Early the next morning,
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Yuki Seisui stirred from his sleep. Most of the days in his life began with someone waking him up.
Rubbing his eyes, he sat up in bed and yawned loudly. "I'm coming!"
"Take it easy with the knocking!"
"You'll break the door down at this rate!"
Still grumbling, Yuki Seisui shuffled to the door and opened it.
Standing there was Uchiha Haru, katana in hand. "Today's the final round of the Chunin Exams! If we don't hurry, we'll be late!"
Yuki turned to glance at the clock on his desk.
"Six o'clock…"
He yawned again. "The exam starts at nine. Isn't this a bit early?"
Without waiting for a reply, he pulled Uchiha Haru inside and shut the door behind them.
Haru blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned. Then her face flushed crimson.
"Just the two of us… Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Yuki threw on his clothes nonchalantly. "What's wrong with that?"
"Minato isn't even here yet," he added, stretching lazily.
"He's usually the first one here. Strange that he's not today."
"Maybe something came up?" Haru suggested, her voice tentative. "Are you… disappointed he didn't come?"
"Not really," Yuki replied, yawning again. "He's been my human alarm clock for years. I'm just not used to waking up without him, that's all."
He and Minato had known each other since they were three. Ever since then, Minato had come by every morning without fail to wake him.
So today, not having Minato show up? It felt off.
"He's probably off looking for Kushina," Yuki muttered. "Tch, guys really do change when they get girlfriends."
"On the day of the Chunin Exams, no less!"
If Minato wasn't here by now, it likely meant only one thing, he was with Kushina.
"Well, alarm clocks break eventually. I'll just replace him."
"I can wake you from now on," Haru said, a soft smile breaking through her normally cold expression.
Yuki smiled back. "Sure, I'd like that."
"Minato's obsolete anyway."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he turned to grab his katana, only to find Minato's face pressed against the window, staring at him.
Yuki: "..."
Minato, since when did you become this kind of person?
Though his badmouthing had clearly been heard, Yuki kept a straight face and casually sheathed his katana like nothing happened.
"Let's go," he said, turning to Haru. "Who knows where that guy Minato wandered off to."
"Let's head out first."
Haru glanced at Minato's face, still squished against the glass, hesitating for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.
As soon as Yuki opened the door, he found Nawaki squatting right outside.
"Huh?" Yuki blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to come see your match!" Nawaki looked up eagerly. "I want to see how far I still have to go!"
Yuki gave a helpless sigh but didn't object. Sure, watch away. My opponent might just surrender the moment they see me anyway.
Just then, Minato walked over, wearing an aggrieved expression.
"Seisui… Is that really what you think of me now?"
"Don't misunderstand," Yuki said, throwing an arm around Minato's shoulder. "That's what I've always thought of you."
The words stabbed deep into Minato's heart.
But before he could respond, Yuki added, "By the way, isn't Kushina with you?"
"She's not feeling well," Minato said quietly, looking down. "She didn't want to come."
Yuki nodded. Yeah, it makes sense. Her entire clan was wiped out, how could she possibly be in a good mood?
It was like being the sole survivor of an ancient bloodline purge. Of course she'd be grieving.
"Don't worry," Yuki said reassuringly. "With Granny Mito around, she'll be alright."
"Mm."
Nearby, Nawaki scratched his head. Aren't you guys supposed to be preparing for your Chunin Exams? Why are you talking about all this random stuff?
Not that anyone was going to explain it to him.
Uchiha Haru, listening to Yuki and Minato's exchange, looked slightly puzzled. She hadn't yet heard about the fall of the Uzumaki clan. She just assumed Kushina was upset about something and didn't give it much thought.
"Let's go," she said, stepping between the two boys. "The venue isn't far from the Hokage's office."
By the time they arrived, the other candidates were already there.
Yuki and his group were the last to arrive, but the moment he stepped into view, the noisy chatter around the arena abruptly fell silent.
Up on the high platforms surrounding the arena sat various wealthy civilians and merchants, all gathered to spectate the matches.
Watching the mighty ninja clash beneath them, risking life and limb, it thrilled them.
"What's going on?"
"Why'd it suddenly get so quiet?"
"Not sure. Did it start already?"
"No, look, those three just showed up. They're not ordinary."
Whispers spread across the stands as fingers pointed toward Yuki and his companions.
Clearly, their arrival had silenced the crowd.
Yuki glanced around, unfazed, then looked at his friends. "Looks like we're the main attraction today."
Though Nawaki had come with them, he'd broken off after spotting Orochimaru, following him elsewhere.
Uchiha Haru looked around the observation platforms and frowned. "Why are all these civilians even here?"
"It's a display of power," Minato explained. "Ninja live off of missions, and most missions come from them." He gestured at the stands.
"If they see Konoha's strength and we win, more missions will be directed our way."
"Exactly." Yuki nodded and clapped Minato's shoulder. "But that's only part of it."
"There's also the matter of showing Konoha's military might to certain... interested parties."
He trailed off deliberately, giving them a cryptic, knowing look.
"Missions… and what else?" Minato scratched his head, confused. "Granny Eimei says speaking in riddles gets your butt smacked."
"Some things don't need to be said aloud," Yuki said sagely, patting his shoulder. "If you get it, you get it. If not, just think it over."
What in the world are you talking about...?
"Hoho... So young, yet already so perceptive." Orochimaru, seated nearby, licked his nose with his tongue as he watched Yuki.
"He's already grasped the tension between the daimyo and the Hokage... This boy's nothing like that idiot Jiraiya's usual students."
Orochimaru made a mental note to have a chat with Yuki.
Their minds… and even their lives… were oddly similar.
Both had lost their parents to war.
Both grew up alone.
Both spent their days pondering the meaning of life.
And above all, he was clever. As clever as Orochimaru himself.
Unlike that fool Jiraiya. That part matters most.
"Teacher Orochimaru, what are you talking about?" Nawaki asked curiously beside him.
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Just that Yuki Seisui is... a clever one."
"Oh..." Nawaki nodded, then looked back toward the arena with envy. "He's younger than me, but way stronger. I wish I was down there too."
Orochimaru didn't reply.
He knew Nawaki's talent was... average, at best. A decent shinobi, but far from a genius.
What Nawaki did have, though, was a legacy no one else could touch.
First Hokage, his grandfather.
Second Hokage, his granduncle.
Third Hokage, his granduncle's student.
His grandmother? Konoha's strongest kunoichi.
And above all, he was heir to the Senju Clan, even if it had mostly faded from the village.
The Senju foundation alone put Nawaki ahead of 99.99% of the world.
Orochimaru understood Tsunade's true intent in asking him to train Nawaki: keep him alive.
And who in this world was better at surviving than Orochimaru?
Back in the arena, Yuki patted Minato's shoulder like a doting father.
"Could you not do that?" Minato frowned. "You know I'm an orphan."
Yuki blinked, then stroked his chin thoughtfully.
If Minato has no parents, then what does that make me, trying to act like his dad...?
"Enough already," Haru interrupted. She pointed toward the central platform. "The Hokage's arrived."
"The match is about to begin."
Yuki followed her gaze.
Sure enough, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other three Kage were now seated on the main viewing platform.
These past days, the other Kage had been sticking to Hiruzen like shadows.
Watching from the back, Danzo glared, discontent burning in his heart.
That should be my seat...
"Tch."
"Damn evil white-haired loli…"
Danzo muttered under his breath, staring daggers at Onoki's back.
But he knew this wasn't the time, or the place, to speak.
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