The morning sun filtered through the hospital windows as Naruto and Sakura walked down the familiar hallway toward Sasuke's room. They had developed this routine over the past few weeks, but today felt different. Today, Sasuke would be awake, conscious, and ready to truly talk.
"Do you think he'll be in a bad mood?" Naruto asked as they approached the door.
"It's Sasuke," Sakura replied with a small smile. "He's always in a bad mood."
"Good point."
Naruto knocked before opening the door. Sasuke was sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed in training clothes, clearly ready to leave.
"Finally," Sasuke said without looking up. "Tsunade-sama said she would discharge me this morning if you two came to escort me."
"Escort you?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What are we, your bodyguards?"
"Medical protocol," Sasuke explained, standing up. He wavered slightly, his balance still adjusting after weeks of inactivity. Sakura instinctively moved to support him, but he held up a hand. "I'm fine."
"Sure you are, teme," Naruto said, though his tone was softer than usual. "That's why you almost fell over standing up."
Sasuke gave him an annoyed look, but didn't argue. Instead, he began walking toward the door, his movements careful but determined.
They left the hospital together, the silence between them not exactly awkward, but heavy with unspoken things. It was Sasuke who finally spoke.
"Tsunade filled me in on the Chūnin Exams," he said as they walked through the streets of Konoha. "They start in four days."
"Yeah," Naruto confirmed. "How do you feel about that?"
"Frustrated," Sasuke admitted with a raw honesty he rarely showed. "I lost six weeks of training. Six weeks where you two kept improving while I was... unconscious."
"You weren't sleeping," Sakura corrected gently. "You were recovering from injuries that would have killed anyone else."
"Which doesn't change the fact that I'm lagging behind now," Sasuke stopped, looking at both of them with something that might have been insecurity in someone less proud. "I can feel it. You two are... different. Stronger. In ways I can't quite identify."
Naruto and Sakura exchanged a quick glance. The Falna. Sasuke was sensing the effects without knowing what it was.
"We've been training hard," Naruto said carefully. "Tsunade-baachan has been putting us through crazy drills. And Kakashi-sensei too."
"I see," Sasuke said. There was something in his tone that suggested he knew there was more to the story, but to Naruto's surprise, he didn't press. "Then I'll have to catch up."
"It's not a race, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said. "We're a team. We grow together."
Sasuke looked at her, and for a moment, something soft crossed his expression. "Thank you. For saving me in the Land of Waves. Tsunade told me you and Naruto were the ones who kept me alive until help arrived."
Sakura blinked, surprised by the direct gratitude. "Of course. You're our teammate."
"Even so," Sasuke looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the emotion. "I owe you."
"You don't owe us anything," Naruto said firmly. "That's what teams do. We look out for each other. You jumped in front of those senbon to protect Sakura-chan. She kept you alive afterward. That's how it works."
Sasuke was silent for a moment, processing it. "I guess so."
They continued walking, the atmosphere between them a little lighter. They reached a small tea stall where Sasuke insisted on buying drinks for all three, his clumsy way of showing appreciation.
As they sat on a nearby bench, Naruto watched his teammate. Sasuke looked thinner, a little pale, but his eyes still held that characteristic intensity.
"So," Naruto said after a sip of tea, "what did Tsunade-baachan tell you about your condition for the exams?"
"I'll be at eighty percent capacity," Sasuke replied, the frustration evident in his voice. "She wants me to avoid prolonged combat and not use the Sharingan excessively."
"That sucks," Naruto said with genuine sympathy.
"Yeah," Sasuke agreed. "But it's better than being disqualified. And Tsunade said if I follow her rehabilitation protocol, I should be back at full capacity in two weeks."
"Two weeks is after the first phase," Sakura calculated. "You could be closer to total capacity for the second phase."
"That's the plan," Sasuke took a sip of his tea. "Though honestly, I'm not sure how Team 7 is going to operate in the exams with one of us running at limited capacity."
"Are you kidding?" Naruto straightened up. "We're going to kick butt, teme. Your eighty percent is still better than most genin's one hundred percent."
"Naruto is right," Sakura added. "And we'll cover your weak spots. That's what teams are for."
Sasuke looked at both of them. "You two really have changed."
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
"Naruto has always been... Naruto," Sasuke said. "Loud, impulsive, foolish. But now there's something more. A kind of... confidence that wasn't there before."
He turned to Sakura. "And you. You used to be..." he hesitated, clearly trying to find words that weren't insulting.
"Annoying? Obsessed with you?" Sakura offered with a wry smile. "You can say it. I was pathetic."
"I was going to say 'less confident'," Sasuke corrected. "But yes, you've changed. You're more... centered."
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun. That... that really means a lot."
Sasuke nodded, then stood up. "I should go see Kakashi-sensei. I need to know what kind of training I can do in my condition."
"Do you want us to come with you?" Naruto offered.
"No, you probably have your own preparations," Sasuke started to walk away, then stopped. "Naruto. Sakura."
They turned toward him.
"Don't hold back during the exams because of me," he said quietly. "If I'm slowing you down, tell me."
And with that, he left, leaving Naruto and Sakura sitting on the bench, processing the unexpectedly mature conversation.
"Wow," Naruto finally said. "Almost dying really changed him, huh?"
"Maybe," Sakura said thoughtfully. "Or maybe it just made him more honest with himself."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching people pass by. It was a beautiful day in Konoha, the kind of day that made it hard to believe that danger lurked on the horizon.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto said after a while, "can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you still like Sasuke? You know, in that way?"
Sakura blinked, surprised by the direct question. She looked at her teacup, considering her answer.
"No," she finally said, and there was a kind of freedom in admitting it out loud. "Not in that way. Not anymore."
"Really?" Naruto sounded genuinely surprised. "But you've always..."
"I know," Sakura laughed softly. "I've had a crush on him since the Academy. Or I thought I did."
"Thought?"
"It was a crush," Sakura explained. "I was in love with the idea of him. The handsome, mysterious genius. But I didn't really know him. And he certainly didn't know me."
Naruto processed this. "And now?"
"Now I see him as my teammate," Sakura said. "Someone I respect, someone I care about, someone I want to protect. But not... romantically."
"When did it change?" Naruto asked curiously.
Sakura thought about it. "I think it started during the Land of Waves mission. When Sasuke was injured... I realized that what I felt for him wasn't real love. It was admiration, maybe. But not love."
"Huh," Naruto said, clearly trying to process this revelation. "And how do you feel about it? Sad?"
"A little," Sakura admitted. "It's weird letting go of something that was part of me for so long. But mostly I feel... relieved."
"Relieved?"
"Yes," Sakura turned to look at him. "Because now I can focus on what really matters. Getting stronger, protecting the team, achieving my own goals. Without all that... emotional distraction."
"That makes sense," Naruto nodded. "Though it sucks you spent so much time chasing someone who didn't reciprocate."
Sakura laughed. "Thanks for reminding me."
"I didn't mean it in a bad way!" Naruto waved his hands defensively. "I just meant that, you know, you deserve someone who really sees you. Someone who appreciates how incredible you are."
Sakura felt her heart skip slightly at his words. "You think I'm incredible?"
"Of course," Naruto said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You're smart, strong, brave. You jumped against Zabuza to fight. You kept Sasuke alive when he was dying. You've been training like crazy with Tsunade-baachan and you've gotten super powerful. How could you not be incredible?"
The heat in Sakura's cheeks intensified. This was new. This warm, confusing feeling that appeared every time Naruto praised her or smiled in that particular way.
"Naruto," she said slowly, trying to organize her thoughts, "can I tell you something? Something... confusing?"
"Sure," Naruto turned completely toward her, giving her his full attention. "You can tell me anything."
Sakura took a deep breath. "Lately, I've been feeling... things. Things I don't fully understand."
"What kind of things?"
"Feelings," she said vaguely. "About people. About... relationships."
Inner Sakura was screaming: JUST TELL HIM! TELL HIM YOU LIKE HIM! THAT YOU ADMIRE HIM! THAT WHEN HE SMILES YOUR HEART DOES WEIRD THINGS!
But Outer Sakura wasn't that brave yet.
"It's just that," she continued carefully, "now that I don't have those feelings for Sasuke-kun, I feel... lost, I guess. Like I don't know what I'm supposed to feel or toward whom."
"That sounds complicated," Naruto said sympathetically. "But is it a bad thing? You know, not knowing?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "Sometimes I wonder if maybe... if maybe I've been looking in the wrong direction all this time."
"What do you mean?"
Sakura looked at him. This boy who had grown so much in so little time. The boy who had saved her, who had believed in her when no one else did, who had given her power when she felt weak.
"I mean," she said slowly, "that maybe the person I should have been noticing was right in front of me all along."
Naruto looked at her with genuine confusion. "Like Kakashi-sensei? Because he's pretty cool, but he's also kind of... old."
Sakura couldn't help but laugh. "No, you idiot. Not Kakashi-sensei."
"Then who?"
Inner Sakura: IT'S YOU, IDIOT! YOU! HOW CAN YOU BE SO DENSE?!
"It doesn't matter," Sakura said, deciding that maybe it was too soon for this conversation. "The point is that my feelings are... mixed up right now. And I wanted you to know because you're my friend and I trust you."
"Well, your feelings should clear up soon," Naruto said confidently. "Because you're one of the smartest people I know. If anyone can figure out complicated things, it's you."
"Thanks, Naruto," Sakura said softly. "That... that really helps."
They sat in comfortable silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. Sakura felt strangely light, as if admitting she no longer liked Sasuke—and almost admitting she liked Naruto—had lifted a weight she didn't know she was carrying.
"Hey, Sakura-chan," Naruto said after a while, "no matter what happens with your confusing feelings, you know I'll always be here, right? As your friend, as your teammate, as family."
"Family?" she repeated.
"Yeah," Naruto smiled warmly. "That's what you are to me. Family. Someone important I want to protect."
Something in Sakura's chest tightened painfully. "You're family to me too, Naruto."
"Great," Naruto stood up, stretching. "Then as family, we should train together. I have some free time before meeting Hinata-chan. Want to practice some combos?"
"Sure," Sakura stood up too, grateful for the change of subject. "But no Tajú Kage Bunshin. Last time you almost killed me with a thousand clones."
"But that's how you get stronger!" Naruto protested as they walked toward the training field.
"There's a difference between hard training and pure sadism," Sakura replied. "A thousand clones is sadism."
"Five hundred?"
"Fifty."
"But that's not even fun!"
"Maybe for you. Some of us don't have infinite chakra reserves."
They continued bantering as they walked, the tension from the previous conversation dissolving into the familiar comfort of their friendship. But in the back of Sakura's mind, the confusing feelings remained, warm and persistent.
When they arrived at the field, Naruto immediately started doing exaggerated stretches while Sakura prepared more methodically.
"Alright," Naruto said, bouncing in place, "what do you want to practice first?"
"Synchronization," Sakura replied. "Tsunade-sama said our greatest strength in the exams will be how well we work together. Especially with Sasuke-kun at half capacity."
"Good point," Naruto considered. "How about that move where you punch the ground and I use the debris as cover for the clones?"
"We could refine it," Sakura agreed. "Or even better, work on timing. If I can time my punches exactly when your clones attack, we create maximum chaos."
"I like how you think!" Naruto made the hand seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Fifty clones appeared around the field. Sakura smiled, concentrating chakra in her fists.
"Ready?" Naruto asked.
"Ready."
They spent the next hour perfecting their combos, adjusting timing, testing new variations. It was hard work, but it was also fun in a way Sakura hadn't expected. There was something deeply satisfying about working in perfect sync with Naruto, anticipating his moves, complementing his strengths.
At one point, after a particularly successful combo where Sakura had launched Naruto directly toward a group of enemy clones, he landed next to her with a huge grin.
"That was amazing!" he said, breathless but clearly excited. "We blew right through them!"
"Your rotation technique needs work," Sakura pointed out, but she was smiling too. "You almost hit two of your own clones."
"Minor details," Naruto waved a hand carelessly. "The point is it worked."
"This time," Sakura gave him a playful shove. "Next time you might not be so lucky."
"It's not luck," Naruto protested. "It's pure skill."
"Sure, sure."
They looked at each other, both sweaty and covered in dust, and burst into laughter.
"We should take a break," Sakura suggested after their laughter subsided. "I have water in my bag."
They sat under a tree, sharing the water bottle. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
"Naruto," Sakura said after a moment of quiet silence, "thank you."
"What for?"
"For today. For training with me, for listening to me talk about my mixed-up feelings, for... just being here."
"You don't have to thank me for that," Naruto said sincerely. "That's what friends do."
"Still," Sakura gently nudged him with her shoulder. "Thank you."
They remained that way for a while, watching the sunset together. Sakura felt strangely at peace, despite the confusion in her heart. Or perhaps because of it.
"Hey, Sakura-chan," Naruto said suddenly, "when you said maybe you'd been looking in the wrong direction... what exactly did you mean?"
Sakura's heart skipped. "Uh... just that maybe I should have paid more attention to the people who really cared about me. Instead of chasing someone who didn't even notice me."
"Oh," Naruto considered this. "Well, that makes sense. And have you figured out who that person is? The one you should have noticed?"
Inner Sakura: IT'S YOU, IDIOT! YOU!
"I think so," Sakura said quietly. "But I'm still... processing it. Making sure my feelings are real this time."
"Well, whoever it is," Naruto said with total seriousness, "they are very lucky. Because you are great, Sakura-chan. Anyone would be lucky to have your attention."
Sakura felt her heart melt a little. "Do you really think that?"
"Of course," Naruto smiled brightly. "I don't lie about important things."
"Naruto Uzumaki," Sakura said with false severity, "you are impossibly dense sometimes."
"Huh? What did I do now?"
"Nothing," Sakura stood up, extending a hand to help him. "Come on. You said you had to meet Hinata-chan, right?"
"Oh, right!" Naruto jumped up, taking her hand. "I promised to meet her at the bridge."
As they packed their things, Sakura allowed herself to watch him. He really had changed so much. He was no longer the loud kid from the Academy who played bad pranks. He was... someone she could trust. Someone who made her feel safe. Someone who believed in her even when she didn't believe in herself.
"Sakura-chan? Are you okay?"
"Yes," she said quickly. "Just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
"About how much things have changed," she answered honestly. "Just a few months ago, I was the weak girl on the team. Now..."
"Now you're one of the strongest kunoichi of our generation," Naruto completed proudly. "And that's amazing."
"Thanks to you," Sakura said softly. "A lot of it is thanks to you."
"Nah," Naruto shook his head. "I just gave you a chance. You're the one who did the hard work."
They walked together out of the training field, the sky above them now in deep shades of purple as the first stars began to appear.
"Hey, Naruto," Sakura said as they reached a crossroads where they would have to separate, "after the Chūnin Exams... can we talk? Really talk?"
"About what?"
"About those confusing feelings," Sakura said. "I think by then I might have them figured out."
"Sure," Naruto smiled. "You can tell me anything, Sakura-chan. You already know that."
"Yes," Sakura returned the smile. "I do."
They parted at the crossroads, each heading toward their own destination. As Sakura walked home, she touched her chest where her heart was beating a little faster than normal.
Her feelings for Sasuke were gone, she knew that for sure. But these new feelings for Naruto... they were different. Deeper. More real.
And that scared and excited her at the same time.
Naruto arrived at the bridge just as the last ray of sun disappeared over the horizon. Hinata was already there, leaning against the railing, looking at the water below.
"Hinata-chan!" Naruto called as he jogged closer. "Sorry I'm late!"
Hinata turned, and Naruto paused for a moment. The moonlight made her look almost ethereal, her dark hair shining softly.
"Naruto-kun," she greeted with her gentle smile. "You're not late. I arrived early."
"Even so, I should have been here first," Naruto said, joining her at the railing. "How was your day?"
"Productive," Hinata replied. "Kurenai-sensei had me running speed drills all morning. My legs are still shaking a little."
"Speed drills? Are those the ones where you have to dodge her attacks?"
"Yes," Hinata nodded. "She says speed will be my greatest advantage in the exams. Especially since many competitors won't expect someone my size to move so fast."
"Totally," Naruto agreed. "You're super fast now, Hinata-chan. I've seen you train. It's amazing."
Hinata blushed at the praise. "Thank you, Naruto-kun. But I still have a lot to improve."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Naruto turned to look at her directly. "You're incredible. You know that, right?"
Hinata's blush deepened. "I-I... I don't know about that..."
"Well, I do," Naruto declared. "And I need you to trust me on this. In the upcoming exams, you're going to do amazing things. I know it."
"How can you be so sure?" Hinata asked in a quiet voice.
"Because I know you," Naruto said simply. "I know how hard you've worked. I know how strong you've become. And I know that when it really matters, you always rise to the occasion."
Hinata felt tears prick at her eyes. "Naruto-kun, I..."
"And besides," Naruto continued, reaching into his pocket, "I have something for you."
He pulled out a small object wrapped in cloth. "I know it's not a big deal, but I wanted you to have this. For good luck."
Hinata took the package with trembling hands, unwrapping it carefully. Inside was an old cloth ninja headband, clearly used but well cared for.
"This was my practice headband," Naruto explained. "From when I was in the Academy, before I graduated. Iruka-sensei gave it to me. It's been with me through a lot."
"Naruto-kun, I can't accept this," Hinata protested, but she held the cloth gently, as if it were precious. "It's too important to you."
"That's why I want you to have it," Naruto insisted. "Because you are important to me, Hinata-chan. And I want you to have something to remind you that I'm always supporting you, even when we're not together."
A tear slipped down Hinata's cheek. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Naruto smiled warmly. "You're welcome. Now, when you're in the Forest of Death and things get tough, just look at that band and remember: you are strong, you are capable, and you have people who believe in you."
Hinata held the band against her chest. "I will treasure it."
They remained on the bridge for a long time after that, talking about everything and nothing. Hinata told him about her training with Kurenai, her worries about the second phase, her hopes for the exams.
Naruto told her about his day with the team, how strange it felt to have the whole team back together, and his determination to prove to everyone what he was capable of.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said after a long, comfortable silence, "can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you ever scared?" she asked quietly. "Of the exams, of failing, of... disappointing people?"
Naruto considered the question seriously. "Yeah," he admitted. "Sometimes. Especially lately."
"Why lately?"
"Because now I have more to lose," Naruto explained. "Before, if I failed, it only affected me. But now... now I have people counting on me. My team, my friends, my... family."
Hinata looked at him curiously. "Family?"
Naruto nodded, feeling the Leader Link pulsing gently in the back of his mind, connecting him with every person who bore his Falna. "Yes. Family. People who are important to me. People I want to protect."
"I understand that feeling," Hinata said softly. "I also have people I want to protect."
"Yeah? Who?"
Hinata looked him directly in the eyes, her lavender eyes shining with determination. "You, Naruto-kun. Kurenai-sensei. My teammates. All of you."
Naruto felt warmth in his chest at her words. "Then we'll protect each other. That's the deal, right?"
"Yes," Hinata smiled. "That's the deal."
The moon had risen completely now, bathing the bridge in silver light. Naruto looked at Hinata, truly looked at her, and realized how much she had changed. She was no longer the shy girl who fainted when he spoke to her. She was strong, confident, beautiful.
"Hinata-chan," he said suddenly, "thank you."
"What for?" she asked, confused.
"For believing in me when no one else did," Naruto explained. "For being the first to accept the Falna. For... for being you."
Hinata felt her heart pound faster. "Naruto-kun..."
"You are special, you know that?" Naruto continued, completely oblivious to the effect his words had on her. "Not just for your strength or your skills. But for who you are as a person. For your kindness, your courage, your heart."
"I-I..." Hinata struggled for words. "You are special too, Naruto-kun. You always have been."
They looked at each other for a long moment. Then Naruto broke the eye contact, scratching his head nervously.
"Well, it's getting late," he said. "You should head home. Your father is probably wondering where you are."
"Probably," Hinata agreed, though she sounded a little disappointed.
They walked together in comfortable silence, Naruto insisting on escorting her to the gates of the Hyūga compound. When they arrived, Hinata turned to him.
"Naruto-kun, about the exams..."
"Yes?"
"No matter what happens, I want you to know that..." she hesitated, gathering courage. "That being in your family has been the best thing that ever happened to me. It made me stronger, more confident, more... myself."
Naruto smiled warmly. "I'm glad to hear that, Hinata-chan. Because having all of you in my life has made me stronger too."
Hinata held the headband he had given her, pressing it against her chest. "Good night, Naruto-kun."
"Good night, Hinata-chan."
He watched her enter the compound, waiting until she disappeared from view before turning to begin the long walk back to his apartment.
As he walked through the night streets of Konoha, Naruto felt the Leader Link pulsing steadily, reminding him of his connection to every member of his family. Sakura, Hinata, Ino, Kurenai, Anko. They were all counting on him.
It was a heavy responsibility, but not one he feared.
He arrived at his apartment and found an envelope slipped under his door. He picked it up, immediately recognizing the handwriting.
It was from Iruka.
He opened the envelope carefully, pulling out a handwritten letter.
Naruto,
You are probably already preparing for the Chūnin Exams. I know you're nervous, even though you would never admit it out loud. That's one of the things I've always admired about you: your ability to face fear with a smile.
I want you to know something before the exams begin. I'm proud of you. Not just for how strong you've become, but for the person you've turned into. The kid who used to play pranks in my class is now someone others rely on. Someone who protects his friends. Someone who understands the true meaning of being a ninja.
The next few days are going to be tough. You will face challenges that will test not only your strength, but your character. But I know you can handle it. Because that's the kind of person you are.
Remember this: being Hokage isn't just about power. It's about protecting the people you love. And in that, Naruto, you are already the best.
Take care out there. And look after your team.
With pride,Iruka
Naruto read the letter three times, feeling his eyes burn with unshed tears. Iruka-sensei had always believed in him, even when he was the worst student in the Academy. Even when everyone else saw him as the demon child.
He folded the letter carefully and placed it on his nightstand, next to his Team 7 photo.
He changed into his sleepwear and lay down, staring at the ceiling. His mind was full of thoughts about the day: Sasuke recovering, Sakura's confession about no longer having feelings for Sasuke, his conversation with Hinata on the bridge, Iruka's letter.
The Leader Link pulsed softly, and Naruto focused on it, sensing each connection. They were all fine. They were all resting, preparing for what was to come.
"I'm going to protect all of them," he murmured to himself. "No matter what happens in those exams, I'm going to make sure they all come back safe."
It was a big promise, maybe too big for a thirteen-year-old genin. But Naruto had never been afraid of big promises.
He closed his eyes, letting sleep take him.
****
In her own room in the Hyūga compound, Hinata held the headband Naruto had given her, gently tracing the Konoha symbol with her fingers.
"I'll make you proud, Naruto-kun," she whispered in the dark. "I promise."
****
At her house, Sakura lay awake, staring at her ceiling, her thoughts a whirlwind.
She no longer liked Sasuke. She knew that for sure.
But these new feelings for Naruto... they were confusing and scary and exciting at the same time.
"After the exams," she told herself. "After the exams, I'll find the courage to tell him the truth."
*****
Sasuke was awake too, doing gentle stretches despite the late hour.
Six weeks. He had lost six weeks while his teammates grew stronger.
But he wasn't going to be left behind.
"I will catch up," he muttered, ignoring the ache in his still-healing muscles. "And I will surpass them."
****
In the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by his window, smoking his pipe as he looked out over his village.
He could feel it in the air. The approaching change. The storm on the horizon.
"What will the future hold?" Hiruzen said into the air. "I don't know, and I don't need to know."
*****
In the shadows outside Konoha, a figure watched the village from a distance.
Gaara of the Desert sat on a tree branch, his sleepless eyes fixed on the flickering lights of the village.
Shukaku whispered in his mind, hungry, violent, demanding.
"Blood... I need blood... let me out..."
"Soon," Gaara replied softly. "Soon I will prove my existence. And the blood will flow."
His eyes moved toward a specific direction, as if he could sense something. Someone.
*****
Orochimaru smiled as he looked at his reflection in a mirror.
"The preparations are complete," he hissed at his own image. "Soon, Sasuke-kun. Soon you will be mine."
******
In the depths beneath Konoha, in the Root facilities, Danzō Shimura studied reports with a critical eye.
"The anomalies continue," he muttered. "The Uzumaki boy is the key. And these kunoichi surrounding him..."
He closed the folder decisively.
"The Chūnin Exams will provide the perfect opportunity. Once they are in the Forest of Death, without direct supervision, my agents will move."
He smiled coldly.
"Konoha needs strength, not sentimentality. And I will give it that strength, no matter the cost."
*****
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