Chapter 152 - Journey to Kirigakure
Time flew by like a white steed glimpsed through a crack in the wall. The days slipped past unnoticed.
Focused training always made time pass quickly, and before long, the Chūnin Exams were just around the corner.
The weather was beautiful today—clear skies and a refreshing breeze, the perfect day for an outing.
Seeing the bright weather, Kazane decided: today would be the day to set off with the Genin participating in the exams.
After morning training, he gave instructions to the ANBU beside him during breakfast to notify the six Genin candidates to gather at the village gates.
---
At the Village Gate of Konoha
Coincidentally, the guard on duty today was none other than Kazane's old friend—Uchiha Obito.
Obito was no longer the brash boy he once was.
After surviving the brutal Third Shinobi World War, he had matured a great deal in the crucible of life and death.
But while maturity was a blessing for many clans, for the Uchiha, it meant growing more distant from the emotions that triggered the Mangekyō Sharingan.
As more examinees gathered at the gate, Obito turned to his fellow guard, Uchiha Vinegar, and said, "Looks like today's the day the Genin leave for the Chūnin Exams in Kirigakure."
Vinegar nodded, eyes full of hope as he looked at the students. "Yeah, and I heard Lord Kazane himself is leading them!"
He turned toward Obito, now a Chūnin, and added, "I really want to become a Chūnin too, just like you, Lord Obito."
Hearing this, Obito couldn't help but drift into memory. He had once held the same dreams as Vinegar.
He recalled comrades who gave their lives for Konoha during the war, spies who put themselves at risk time and again to gather intel behind enemy lines, and the despair he'd felt in the face of near-death countless times. Absentmindedly rubbing the scar that nearly killed him, he murmured with a complex expression, "Becoming a Chūnin… is more of a responsibility than a reward."
Seeing the solemn expression on Obito's face, Vinegar fell silent as well, the heavy atmosphere infecting him.
But it didn't last long. Vinegar suddenly pointed excitedly toward the road leading from the village. "Look! It's Lord Kazane! Lord Obito, it's Lord Kazane!"
Thanks to the countless miracles Kazane had performed, Vinegar had become one of his many fanboys in Konoha.
And he wasn't alone—there were far too many shinobi who idolized Kazane now.
Obito looked at Kazane with complicated emotions, muttering, "Yeah… that's Kazane, alright."
Before his eyes flashed memories of the two of them messing around as dead-last students back in the academy. It all felt like yesterday.
But now, everything had changed.
Kazane was now the de facto head of the Konoha ANBU, while Obito was merely a squad captain in the village guard.
"He probably doesn't even remember me anymore," Obito thought.
Kazane, however, wasn't thinking about any of that. Upon arriving at the gate and seeing the gathered Genin, he also noticed Obito standing guard.
It had been a long time since he'd seen his good friend, and without hesitation, Kazane strode up and threw his arm around Obito's neck, laughing. "Haha! If it isn't our dear Obito! Weren't you aiming to be Hokage? What're you doing guarding the gate now?"
The familiar gesture sent a wave of warmth through Obito—but the rigid hierarchy of shinobi life held him back. He forced himself to stand respectfully and said, "Lord Kazane, that was all just the naive fantasy of a childish fool. Please don't take it seriously."
Hearing the formality in Obito's voice, Kazane's easy smile slowly faded.
He loosened his grip, waved for the Genin to move out, and without another word to Obito, began walking toward the village outskirts—though his eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment.
This isn't the Obito I knew. The Obito I knew would never call me 'Lord Kazane.'
And he'd never give up on his dream so easily.
Behind him, Obito hesitated, wanting to reach out to stop Kazane—but in the end, he lowered his hand.
"We're different now," he thought. "It's time to stop chasing ghosts."
But just then, Kazane stopped walking. Still facing away, he shouted:
"The Uchiha Obito I knew would never bow to something as meaningless as the rules!"
"He was an idiot, yeah—but he chased his dreams with everything he had. He was a fighter who'd fall down a hundred times and still get back up!"
"I don't believe he gave up. I'll be waiting at the top of this world—and I believe he'll catch up to me, just like before! Idiot!!"
And with that, Kazane marched forward without looking back.
Obito stood frozen.
As Kazane's figure receded, he stared at his own calloused hands… and finally faced his heart.
Yeah… I'm the man who's going to become Hokage.
How could I fall here?
Tears rolled down Obito's face. He shouted at the vanishing silhouette:
"Hatake Kazane! Remember what you said! You'd better be at the top—because I'm coming after you!!"
Uchiha Vinegar, still in a daze since Kazane had hugged Obito, now saw the unwavering resolve on Obito's face—and the newly awakened three-tomoe Sharingan swirling in his eyes.
Kazane's steps faltered for a moment at Obito's shout, but he waved it off like it was nothing, continuing on with the others.
---
WHOOSH!!!
"Ahhh, that's the stuff!"
Having not left the village in a while, Kazane led his six Genin on a leisurely journey, sightseeing and relaxing as they traveled.
They eventually arrived at a famous hot spring inn in the Land of Fire—and all seven were now soaking blissfully in the water.
Suddenly, Jiriku stood up from the spring, as if remembering something important.
His massive frame caused the water level to drop instantly.
This sudden shift disturbed Kazane, who was nearly dozing off. Irritated, he laughed and said, "Hey monk, quit standing there butt-naked and get back in. It's warm and relaxing—come on!"
Jiriku blushed, clearly embarrassed. Scratching his head, he mumbled, "Boss, uh… maybe I shouldn't…"
Kazane frowned. What's going on today? Even the obedient ones are rebelling?
He barked, "Monk! Just sit down and soak properly!"
Seeing Kazane seemingly annoyed, Jiriku had no choice but to comply and slowly eased back into the water.
Moments later…
The crystal-clear water grew murky—with a spreading tinge of yellow.
Might Guy was the first to notice something was off. Nudging Kazane, he pointed at the water and asked, "Kazane, does the color of the water seem a little… weird to you?"
Barely awake, Kazane squinted in the direction Guy pointed.
Then he saw it—the spreading yellow cloud… and Jiriku, grinning sheepishly nearby.
He didn't need to ask what had happened.
With a shout, Kazane leapt out of the water and pointed furiously:
"MONK!! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!"
Everyone else immediately realized what had happened and scrambled out of the spring in a panic, all yelling for Jiriku's blood.
Jiriku fled, shouting back, "Boss! You told me to sit! I wanted to leave, but you made me stay!"
His words only enraged Kazane further.
Waves of black flying slashes tore through the air from his hand.
"Jiriku, you bastard—DON'T RUN!!!" ×6
Amid the chaos and screams, the entire hot spring was quickly reduced to rubble.
---
At the Gates of Kirigakure
Two Mist ninja stood watch at the wide-open village gates. One was tall and thin—let's call him Long Ninja. The other, short and round—Round Ninja.
Long Ninja said, "Every village has arrived except for Konoha. Those Leaf shinobi are really full of themselves."
Round Ninja nodded. "Yeah, I wonder what they're even capable of. With that kind of arrogance, the elites from other villages won't go easy on them."
Long Ninja added, "With those pampered kids from the other villages? No way they're a match for us Mist ninja. This year's top spot is ours for sure."
Round Ninja agreed, "Exactly. No way they understand how strong our Bloody Mist Village really is."
But just as Long Ninja opened his mouth to boast again, Round Ninja nudged him and pointed ahead. "Hey, look! Leaf ninja!"
Long Ninja followed his gaze—and when he saw the leader's clothes and face, he immediately went pale.
He froze, unable to speak, sweat beading on his back.
He'd seen Kazane's might firsthand during the Third Shinobi World War—and never imagined he would be leading the Konoha team.
All thoughts of arrogance vanished. He was now scrambling in his head to figure out how to greet Kazane.
As Kazane and his group approached, sweat soaked the back of Long Ninja's shirt.
Then, Round Ninja suddenly pointed at Kazane and shouted:
"Hey, Leaf ninja! Stop right there! Don't you know you're—mmph!!"
He was cut off as Long Ninja, panicking, covered his mouth.
Trembling, Long Ninja bowed deeply. "L-Lord Kazane… P-please, come inside!"
"This guy's new—he doesn't know the rules. Please, just spare us!"
Kazane found it amusing and didn't take it seriously. He simply waved off the two guards and led the Genin into Kirigakure, such people isn't worth his time.
Only after their group had completely vanished did Tall Ninja exhale in relief and remove his hand from Round Ninja's mouth.
Round Ninja gasped for air like it was the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted, muttering that he'd nearly died—at Tall Ninja's hand!
Then he glared and asked,
"Weren't you calling Konoha arrogant just now? Why'd you turn into a scaredy-cat? You're supposed to be a Chūnin of the Mist!"
Tall Ninja barely managed to steady his trembling legs and replied:
"I wasn't afraid of the Konoha ninja. I was afraid of him—the Konoha Demon swordsman, the strongest in the ninja world—Haa-ta-kee Ka-Kazane!!"
Wait—that ninja just now was Hatake Kazane?!
The thought struck Round Ninja like a lightning bolt. Even though he hadn't fought in the war, the name Hatake Kazane was well-known across Kirigakure.
A name that could silence crying children.
A name that reduced the Mist Village to a laughingstock across the entire ninja world.
He had fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist alone and slain four of them without a scratch.
He had shattered the Mist Army on the front lines, forcing the Fourth Mizukage Yagura to abandon the two greatest clan leaders and retreat in disgrace.
He was an unstoppable demon of legend.
"I shouted at that monster?"
Cold sweat poured down Round Ninja's face as he realized how close he'd come to death.
——
Kirigakure's Arena
All the participating villages' teams had gathered—except for Konoha.
Once Konoha's team arrived, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura would officially announce the start of the Chūnin Exams.
Despite Kazane's late start, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already arrived and was seated next to the Fire Daimyō in the viewing stands.
Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, glanced at the still-empty Konoha section and mocked Sarutobi:
"Haha, Hiruzen, did your Konoha shinobi chicken out and run away?"
Sarutobi wanted to retort, but when he spotted Kazane arriving at the arena's edge, he swallowed his words—and instead looked at Onoki with a strange glint of pity in his eyes.
Onoki felt a little uneasy under the odd gaze, but took Sarutobi's silence as fear.
He continued to jeer:
"Ha! I was right! Konoha shinobi really are spineless weaklings! Hahaha—"
And just then, a cold voice came from behind him:
"Oh? Is that so?"
TN/ First off, Uchiha Salt, Vinegar's buddy is missing which is kinda sad, I like those two together, but it seems Obito replace him. Secondly, I have to spend a full hour searching the web because half of this chapter is missing. Thankfully, I found it.