Sunlight streamed through the sky... The scent of flowers filled the air, and the sound of birdsong could be heard. As always, this was the essence of Konoha.
Yet, unless he had placed them there himself, there was no way for living creatures to exist here. So perhaps everything was based on the fantasies of his other-world self. Just like the Hokage Rock in the distance.
The First Hokage—Hashirama Senju.
The Second Hokage—Tobirama Senju.
The Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze.
The Fifth Hokage—Obito Uchiha.
To be precise, the Hokage Rock for the Fifth Hokage was still being carved. The scaffolding hadn't been taken down yet, and the face wasn't fully sculpted. However, the Sharingan and the wind-proof goggles had been carved first. The eyes, wearing the wind-proof goggles, stared down with the Mangekyō Sharingan, overseeing the peaceful and prosperous Konohagakure.
"Staking the honor of the Uchiha Clan, I swear here..."
"One day, I will become Hokage and carve my own goggles and Sharingan onto this very rock."
He murmured the oath from years ago, word for word, unchanged from that time. Yet, he was no longer the pure Obito Uchiha. While the world remained the same, everything else had changed—people, situations, everything.
This was the Kamui Dimension of the young Obito Uchiha. Aside from the two White Zetsu, who were foreign elements, everything else here was a replica of the Konoha he remembered from back then. The only change was the Hokage Rock.
Following his memories, he returned to his childhood home in Konoha, within the Uchiha Clan's territory—the place he had shared with his grandmother.
Standing before the desk filled with photos of Rin and Team 7, he couldn't help but laugh at his own foolishness.
"What kind of Hokage would live in this tiny room, barely ten square meters? Like a child."
Such shallow thinking. Did he really think that becoming Hokage meant he could just sleep in his office?
How utterly foolish. Foolish to the point of being enviable.
Outside Konoha, at the Hatake residence, the Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage, found himself unsure of where to return. This world had two Minato Namikaze.
One was the Minato Namikaze from the Kannabi Bridge parallel world, destined to return to his own world sooner or later. The other was the Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze from this world, who, once his mission was over, would return to the Pure Land.
Having just finished a conversation with several Hokage, both Minatos knew the other had something to say. However, speaking in the hallway didn't feel right, so they headed to the rooftop to continue their discussion.
Minato Namikaze shared everything with the Fourth Hokage—without holding anything back—about his time with Naruto and the information he had gathered through Shadow Clones regarding Naruto's situation in Konoha.
"It's a shame we'll both have to leave someday."
"Naruto isn't as strong as he seems, but he's not as fragile as you might think either. He has Sasuke, Kakashi, and Iruka by his side." Minato Namikaze smiled. "In the not-too-distant future, he'll truly master the Rasengan, become the Seventh Hokage, and rise as a great hero in the ninja world."
Unsurprisingly, the Fourth Hokage froze upon hearing this.
"What? Don't you believe it?"
"No... it's just... hearing all this suddenly…"
The Fourth Hokage stood frozen for a long moment before continuing.
"Some of it is hard to believe, but mostly I'm so happy I don't know what to do with myself."
Believe in him. Trust him from the moment he was born.
But believing is one thing; knowing the future is another.
Earlier, he'd heard that within the known future, Konoha had already reached the era of the Seventh Hokage. Yet he'd never imagined that the Seventh Hokage would be Naruto—that he'd lead the future Allied Shinobi Forces to defeat formidable foes and even befriend the Tailed Beasts.
"For now, you should spend time with him. Tell Kushina about this when you return." Minato Namikaze smiled understandingly. "Though I have a feeling you won't be returning to the Pure Land anytime soon."
"Mm."
Minato, who had hoped to spend quality time with his son, found his wish unfulfilled.
Because the next morning, before news of the Chūnin Exams' continuation arrived, Team Minato and Team Kakashi time traveled once more.
Gazing at the empty Kakashi residence, the Fourth Hokage forced himself to remain calm. He knew they had been transported to another parallel world, yet he could do nothing but wait.
Minato from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline had also noticed this. He now stood on the eaves of the spectator stands at the Chūnin Exams arena, accompanied by Obito, Young Kakashi, and Rin.
"Is that Sasuke down there on the field?"
Though the distance was considerable, it posed no challenge to a ninja's eyesight.
"Wait," Young Kakashi sniffed, "Something's off."
No sooner had he spoken than they witnessed a spectator collapse in the opposite stands.
"It's identical to what we experienced! Kabuto Yakushi's genjutsu!"
Obito activated his Sharingan, his vision sharpening.
"That Kazekage is off!" he declared. "The Kazekage never wears a mask. At least, when the Fourth Kazekage sat beside the Third Hokage, he wasn't masked."
Minato Namikaze stated, "Had we not appeared, the mission scrolls would never have existed, nor would the Fifth Kazekage have time traveled to the exam era. The Fourth Kazekage might have fallen victim to Orochimaru and Kimimaro."
Rin: "So that wasn't the Kazekage sitting there—it was Orochimaru?!"
"Almost certainly."
"Should we strike now, Minato-sensei?" asked the young Kakashi.
Minato pondered for a few seconds. "Hold on. Let's see what happens next."
No sooner had he spoken than an explosion erupted from the Hokage and Kazekage seats!
Immediately, hidden ANBU members flashed into view one after another!
As the explosion's smoke cleared, Sunagakure ninja appeared! Otogakure ninja poured in through several exits of the arena!
Minato: "Sunagakure ninja have been manipulated by Orochimaru!"
If he could deceive the Third Hokage into participating in Konoha's Chūnin Exams, it was no surprise he could also deceive Suna ninja into obeying Otogakure ninja's commands and attacking Konoha!
Next, Orochimaru took the Hokage hostage, while four peculiar Otogakure ninja disguised as ANBU joined forces to reveal themselves.
"A spider-like man with six arms?! A conjoined twin with two heads?! Plus a woman and a huge fat guy!"
"They're Orochimaru's subordinates."
Minato had assumed the Hokage's ANBU could hold them off for a while, but unexpectedly, those four Otogakure ninja weren't attacking—they were working together to activate the Four Purple Flames Formation!
Unlike their previous encounters, Orochimaru had summoned the Edo Tensei Hokages to attack Konoha right from the start. As a result, it wasn't Minato Namikaze of the Kannabi Bridge Timeline activating the Four Purple Flames Formation, but one of Orochimaru's subordinates!
…
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Beside Naruto stood Adult Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura.
The figures of Minato Namikaze, Obito, and Rin were nowhere to be seen.
"So we're splitting up again this time," Sasuke remarked casually.
Surrounded by dense forest, the trio leapt onto the treetops to survey their surroundings.
Adult Kakashi gazed at Hokage Rock, which still bore only the Fourth Hokage's portrait.
"The timing is similar to ours, and the location is outside Konohagakure."
An explosion echoed from the distance.
"That location..." Naruto exclaimed, "Is that the Chūnin Exams arena?!"
Adult Kakashi's expression grew grave as he restrained Naruto and the others, who were about to act.
"Hold your fire. It could be a diversion."
True to his prediction, moments later, a summoned giant serpent appeared in the woods beyond Konoha, not far from their position.
Sasuke: "That's a serpent from the Ryūchi Cave!"
Kakashi: "Based on the patterns of each world-jump, your counterpart in this world shouldn't have contracted the Ryūchi Cave yet. The only ones who could summon such a serpent are Orochimaru or his subordinates!"
Naruto scratched his head. "That Orochimaru guy—why does he flip-flop like that?!"
"This is the Chūnin Exam period, not the future where Orochimaru exists," Sasuke pointed out.
Adult Kakashi added, "Logically, these snakes aren't a match for Konoha. But timing it with the Chūnin Exams? That could be Orochimaru's scheme."
"In any case, let's move, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto was already getting restless.
Sasuke: "Exactly! That snake is already crawling towards Konoha!"
The ninjas on Konoha's outer walls naturally spotted those terrifying giant snakes. Despite the vast disparity in strength, they stood firm, countering with kunai and explosive tags.
Unfortunately, the explosive tags only served to enrage the beasts. Against such colossal serpents, they offered little deterrent, let alone lethal force.
The serpent's jaws snapped wide open toward the Konoha guard. Just as it seemed certain to be swallowed whole—
"Rasengan!"
A blue orb of light struck the giant serpent squarely between its eyes, roughly where a human's nasal bridge would be!
Several Konoha ninjas watched helplessly as the serpent's gaping jaws slammed shut. Before them appeared an orange figure, slightly smaller than themselves, who had saved them with some bizarre ninjutsu?!
Staring in disbelief, they realized that figure was...
"The Nine-Tails Kid?!"
"That Naruto Uzumaki?!"
"Shouldn't he be taking the Chūnin Exams like that Uchiha Clan kid?!"
Before they could process what had happened, the Rasengan's explosive force caused the struck serpent's jaws to gush blood, spraying it everywhere!
A single strike had defeated such a colossal serpent?!
Immediately after, Sasuke Uchiha's Chidori pierced the vital point of another serpent, channeling immense lightning pressure that rendered it utterly immobilized.
Sakura uprooted a tree beside her and smashed it into the giant snake's head. One blow wasn't enough—she pounded it six or seven more times, as if following a rhythmic beat. Finally, the last giant snake staggered, disoriented and confused, slowly crawling away in the opposite direction of Konoha.
"...."
The Konoha guards were utterly dumbfounded.
They stared at the silver-haired, masked ninja idly flipping through his copy of "Icha Icha Paradise."
"Looks like Kakashi's Team."
"Aren't they supposed to be taking the Chūnin Exams?"
"You think they still need to?"
If they still need to advance from Genin to Chūnin after this...
"My apologies. I'm unworthy."
Kakashi tore his gaze away from the Icha Icha Paradise, glancing toward the Otogakure ninja. A kunai flew from his hand, striking the Otogakure ninja's heart.
"Be careful, there are other enemies. Konoha is facing a serious crisis this time. Hurry and get reinforcements. Make evacuating non-combatants a priority."
He issued swift, composed orders to the Konoha ninja before him, "Go directly to the Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Sarutobi, Inuzuka, Aburame, and other major clans. Request their assistance in defending Konoha."
"Yes, sir!" replied the ninja guarding the Konoha walls.
Sakura: "Sensei, what about the Sunagakure ninja? They were deceived by Orochimaru, weren't they?"
"Prioritizing our own lives and those of our comrades is our responsibility. If they were deceived, that's on them." Kakashi's words were harsh, but in the ninja world, this was the only right choice. Hesitation would only weaken the village's core strength.
"Dismissed!"
Given the current strength of the three, Kakashi had no worries.
What they truly lacked was real combat training on the battlefield. Only by pushing beyond their limits could they truly enhance their fighting prowess.
Sasuke and Sakura blocked the Sound ninja's path, while Naruto leaped toward the Sunagakure ninja, attempting to reason with them. If words failed, then action would follow.
...
– – – –
To avoid confusion: characters referred to by full name are from the original Chūnin Exams storyline, while those referred to by first name only are the time-travelers.
Naruto Uzumaki = The one from the original Chūnin Exams storyline.
Naruto = The one with the mission scroll, constantly time-traveling.