.
The 3rd stage of the Chunin Exam were a series of one-on-one matches. Leaving one individual to claim stand atop all others, the winning village was bestowed with unbridled pride.
"With that in mind, this final stage will be a battle where you fight with your life on the line." Slurring, he was met by youthful protest.
A village's power was derived from the might of their shinobi, and their power was born from conflict. By this logic, war was necessary, conflict was necessary, because the shinobi world was fueled by blood.
"Tell of the details of this life-or-death battle, and let's begin." Gaara cut in.
Nodding in reply, Gekko Hayate strolled in front of the 3rd Hokage, the next proctor. A 23 year old Jonin, Hayate was a veteran of the 3rd Shinobi War, and an older classmate of Anko.
With short brown hair and brown pupils, he eyes were heavy with a lack of sleep. Dressed in the iconic outfit for all Konoha shinobi, his hair was refrained by blue-tinted bandana.
"Now then, before the 3rd Exam begins... We'll have to undertake a preliminary test." Hayate explained.
Restrained by time, spacing and upcoming tourists, Hayate had a narrow deadline to reach. There were too much candidates to pass, so, he needed to weed them down, only to find the best.
"So, would anyone like to quit?" Dampened by his own cough, he could barely breathe.
"What a drag, we just got here." Shikamaru complained.
"What about a meal?" Choji asked.
Arriving at the last moment, Team 10 missed their donated food from the village. Because of this, they had to fight with empty stomachs and dirty clothes, a stark contrast to Team 7.
"I'll quit." Kabuto sheepishly raised his hand.
Shuffling through the clipboard Hayate possessed, he located Kabuto's name and ID. Dismissing this youthful Genin, he walked towards the exit, earning Hiruzen's hidden gaze.
"He retired last year aswell." Hiruzen spoke, accompanied by Ibiki and Anko.
"Kabuto Yakushi, according to our data he has failed six times in a row." Anko read from her prewritten textbook.
A shy child, Kabuto's grades in the academy were mundane and normal. Infact, it took him three tries to finally graduated the academy, since then, he was stuck as a Genin.
"He doesn't have any outstanding accomplishments at all... Except..." She caught her words at the last second.
"Do you remember the boy that was brought back from the Battle of Kikyo Pass?" The 3rd Hokage replied with a puff of smoke.
"Yes, a Jonin from the medic squad took custody of an enemy boy, left behind on the battlefield." Hiruzen recited.
"So - he is that boy - interesting." Inhaling another hit of leaf, Hiruzen pondering Kabuto's true purpose.
Clapping his hands to capture attention, Hayate erupted into a harsh fit of coughs. Detailing the preliminary exam, he pointed at an static screen on the wall, engraved between a pair of stone hands.
Clasped into the tiger seal, these rock palms loomed over the entire room. Abruptly veiled by the screen behind them, dozens of names were shuffled and chosen at random.
"There are no rules - you will fight until the other person dies, or admits defeat." Hayate proclaimed.
"There is only exception, If I deem the match to be over, I will end it, immediately." Snarling, he displayed a rigid expression.
If we put him in his place , Akamaru will start feeling better. Kiba glared at Naruto.
Please don't put me against Naruto, or that sand guy. Shikamaru internally begged.
This is it, Neji, the moment when the weak triumph over the strong! Lee declared.
Sasuke, this is when I prove how badass I am, this is when you fall madly in love with me. Sakura assured herself.
The sooner this gets done, the sooner I can train with Jiraiya. Naruto smiled.
Suddenly, the TV screen froze after selecting two specific names, plastered in yellow kanji. The official beginning of the exam, everyone looked at the screen in complete anticipation.