By nightfall, the Hokage's office was packed with the village's important members, holding a meeting to discuss the events that had transpired a few hours before. Hiruzen sat at the head of it, of course, his Hokage hat placed before him, while he fiddled with his unlit pipe, signaling he was in deep thought. Jiraiya sat to his right, his arms folded, his expression far less carefree than usual. Looking at him, his eyes were tired, but deep down, there was a strong flash of pride in there.
Sakumo sat to Hiruzen's left, and he was still in his combat attire, though the dust had been cleaned from his sleeves. He was going around the most, giving surface-level answers to questions from the visiting delegations of the other, minor villages. Of everyone in the room, he had been the closest to the final clash, and thus, his words were the only ones they couldn't really question.
As for the man sitting opposite him, Fugaku, his face remained impassive, but Sakumo wouldn't be surprised if his Sharingan came online at any moment. He was curious... how much of Renjiro's strength did he know of? How much of that had his hand in it... Or was this just a surprise for him, too? Abandoning the questions, swirling in his mind, Sakumo's eyes moved to someone who looked just as impassive as Fugaku.
Danzō... He sat near the far side, one hand resting on his cane, the one visible eye half-lidded as always. The village elders, Homura and Koharu, were beside him, which he didn't like, but had nothing to say about. As for the rest of the people around the long table, they were the several clan representatives who had been invited. Hiroshi Hyūga, the twins' father, sat maybe the most stiffly, his displeasure just barely hidden behind his rigid etiquette. As for the Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Aburame, and Inuzuka clan heads, they were present as well, a bit anxious but not angry, along with a few senior jōnin and ANBU commanders.
The last man there, and the one Sakumo paid the most attention to, was Orochimaru, leaning lightly on the table, watching the Hokage with a soft smile.
"You have all seen the reports," Hiruzen suddenly said. "Most of you witnessed the final match directly. Please... Speak freely."
Nobody did so immediately, and they just kept exchanging glances. In the end, it was Sakumo who placed a hand on the table, pulling attention toward himself without needing to raise his voice.
"They are Chūnin," he said. "That part is beyond question. Both the Namikaze and Uchiha boy had demonstrated ample tactical judgment, restraint, adaptability. And... Combat ability far exceeding the expected standard. If the question is whether they passed, the answer is yes."
"That is not the question," Danzō said in a slightly argumentative voice.
"No," Sakumo agreed. "It is not."
"We all know that," Hiruzen looked at Danzō warningly, then at Sakumo. "Please answer the real one."
"Yes..." Sakumo exhaled through his nose, throwing a challenging look towards Danzō, "In raw combat capability, both are already beyond ordinary Chūnin. In short engagements, I would rate them as Jōnin-level threats."
"Did I hear you right?" Fugaku's eyes did not leave Sakumo while speaking. "Threats?"
"Yes," Sakumo met his gaze evenly. "They are still children, wielding power they most likely do not understand. Until they do, they are threats."
"Hmph!" Jiraiya gave a short, humorless laugh. "That's one way to put it."
"But he is right," Orochimaru's smile deepened slightly, countering him. "An accurate description."
"Stop, you two," Hiruzen's fingers tapped once against his hat, feeling his old disciples were about to argue. "Please, continue."
"I did not mean it as an insult," Sakumo folded his hands, talking to Fugaku. "The boys' space-time and chakra control are extraordinary. But they do not yet possess the experience of a Jōnin, nor the mission maturity, but the foundation is there. The two boys' use of Hiraishin no Jutsu was... Different than the Second's records. That alone is…" He paused, choosing the word carefully. "Historic. Since his death, nobody managed to learn it or use it, at least, not being able to use it alone, by themselves."
Several eyes shifted toward Jiraiya while he was speaking, and he did not flinch.
"I didn't hand it to them without permission," Jiraiya said plainly. "Before anyone says something stupid, that did not happen, and Sensei knows it too. The boys were allowed to study the sealed materials under the Hokage's permission. Minato had already reconstructed part of the theory before that, so reading Tobirama-sama's notes gave him the missing structure to recreate the jutsu in the way you all had seen him demonstrate."
"And the Uchiha?" Koharu asked, as clearly, Jiraiya's explanation was mostly for the two old bastards.
"Well," Jiraiya's lips pressed together.
"Uchiha," Hiruzen answered instead, "Renjiro read the same material."
"You let an..." Danzō's visible eye narrowed, but he didn't say more, maybe because Fugaku had turned his head directly towards him. "And now he can use it."
"Not in the same way," Sakumo said before anyone else could. "From their talks and from what I saw, he cannot place marks with the Namikaze's consistency. That was clear from the match alone. He couldn't put the marks down, but he is able to sense and use the marks already present."
"That is hardly reassuring," Homura muttered.
"Really...?" Fugaku's voice cut in, calm but only on the surface. "It is also not a crime."
Of course, nobody answered him immediately, but then Orochimaru's gaze moved to Fugaku, highly amused.
"No one suggested it was."
"You were thinking further than that," Fugaku replied, "I can see beyond what is said; I'm not a child."
"Me?" Orochimaru's smile did not change. "Was I speaking?"
"You are working with them... So, I would say... yes."
The air between them became tense at once, while Jiraiya's eyes flicked from one to the other, and Hiruzen's fingers stopped tapping.
"Enough," the Hokage said in a commanding tone as Hiruzen turned his attention back to Sakumo. "Give us Renjiro's combat assessment."
"He is..." Sakumo's expression grew more complicated. "Unorthodox. He is also very aggressive and highly adaptive. His Fire Release control is abnormal, like the defensive mantle he used against the Aburame boy and then again against Hiashi Hyūga, which is not a standard clan technique. Meaning, he came up with it and can utilize his chakra to the point where he can give form to his creations. Then... there is the compressed fire sphere he used in the final."
"Super Nova," Jiraiya said quietly as several eyes turned toward him. "That is what he calls it," he continued. "A Fire Release technique derived from the Rasengan principle. He had already fused his nature into it, which Minato couldn't do yet. I don't think Renjiro realizes what he did, because he just did it naturally."
"Wait," The Nara representative, Shikudo, Shikaku's father, leaned forward slightly, "Derived from a technique that is itself unfinished?"
"Apparently so," Jiraiya said dryly, knowing that most people here thought about the Rasengan as a useless, unfinished jutsu. Even after they just saw it work.
"Hmmm..." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed, licking his lips. "Fascinating."
Fugaku's gaze cut to him again, one of his eyes suddenly twitching, but they did not turn on.
"Hm?" Orochimaru lifted one hand in a mild gesture. "I am speaking as a researcher, nothing more."
"That is rarely comforting," Jiraiya said with a shrug, and for once, Orochimaru's smile was genuine.
"No," he said softly. "I suppose not."
Listening to them all, Hiruzen closed his eyes for a moment, finally lighting up his pipe and taking a long puff from it.
"They are to be promoted," he said, blowing the smoke out his nose. "Both of them. The announcement will state that Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Renjiro have passed the Chūnin Exams with exceptional distinction. Their final match will be officially recorded, though details regarding Hiraishin no Jutsu will be classified."
"Classified?" Homura repeated. "Half the village saw them vanish."
"They saw movement they did not understand," Hiruzen replied. "The shinobi present may suspect things; some may know, but suspicion and official confirmation are not the same. Sakumo has already begun spreading it was a modified Body Flicker technique."
"At least that is something I can agree with." Danzō nodded faintly.
"Only Chūnins?" Orochimaru asked, surprising Jiraiya for a moment.
"Naturally." Sakumo answered, "Promotion to Jōnin is not advisable yet. At all."
"No one suggested announcing that," Hiruzen said, throwing a look at Orochimaru.
"And as the head instructor in the exams, I would shoot it down, even if it comes from the Hokage," Sakumo replied evenly, "Because they are not Jōnin. Not yet. Their combat ability may reach that threshold in controlled conditions, such as a tournament, but their experience does not. They have not led missions; they have not commanded others under the threat of death. More than that, they have not failed in the field and been forced to flee and recover. They do not yet understand the full weight of the rank."
"..." Jiraiya's jaw tightened a little, but even then, he nodded. "Agreed."
"..." Fugaku's expression did not change, but his voice carried a quiet understanding and agreement, too, when he spoke up. "Then how do you intend to use them?"
"As Chūnin publicly," Hiruzen answered, instead of Sakumo. "As strategic assets internally." The room stilled at those words, waiting for him to explain. "They will not be placed on ordinary courier work or wasteful missions meant only to fill quotas. They will receive missions suited to their abilities, but under heavy senior oversight. Jiraiya will remain their commanding Jōnin for now."
"That alone will not do," Danzō's cane tapped once, echoing loudly, "Jiraiya is not always available."
"I am aware," Hiruzen said, glaring at him.
"Then alternatives should be considered."
"Really...?" Jiraiya's eyes narrowed considerably. "Say what you mean."
"I suggest that we place them into," Danzō looked at him without concern. "the ANBU."
Fugaku's gaze sharpened instantly, and there was a flash of red in his eyes, but it was gone very quickly. Jiraiya straightened, too, while Orochimaru let his eyes drift from person to person, reading everyone's reactions with a growing smile.
"Not an unreasonable suggestion," Orochimaru said smoothly. "A controlled environment, pretty much... With high-quality missions. Discipline would be learned there, what they lack as per Hatake-san's explanation. It would give them exposure to real work under the best leadership possible. Either boy would grow rapidly there."
"Either boy?" Fugaku asked coldly.
"Yes," Orochimaru's smile remained polite. "The Namikaze's talent is obvious, but Renjiro's eyes and Fire Release make him especially suited to specialized operations."
"No." The word came from Fugaku before Hiruzen could speak.
"I understand, but," Orochimaru tilted his head, "Clan Head Fugaku—"
"No," Fugaku repeated, his voice still level, but this time his Sharingan directly looked into Orochimaru's own eyes. "Renjiro Uchiha will not be placed under ANBU command for the convenience of those who wish to study him... Or his eyes."
The room went quiet very quickly, but Orochimaru didn't panic, though his lips and smile thinned considerably.
"That is an uncharitable interpretation."
"I," Jiraiya interjected, "For once, agree with Fugaku. Neither of them is going into the ANBU right now."
"Why?" Danzō's eye narrowed, if that could even be possible. "Sentiment?"
"Experience," Jiraiya shot back. "They are powerful, but they are not ready, as you already heard. Throwing them into masks and assassination work the moment they show talent is how you break kids and call it service."
"That is a naïve view of war."
"There is no war!" Jiraiya shot back at once while Danzō's grip on his cane tightened, and was about to say 'yet' when Hiruzen raised his hand.
"They will not be assigned to ANBU," the Hokage said, and it was very much final. "Not now."
"..." Orochimaru lowered his gaze, still smiling. "As you wish, Sensei."
Fugaku slowly drew back his eyes, but neither he nor Jiraiya relaxed as Hiruzen continued.
"They will be monitored, trained, and prepared carefully. Their abilities are to be documented under restricted classification. Hiraishin no Jutsu is not to be discussed outside this room without my approval. As for Renjiro's compressed Fire Release, it is likewise to be treated carefully, but it will fall under Fugaku's hands and decisions. I do not want foreign villages understanding what they saw today."
"They already understand enough," Sakumo said with a long sigh.
"But not all," Hiruzen answered. "However, we must assume the consequences have already begun to show."
...
....
...
Far from Konohagakure, in a chamber where no sunlight could reach, water dripped slowly from a cracked stone ceiling into a black pool below. The room was not on any official map, no matter where one tried to look for it. Its walls were covered with old seals, most of them not of Konoha or Uzumaki design, and the air carried the metallic scent of blood, coming from the black pool. Three stone pillars stood around it, each carved with a different symbol, one for each that represented three faraway places. One had a Cloud, another had a Mist, while the last one wore the mark of the Stone.
Suddenly, one by one, different chakras stirred within them, and the first projection flickered into being, a figure appearing above the reflective pool. It was a massive man with a hard jaw, very broad shoulders, and eyes that were flickering with lightning... He was the Third Raikage, the ruler of Kumogakure.
Soon, the second projection formed in reaction to his, albeit a bit more slowly. Mist was gathering around before condensing into the shape of a tall, robed figure whose features remained partly obscured by the haze. His presence was colder, but no less dangerous, as he was the Third Mizukage, the leader of Kirigakure.
For a few moments, the two projections simply regarded one another, then the Raikage spoke first.
"Konoha's display... Has it been confirmed? Did your people report back, too?"
"Mhm," The Mizukage's mist-like silhouette shifted slightly. "Multiple sources agreed on the validity of the news. According to their count, there were two children. One Uchiha, and one without clan affiliation."
"Is it true?" The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "Hiraishin has reappeared?"
"So it is believed."
"...!" The Raikage's hand curled into a fist. "Tobirama Senju's technique... in the hands of children."
"Not only that," the Mizukage added. "The Uchiha used a technique strong enough to challenge the arena's reinforcement seals. Isn't this something that lines up with what we know about your failed kidnapping incident?"
"I don't know what you are talking about," The Raikage said firmly, "And reports often exaggerate. We only have secondary information as our agents were unable to reach Konoha personally."
"Naturally." The Mizukage nodded, and the Raikage said nothing after that, but the Mizukage continued, his voice smooth and quiet. "Konoha intended to impress the smaller villages. Well... They succeeded. Too well, in my opinion. We could turn it into fear and use them against Konoha."
"And the kids must die before they become proper weapons."
Just as he said it, the pool rippled, and a third chakra signature entered the seal's formation. The projection that appeared was shorter than the Raikage's, older too, and too large-nosed. It was Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure.
"You speak as if Konoha will conveniently offer them to you," Ōnoki began, his voice dry and rough. "The old monkey is sentimental, not stupid; you won't be able to put your hands on their throats that easily."
"Stop lecturing us," The Raikage's gaze cut toward him. "You are late."
"I'm old, and my back hurts. Haaah... I expected Konoha to continue producing anomalies while the rest of us argued about how to proceed..." Ōnoki's eyes hardened. "That village is most dangerous when it is allowed to breathe, and we let it breathe too much. This news is the proof of it."
"Mhm..." The Mizukage's voice lowered a notch. "Then we agree. Their growth must be stopped and whittled back down."
"Stopped?" the Raikage said. "We have to kill them."
"In time," Ōnoki answered. "But not by charging blindly at Konoha's gates. The boys are not the first concern, anyway."
"..." The Raikage's projection crackled faintly with chakra, but then he calmed down. "Explain."
"We have... an issue." Ōnoki looked from one projection to the other. "Konoha is not isolated, not as much as we wanted them to be. Its greatest external support remains Uzushiogakure. As long as the Uzumaki stand with them, Konoha's sealing support, maritime routes, and eastern defensive network remain difficult to break. If we can't threaten them from multiple directions, they can focus their forces at one point, and make it hard to be cracked."
"I thought we were ready to eliminate them." The Raikage spoke with annoyance.
"Well," The Mizukage's haze grew denser, "My spies report movement in Uzushiogakure."
"Yes, that is the issue I was about to bring up." Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. "What kind of movements did you find?"
"Unclear." He shook his head. "Changes along the coast. Some of my people believe they are preparing new defenses, but they cannot say against what."
"That can't be..." The Raikage's expression darkened. "They know?"
"Perhaps," the Mizukage said. "Perhaps they only suspect our plans or Konoha warned them to be vigilant."
"This is why I called this meeting, and not because of two kids," Ōnoki clicked his tongue. "We have less time than expected. We have to wipe them out before they realize we are preparing an attack."
"Our side is ready," The Mizukage inclined his shadowed head. "Kirigakure can move through the sea routes, but not alone. The whirlpools and sealing barriers remain troublesome, so if you want us to be the proper diversion, you both must support us in it. We can draw their attention... and when they are looking at us, you both can start."
"We are almost ready." Ōnoki said, "Our technique is in the final testing phases, and soon, the claybirds I showed you will be able to bring our unified troops in, right over their heads."
"Then..." The Raikage said, inhaling sharply, "All of us should prepare for war."