In a room, Masashi and Rasa were eating and drinking while chatting.
"I've heard a rumor that the leader of Oto is actually Orochimaru. Have you heard about this, Kazekage-sama?"
"Orochimaru, huh? Back during the war, I hated him so much I ground my teeth," Rasa said, his expression seemingly genuine. "But as the Kazekage, I have to admit I respect him. I really didn't expect him to become a missing-nin… However, establishing a ninja village right under Konoha's nose? That, I find hard to believe."
"Well, rumors always spark some thoughts, and people's opinions tend to change over time," Masashi took a sip of tea. "That being said, losing a skilled ninja like him is a painful blow for any village. Konoha still hasn't fully recovered from it. So, even if the rumor is true, it's not entirely impossible."
"I see… We also suffered a similar loss with the departure of Sasori. Since then, we haven't produced any talents like him," Rasa nodded with a regretful expression. "I hope such things don't happen again. If Konoha needs help investigating, Suna will assist."
The two exchanged glances and let out a long sigh in unison. On the low table before them, the plate that once held grilled fish was now empty. Of course, Masashi wasn't the only one who ate it, Rasa had made a tiny, almost negligible contribution as well.
Taking another sip of tea, Masashi sighed.
Judging from his reaction, he already knows that Orochimaru is the leader of Oto. Talking to him is really exhausting.
"Hm? Is something bothering you?" Rasa asked, looking puzzled. "We've known each other for a long time. You can speak freely."
Supporting Oto might be a viable strategy, but Orochimaru is a dangerous figure. He needs to be eliminated!
"It's nothing serious. I was just thinking about something but couldn't quite figure it out."
"Oh? Tell me about it. Maybe I can offer some insight? Honestly, Suna is running out of talented people, and I somehow ended up as the Kazekage. The only thing I really have to offer is some experience."
"You're too modest. I was just wondering… why did you personally come to Konoha? After all, this is just an exam." Masashi looked at Rasa. "While the Mizukage did attend the Chunin Exams hosted by Suna, that was to change people's perceptions of Kiri. But Suna isn't in the same situation as Kiri."
"Ah, so that's what's been puzzling you." Rasa smiled. "As I mentioned earlier, Suna is struggling with a lack of talent. When important matters arise, I, as the barely competent leader, must personally handle them under the title of Kazekage."
"It seems that your true purpose this time must be discussed directly with the Hokage. Being a Kage must be tough, you can't even speak honestly with your friends." Masashi sighed. "Carrying the expectations of so many people, you really have it rough."
"You've hit the nail on the head," Rasa gave him a look of deep understanding. "Since you see it this way, I might as well be frank. In truth, I came here for two reasons, one is to observe the young talents from different villages, and the other is to discuss the alliance with the Hokage."
"An alliance…?" Masashi's expression turned serious.
That statement couldn't be dismissed as entirely false. Suna had been requesting an alliance with Konoha almost every year.
"That's right. In the last war, Suna and Konoha were enemies, but for the sake of our mutual interests, we ultimately allied against the threats posed by Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri," Rasa said, looking less than relaxed. That very issue was why he couldn't make a final decision. "Masashi, as someone involved in Konoha's policies, you must be aware of how much Suna desires this alliance. The previous agreement is no longer enough to meet our needs. If we continue with it as is, it will threaten the survival of Suna."
He paused and took a sip of tea.
"Of course, the alliance has had positive effects, strengthening trust between our villages. However, the current agreement is no longer sufficient for Suna to effectively restrain Iwa's forces on behalf of Konoha. We've requested modifications multiple times, but your village believes that changing the agreement would be disrespectful to the retired Third Hokage. As allies, Suna has taken this into consideration, but this time, I hope to discuss this matter with both the Fourth and Third Hokage and reach an agreement beneficial to both sides."
"Since you've been this open with me, I can't ignore it," Masashi said. "I'm aware of the difficulties Suna faces. While I can't give you a definite answer, I will do my best to facilitate a discussion between you and the two Hokage."
"Truly?" Rasa was slightly surprised.
"Of course. The alliance between our villages was crucial in ending the Third Great Ninja War. Personally, I don't want to see it weaken over time."
"If that's the case, I am deeply grateful!"
"There's no need for that. It's my duty."
Masashi stood up, and seeing this, Rasa also rose to his feet.
"I've already taken up too much of your time today. I will handle this matter immediately, so please rest assured."
"Just hearing those words from you makes me very happy, Masashi," Rasa said. "I'll see you off."
"You are an honored guest. If you do that, I'll get scolded," Masashi said with a smile. "I'll walk myself out. Also, I wish the genin you brought with you the best of luck in this exam. May they perform brilliantly."
"Thank you for your kind words. In that case, I won't see you off. But if you have the chance, you must visit Suna. Also, if you could, please pass a message to Pakura for me. I sincerely regret what happened in the past, and I wish her the best."
"Then I will thank you on her behalf." Masashi gave a slight bow. "I'll take my leave now. Thank you for your hospitality."
"Alright, let's talk again when we have time."
After bidding Rasa farewell, Masashi left the room and called for Torune and Fū, who had been waiting in the hallway. Together, they quickly left the guesthouse.
The two of them remained silent along the way. It was only after they had walked a considerable distance from the guesthouse that Torune finally asked, "Masashi-sama, was your conversation with the Kazekage successful?"
"Successful? Far from it. He's a seasoned politician," Masashi scoffed. "Our talk was a mix of truths and half-truths, but one thing is clear, this time, Suna is absolutely firm about renegotiating the alliance. If the treaty isn't revised, this alliance will come to an end."
"Losing Suna as an ally wouldn't be good for the village right now," said Torune, who had been actively engaged in frontline affairs. "Iwa is already drifting further from Konoha, and any day now, they might decide to break ties. If that happens, we'll end up acting as a shield against Kiri instead."
Not just a shield, who's to say Kiri wouldn't stab us in the back while they're at it?
"The First Hokage was too conservative back in the day," Masashi sighed as he looked up at the sky.
Hashirama had stubbornly insisted on using words to persuade others. His original vision was to have all ninjas put aside their grudges and build a single united ninja village together.
That dream shattered the moment a second village was established. It also ensured that the continent could never be unified under a single nation. Since every group had founded their own villages, he had to settle for a more realistic goal, peaceful coexistence among the ninja villages.
That was practical, but even back then, there were plenty of stubborn fools. Sure, Hashirama and Madara could have crushed the elite ninjas of the other villages, but before that could happen, those villages would have united against Konoha, ensuring its destruction.
That kind of peace would have been meaningless to Hashirama and Madara.
And even now, nothing had changed.
At present, Konoha could dominate any single ninja village in a one-on-one fight. But if all the other villages teamed up against them, it would end in disaster, perhaps not total destruction, but the losses would be devastating. No Hokage would willingly choose that path.
If Masashi were Hokage, he would also prioritize forging strong alliances to avoid becoming everyone's common enemy. Wiping out the other villages was pointless, it would only lead to even greater chaos.
If Suna were ever truly on the brink of collapse, Konoha would probably be more anxious than Suna itself. They would likely offer all kinds of interest-free loans to keep it afloat.
"Forget it, no point overthinking this. We'll take things one step at a time. I should also help arrange that meeting with the Hokage for the Kazekage, better that than letting him act out of desperation," Masashi muttered as he yawned. Sleepiness was starting to creep in.
"Perhaps you should go back and rest," Torune suggested. "It's just three days. Fū and I can handle things."
"Mm. Just don't make things too tense with them. If they go running to complain, it might not achieve anything, but it'll still be annoying."
After giving them a few more instructions, he returned home.
---
For the next three days, Masashi took a well-earned break. Aside from his own training, he focused on intensive special training for Sasuke and the others.
He helped Naruto sign a summoning contract with Mount Myōboku.
He taught Sasuke the Rashōmon.
For Haku, he focused on refining his Ice Release techniques and Body Flicker Technique.
He also taught Neji and Hinata the principles behind the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, allowing them to extract useful insights for their own training.
The only one he didn't teach any jutsu was Karin. Instead, he guided her in developing her chakra sensory abilities.
Three days was a short time, and this was the best he could do. As those three days passed in a blur, the joint Chunin Exam finally began.
---
A week before the start of the exam, Konoha had already entered a wartime mobilization state.
The ANBU and Security Forces were naturally deployed in full force, there was no question about that. As for the regular forces, all village ninjas had their leaves canceled and were placed on high alert.
The Administrative Hall continued its operations as usual; it couldn't be shut down. The only thing that could halt a ninja village from accepting civilian missions was war itself. After all, lower- and mid-level ninjas largely relied on civilian missions to fill their wallets. Unlike jonin, who primarily took on national and village-assigned tasks.
However, on this particular day, even the Administrative Hall felt unusually deserted.
At this moment, all eyes were on the groups of genin stepping out of the guesthouse.
These elite young ninjas, coming from different countries, villages, and even independent organizations, displayed a variety of expressions and emotions.
Some were brimming with fighting spirit, eager for a thrilling battle.
Some were anxious, silently praying that they wouldn't embarrass themselves this time.
And some looked both excited and nervous, or vice versa, these were the first-timers.
These hundreds of examinees were about to showcase the current reality of frontline ninjas to both the spectators and the examiners.
But first, they had to report to the Konoha Ninja Academy.
As the head of ANBU, Masashi's usual role would be to sit in the office making authoritative decisions or roam the streets with his subordinates, stirring up trouble.
But starting today, until the exams ended, he had to play the role of a babysitter, leading his underlings to both participate in and watch the competition. Oh, and also doubling as a strict instructor during their breaks.
As for ANBU affairs… He could leave those to Torune and Fū.
They had already been working non-stop for three days, what's another two or three months?
This was fine.
By then, everything would have fermented nicely. All in all, from today onward, he was an emotionless jonin leader and exam proctor. At least, that was the plan…
"So, why are you two fighting here instead of heading to the exam venue?"
Masashi stared at the two troublemakers in front of him, Sasuke and Naruto, who were scratching their heads and grinning sheepishly at him.
Don't get the wrong idea, they weren't fighting each other. They had been fighting someone else. Beyond the two of them, Masashi's gaze landed on Lee, who was looking at him with deep admiration.
"Masashi-sensei, I'm truly grateful for your guidance back then!"
Lee bowed at a full ninety-degree angle, the force of it practically creating a gust of wind.
"Ah, Lee." Masashi had always liked this kid. "Has life as a genin been dull for you?"
Who wouldn't like a hardworking student? Especially one from his own village. That said… a fight had still broken out.
In the original timeline, Lee had two people he wanted to challenge at this point: His class's top-ranking student, Neji. And the top student from the year below him, Sasuke. However, in this timeline, the top-ranking student of this class was Konohamaru.
As for why Sasuke and Naruto were ranked lower… one look at their written exam scores would explain everything, they were absolutely abysmal.
The kind of grades that made you want to beat some sense into them.
However, because they excelled in combat, they were both tied for second place. Lee, of course, was well aware of this, Sasuke and Naruto shared the top spot in combat rankings, not Konohamaru.
So everything had naturally led to this moment.
"No! I think it's been great! Guy-sensei has taken great care of me!" Lee responded with enthusiasm. Compared to his school days, his expression was now even more determined. The thick bandages on his hands and the exaggerated weights on his legs showed that his absurd level of perseverance remained unchanged.
Only Lee could truly inherit Guy's will.
"Mm, you are an outstanding ninja," Masashi patted him on the shoulder. "So don't learn from those two idiots, got it? They'll only drag you down."
"No, Masashi-sensei! Sasuke and Naruto are incredibly strong, they are true geniuses! That's why I wish to challenge them! Please allow it!"
Do you not realize that you're a genius too?
The Eight Gates technique isn't something you can master with just sheer effort, it requires an incredible natural talent as well!
"Alright, I permit it. But if it's a proper challenge, then save it for the competition. For now, go report in! And don't expose your abilities so casually in front of foreign ninjas, understood?"
If Masashi hadn't sensed their chakra signatures and come to check on them, these idiots would have revealed their moves right in front of passing foreign ninjas.
"Got it!" Naruto shouted, burning with fighting spirit. "Lee! I'm gonna defeat you!"
"I feel the same, Naruto, Sasuke! I joined this exam to test my abilities, so please face me seriously when the time comes."
Masashi nodded in satisfaction, preparing to leave with the Body Flicker Technique.
"Huh? You're not coming with us?"
I'm just here to slack off.
"You're the ones taking the exam, not me. Do you really need me to walk you to the door?" Masashi scolded. "Naruto, I didn't raise you to be this timid."
"I'm not timid! These guys are nothing to me!" Naruto huffed indignantly. "Sasuke, Hinata, back me up here!"
"Hmph! Don't drag me into this. I didn't say anything."
"P-please… don't fight…"
Taking advantage of their bickering, Masashi quickly slipped away. There was no need for him to babysit them at the exam venue, that was Shisui's job.
Whether these kids could pass the first round or not… He totally didn't care.
Yeah, right.
In this timeline, Sasuke hadn't awakened his Sharingan, and Naruto didn't have the Nine-Tails' influence.
And their written exam scores? Absolutely hopeless.
However, they both possess the intelligence-gathering ninjutsu taught by him.
Naruto was still a bit unskilled with it, given that he only recently signed a contract with Mount Myōboku, but Sasuke was already quite proficient.
As for Hinata, let's not even mention her Byakugan for now, she ranked second in academics. Along with the first-place Sakura, her knowledge far exceeds that of an average genin.
Masashi had seen their test papers. Both Hinata and Sakura could complete the exams with sheer intellect, without relying on any tricks, they were true academic geniuses.
So, why should he worry? Time to grab breakfast.
As he walked to the commercial district, he saw many ninja, especially today, when the place was packed with shinobi, most of them from other villages.
Ever since becoming the head of the ANBU, Masashi barely had time for a warm meal in the morning. For a ninja, holding an official position often means sacrificing training time. If given a choice, most ninja would avoid government roles.
Since taking up the ANBU commander position, Masashi had noticed a significant reduction in his training time. There were even days when he went an entire day or two without practicing, a terrifying realization. Even breakfast became a luxury.
Now that he finally had the chance, he had to get back into training.
He couldn't end up like Kakashi. That guy had completely slacked off after leaving the ANBU, except for indulging in 18+ books, which he kept reading nonstop. To put it plainly, due to his decreased training intensity, his physical stamina had declined over the years.
A decrease in physical fitness meant a decrease in chakra reserves, which in turn led to a decline in overall combat strength. This wasn't just the case for Kakashi, it also happened with Minato and Fugaku.
Masashi had no intention of letting the same happen to him.
Ramen it is. With that thought, he headed toward Ichiraku Ramen.
Lifting the noren curtain, he saw that the shop was quite crowded.
Ramen Ichiraku was now the most famous ramen shop in Konoha, without question. The owner, Teuchi, and his daughter had poured their hearts into this place, and despite over a decade of business, they never once cut corners.
The quality of the ramen was directly proportional to its price.
So, for many of the visiting foreign ninja, this well-known ramen shop was an obvious choice to visit. Not to mention, like Masashi, many team leaders had yet to have breakfast.
"Welcome!"
Any Konoha native knew that the first thing you'd hear upon entering Ramen Ichiraku was Ayame's sweet voice.
"Masashi-sama? It's been a long time!" Ayame greeted him with delight, even though she was busy handling a rush of customers.
"Long time no see, Ayame." Masashi scanned the shop.
Fortunately, there was still an empty table. Happily, he walked over and took a seat.
"Ayame, the usual, you know what I like."
"Yes, leave it to me!"
Ayame responded energetically, rolling up her sleeves as she got to work on his favorite ramen.
Masashi sat and waited, anticipation building. But before he could fully immerse himself in thoughts of delicious food, a large shadow loomed over him.
"Masashi. It's been a long time."
His food fantasy interrupted, Masashi wasn't particularly annoyed, after all, the shop was packed with foreign ninja. Some were bound to show up just to back up their comrades and ensure no one caused trouble.
He recognized the man instantly.
No eyebrows.
Most of his face covered in bandages.
A massive sword strapped to his back, the Decapitating Cleaver.
"Well, if it isn't Zabuza." Masashi chuckled. "Have you eaten? Join me."
At present, Zabuza was the head of the Kiri ANBU.
Their ranks were equal.
"Thanks." Zabuza muttered.
He removed his sword and leaned it against the wall before sitting across from Masashi.
"Ayame, bring another drink over here when you have time." Masashi called to Ayame, who was still busy working.
She nodded to acknowledge his request.
Only then did Masashi turn his attention back to Zabuza.