Led by two of Saiki's clones, Genhai and Shizune arrived at a training ground.
Scanning the area, they saw only Saiki himself standing there, currently deep in training.
"Wait, Boss, where are the teachers?"
Genhai looked toward Saiki and then glanced around the surrounding field, asking with genuine curiosity.
Watching the two children's oblivious reactions, Kushina and Tsume Inuzuka both let out a heavy, synchronized sigh.
Aside from Saiki, Shizune and Genhai were still severely lacking in basic awareness.
Poof!
Two clouds of white smoke erupted. The "clones" that had been escorting them instantly transformed into Kushina and Tsume.
"Sensei Tsume? Sensei Kushina?!"
Seeing that the two clones were actually their teachers in disguise, Shizune and Genhai both wore expressions of utter shock.
This time, even Tsume wore a look of dead seriousness, and Kushina's expression was even grimmer.
Both women stared intensely at Genhai and Shizune. Tsume spoke first.
"Genhai, your performance is a massive disappointment. Kuromaru was right by my side the whole time. You acknowledged him, yet you didn't once suspect my identity."
Kushina followed up, her voice sharp. "Shizune, the same goes for you. The moment you saw 'Saiki,' you dropped all your defenses. Did you not notice that my perfume was significantly stronger than his scent?"
Kushina let out another long sigh. "It's one thing that you couldn't see through the Transformation Jutsu, but you've spent three years in school with Saiki. You should understand his habits and personality better than anyone."
"A lack of observation and basic vigilance is a death sentence for a shinobi."
Saiki stood to the side, watching the scene in silence.
He didn't intervene. He couldn't protect Shizune and Genhai forever. Because they felt so safe whenever they were around him, their awareness had become dangerously lax.
This was a pre-exam diagnostic test set up by Kushina and Tsume, and clearly, the two had failed miserably.
"We're sorry, Sensei Tsume, Sensei Kushina..."
Under the weight of their teachers' criticism, both Shizune and Genhai lowered their heads in deep shame.
Not wanting Kushina to be the only "villain," Tsume barked out a stern interrogation. "Did you both hear me clearly?!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
With their faces flushed and necks turning red from embarrassment, the two replied with a loud, synchronized shout.
As for Saiki, Kushina and Tsume didn't even bother trying to test that monster. Using the Transformation Jutsu in front of him would have been a humiliating exercise in futility.
With his terrifyingly acute sensory perception, a basic transformation was useless against him.
Seeing that the two Genin had acknowledged their failure, Kushina nodded.
"I assume you've all heard the rumors by now. A new round of the Chunin Exams is about to begin. Tsume-senpai and I have already submitted your formal recommendations. All three of you will be participating."
Despite the scolding they had just received, the news of the Chunin Exams brought immediate, joyful smiles to Shizune and Genhai's faces.
Only Saiki, drenched in sweat after completing thousands of reps of his fundamental training, remained silent and unphased.
Kushina and Tsume weren't surprised by his reaction. Saiki had always been a "low-key" person who preferred to stay in the shadows; his lack of enthusiasm was perfectly in character.
In their eyes, if given the choice, Saiki would probably be happy remaining a Genin for the rest of his life.
In contrast, Shizune and Genhai reacted like normal ninja.
Every shinobi worth their salt strove to increase their rank. A promotion didn't just mean access to higher-paying, higher-ranked missions; it meant a significant increase in social status within the village.
Knowing Saiki's personality didn't stop Kushina from getting annoyed by his total lack of drive.
"Saiki! You brat, can't you show at least a little bit of spirit?!"
Watching Kushina's hair begin tolevitate like the tentacles of an angry octopus, Saiki simply offered a lazy smile.
"It's just an exam, Sensei. There's really no need to get this worked up over it."
Saiki's "salted fish" stare made Kushina feel like her energy was being sucked into a void. She deflated slightly, muttering, "You little bastard..."
Sensing that Kushina and Saiki were about to start bickering again, Tsume quickly intervened.
"These are your official application forms for the exam."
She reached into the pouch strapped to her hip and pulled out three scrolls, handing them to the trio.
Taking the form and looking at the two teachers, Saiki couldn't help but roast the system.
"You know, this village is quite interesting. Shouldn't we be the ones writing these applications to you for recommendation? Instead, you recommend us first and then hand us the forms to sign after the fact. If you wanted us to take the test, you could have just said so. Why all the games?"
Saiki laid the reality of the forced conscription bare. Shizune and Genhai, who had been naively excited, finally caught the underlying implication. Saiki's words were blunt and left no room for interpretation.
Faced with Saiki's cynical observation of the political reality, Tsume and Kushina found themselves momentarily at a loss for words.
Tsume eventually broke the silence, her tone somber. "The international situation is deteriorating rapidly. This is a matter of necessity. Saiki, the Hokage has personally assigned you a specific objective for this exam."
"Unlike our internal village trials, this exam will involve participants from the Hidden Mist, the Hidden Sand, and several smaller villages. This is not just a test—it is an act of war."
Tsume looked Saiki directly in the eye. "Do you understand the weight of this, Saiki?"
Saiki merely chuckled. "I've always understood, Sensei Tsume. I was just venting a bit of frustration. I'll ensure the mission is completed."
By saying that, he had officially accepted the burden.
The mood turned heavy. Even the usually energetic Kushina lost her smile. She turned to Shizune and Genhai.
"These exams carry a very real risk of death. Therefore, before the tests begin, we are going to put you through a rigorous training crash-course."
"Yes, Sensei! We understand!" the two replied with absolute resolve.
Saiki glanced at the two women and grinned. "Do I have to participate too?"
Kushina's temper flared at his cocky attitude. "Of course! Your primary objective during this exam is to ensure Shizune and Genhai's safety. You need to learn how to coordinate with them properly!"
"Fine, fine. I got it."
Rumble!
Shortly after, a high-intensity combat exercise erupted in the forest surrounding the training ground.
"Rasengan!"
BOOM!
A Rasengan slammed into the earth, triggering a massive explosion. From the billowing dust, Saiki leaped out, coughing from the debris.
"Hey, hey! Sensei Kushina, that's a bit much! You're actually using the Rasengan on me now?"
Looking at the massive crater carved into the ground, Saiki couldn't help but complain.
Kushina wore a smug, triumphant grin. "Heh! How about it? Pretty powerful, isn't it?"
"Impressive. I didn't expect you to master it in less than a week."
Saiki complained internally that while Naruto took a week, Kushina—who was infinitely more talented—had taken about the same amount of time.
However, as a master of high-level sealing arts, her chakra control and shape transformation abilities were already top-tier.
"Kuromaru!"
On the other side of the field, Tsume launched her assault.
"Fang Passing Fang!"
Tsume and her massive ninken transformed into twin black tornadoes, hurtling toward Saiki with bone-shattering momentum.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
Shizune, standing nearby, rapidly completed her signs and manifested a thick barrier of water.
CRASH!
The two high-speed tornadoes slammed into the water wall. The barrier exploded into a deluge, sending a spray of artificial rain across the training ground.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Genhai, who knew the fewest jutsu of the group, seized the opening to hurl several kunai rigged with explosive tags at Kushina.
Swish!
Kushina leaped high into the air, effortlessly dodging the projectiles. The tags hissed as they hit the ground.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thunderous explosions rocked the forest, kicking up clouds of soot and tongues of flame.
Kushina might officially only be ranked as a Chunin, but as an Uzumaki, her chakra reserves were Kage-level even without tapping into the Nine-Tails.
While her raw speed and strength were merely at the Jonin level, the sheer volume of her power was staggering.
The exercise was ostensibly about Saiki coordinating with the other two, but in reality, it was them trying to keep up with him.
Throughout the session, Kushina and Tsume rained their most powerful attacks down on Saiki, knowing full well he was durable enough to tank the hits.
Meanwhile, Shizune and Genhai focused on providing support with projectiles and utility jutsu, slowly beginning to understand their tactical roles within Saiki's orbit.
However, Saiki felt this dynamic was flawed. He believed they needed to learn how to fight independently; he wouldn't always be there to carry the team, and their priority had to be their own survival.
"Excellent! I feel much better about the exams the day after tomorrow now."
As the battle concluded, Kushina looked at the soot-covered Shizune and Genhai and nodded with satisfaction.
Saiki, of course, was perfectly fine. Despite the intensity of the brawl, his clothes were barely even dusty.
Tsume looked at the trio and issued one final warning. "Saiki, during the actual combat, you must monitor their status at all times. Shizune, Genhai—you must stick to Saiki like glue. Do you understand?"
Saiki simply nodded. In a real fight, it would be much easier for him to just handle everything himself rather than micromanaging their protection, but he viewed this as a way to help them "level up."
With responsible teachers and a last-minute training buff, Team Kushina was as ready as they could be. Saiki wondered about the other teams; in a meat-grinder like the Chunin Exams, he knew many of his former classmates were destined to die.
Following the "Chibaku Tensei" incident in his living room that night, Saiki hadn't seen much of Tsunade. He wasn't sure if she was busy with village affairs or if she had crawled back into a gambling den to hide her embarrassment.
On the morning of the exams, Saiki completed his daily breathing exercises, collected Shizune, and stopped by Genhai's house. After a quick breakfast on the street, the trio headed toward the examination hall.