SHINOBI EXAM

The Chūnin Exam had barely concluded when chaos erupted. Naruto, holding his head, wailed dramatically.

"Another exam?!" he shrieked, his face contorted in horror. "If I take it again, I'll definitely fail!"

Before he could spiral further, Sakura delivered a well-aimed punch to his head.

"Shut up, Naruto!" she snapped.

"Yes, Sakura-chan…" Naruto whimpered, rubbing the bump forming on his head.

Third Hokage cleared his throat, his gaze stern as he addressed the assembled ninja. "Due to unforeseen events, this Chūnin Exam has gone far beyond what any of us anticipated. These developments have also extended beyond Konoha's control..." He paused.

"So what does that mean?" a curious voice piped up.

The Third continued, "For those who wish to risk their lives and proceed to the next round of the Chūnin Exam, you'll be required to sign a waiver of life and death. Only then will you move forward."

Naruto's expression shifted dramatically. "As expected of Grandpa Hokage!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up. "That's the best news I've heard all day!"

Tobirama, Hiruzen, and the two council elders began to leave the scene under Anbu escort. The other participating ninja from the different villages were also ushered back to their quarters, though some went reluctantly.

Gaara, for one, was not eager to retreat, but under Baki's persuasion—and the pleading looks of his teammates—he finally complied. Before leaving, Gaara glanced intently at Naruto, though the latter was too preoccupied with his triumph to notice.

Sakura, ever the realist, asked, "What exactly is the next phase of the exam?"

The supervising Jōnin waved dismissively. "You'll be informed when the time comes. For now, everyone is dismissed!"

With the crowd dispersing, Naruto bounced on his heels. "Kakashi-sensei!" he suddenly shouted. "How's Kakashi-sensei doing?!"

"Yeah!" Sakura echoed. "What about Kakashi-sensei?"

Tenzo, hiding in the shadows, mentally sighed. They only remember now? Poor Kakashi-senpai…

An Anbu operative stepped forward, his mask glinting in the moonlight. "Your guide Jōnin has merely overexerted himself. He's currently recovering in the dormitory. You may visit him if you wish."

"Ah, the masked guy who took Kakashi-sensei away!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Idiot," Sasuke muttered, rolling his eyes. "He's Anbu. How clueless can you be?"

Naruto immediately shot back, "You're the clueless one, b*****d Sasuke!"

---

Meanwhile, at the Senju estate, the Third Hokage and two council elders knelt respectfully on tatami mats before Tobirama.

"Now," Tobirama began, his voice sharp, "tell me everything about Uchiha's downfall."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed heavily, the weight of the question pulling at his features. "As expected, you already know…"

Tobirama frowned. "I recall that relations between Konoha and the Uchiha clan were improving after Madara's departure. What went wrong?"

Hiruzen's gaze dropped to the floor, avoiding Tobirama's piercing eyes.

"You once had a student named Kagami Uchiha," Tobirama continued, his tone softening. "He had the potential to bridge the gap between Uchiha and the village. Did he…?"

"He died in the line of duty," Hiruzen admitted quietly.

Utatane Koharu chimed in, her voice tinged with regret. "It was a mission during the First Ninja War. Kagami, Danzo, and two other Uchiha members were involved. Only Danzo survived, and he claimed Kagami sacrificed himself to save him."

Tobirama sighed, his expression hardening again. "I'll deal with Danzo later. For now, tell me what's transpired since my death. I'll review the archives tomorrow for additional details."

His suspicions, fueled by his brief resurrection and knowledge of future events, cast a shadow over his thoughts. The manipulation of history by entities like Black Zetsu made even straightforward events seem suspect.

---

Elsewhere in Konoha, Nara Shikamaru and his father, Shikaku, strolled home under the evening sky.

"Dad, are you seriously not allowed to tell me anything about Jinchūriki and tailed beasts?" Shikamaru asked lazily, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

Shikaku paused, his sharp eyes scanning his son. "Shikamaru, those topics are classified for Jōnin and above. Even if you become a Chūnin, there's no guarantee you'll have access to that information."

Shikamaru smirked knowingly. "Come on, Dad. Let's make a deal."

"A deal?" Shikaku raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"If I pass this exam and become a Chūnin," Shikamaru said, his tone confident, "you'll tell me everything about Jinchūriki and the tailed beasts."

Shikaku chuckled softly. "You've got nerve, kid. Why should I agree?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "It's not like the information is exclusively for Jōnin. If it were, the Second Hokage wouldn't have openly mentioned the nine tailed beasts and their Jinchūriki. And the Third wouldn't have let us overhear so easily."

He continued, "Gaara from Sand Village is clearly one of them. Naruto, too, right? That explains why he's treated so poorly. He's lucky he hasn't ended up like Gaara… yet."

Shikaku sighed, recognizing his son's sharp deduction skills. "Fine. If you pass and become a Chūnin, I'll share what I know."

"Good." Shikamaru smiled faintly.

"But," Shikaku added, a sly grin forming, "there's one more condition."

Shikamaru groaned. "Troublesome… What is it?"

Shikaku, ever the henpecked husband, smirked. "When we get home, you're explaining to your mother why we're late. And you're making sure she lets us eat dinner without scolding me."

Shikamaru sighed deeply, staring at the sky. Why is life so troublesome?

---

And so, under the quiet evening sky of Konoha, the wheels of destiny continued to turn, shaping the futures of ninja and villages alike.

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