"Ah, how nice!"
On the bustling main street of Konoha, a white-haired old man carrying a travel pack strolled leisurely, marveling at the village.
"The village has changed quite a bit, hasn't it?"
He wandered along, occasionally looking around with a curious gaze. When his eyes fell upon the Hokage Rock at the street's end, he paused momentarily.
"Well then, even though it's my hometown, I've got to gather some… inspiration!"
Stretching his arms with a satisfied sigh, he chuckled to himself.
"Jiraiya-sama?"
A gentle voice called out from behind, freezing the old man in his tracks.
"How'd they recognize me so fast?" he muttered under his breath, scratching his head and refusing to turn around.
"Oh, what a charming inn that looks to be!"
Feigning ignorance, he attempted to make a quick escape.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
The voice grew sterner, forcing Jiraiya to sigh and reluctantly turn around.
"Ah, it's you, Mikoto! What a coincidence!" he said, his surprise overly exaggerated as he plastered a sheepish grin across his face.
"I called you several times," Mikoto said with a knowing smile.
"Did you now? I must be getting old and hard of hearing," Jiraiya laughed awkwardly, recognizing the woman before him as none other than Uchiha Mikoto, wife of the clan leader and a close friend of Kushina.
"I didn't expect to see you back. The Hokage will surely be pleased to hear of your return," Mikoto said warmly.
"Ahem, let's not make a big deal of it. I'm just passing through," Jiraiya replied, clearing his throat.
"Though I must say, the village looks a bit different now."
Mikoto nodded. "Yes, after the incident with the Hidden Mist years ago, much of it was rebuilt."
"Are you here on business, then?"
"Not at all," Jiraiya said casually.
"Like I said, just passing through. I'm gathering material for my next novel, you see."
Mikoto's smile faltered slightly. She had heard enough from Kushina about what kind of "material" Jiraiya usually gathered.
"Are you planning to visit the boy?" she asked, changing the subject.
Jiraiya's expression shifted. "You mean…?"
"Kushina's son, Naruto," Mikoto said.
A faint nostalgia touched Jiraiya's face.
"Come to think of it, he must be quite grown up by now."
"He's a ninja now, in the same squad as my son. Kakashi is leading them. They're currently participating in the Chunin Exams."
"I see," Jiraiya said with a soft chuckle.
"Well, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be off."
With that, Jiraiya turned on his heel, waving dismissively as he walked away without waiting for Mikoto's reply.
As he moved through the village, his eyes fell once more on the Hokage Rock in the distance.
Kakashi, and the Uchiha… Sensei, what were you thinking?
His thoughts wandered as he noticed several houses with red-and-white Uchiha fans painted prominently on their walls. Stopping a passerby, Jiraiya asked, "Excuse me, whose houses are these?"
He pointed to the buildings adorned with the iconic clan symbol.
"Ah, those belong to the Uchiha—this one here is Uchiha Hidehiko's home," the villager replied.
"The Uchiha? Shouldn't they all be living in their compound?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.
The villager gave him an odd look. "You must not be from around here. The Uchiha moved out of their compound years ago. Only a few people still live there."
As the villager walked off, Jiraiya remained rooted in place, deep in thought.
The village hasn't just changed physically… The Uchiha's presence has shifted too. Are they aiming to consolidate all power under themselves?
...
Central Tower, Forest of Death
"Power to the Akimichi!"
The arena was in shambles, the ground cracked and broken where Chōji's massive form had wreaked havoc. On the ground lay his opponent, Tōsu, unconscious.
"That level of destruction is incredible," Kurenai remarked, awestruck.
The Akimichi clan had always been known for their battlefield prowess, capable of large-scale damage.
"Way to go, Chōji!" Ino cheered from the railing, her voice full of excitement.
"Finally, the exams are over," Kurenai said, relaxing slightly.
This year's participants had displayed remarkable abilities. Even Naruto, who initially seemed like the weakest link, had demonstrated an inspiring willpower that made Kiba's loss seem less embarrassing.
As for standouts, there were clear names: Hyūga Neji, Uchiha Sasuke, and Gaara.
Rock Lee was another contender, though his unfortunate elimination left him out of the running.
"This year's Chunin Exams have certainly been of a higher caliber than usual," Kurenai commented to Ren.
"There are indeed many talented individuals," Ren agreed, his tone steady.
Hyūga Neji and Uchiha Sasuke, in particular, had unparalleled potential. In wartime, if they survived, they'd undoubtedly shine brightly. Even in peacetime, their growth would make them exceptional shinobi.
"Ren-sensei! Barbecue!"
Chōji waved enthusiastically, his chubby face lighting up with a wide grin as he made a "peace" sign with his fingers.
Ren allowed himself a small smile.
"You seem pleased," Kurenai noted, raising an eyebrow.
"Do I?" Ren quickly schooled his expression into neutrality.
"Don't deny it—I heard you laugh," she teased.
"You're mistaken," Ren replied flatly.
As the exams concluded and the final matches wrapped up, the Third Hokage addressed the remaining candidates, explaining the rules for the final stage and having them draw lots for match pairings.
With that, the second stage of the Chunin Exams officially ended.
"Ren-sensei! Barbecue, barbecue!"
Chōji and Shikamaru returned to Ren, with Chōji's eyes practically sparkling.
"Fine. Let's go for barbecue," Ren agreed.
Turning to Kurenai, he asked, "Want to join us?"
She shook her head with a smile. "No, I need to check on Hinata and Kiba. Maybe next time—with all the students."
Ren nodded and led his students away.
"Ren-sensei, you and Kurenai-sensei seem pretty close," Ino remarked, her tone curious.
"Yes," Ren replied simply.
"Huh?" Ino blinked, taken aback by his straightforwardness.
"You didn't know?" Shikamaru chimed in.
"Know what?"
"Kurenai-sensei and Ren-sensei are dating. Kiba mentioned it before," Shikamaru said nonchalantly.
Ino froze mid-step. Dating?
Her gaze fell on Ren's back, her thoughts swirling.
"Ino, hurry up! Don't you want barbecue?" Chōji called, snapping her out of her daze.
"R-right!" Ino replied, rushing to catch up.
As they walked, she stole glances at Ren.
Well, of course, he'd have a girlfriend… Ren-sensei is amazing, after all. And Kurenai-sensei is so beautiful.
What am I even thinking? He's my teacher—it's not like…
Shaking her head, she scolded herself inwardly.
"Ren-sensei, is Kurenai-sensei planning to invite us over to your place?" Ino asked, forcing a cheerful tone.
"If you want, you can come tonight," Ren offered.
"Uh… maybe another time. Hinata's probably staying in the hospital for now," Ino replied.
"Fair enough," Ren said.
"Barbecue! Barbecue!" Chōji chanted excitedly.
"Stop thinking about food all the time, you idiot!" Ino snapped, giving him a playful smack on the head.
Chōji rubbed his head, pouting.
"…Sorry, Chōji," Ino muttered, looking away awkwardly.
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