Tsunade looked up when her office door slammed open. The wood hit the wall stopper, shattering the silence of the tower.
"Anko," she said while placing her pen on a pile of recently signed documents. "You came quickly."
"I confirmed what we suspected." Anko closed the door with her heel and slumped into the chair in front of the desk, letting out a weary sigh. She had her right hand pressed firmly against the left side of her neck. "Kabuto Yakushi. I saw him up close today during the exam."
Tsunade set the papers aside and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Did your mark react?"
"Like a damn drum," Anko squeezed her fingers against her skin. "That brat has Orochimaru's scent all over his chakra."
"How sure are you about that?"
"My body knows that chakra better than my own voice. There is no possible mistake."
Tsunade stood up and walked toward the window. From there, the rooftops of Konoha stretched out under the orange twilight. The village looked peaceful, with chimneys starting to release smoke for dinner, but both knew it was a false calm.
"Did you interact with him directly?"
"Only from a distance when I made my entrance. But the way he looked at me..." Anko paused, staring at a fixed point on the desk. "It was pure evaluation. As if he were calculating how dangerous I am and how long it would take him to neutralize me."
"Then he already knows you suspect him."
"Probably. But he can't be sure how much I actually know."
Tsunade tapped the wooden window frame. "If Orochimaru has an agent inside the exams and that agent goes after Naruto or Sasuke..."
"It will be a massacre," Anko completed the sentence, jumping out of her chair. "That is why I came straight here. We need to talk to the Hokage."
"You are right," Tsunade walked toward the exit. "Let's go. Hiruzen needs to know this now."
They stepped out into the hallway and walked quickly toward the main office. Their footsteps echoed on the tower's polished stone floor. Anko kept touching her curse mark, a repetitive movement that betrayed her unease.
They arrived at the Hokage's office. The two guards at the door immediately stepped aside. Hiruzen was sitting in front of a mountain of scrolls, but he looked up and set his pipe aside when they entered.
"Tsunade, Anko. By the looks on your faces, I assume you don't bring good news."
"Kabuto Yakushi," Anko said, standing in front of the desk. "He has Orochimaru's chakra in him. My mark reacted when I saw him today."
Hiruzen exhaled the bit of smoke still left in his lungs. "How strong was the reaction?"
"Enough to confirm prolonged contact. It's not just that he's been near Orochimaru; that kid carries his chakra as if he were marked."
"Just as you once were," Hiruzen observed in a grave voice.
"Exactly."
"Do you have a file on him?" Tsunade asked, approaching the table.
Hiruzen searched through the stacked files and pulled out a brown folder. He opened it and read aloud. "Kabuto Yakushi. War orphan, adopted by the orphanage director, Nonō Yakushi. Entered the ninja academy at age nine. Flawless record. Missions completed without failure. Advanced medical knowledge. He has taken the Chunin exam six times without passing."
"That is suspicious in itself," Tsunade commented, glancing at the photos in the file. "No one with that skill level fails six times by accident."
"Exactly what I thought." Hiruzen turned the pages, pointing out several dates. "There are gaps in his history. Periods of six months where he was officially on long-term reconnaissance missions, but the reports are vague and lack tactical details."
"Because he wasn't on Konoha missions," Anko concluded. "He was with Orochimaru."
"That is my suspicion as well."
"What do we do?" Tsunade asked. "If we arrest him now without concrete proof, Orochimaru will know we are on alert."
"And if we do nothing, he could attack the genin tomorrow," Anko added, rapping her knuckles on the desk.
Hiruzen leaned back in his wooden chair, looking at the ceiling as he thought. "We will increase security without making it obvious that it is because of him. Anko, you will be inside the forest with the teams. Keep Kabuto under constant surveillance. If he makes a move against any genin, especially against Naruto or Sasuke, you have authorization to stop him."
"Understood."
"I will also place ANBU squads in strategic positions near the main clearings. If Kabuto is not alone, we need to identify his accomplices."
"And the jōnin?" Tsunade asked.
"Kakashi and Kurenai can rotate tracking Kabuto from a safe distance. Asuma and Guy will be on the outer perimeter to prevent interference."
"That will work," Anko nodded, though her expression remained tense. "But if that bastard tries something, I'm not going to wait for orders. I'm going to stop him."
"Be careful," Hiruzen warned in a serious tone. "If he really is an agent of Orochimaru, his level will be far superior to that of a common genin. He is likely at the level of an experienced chūnin, perhaps even jōnin."
"I know. That's why I'm not going to underestimate him."
"Good." Hiruzen looked them both in the eye. "Tomorrow is going to be complicated. Stay alert."
They left the office and headed down the tower stairs. Upon reaching the main lobby, Anko stopped next to one of the stone columns.
"The brats... Especially Naruto and the girls. Are they ready for this?"
Tsunade stopped as well, looking toward the exit where the sky was already turning purple. "They are stronger than anyone imagines. But facing an agent of Orochimaru is different from anything they have seen."
"That is why I'm asking."
"They will be fine. They have advantages Kabuto doesn't know about. And they have something Orochimaru's agents never have."
"What?"
"They truly care for one another. Without manipulation, without a hidden agenda. That makes them more dangerous than they appear."
Anko smiled slightly, relaxing her shoulders. "I hope you are right."
"I am always right."
Anko let out a brief laugh and walked away into the street shadows. Tsunade stayed for a moment longer, looking through the hallway windows toward the dark silhouette of the forest surrounding the village.
Naruto, she murmured to herself. You better be ready for tomorrow.
******
The Ichiraku stand was full of steam and animated conversation. The hanging lantern lights swayed gently in the night breeze. Naruto was on his fourth bowl of ramen, moving his chopsticks at a constant speed. Sakura and Hinata were sitting at his sides, finishing their own portions.
"How do you not choke?" Ino asked, sitting in front of her empty plate on the other side of the counter.
"Years of practice," Naruto replied after swallowing.
"It's disgusting," Sakura commented, though she didn't stop eating her soup calmly.
Shikamaru was leaning against the wooden post that supported the stand's roof, eyes half-closed and hands behind his head. "We should be planning for tomorrow instead of celebrating as if we've already won."
"Relax, Shikamaru," Ino said, turning on her stool. "We just passed the first phase. Let us enjoy five minutes."
"Five minutes that could be better used checking our gear."
"You are a professional party pooper."
"Someone has to be."
Tenten, who was sitting next to Chōji, placed her chopsticks on the ceramic rest with a sigh. "Even if I hate to admit it, Shikamaru has a point. Anko said to meet at Gate 44 at eight in the morning. That gives us less than fourteen hours to prepare."
"Prepare for what?" Chōji asked as he lifted his third bowl to drink the broth. "We don't even know what kind of test it will be."
"But we can make intelligent guesses," Hinata spoke in a soft tone. "It's called the Forest of Death. It likely involves survival and combat in hostile terrain."
"And other teams trying to kill us," Shino added, his presence barely noticeable in the corner of the stand. "Let's not forget that several genin passed."
"Why do you always assume the worst?" Kiba complained from the end of the bar, with Akamaru poking his head out of his jacket.
"Because the worst is usually correct in these exams."
"Valid point."
Sasuke suddenly appeared at the entrance of the stand, stepping out of the street shadows. He walked with a slow pace, hands in his pockets and a thoughtful expression that was unusual for him.
"Sasuke," Naruto greeted him with a wave. "Just in time. We were talking about the exam."
"Good." Sasuke approached the counter and leaned against the wood, ignoring the menu. "Because I have something to say about that."
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, stopping her eating.
"Kabuto Yakushi." Sasuke crossed his arms and looked at the others. "That guy gives me a bad feeling."
"Us too," Naruto admitted, becoming serious. "Did you notice something specific?"
"Several things. First, his skill level doesn't match someone who has failed the Chunin exam so many times. He wears glasses, looks like an intellectual, but his way of moving is too clean."
"Exactly," Sakura leaned forward over the counter. "During the written exam, he solved everything effortlessly. Someone like that doesn't fail so many times by accident."
"Second," Sasuke continued, lowering his voice slightly, "after we left the classroom, I followed him for a bit. He went straight to a residential area to the east. He entered a building that was empty according to village records."
"How do you know it was empty?" Shikamaru asked, now fully alert and straightening his back.
"Because I checked the night patrol blueprints afterward. Officially, no one has lived there for six months."
"Then he has a hidden base of operations," Sakura concluded.
"Or a contact point," Hinata added. "Someone who doesn't want to be officially tracked by the village sensors."
Sasuke nodded. "And third, during the exam, when Anko came in, there was something weird. A second of tension that no one else seemed to notice."
"I noticed it too," Hinata said in a low voice. "His chakra fluctuated briefly when Anko-sensei appeared. It was a reaction of recognition."
"As if he knew her," Sasuke looked at Hinata. "Or as if he were calculating something about her beforehand."
"Crap," Naruto muttered. "Then he is definitely dangerous."
"Very dangerous," Sasuke confirmed. "That's why I came to warn you. Tomorrow in the forest, if you see him, stay away. Don't fight him unless you have no choice."
"Do you think he is going to attack someone specifically?" Ino asked.
"I don't know. But someone with that level of skill pretending to be a mediocre genin has a clear agenda. And hidden agendas are never good."
"Makes sense," Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck. "Someone who fails intentionally is either collecting information or waiting for the right moment for something important."
"Exactly."
"Good job investigating him, Sasuke," Naruto said. "Seriously."
"I was just being careful." Sasuke shrugged and turned around to leave. "Tomorrow is going to be dangerous anyway. We don't need additional threats we didn't see coming."
He stayed for a moment longer before disappearing again into the darkness of the street with a casual farewell.
"At least now we know we aren't the only paranoid ones," Ino commented as Sasuke walked away.
"It's not paranoia if there really is something wrong," Shikamaru replied. "And clearly, there is something very wrong with Kabuto Yakushi."
"Hey, Shikamaru," Naruto looked at him intently. "You're the brain of the group. Doesn't it seem strange to you that a guy has done this exam so many times yet looks like someone so competent?"
Shikamaru scratched his head, looking at the ground. "Now that you mention it, yes. Someone with advanced medical knowledge and that level of composure under pressure should have passed years ago. It's a waste of time for him."
"Then why hasn't he passed?" Chōji asked, wiping his hands with a napkin.
"Two options." Shikamaru held up two fingers. "Either he's failing on purpose to collect information on other villages' exams, or he's waiting for something specific that only happens during Konoha's exams."
"Like infiltrating the village when all the jōnin are distracted with logistics," Sakura suggested.
"That, or looking for someone in particular. Maybe a specific target who only appears during the exams."
"Great," Kiba muttered, getting up from his seat. "As if the forest full of killer animals wasn't enough."
"That's why we have to be alert," Shikamaru said. "If you see anything weird tomorrow, don't ignore it. Trust your instincts."
"Good advice," Naruto nodded.
The group began to disperse. Kiba, Shino, and Hinata walked toward the street leading to the Inuzuka district. Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji took the opposite direction toward their neighborhoods. Tenten said goodbye with a quick gesture and ran toward her house.
Sakura stood by Naruto as the lights of the neighboring stands began to turn off.
"Are we going to your apartment?" she asked in a low voice.
"What for? We already have all the gear we bought last time."
"I know. But we need to talk about tomorrow. About how to coordinate while being on different teams inside that place."
"You're right," Naruto nodded. "Let's go."
They walked in silence through the side streets. The village was quieter than usual, as if everyone was saving energy for the next day.
"Are you nervous?" Sakura asked as they crossed a small stone bridge.
"A little. That guy gives me the creeps every time I think about it."
"Me too." Sakura looked toward the tops of the giant trees peaking over the village walls. "Something about him is wrong. Fundamentally wrong."
"Do you think he'll try to kill us in there?"
"I think he'll try something. I don't know what exactly, but he isn't in this exam just to get a title."
They reached Naruto's apartment building. They climbed the metal exterior stairs, which creaked under their feet. Reaching the top floor hallway, they saw Hinata, Ino, and Tenten waiting by the door, leaning against the wall under the yellowish light of an old bulb.
"You guys got here fast," Naruto commented as he took out his keys and unlocked the door.
"We needed to talk," Hinata said, entering the apartment first. "About tomorrow."
They went inside and Naruto closed the door, sliding the bolt. Then he closed the curtains so no one could see in. He took out a small piece of paper with inscriptions and stuck it to the center of the door: he activated a simple privacy seal that Kurenai had given him.
"Does that seal work?" Ino asked, dropping her backpack on the floor.
"Kurenai-sensei says it blocks sound from going out. No one can hear us from the hallway, not even with a dog's hearing."
"Perfect."
"Alright." Naruto looked at the girls as they sat on the floor around the low table. "We have all the gear we bought last time. Kunais, shurikens, wire, explosive tags. Everything is stored in my inventory."
"I have the medical kits I prepared a few days ago," Sakura added, pulling out a sealed case. "There are enough supplies for everyone."
"So are we ready?" Ino asked, looking at each of them.
"Technically, yes," Hinata replied, looking down at her hands. "But there is something that worries me a lot."
"What?" Naruto asked.
"We are on separate teams tomorrow. Me with Kiba and Shino. Ino with Shikamaru and Chōji. Tenten with Lee and Neji. Sakura with you and Sasuke."
"True," Sakura frowned. "It's a logistical problem. We are family, but we can't act like we are a single team without it looking suspicious to the examiners."
"Especially with Kabuto watching us," Tenten added. "If he sees us coordinating too much between teams that should be rivals, he might suspect something strange."
"Crap," Naruto muttered, scratching his head. "I hadn't thought about that."
There was a rhythmic knock on the door that made everyone tense up instantly. Naruto stood up and looked through the peephole.
"It's Kurenai-sensei. And Anko-sensei is with her."
He opened the door carefully. Kurenai entered first, followed by Anko, who carried a bottle of sake in one hand and a large paper scroll under her arm.
"Hello, brats." Anko closed the door with her elbow. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"We were talking about tomorrow," Naruto replied. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes." Kurenai looked at the girls seriously. "Anko and I have been talking about the exam and about Kabuto Yakushi."
"I already confirmed he is an agent of Orochimaru," Anko said, dropping the scroll on the table with a dull thud. "My curse mark reacted when I saw him today. That brat has his chakra all over him."
The girls exchanged worried glances in silence.
"How dangerous is he really?" Sakura asked.
"Very dangerous. He probably has the skill level of a jōnin in reality, though he pretends to be a mediocre genin to go unnoticed."
"Crap."
"Exactly. And that brings me to why we are here." Anko unrolled the map on the table, pushing aside Naruto's empty bowls. It was a detailed map of the Forest of Death. "Kurenai convinced me to cheat a little bit for the sake of safety."
"Cheat?" Naruto leaned in to look at the map, which showed rivers, towers, and elevations.
"Controlled cheating," Kurenai corrected. "We aren't going to tell you what kind of exam it is; that would be going too far. But we can give you critical security information."
Anko pointed to red marks at several strategic points on the map. "These red zones are high-surveillance ANBU areas. If you are in these areas and something goes wrong, you will have immediate backup from elite squads."
"You are telling us where the ANBU are?" Ino seemed surprised by the revelation.
"I'm telling you where it is safest to be," Anko replied bluntly. "With Kabuto in there and probably other dangers we don't know about, I need you to know where you can get help if you truly need it."
"And there is another problem," Kurenai added, pointing to the routes. "You all are on different teams tomorrow."
"We were just talking about that," Sakura said.
"I figured." Kurenai looked at the map closely. "That's why Anko is going to coordinate the safest routes with you. If your teams occasionally coincide in the red zones, no one will think it's planned."
"You are suggesting we meet intentionally at those points," Hinata observed.
"I'm suggesting you use your brains," Anko replied. "If you coincide in high-surveillance areas where there is ANBU backup, you are safer together than apart. Especially with that guy roaming the forest."
"And our teammates?" Hinata asked. "Kiba and Shino don't know anything about this."
"Then convince them to take the routes you want to take. You are smart. Find logical reasons for them to follow."
Anko pointed to different spots on the paper. "Look. There are three main routes from the entrance gates to the central tower. Most teams are going to take the direct route because it's shorter. That is the blue zone."
"And what's wrong with that?" Naruto asked.
"That's where all the other teams will be. More teams mean more fights. More fights mean more physical exhaustion and a higher risk of being ambushed."
"So we avoid the blue zone at all costs," Tenten concluded.
"Exactly. The green zones are longer routes but with less traffic. And the red zones I showed you have constant ANBU coverage."
Kurenai leaned over the table. "We need to talk about coordination. Ino, your mental jutsu can connect the girls if they are in range, right?"
"Yes. After the Falna, I can reach about five hundred meters easily. Maybe more if I concentrate hard."
"Then that is your way of communicating if your teams are close," Kurenai said. "But use it sparingly. We don't want you to burn out before reaching the tower."
"How long can you maintain the connection?" Anko asked with interest.
"Thirty minutes connecting four people. Longer if there are fewer minds."
"Sufficient for tactical coordination when necessary."
They spent the next hour studying the map under the ceiling lamp's light. Anko explained the most dangerous zones of the forest, areas with aggressive fauna like giant tigers, and the best spots to set up temporary camps if they needed to rest at night.
"The main river is drinking water," Anko pointed out, tracing a blue line with her finger. "But it also attracts all the teams. Avoid it during the day. If you need water, there are smaller tributaries here and here that are more discreet."
Hinata pulled out her own small map and compared it to Anko's. "My clan's files are a bit old. This map is much more current."
"Exactly," Anko confirmed. "The forest changes constantly. Trees fall due to storms, new ones grow. What was clear five years ago might be dense brush now."
"We need to talk about abilities," Sakura said, looking at Kurenai. "If we use our enhanced capabilities too openly, someone might suspect the Falna or some type of doping."
"You're right," Kurenai nodded. "That's why you need to be subtle. Ino, your mental jutsu has more range now, but no one knows what your exact limit was before except your team. Use it freely."
"Hinata, your Byakugan is more detailed and reaches further," Anko continued. "But that looks like natural progress from intense training. No problem there."
"Tenten, your throws are more precise and faster," Kurenai added. "But that also looks like the result of intensive marksmanship training."
"And me?" Naruto asked.
"You're stronger and faster," Anko said. "But people already know Tsunade trains you personally. They'll assume it's because of the training of a Legendary Sannin."
"What about Naruto?" Ino asked with a smile.
"Naruto is Naruto," Kurenai replied, laughing. "No one expects him to act normal anyway."
"Hey," Naruto protested, crossing his arms.
"It's true and you know it."
Anko took a swig from her sake bottle. "One more thing. I can't tell you what kind of exam it is because that would be a serious offense. But I can say that you are going to need to work as a team. With your official team, I mean. You can't just rely on the four of you."
"Understood," Naruto nodded.
"Sasuke, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Chōji, Lee, Neji. They are all good ninjas," Kurenai said. "Trust them as well. They are valuable companions."
"We will," Sakura promised.
"Good." Anko tucked the bottle into her belt. "Now let's talk about specific tactics. If your teams meet in the red zones, how are you going to justify it to your teammates without it looking planned?"
"We can say we are looking for water," Hinata suggested. "The tributaries you mentioned are right in the red zones."
"Good idea," Kurenai approved. "What else?"
"Advanced scouting," Tenten added. "Neji can use his Byakugan to map the area at a long distance. It would be logical to move toward areas that seem safe according to his reading."
"And I can suggest avoiding the direct route because there will be too many conflicting teams," Ino said. "Shikamaru will agree with that immediately; he likes to save effort."
"Perfect," Anko nodded. "Use solid tactical logic to guide your teams. Your teammates won't suspect anything if the reasons are good."
"What if Kabuto attacks us directly?" Naruto asked. "Can we defend ourselves with everything we have?"
"You can and you must," Kurenai responded firmly. "But be smart. If he attacks, scream. Make noise. Throw explosive tags. The ANBU will be listening."
"And if he tries something discreet?" Sakura asked. "Like poisoning or a silent ambush."
"That's where your coordination matters," Anko said. "If one team detects something suspicious, use Ino's mental connection to alert the others immediately. Superior numbers are your best defense against him."
"Understood."
Anko unrolled another section of the map that was folded. "There is something else you should know. The forest has dead zones where chakra is naturally distorted. Here, here, and here."
She pointed to three areas marked with black circles.
"What kind of distortion?" Hinata asked, briefly activating her Byakugan to see the map's details.
"The First Hokage sealed something in those areas decades ago. I don't know exactly what, but it interferes with chakra detection. Your Byakugan won't work well there. Ino's mental jutsu won't reach far either."
"Are those zones dangerous themselves?" Tenten asked.
"Only if you get lost in them and run out of orientation. Avoid them if you can. If you can't avoid them, stay together and do not separate for any reason."
"Why did the Hokage leave them like that?" Naruto asked.
"Because they serve as additional navigation tests," Kurenai replied. "The forest is designed to challenge ninjas in multiple ways. It's not just combat, but navigation, survival, and adaptation to the environment."
"Great," Ino muttered. "As if it wasn't already complicated enough."
"That is why you need to work together," Anko insisted. "Alone you are good. Together you are formidable. Remember that tomorrow."
They continued reviewing the map for another half hour. Anko showed them natural landmarks they could use to orient themselves without a compass: ancient trees with marks on the bark, unusual rock formations, and patterns in the moss that indicated north.
"Don't rely only on the sun's position for orientation," Anko warned. "The leaf canopy is so dense in some areas that you won't see the sky for hours."
"Are there artificial traps set by the village?" Sakura asked.
"Some. Mainly around the central tower to prevent infiltration. But there are also traps that other teams might have left from previous exams that were never deactivated."
"Wonderful."
"Welcome to the Chunin exams," Anko smiled sideways. "Where everything tries to kill you and some of your peers want to do it too."
Kurenai looked at the wall clock in the apartment. "It's almost eleven. You need to get some sleep."
"She's right." Sakura stood up and stretched. "Tomorrow is going to be a very long day."
"Before you leave..." Anko looked at them all seriously. "I want you to know something. I cheated for you because you are important. But tomorrow I cannot help you directly while the exam is underway. If I see you in trouble, I will intervene only if your life is in real danger. Understand that."
"We understand," Naruto nodded. "And thank you, Anko-sensei. This means a lot to us."
"Don't thank me yet. Thank me when you come out of that forest alive."
The girls gathered their things. Tenten was the first to step out into the hallway, followed by Ino. Sakura stopped for a moment in the doorway.
"Naruto, about tomorrow..."
"Yeah?"
"If things get ugly, if Kabuto or someone else attacks us, don't do anything stupid. Don't try to be a hero all by yourself."
"I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you."
"I know. But we aren't going to leave you alone either. We are a team, remember?"
"I remember perfectly."
"Good. Sleep well."
She left and closed the door. Hinata was the last to get ready to leave, adjusting her jacket.
"Naruto-kun."
"Yes, Hinata-chan?"
"Tomorrow is going to be more dangerous than anything we've faced so far. More than the mission in the Land of Waves. More than any training with the sensei."
"I know."
"Then promise me you won't do anything reckless on impulse."
Naruto looked at her and smiled confidently. "I promise I will do my best not to do anything reckless. That is the best I can offer right now."
Hinata sighed but smiled too, resigned. "I guess I'll have to settle for that promise. Goodnight, Naruto-kun."
"Goodnight, Hinata-chan."
Naruto closed the door and was left alone in the silence of the apartment. He looked at the map Anko had left on the wooden table. All those red zones and danger marks. He walked to the window and pulled the curtain back a bit. He couldn't see the forest from here, but he knew it was there, dark and silent, waiting.
******
Later at the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen was meeting with the lead jōnin in a private room lit by candles. Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Guy stood before his desk. Tsunade was leaning against the back wall with her arms crossed.
"The situation is clear," Hiruzen began in a hoarse voice. "Anko confirmed that Kabuto Yakushi has a probable connection to Orochimaru. Tomorrow the second phase begins and we need tightened security protocols."
"What specific protocol do we have?" asked Kakashi, who looked more serious than usual.
"Kakashi, Kurenai, you will take turns tracking Kabuto inside the forest. Maintain a safe distance, without interfering unless he represents an immediate threat to the participants."
"Understood," both nodded in unison.
"Asuma, Guy, you will be in charge of the forest's outer perimeter. If anyone tries to enter or leave without official authorization, stop them on the spot."
"We shall do it with the flames of youth!" Guy raised his fist with restrained enthusiasm.
Hiruzen continued. "I also have ANBU squads in strategic positions within the clearings. If Kabuto is not alone, we need to detect his accomplices before they act."
"Are we expecting a direct attack from Orochimaru?" Asuma asked as he lit a cigarette, ignoring Hiruzen's disapproving look.
"We cannot rule it out at all," Tsunade replied. "The village is full of visitors, the genin are scattered throughout the forest, and our attention is divided. It is the perfect scenario for an infiltration."
"There is another problem." Kakashi adjusted his mask over his nose. "Gaara of the Sand. That boy is very unstable. If he loses control in the middle of the forest..."
"Anko has authorization to neutralize him if he becomes an active threat to others," Hiruzen said firmly. "I know it could cause a serious diplomatic incident, but the safety of our genin is the absolute priority."
"Neutralize?" Kurenai raised an eyebrow, seeking clarification. "Are we talking about lethal elimination?"
"I mean knocking him out of the fight," Hiruzen replied. "I would rather explain to the Kazekage why his son is unconscious than explain to thirty Konoha families why their children were slaughtered."
A heavy silence fell over the group of jōnin. They all knew the weight of those words.
"Very well." Hiruzen stood up slowly. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow starts early and it will be a very long day for everyone. You may go."
The jōnin left the room one by one. Their footsteps faded down the tower hallways. Hiruzen stayed behind alone, looking toward the distant forest through the darkened window.
Let tomorrow be a peaceful day
*******
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