Under the bright midday sun, Rinjin strolled leisurely down Konoha's main street, takoyaki skewer in hand.
Without the Uchiha clan, the village air felt... exactly the same, actually.
Drunk troublemakers still started fights; shop owners still bickered over every inch of sidewalk space; the Police Force—now minus the Uchiha—still drew plenty of resentment from civilians.
Walking these familiar streets, Rinjin could sense Konoha's underlying weakness. This village was a shadow of its former glory from fifty years ago, when Hashirama Senju could single-handedly suppress the entire ninja world.
The Senju who'd integrated into village life had probably forgotten that legacy entirely.
These days, everyone talked about the Third Hokage as the strongest—mainly because he'd held the position longest. Soon enough, his student Orochimaru would shatter that myth.
Konoha had forgotten its golden age.
Rounding a street corner, Rinjin's peaceful mood instantly shattered at the sight ahead.
Shisui led a group of Hidden Rain kids down the opposite end of the street.
"What the hell? Shisui? What are you guys doing in Konoha?" Rinjin stared in disbelief.
"Taking the Chunin Exams, obviously," Shisui replied matter-of-factly.
"Konoha invited our village to participate. The village sent me and my teammates to make up the numbers. Oh, and Grandpa Rinjin, the village has been looking everywhere for you!"
"Looking for what?"
"Uh... they want to invite you to observe the Chunin Exams. I heard the Fire Country daimyo is coming, plus the Wind Country daimyo and several smaller nations' leaders."
Rinjin's mouth twitched in annoyance, his thoughts turning sarcastic.
Damn it! I'm just a gatekeeper and everyone's keeping me busy! The Akatsuki wants me hunting Orochimaru, Konoha wants me watching kids fight... What's next, saving the world?
He shook his head firmly. "Not happening! I'm not going anywhere! Shisui, pretend you never saw me. If anyone asks, you don't know anything."
With that, he bolted, disappearing around the corner.
Time passed, and the first day of the Chunin Exams arrived.
In the tiered classroom for the written exam, Rinjin—disguised through transformation jutsu—stood beside Morino Ibiki in black combat gear and a green vest, stone-faced as he surveyed the exam candidates.
Konoha's participants looked notably younger, while the other villages' ninja skewed older.
Soon, the intimidating Ibiki announced the exam procedures.
From his monitoring position, legs crossed casually, Rinjin witnessed peak social confidence as Naruto slammed his hand on the desk.
"Don't underestimate me! I won't run away! I'm taking this exam, even if I stay a genin forever! I'll become Hokage no matter what—believe it!"
The room fell dead silent, everyone staring at this brash blonde kid as if frozen by some mysterious force.
Rinjin sat there grinning, thinking: Perfect time for someone to yell "Disrupting the exam! Disqualified!" but nobody does.
The exam ended quickly. Ibiki announced that everyone remaining had passed.
Then the second exam proctor made her entrance—the one Rinjin had been anticipating.
Anko Mitarashi hadn't yet become the chunky version of herself. Her outfit was... stimulating. White coat over a mesh undershirt that, while opaque, definitely prioritized breathability.
The image of that old pervert Jiraiya flashed through Rinjin's mind.
"Decision made—after the second exam, I'm finding Jiraiya for drinks!"
Muttering to himself, Rinjin followed the candidates to the Forest of... Death.
In the crowd, Anko was leaning over Naruto's shoulder, grinning as she teased him. Clearly, she'd learned Orochimaru's creepy mannerisms perfectly while missing his better qualities entirely.
Rinjin positioned himself at the crowd's edge, scanning his surroundings. He'd felt an odd gaze sweep over him moments earlier.
After Anko explained the second exam rules, the forest's wire gates opened and candidates rushed inside.
Rinjin ambled along behind them, but Anko's questionable outfit blocked his path.
"Who are you? I've never seen you in Konoha before!"
Rinjin immediately dropped his transformation, reverting to his normal appearance. He pulled his ninja registration card from his tool pouch and tossed it over.
Anko caught the card and glanced at it casually.
Her pupils contracted violently.
The name read "Sakuho Rinjin," and the expressionless face matched the man before her perfectly. But his ninja registration number was 002333!
She'd seen her teacher Orochimaru's registration card before—his number was 002300. The other Sannin, Jiraiya and Tsunade, were 002301 and 002302 respectively. Her own number started with 01.
For reference, Hiruzen Sarutobi's number was 000261.
Anko understood the numbering system perfectly—it represented the chronological order of becoming a ninja. This meant the man called Sakuho Rinjin was from her teacher's generation.
As far as she knew, aside from the Sannin, most of Orochimaru's contemporaries had died in various wars. Anyone who survived that long...
Her hands trembled slightly as she returned the card. "Rinjin-senpai, my apologies. These kids are taking the Chunin Exams, and regulations prevent me from letting you enter!"
Rinjin sighed in resignation and turned away.
He'd hoped to enter legitimately, watch the show, and let Hiruzen know he wasn't up to anything suspicious. Now he'd have to use the Flying Thunder God Technique whether he wanted to or not.
Behind a large tree, Rinjin grumbled as he formed a single hand seal.
His form vanished instantly.
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