The back mountain of Konoha shimmered in the morning light, its serene atmosphere soon to be disrupted by the sounds of intense training.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, the vast clearing erupted with hundreds of identical figures appearing in puffs of smoke, each bearing the determined face of Naruto Uzumaki. The clones spread out strategically, surrounding a single target in the center.
"Chiharu, you better be careful this time," Naruto called out with a challenging grin. His younger sister stood calmly in the center of the formation, her Namikaze-red hair dancing in the breeze.
This training ground had become their regular spot ever since Naruto accidentally destroyed the ancient oak in their front yard during a particularly enthusiastic training session. With the Chunin Exams less than a month away, both siblings had thrown themselves into preparation with renewed vigor.
Chiharu typically avoided rigorous training regimens, preferring to rely on her natural talents. However, her desire to see her brother succeed in the upcoming exams had motivated her to push beyond her usual limits. The daughter of the Fourth Hokage adjusted her stance, eyes gleaming with the same fierce determination that often flashed in her mother Kushina's gaze.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Before Naruto could even finish speaking, Chiharu exploded into action. She moved with such blinding speed that several shadow clones were dispelled before they could even react, bursting into clouds of smoke as her strikes landed with precision.
"Brother, you shouldn't get distracted by talking during battle," she teased with a faint smile, her voice carrying a playful lilt despite the intensity of her movements.
Naruto's expression immediately shifted to serious focus. All remaining clones converged on Chiharu in a coordinated assault, deliberately compressing her movement space to limit her advantage in speed.
"Bang! Bang!"
The sounds of fierce combat echoed through the mountains as the siblings clashed. Punches were thrown, kunai deflected, and tactical maneuvers employed on both sides. For anyone watching, it was clear that these were no ordinary genin.
"Haha, the two little ones are at it again."
Perched cross-legged on a thick tree branch overlooking the training ground sat a tall figure with long white hair flowing down his back. Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, watched the siblings with arms folded and an approving smile on his face.
"They're practically mirror images of Minato and Kushina," he mused to himself, eyes tracking the battlefield with expert assessment.
Chiharu's speed was truly remarkable. Even surrounded by hundreds of Naruto's shadow clones, she moved with effortless grace, her footwork reminiscent of her father's famous Flying Thunder God technique—though she hadn't yet mastered that particular jutsu. Her strikes were precise and economical, never wasting a single movement.
Naruto, meanwhile, displayed the seemingly endless chakra reserves he was known for. After nearly an hour of continuous fighting, he showed no signs of fatigue, continually replenishing his shadow clones as they were defeated. His determination and stamina were every bit as impressive as his mother's had been at his age.
"Their fighting styles are identical to Minato and Kushina's," Jiraiya observed with a nostalgic smile. "The Will of Fire burns brightly in these two."
On the opposite edge of Konoha, atop a jagged rocky mountain, another training session was underway.
"Chick-chick-chick!"
A sound like thousands of birds chirping in unison sliced through the air. The rocky plateau had been transformed into an elaborate obstacle course, with stone pillars, swinging logs, and narrow pathways creating a challenging terrain.
"BANG!"
A dark figure with crackling lightning chakra enveloping his right hand darted through the obstacles at tremendous speed. Each object in his path was pierced clean through by the concentrated electrical energy, leaving perfect circular holes in its wake.
Like a bolt of lightning itself, Sasuke Uchiha maneuvered between the obstacles with remarkable precision. Despite his incredible velocity, he adjusted his trajectory with split-second timing, his Sharingan eyes tracking multiple moving targets simultaneously.
After successfully completing the course, Sasuke landed in a crouch, the lightning jutsu in his hand gradually dissipating into the air. He turned to survey the destruction left in his wake, a satisfied nod acknowledging his own improvement.
"It seems you're now fully capable of coordinating the Sharingan with Chidori for precision attacks. Well done."
Kakashi Hatake briefly glanced up from the book in his hands, his visible eye assessing his student's performance with quiet approval.
"At this rate, no one except those two will pose any challenge to me in the Chunin Exam," Sasuke stated confidently. He had mastered both his single-tomoe Sharingan and the A-rank lightning jutsu Chidori. Among his peers, only Naruto and Chiharu could potentially stand against him.
"Is that so?" Kakashi replied with a hint of amusement in his voice. He closed his book and gave Sasuke his full attention. "You've made excellent progress, I'll grant you that. But I should warn you—don't underestimate anyone during the Chunin Exams. Overconfidence has been the downfall of many shinobi far more experienced than you."
His tone suddenly shifted, becoming stern and authoritative. "Also, though I've taught you Chidori, I absolutely forbid you from using this technique against your fellow Konoha shinobi. That jutsu is meant for protecting your comrades, not harming them."
"Of course," Sasuke responded outwardly, but his eyes betrayed different thoughts. Behind the stoic facade, his mind was already formulating plans of his own.
In less than ten days, the joint Chunin Examination organized by the Hidden Sand and Hidden Leaf Villages would begin. Tensions were rising across the shinobi world, though few suspected just how significant this particular exam would become.
In Amegakure, the Village Hidden in the Rain, endless droplets created a constant ambient noise that permeated every corner of the shrouded city.
At the summit of the tallest tower in the Rain Ninja headquarters, a red-haired man gazed out at the village below with emotionless eyes. His distinctive Rinnegan—purple irises with concentric circular patterns—seemed to contain the weight of the six paths of reincarnation within their depths.
Behind Pain stood Konan, her blue hair adorned with a paper flower, her presence silent but attentive as always.
Suddenly, ripples appeared on the floor beside them. From the distortion emerged a large plant-like form—Zetsu, his body half black and half white, enclosed in what appeared to be a massive Venus flytrap.
Without turning to acknowledge the newcomer, Pain asked in a measured tone, "What was Orochimaru's response?"
"Jiraiya has already detected Orochimaru's influence within the Hidden Sound Village," Zetsu reported. "For safety reasons, Sound ninja forces will not be participating in this Chunin Exam."
"I see," Pain responded, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Where is Jiraiya-sensei now?" he asked after a moment.
"He returned to Konoha approximately two weeks ago," Zetsu replied.
"Is that so?" Pain's eyes, partially hidden by his red hair, flickered slightly at this information.
After a prolonged silence, he issued his command: "Inform all members of the Akatsuki to immediately suspend their current assignments and prepare for action."
"Understood." With that, Zetsu slowly sank back into the floor, disappearing without a trace.
After his departure, Pain remained silent, staring out at the perpetually rain-drenched landscape before him. The constant patter of raindrops against the windows provided a rhythmic backdrop to his thoughts.
"Must we truly go this far?" Konan finally spoke, her voice carrying rare hesitation. "We may end up facing Master Jiraiya directly."
"I've attempted to throw him off our trail many times, but it's been futile. He is indeed worthy of being called our teacher," Pain sighed, a hint of genuine emotion breaking through his usual detachment.
"Over these years, Sensei has been quietly investigating our activities. The situation has become... complicated."
"Since avoidance is no longer possible, we have no choice but to proceed," he continued, his voice weighted with both resolution and a trace of regret.
"Our senior disciple brother truly deserves his reputation as Jiraiya's most brilliant student. He has been a consistent thorn in our side. Even Madara has suffered significant setbacks at his hands several times," Pain said with a humorless smile, referring to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
"Nagato, it's not just him—you too were once—" Konan began, but was cut off.
"No. The harsh reality of this world has proven that what Master Jiraiya taught us was nothing but naive idealism," Nagato interrupted, shaking his head.
"Just as during the Third Great Ninja War, we now find ourselves standing in opposition to our teacher and his prized student. This time, there is no possibility for retreat or negotiation." His voice hardened with finality.
"I hope you understand my position."
Konan turned slightly, her gaze drifting to the orange-haired body lying in a specialized coffin not far behind them—one of Pain's Six Paths.
"Nagato, since you have chosen this path, I will follow you until the end. Our lives have been intertwined since we were children," she affirmed, her loyalty unwavering despite her earlier hesitation.
"Thank you," Nagato replied with a rare, genuine smile. He turned and walked deeper into the shadows of the room.
Konan followed silently in his wake.
Behind them, the orange-haired figure in the coffin suddenly opened its eyes, revealing the same concentric patterned Rinnegan. Not just this body, but five others in adjacent coffins also stirred to life simultaneously.
All six bodies possessed identical eyes—extensions of Nagato's will and power.
In the darkness, a cold, resolute voice emerged:
"Since Konoha intends to interfere with our plans, we have no choice but to destroy them."
The declaration hung in the air like a death sentence, as the Six Paths of Pain prepared for the assault that would soon shake the very foundations of the ninja world.