"The exam cannot be stopped," the Third Hokage said, looking at Itachi kneeling before him.
"But Lord Hokage..." Itachi tried to explain further.
"Enough, Itachi," the Third interrupted. "I've been aware of Orochimaru's movements, and the village has already prepared to respond accordingly."
"Besides, you told me yourself that continuing the exam is what Sasuke wants."
Itachi fell silent, feeling helpless. He had found Sasuke early in the morning on the second day, already branded with Orochimaru's curse mark. He had witnessed Sasuke tapping into a dark and chilling power to fend off an enemy.
He wanted to take Sasuke away, but Sasuke had refused, saying he was determined to pass the Chunin Exams.
"Rest assured, Itachi. I can guarantee that Sasuke will be safe," the Third Hokage assured him.
…
On the fifth day, the second part of the exam concluded as Team 7 arrived at the central tower as the last group.
A total of seven teams, 21 genin, passed the second stage, more than anticipated.
Inside the tower's main hall, a massive statue loomed above the steps, hands clasped in a seal.
All the genin who had passed gathered in the hall, with the Third Hokage standing atop the steps, flanked by the second round's proctor and seven jonin.
In addition to the five Konoha jonin, two other jonin stood nearby: Baki from the Sand Village, whom Ren and Kurenai had seen before, and a jonin from the Sound Village, a man with a delicate, almost eerie appearance.
Ren's gaze lingered on him, noting the discomfort his eyes inspired, though there was little else that pointed directly to Orochimaru's identity.
Might Guy was trying to chat quietly with Kakashi, who ignored him.
The genin eyed one another, sizing up potential opponents for the third exam.
"First, congratulations on passing the second part of the exam," the Third Hokage began, addressing the gathered genin. "The third round will begin shortly, but before that, I need to explain the true purpose of this exam."
The genin murmured in confusion.
"This exam exists to foster camaraderie among allied nations and to strengthen the skills of our ninja. In many ways, it is a symbolic reenactment of the conflicts between allied villages."
The Hokage explained the origins and significance of the Chunin Exams, answering questions as he spoke. The genin listened intently.
Chunin Exams of this scale hadn't existed in Ren's time. Back then, genin promotion was either determined through direct recommendation or an individually requested evaluation, making the process much simpler.
Ren glanced down at Sasuke, noting his weakened state and the way he struggled to stand.
So, Orochimaru got to him...
"Sensei," Ren quietly addressed Kakashi beside him. "Something seems off about your student."
"…" Kakashi remained silent, though he, too, had concerns after hearing about Sasuke's encounter with Orochimaru from the Hokage and Anko.
"Hey, Kakashi," Guy said from the other side, his face brimming with confidence. "Looks like your student barely made it through the second round. If he faces one of mine in the third, I'm afraid he's in for a rough time. Ah, the bittersweet trials of youth!"
After a moment of silence, Kakashi finally looked at him, feigning oblivion. "Did you say something?"
After finishing his explanation of the exam's significance, the Third Hokage seemed to cough lightly, reaching the end of his speech.
At that moment, the proctor for the preliminary rounds, Hayate Gekko, appeared in a swift movement, kneeling before the Hokage.
"Now, I will explain the rules of the preliminary round," Hayate began, his raspy voice barely audible as he introduced himself.
Ren glanced sideways at Kurenai. "Does he have some sort of terminal illness?"
Kurenai sighed, "No, he's just had weak health since childhood. Yugao has told us plenty about it."
It was clear that not only Ren but many others shared similar suspicions.
Indeed, the genin below watched him cautiously, half-expecting the proctor to collapse mid-explanation.
When Hayate mentioned the preliminary round's purpose, a ripple of dismay passed through the genin.
"Why do we need a preliminary?"
"Can't we just proceed directly to the third round?"
Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji remained calm, already informed by Ren of the possibility.
"Anyone wishing to withdraw may do so now," Hayate said, glancing down at his notes, his voice as hoarse as ever.
Meanwhile, Anko and the Hokage were debating whether to remove Sasuke from the exam, but Kakashi waved off their concerns, much to Anko's irritation, as she felt he was disregarding his student's safety.
At that moment, a Konoha genin with glasses raised his hand, drawing everyone's attention.
Anko pulled out her records, recognizing him as Kabuto Yakushi, a repeat examinee. The Third Hokage also seemed to recall him.
Ren narrowed his eyes at the seemingly friendly Kabuto as he explained his departure to Naruto and Sakura. A future threat, Ren mused. Might as well eliminate him during the third exam.
Kabuto's withdrawal left an even twenty genin, perfect for the one-on-one preliminary round.
As the display board lit up, it revealed the names of the first match-up: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Yoroi Akado.
Ren and Kurenai joined the other Jonin on the upper balcony as Kakashi gave Sasuke some last-minute advice.
"Kurenai-sensei, Ren-sensei," Kiba, Shino, and Hinata joined them on the balcony.
"That Sasuke seems a bit off," Kurenai noted, watching Sasuke below.
"Is he injured?" she asked.
"Sort of," Ren replied.
"Looks like Kakashi's student is in bad shape," she murmured.
"He'll be fine," Ren said calmly. "Even in his condition, he can handle this opponent."
Kurenai shot Ren a glance but chose to remain silent.
Sure enough, despite his weakened state, Sasuke managed to claim victory in the first round.
Ino, Shikamaru, and Hinata watched in awe, while Kiba muttered his doubts, clearly unimpressed.
As medics carried away Akado on a stretcher, Sasuke was taken away by Kakashi for further treatment.
The next match flashed on the display: Zaku Abumi vs. Shino Aburame.
Kurenai offered words of encouragement to Shino, while Kiba and Hinata cheered him on.
Ren noticed that the Sound Village jonin had disappeared from the balcony.
"I'll be right back," Ren said, disappearing in a flash.
"Ren-sensei?" Ino and Shikamaru exchanged puzzled glances, looking over to Kurenai, who simply shrugged.
Elsewhere in the tower, Ren soon located the room where Kakashi was with Sasuke.
He stood outside the door, watching as Kakashi performed a sealing jutsu on Sasuke.
This Sasuke is different from the one burdened with revenge. His motivation to grow stronger comes from pride and a sense of honor, not a vendetta. Orochimaru will likely realize this and know that Sasuke won't come to him willingly. But that might mean he'll take Sasuke by force.
"Waiting for me, Ren-kun?"
A sinister, mocking voice broke the silence of the hallway.
Ren finally saw the real Orochimaru after all these years.
"Seems that way," Ren replied, his eyes narrowing.
"I must say, Ren-kun, you've really figured me out," Orochimaru chuckled.
"Who's there?" Kakashi's sharp voice called from inside the room.
In an instant, Kakashi appeared at Ren's side. His eyes widened as he recognized the figure before him.
"It's been a while, Kakashi. You've certainly grown," Orochimaru said, his tone disturbingly friendly, as if greeting an old friend.
"Orochimaru…" Kakashi said coldly, voice laced with wariness.
His mind raced with thoughts. Orochimaru had infiltrated the village, and now he was here, standing before them. At least with Ren at his side, they might have a fighting chance.
"Looks like you didn't encounter Itachi," Ren remarked.
"What a shame."
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