Kazekage and Hokage
Although the Hidden Sand (Sunagakure) and Hidden Leaf (Konohagakure) are allies in name, the reality is that Konoha exerts significant influence over Suna, restricting its autonomy in many ways.
Without the ability to declare war independently, even the Wind Daimyō, the political leader of the Land of Wind, has aligned himself with Konoha, gradually reducing Sunagakure's budget and forcing it into economic hardship.
In recent years, if not for the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and his unique ability to generate wealth using Gold Dust techniques, Sunagakure might have already fallen into obscurity, unable to compete with the other major villages.
After enduring years of financial strain, the Fourth Kazekage made a desperate decision—he joined forces with Orochimaru, the leader of the Hidden Sound (Otogakure), under the pretense of participating in the Chūnin Exams. Their goal was to execute the "Konoha Crush" plan, aiming to break free from Konoha's control once and for all.
As these thoughts lingered in Temari's mind, she glanced at Naruto and his team from a distance, secretly troubled by her father's risky plan.
Meanwhile, Uzushio Village, a newly revived hidden village, remained deeply connected to Konoha. Its leader was rumored to possess strength rivaling the Five Kage, making even Kirigakure and Kumogakure wary.
Now, with so many Genin from Uzushio displaying Jōnin-level strength, Temari couldn't help but wonder—would this unexpected factor disrupt her father's plan?
Even she and Kankurō had no clear answer, so they could only wait until the Chūnin Exam concluded and report their observations to Baki-sensei and their father.
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The Aftermath of the Sand's Withdrawal
Once the Sand team retreated, Team 3, consisting of Naruto, Neji, and their teammates, approached.
Neji's gaze briefly fell on Hinata, who stood close to Naruto, her demeanor far more assertive than before. A strange expression crossed Neji's face—he found it difficult to look directly at her.
Ever since Hinata defied the Hyūga Elders to protect Hanabi, and after the shocking revelation that she had overturned the clan's rigid structure—forcing even the main family to bear the Caged Bird Seal—Neji knew that the timid Hinata he once knew no longer existed.
In her place stood the next clan head, seemingly gentle on the surface but with an unshakable will.
What surprised him even more was the Hyūga patriarchs' lack of opposition to her radical decisions. They did not reprimand her boldness, nor did they insist on making Hanabi part of the branch family. Instead, they silently accepted Hinata's rule.
And the boy responsible for this change—Naruto—stood beside her, wearing an innocent expression.
There was only one explanation: his strength was immeasurable, enough to make even Hinata willingly follow him.
At that moment, Lee approached Naruto, bowing deeply.
"Thank you for saving me earlier. But your taijutsu seems incredibly strong—would you be willing to spar with me?"
Naruto glanced at the energetic, thick-browed ninja dressed in green and shook his head. "My taijutsu isn't that great. But if you want a challenge, Uchiha Sasuke over there is pretty skilled."
"Sasuke is strong, but when it comes to taijutsu, he isn't my match," Lee replied confidently.
Not particularly eager to challenge Sasuke, Lee sighed regretfully. "Since you won't fight me, I'll just keep training. But I'll consider you my rival from now on!"
Naruto sighed inwardly, recalling Lee's teacher—Might Guy.
This master-student duo… No, this father-son-like pair shared the same unwavering spirit. They pursued strength without fear of ridicule and embodied the Will of Fire to its fullest. Even Danzo had never attempted to recruit them into Root.
Meanwhile, Sasuke, who had been unwittingly pulled into the conversation, felt annoyed. What do you mean my taijutsu isn't your match?
Under normal circumstances, he would have scoffed and immediately challenged Lee to a fight. However, given recent events—and a lingering numbness in his face—he chose to hold back his usual arrogance.
As time passed, various teams engaged in skirmishes while guarding their positions. Those who failed suffered crushing defeats, missing their chance to advance.
However, winning every battle wasn't necessary to be promoted to Chūnin. The third stage of the Chūnin Exam was primarily a showcase for dignitaries and village leaders, allowing them to evaluate promising shinobi.
In truth, many promotions were decided based on performance in the second round. If every candidate had to fight through all the stages, the number of Chūnin would be far lower.
Eventually, Sakura and Sai arrived at the central tower, reuniting with Sasuke. Shortly after, Team 10 (Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji) also reached their destination, having secured both the Heaven and Earth scrolls.
After a brief exchange, the group stepped into the tower, officially advancing to the third round.
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The Kage's Observations
Meanwhile, in the surveillance room, Jiraiya and the Fourth Kazekage monitored the second round of the Chūnin Exams.
For village leaders, these exams weren't just about promotions—they were an opportunity to assess their own village's strength and observe potential future threats.
Watching the brief encounter between Suna's team and Team 3, Rasa sighed.
"A shame they didn't fight. I would have liked to see the strength difference between Sunagakure's candidates and Konoha's Genin," he remarked.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Neji and his team wouldn't stand a chance against your son and daughter. But while individual strength is important, numbers matter too. Konoha's young shinobi need experience."
The Fourth Kazekage remained silent. As Hinata, Sasuke, and others intercepted their competition, he smiled.
"Hokage-sama makes a fair point—quantity can sometimes outweigh quality. But tell me, why is Uzushio Village's team mingling with Konoha's shinobi?"
His tone darkened slightly. "Could the rumors be true? That Uzushio is just a faction split from Konoha?"
At this, Jiraiya's expression stiffened slightly. "Uzushio and Konoha have historical ties, but they are separate villages now. As for their new generation's strength… we'll have to wait for the third round's one-on-one matches to find out."
Rasa nodded. "Fair enough. I'll just wait and see."
Just then, a squad of Anbu entered the room, their arrival drawing Jiraiya's attention. He gave them a subtle glance before excusing himself with a smile.
"A minor issue has come up in the village. I'll step away for a moment."
Rasa smirked. "Hokage-sama, replacing the Third Hokage must not have been easy. But surely such a small issue isn't beyond your abilities?"
Jiraiya chuckled, but a flicker of unease passed through him. Now was not the time to antagonize the Kazekage.
Leaving the surveillance room, he entered a hidden chamber, where the Anbu removed their masks.
"Fifth Hokage-sama," one of them reported urgently, "the surveillance system in the Forest of Death has been compromised. Mitarashi Anko went to investigate and hasn't returned. She's been missing for hours."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "Understood. Keep this information contained. I suspect the culprit is still among the examinees."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Taking a deep breath, Jiraiya returned to Rasa, forcing a relaxed smile.
"Everything's fine," he said.
Rasa chuckled. "Good. Let's continue watching the exam."
Jiraiya said nothing, but in the back of his mind, he was already considering the worst possibilities.
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