Summer. Blazing summer.
The sun scorched the earth. The weeds by the roadside were almost ready to burst into flame. The air shimmered with heat waves.
Under the shade of a large tree, Jiraiya and Naruto leaned against the trunk, panting heavily as they sought refuge from the glare.
"Still haven't got the summoning technique down?"
"I picked it up pretty fast back in my day."
Jiraiya, seemingly out of nowhere, produced an ice pop, broke it in half, and handed the other half to a drooling Naruto.
Licking the treat, Naruto's fighting spirit reignited. "I'll train hard this afternoon, I promise!"
"Hmph! You'd better! The finals are only a week away," Jiraiya said airily.
Pant, pant!
A spotted dog lay on the ground, its tongue flapping non-stop. It gave the two humans a glance, then closed its eyes and flopped down completely. Too damn hot.
Elsewhere, Kakashi wiped sweat from his brow, watching Sasuke train relentlessly. A flicker of pride warmed his eyes. The sun was merciless, beating down as if trying to set skin ablaze. Yet Sasuke remained unfazed, pushing himself harder and harder.
In stark contrast to these sweaty scenes, inside the inn housing the Rain Village genin participants…
Hanataki lay on a tatami mat, one leg crossed over the other, lazily flipping through a new manga from Konoha. Jigure fanned him gently from the side, while Baigure neatly arranged various chilled snacks on the low table, awaiting his word.
Hanataki lay on his back, the very picture of leisure, the soft rustle of turning pages the only sound in the quiet room.
Then, a figure materialized without a sound, shattering the calm.
Jigure and Baigure didn't recognize Obito, but they knew the Akatsuki cloak.
"What are you doing here?" Hanataki frowned, sitting up and waving a dismissive hand. Jigure and Baigure exchanged a glance and silently withdrew.
"There's something you need to do," Obito stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Hanataki's frown didn't ease. A cold glint of amusement flashed in his eyes. He was Akatsuki. The leader was Nagato. No one but Nagato gave him orders. Not even this dung-colored-mask-wearing swirl-face.
Obito's eyes darkened. Too hard to control, this one. My earlier decision was right. But this particular task genuinely required Hanataki's skills.
"Don't worry. This benefits the Akatsuki. No harm to us," Obito said. That was the only angle that might work.
"Go on," Hanataki said, his interest piqued by the mention of the organization's gain.
Obito noted his interest and sneered internally. So loyal. Pathetic.
He laid out the plan. "The Akatsuki lacks S-rank shinobi. Itachi Uchiha is a prime candidate. During the Chunin Exams, you just need to take Sasuke Uchiha. Itachi will come running."
Hanataki countered, "How can you be sure it'll be Itachi who follows, and not some other Konoha ninja?"
Obito's gaze turned icy. "Your performance during the Seven-Tails mission made Konoha aware of your strength. Aside from Tsukimi Heshu, no one there is your match. Therefore, the mission to rescue Sasuke Uchiha won't be accepted by anyone else. For his brother's sake, Itachi will come." Even if it killed him. Everyone in Konoha knew the depth of Itachi's devotion to Sasuke. He was the perfect leverage.
"And what if he does come? That doesn't mean he'll join us," Hanataki said flatly, curious about Obito's next move.
"We inject his brother with a toxin. Provide the antidote periodically. Simple." Obito remembered clearly that Sasori was a master poisoner. And even without poison, as long as Hanataki remained in Akatsuki, he'd be a permanent threat hanging over Sasuke's head—a walking time bomb Itachi couldn't ignore. With Sasuke's life as the bargaining chip, Obito was confident Itachi would agree.
"Tch." Hanataki shook his head, his expression full of mock admiration. Obito Uchiha, you really are a piece of work. Why do you keep picking on poor Itachi? Just as Itachi was settling into a peaceful life, Obito was about to blow it all up again. But would it really be that simple, that smooth? Who knew.
Hanataki nodded. "Fine." After all, Itachi's power would be a significant asset to the Akatsuki.
Satisfied, Obito vanished. He had full confidence in Hanataki's abilities.
Seven days passed in a blink.
The Chunin Exam finals commenced on an afternoon where the sunlight was bright but not harsh. The stands were packed, a cacophony of cheers and chatter that assaulted the eardrums.
On the central dais, the Kage exchanged polite formalities. Among the leaders of the smaller villages, Itachi moved with effortless grace, courteous and composed. He had no inkling of the plot unfolding today, no idea his bright, paved road was about to be violently torn up, forcing him onto a dark, treacherous path.
The opening match was supposed to feature Sasuke Uchiha vs. Gaara. But Sasuke, unsurprisingly, was late. Their match was postponed.
Shikamaru Nara vs. Temari.
Temari appeared on the arena floor, her giant fan strapped to her back. Opposite her stood a yawning, lazy-looking Shikamaru Nara.
Ah, man… This woman looks tough. What a hassle these exams are, Shikamaru thought, massaging his temple.
"Hmph!" Temari heard his muttering and snorted. She remembered him from the preliminaries—clever, that one. But cleverness wouldn't save him against raw power.
Temari attacked first.
She was soon disappointed. Shikamaru's talent wasn't mere cleverness; it was battlefield IQ. And his IQ outstripped hers by a hundred miles. In no time, she was caught in his Shadow Possession Jutsu.
With victory in his grasp, Shikamaru… surrendered.
Temari, who had braced for defeat, was stunned. She stared at him, unable to hide her surprise. The guy now looked utterly spent and weak.
Only after the proctor announced Temari the winner did she tear her gaze away from Shikamaru. Her cheeks felt warm. She fanned herself. Must be the heat. But… the guy was kinda cool. A small, unconscious smile touched her lips.
Somehow, their eyes met again. They held each other's gaze, something wordless passing between them.
Watching from the stands, Hanataki's face was utterly blank.
…Damn them.
Public display of affection right in my face.
This is worse than death.
They were still hogging the arena, and Hanataki's eye twitched. Justice demanded he clear the stage with righteous fists. He leaped from the high stand, landing lightly between Shikamaru and Temari, his back squarely to Shikamaru.
Shikamaru saw only a dark head of hair. Temari saw only Hanataki's face.
Shikamaru: "…"
Temari: "…"
They wordlessly left the arena.
"Next match: Neji Hyuga of Konoha, versus Hanataki of the Rain Village!"
Genma Shiranui's voice echoed.
The crowd's excitement peaked. Not for Hanataki, of course. All the cheers were for Neji Hyuga. Over the years, as his Tenseigan evolved, Neji's reputation in the shinobi world had skyrocketed.
A flash of white cloth. Neji stood opposite Hanataki, his long hair still settling from his movement. Their eyes locked, battle intent blazing in Neji's gaze.
Hanataki smiled, his own eyes filled with pure provocation.
Just then, a cool breeze swept across the central arena. Leaves drifted in the air. Hanataki's lip twitched. A bad feeling crept in.
The next second, two figures descended from the sky as if on cue with their own epic soundtrack.
The cheers exploded.
Standing there, perfectly positioned between Hanataki and Neji like models on a runway, were Kakashi and Sasuke. Hanataki's eyes turned to ice. These two really know how to make an entrance. The ultimate cool guy duo.
"Since Sasuke Uchiha has arrived, the first match will now be Gaara versus Sasuke Uchiha," Genma announced, stepping forward. It was the original first match, after all. Seemed fair.
Hanataki dearly wished he could kick Genma in the head. Such blatant tardiness should mean disqualification, he grumbled internally.
With the proctor's decision, Hanataki and Neji yielded the stage to Gaara and Sasuke.
In a flash, Kakashi appeared on the viewing stand. Right next to Hanataki. Hanataki gave him a sidelong glance before looking away. Kakashi's drooping eyes swept over the top of Hanataki's head. He said nothing, turning his attention to the arena below.
Yellow sand swirled in the air, coalescing into Gaara's form before Sasuke. Their gazes were heavy, intense. A faint veil of sand already cloaked Gaara's body, ready.
Genma gave the signal. Sasuke shot forward like an arrow.
They were fast. A dozen exchanges happened in the blink of an eye. The crowd roared, blood pumping.
"Who do you think will win?"
Kakashi's voice sounded beside Hanataki's ear.
Hanataki paused, looked up in surprise. Kakashi was watching him intently.
"Me?"
Hanataki's expression was unreadable.
Kakashi smiled, eyes crinkling. "Who else? Is there someone else here?"
The ever-loyal Maito Gai, standing faithfully behind Kakashi: "…"
Hanataki blinked, then looked back at the fighters. He let out a soft, knowing chuckle. Both Kakashi and Gai focused on him, waiting for his sage analysis.
"I don't know," Hanataki stated blandly, under their intense scrutiny.
Kakashi: "…"
Gai: "…"
Then why did you make that all-knowing face?!
Sasuke and Gaara broke apart. Sasuke smirked, lightning crackling in his palm.
Gai's eyes bulged. "NANI?! Could it be… could it be… KAKASHI… did you… did you teach him… THAT move?!"
Kakashi gave a slight, utterly casual nod. An aura of pure, unadulterated cool emanated from him.
Hanataki, mentally blasted by the sheer force of this cool aura: "…"
By the time Gai finished his ten-minute, dramatic recounting of Kakashi's Chidori and associated heroic deeds, the match below had progressed significantly. Hanataki had no idea how Gai managed to stretch such a simple explanation. True friendship right there. Touching.
Without One-Tail's interference or Orochimaru's meddling, the match proceeded smoothly.
The victor was Gaara. As Hanataki had expected. Sasuke could only manage two Chidori. Beating Gaara with just two shots was impossible.
Today's real highlight was yet to come. And he would deliver it.
Itachi watched with concern as medics carried the exhausted Sasuke away. He worried how this defeat would affect his proud younger brother. He sighed inwardly, already planning how to comfort him later.
Sasuke was unconscious and vulnerable. Hanataki gave an imperceptible signal to the five Rain ninja not participating in the finals. Amidst the noisy crowd, five figures silently vanished. No one noticed.
"Neji Hyuga versus Hanataki of the Rain Village!" Genma announced.
Hanataki and Neji appeared on the arena floor simultaneously. Their eyes met. Before Genma could even say 'begin', they clashed.
Genma: "…"
He quietly retreated from the combat zone.
A massive black-and-white Eight Trigrams pattern spread beneath Neji's feet. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. A downward palm strike left a faint green trail in the air.
Hanataki leaned sideways. The hand-guillotine passed his nose. His own palm shimmered with silver light. A silvery thread lashed out, slicing through the hem of Neji's clothes.
Neji leaped back. The smell of something burning reached him. The sliced edge of his clothing at the waist was charred black from intense heat. The thought of that light hitting flesh was chilling.
Neji's eyes narrowed. A green chakra cloak enveloped him. Black Truth-Seeking Orbs materialized behind his back. At that moment, his Tenseigan erupted with dazzling light, accompanied by an astonishing, oppressive aura that reflected his terrifying power.
In the Kage booth, the Raikage stared, jaw slack. "This… as expected of the Hokage's disciple!" He was green with envy. Why does Konoha get all the geniuses?
The Tsuchikage nodded repeatedly. "Such formidable strength at such a young age. His future is limitless."
"You flatter him," Heshu, as Neji's sensei, replied modestly. If one ignored the slight, unmistakable smile tugging at his lips.
Tsuchikage Ōnoki: "…"
He turned to seek comfort in his own little disciple, Deidara, standing behind him.
Deidara was staring, starry-eyed, at the Hokage, clapping like a seal. "Lord Hokage is so humble!"
Ōnoki: "…"
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