"I don't get why you want to make another village. You love Konoha so why leave it?"

A young man with spiky black hair and wearing blue clothing shrugged as he looked at his longtime friends. While he treated the two as friends he knew that they themselves were rivals.

"I want freedom. I want to make a village that is a safe haven for anybody who needs a safe home. Konoha is great but it isn't that. We're like the other villages in that we capilize on things. We hate Iwa or Kumo because they use that breeding program for kekkai genkais while we do the same. Did you know that many on the council wanted to use Miki for the Uchiha Clan? They wanted to see what type of powerful weapon they could get from our strongest kunoichi and our strongest doujutsu."

His friend Hiruzen frowned, "Really? But Kagami wouldn't allow that if he had any say in it."

Okami nodded in agreement, "Which is why she is still mine and not some baby supplier. I'm going to create a village that will one day rival the Five. There are still some clans out there who haven't been united and many that are disatisfied with where they are."

His other friend Danzo shook his head, "You'd weaken Konoha by leaving. The Kyouran are a very powerful clan, losing the Seijinga-"

"-I'm the last of the Kyouran shinobi, the rest are elders and children, and my doujutsu is mine alone. Should I have a child they will not carry the eyes but their child will. Besides it's not my eyes that worry you it's my chakra."

The two shared a look before Danzo spoke up, "Your chakra is visible, superior to average chakra, and as it is you have as much chakra as Tobimara-sensei. Not to mention that the chakra can make even Fire Release overpower a Water Release."

Okami groaned, "You make me wish I never awakened it. I know some of the others want to somehow recreate it but the chakra has a toll. At best I could divide it seven times before it would be deadly for the one wielding it. Hell I'd weaken considerably. You sometimes forget that it is labeled as a kinjutsu due to the amount of stress it puts on the body."

"Well if you want to leave then no one will stop you. As long as you're an ally with us I doubt they'd want to stop you. Tobimara-sensei may be strick but he is kind." Hiruzen nodded, "Where will you make it?"

"We'll still be in the Land of Fire. Near the coast. I'm thinking since it'll be near the coast that it could become a trade route between Uzu and Konoha. Plus the forest there is where the Kyouran Clan used to live so the forest is covered in trees that react to chakra. The amber trees we liked to call them. We could become a merchant and hidden village all in one."

Danzo laughed but didn't say anything else as Okami and Hiruzen began to talk about the village that had not yet existed.

It would be another five years before Okami would realize his vision and create Kohakugakure. After the First Shinobi World War after the death of Tobimara Senju and the appointed of Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Sandaime Hokage.

It would be another twenty years before his ally and trade partner Uzu was wiped out by a combined force between nations. During which time his village grew due to refugees and former shinobi of Konoha such as Takeshiro Ryuugon and Uindo Shuji.

Another ten years before the start of the Third Shinobi World War when his village became known as the strongest minor village; going toe to toe with giants such as Kumo and Iwa and surviving. During which time the Seven Demon Ninjas of Ambers were created with Takeshiro Ryuugon leading the team.

After it would be a year later that his own son, Masahiro Kyouran, would kill several of his comrades and leave the village.

It would be another year before Dante Kyouran, soon Dante Ryuugon, would be found by Tsubaki Ryuugon next to his dying mother. Soon after he would search out for his son and find him in Ame. He would later die in the fight against Masahiro Kyouran and Hirihito.

He would never live to see the day, eleven years later, where the village he loved was set asunder.

"We're back home just in time for an hour before the exams start. Are you ready?"

Akemi looked down at her temporary student who, admittedly had changed much, now carried a wakizashi on his back. Besides the sword he now wore black pants instead of shorts, hiding a small scar that he had received from Akemi during their training.

While they both agrred that scars were a part of being shinobi they also agreed that his mother would not enjoy seeing them on her children. During the month of training she had thoroughly trained him kenjutsu to the point where he, while not nearly a master, was profecient enough to last two minutes with one.

And lasting two minutes against a kenjutsu master was nothing short of miraculous.

It had taken the entire month for him to increase his skill with his signature jutsu enough to revise it. Besides that he had only learned two new jutsu. Yet when he felt his strength as it was now he did feel much stronger than what he had been just a month prior.

I'll beat this exam without using the Seijingan!

"I would have enjoyed another week but I'll be good. I'm looking forward to watching some of the matches too. I'm fourth so I'll be able to plan more." Dante frowned as he thought of the matches, "The last one is between Miki and Kieko so I don't know who to root for but it's the first and third matches that worry me."

Akemi nodded in agreement, "That Fu girl versus Kira and Kenki Akuma versus Fuji. I hope for their wins but unless they've done some serious training I don't think it will end well for either of them."

Dante sighed and rubbed the back of his head, "That Kenki guy knew me somehow and he was able to fight everybody without taking any serious damage. Kikiyo told me that judging from the chakra he was using that whatever jutsu he was going to use was going to be a strong one. She said that he was weak to genjutsu though. I only know the basic academy one but I know something that will work."

"Hm well I'll trust you. You were the first I've ever trained and it won't do wel for you to lose. When we took the exams it was during war times so it was only held within the village. Nanashi won pretty easily but we didn't have anyone like those two in the exams."

"I have a plan for Kenki but it's Fu that worries me after. They said she was strong but no one saw her fight. I'll be going in blind."

The two walked throuh the busy streets with ease while avoiding some of the larger crowds. While the crowd hadn't parted like it had for Nanashi Akemi still held an aura that was able to stop anyone from getting too close. Dante was thankful that he was just tall enough not to get lost in the mass of bodies.

The two were on the way to the stadium where tournaments always took place however for the first time being the grounds for the Chunnin Exams. It was able to hold around a thousand people in the seats with more standing.

Dante didn't want to know how much the prices were to get a seat but he hoped that Kouki and her son Kakanai were able to see. Thinking on the two he realized that he hadn't seen either of them much since he became a genin. He felt as if it was just yesterday that he had become a genin.

And now I'll become a chunnin.

Tenji Shuji groaned as he woke up from his not so deep slumber. Like always he could barely see his surroundings, only a small flame that lit up a table covered in bloody tools. He noticed in particular the pliers at the edge, a red piece of something still grasped in it. He looked out of the corner of his eyes, for moving his head was too hard, and looked at his fingernails. Despite his vision barely being able to see a foot in front of him he could still feel what he needed to know.

Only have one left...

Looking back down at the ground he wished he still had the energy to sigh. He had known it would be hard and painful to be tortured as much as he had been and, while initially he had enjoyed them, the moments of silence unnerved him. He wondered if anyone had noticed the difference between him and the near carbon copy of him.

While a jounin he was also the ANBU Commander; a fact that only a select few knew. He could count on one hand the people in the village who were allowed to know.

Takeshiro-sama, Uindo-sama, and...Ah I see.

Tenji gave a sad, small smile, In order to get to my files you need the blood of either Takeshiro-sama or Uindo-sama. In that fight Masahiro gained enough of both of their blood. They were a distraction. While Takeshiro-sama and Uindo-sama recuperated that henge user must have entered the village and gotten to the files.

The sound of the door creaking open alerted him as a tall man entered the room. Once he did the flame grew larger until it illuminated the entire room. As the light intensified Tenji found himself squinting to adjust.

"Awake I see. I suppose it is foolish to try and persuade you to answer our questions?"

The man was not the one who had begun to torture him but the one that had taken over. He was obviously a noble of sorts with his regal aura and the way he carried himself. His long black hair that was obviously treated with care, perfect skin without a single blemish, and manicured nails added to that belief.

Tenji had gotten to know the man almost intimately during the month of torture. He realized that this man was sloppy when it came to physical activity and threats. The way he tortured as well left a lot to be desired. As one who had tortured a few rogue shinobi and criminals he knew the arts of torture.

This man did not.

The man picked up a nine tailed whip and moved to stand behind Tenji.

Interregating me was pointless to begin with. I'm the ANBU Commander, I have seals that stop me from speaking of any classified secrets. That includes any technique that enters my mind as well. I am lucky that I was captured. All I need to do is die and warn Takeshiro-sama.

Tenji didn't make a nose as the man began to strike him or even acknowledge that he felt it. He was too focused on the feeling of chakra that had finally began to replenish in his system.

I just need to activate the seal now. This man didn't even realize that he took of the chakra suppresser that the others had put on me. I don't have enough to use any other jutsu and I'm not nearly strong enough to stand...

Tenji's smile went unnoticed as the man continued to whip his back. While his back was covered in blood the man was able to tell that there was hardly any skin left.

"I suppose I should commend you for not falling into shock. It's most impressive really. You don't even seem to feel pain. Are all shinobi like this?"

This man...Osamu was it? He truly is a fool.

The Sessho technique...I had hoped I would never use it. However I don't see a choice anymore. Kohakugakure is in trouble and if my death will help it then...then the answer is simple.

Tenji bit his lips hard enough to draw blood as he felt his eyes prickle, however no tears fell, Damn it's so easy to say that...Uindo-sama...no, Uindo-niisama, would you do the same? Would you give your life without hesitation? Suzume-neesama would you be angry with me for throwing my life away like this? Sora...the time we had wasn't long but hey we made the best of it right?

Osamu, the leader of the Yugakure Shinobi forces, growled out as he stopped hitting the shinobi, "Damn Akatsuki and their orders! I'm the one who hired them so why do I have to listen?! I should be relaxing and plotting not the one working!"

Kieko take care of them all. As the ANBU Commander I wasn't allowed to be in the public eye for longer than neccesary. I didn't get to be a sensei like Sora or Nanashi. I couldn't train you like I wished. All I could do was watch from the shadows as you grew and matured. If I had a kid I think I'd want them to be like you...

Tenji sighed and Osamu all but screamed as he raised his whip to strike again. The bloodied shinobi paid no mind however as he straightened his broken index and middle fingers on his right hand.

Sessho Technique!

As his body began to grow warmer Tenji only had time to have one last thought before the technique activated fully.

Oh and one last thing...Kieko...I'm sorry for readi-

Osamu fell back as purple flames overtook Tenji and raged for only a second as Tenji's body crumbled like dust in the wind. Osamu crumbled against the wall behind him as he stared dumbly at the ashes that were once his torture victim.

"W-Wh-What?! But they said his chakra was surpressed!" Osamu gripped the sides of his head as he looked around the room, "That seal was supposed to be engraved into his skin!"

Hardly any skin left.

"T-The seal...was engraved on his back..." Osamu gulped, "T-That man...Masahiro...didn't he say that if he died a signal would go off in Kohakugakure?" His eyes widened as he pulled himself to his feet and ran from the room.

As he left the room his screams could be heard throughout the base.

"Contact the forces! Contact the forces!"

Yori stood in the middle of the stadium floor doing a quick once over with his eyes to spot anything out of place. The field for the tournament was, for the most part, flat earth with the exception being a small pond around ten feet wide and deep. He rubbed his chin and nodded as he looked up at Takeshiro who sat in the kage box alongside two others and three standing.

Takeshiro sat in the middle of the three as he was the hosting village with Nanashi standing behind him. To his left sat the Tsuchikage Onoki with Kitsuchi behind him and to his right was the Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi with Raido Namiashi behind him. The three kages were talking quietly between themselves while their guards were silent and viligant in watching out for any attack.

Takeshiro watched as people began to file into the stadium and begin to sit. He smiled and gave a wave to those who waved up at them and was proud that he could recognize his people from so high up.

"Must be something isn't it? I do believe you're the first minor village to hold the exams."

Takeshiro turned to Hiruzen and noded with a smile that he had tried to hide, "It's an amazing honor. I'm sure old man Okami would have been proud." He leaned back in his chair, "And I'm glad that I was allowed to hold it too. Before this this stadium has only been used for a few tournaments to appease the people."

Hiruzen laughed, "Ours is the same. But I do believe it is our turn to hold it soon. Isn't it held at your village next year Onoki-san?"

Onoki nodded and then remembered the roster for the third stage, "And hopefully more than just one of my people get to the third stage."

"Ah but it's your granddaughter right? From what I heard she is one of the strongest in the exams." Takeshio laughed and rubbed his head, "Seems like this year there are some real powerhouses."

"From what I heard the majority of the defeats and death in the second stage were due to a single genin?"

Takeshiro's eyes grew cold as he nodded, "Kenki Akuma. My children ran across him and were able to force him to retreat but at the end of the second stage he took out a total of thirty genin." As he talked he felt something burn his arm and he froze for only a second as he realized what had happened.

That's impossible...

The Anbakage stood up and bowed to the two kage, "I'm afraid I forgot to kiss my wife before I left home today. My wife's temper is famous I'm sure so surely you understand?"

The two kage nodded while Hiruzen laughed, "Reminds me of how Biwako was. Go go I'm sure we'll entertain ourselves."

Takeshiro sent them a grateful look and turned to Nanashi, "Stay here and keep them entertained. Maybe they'd like to hear some stories?"

Nanashi glared at his sensei and kage but said nothing as he jumped away.

No one here believed that story sensei!

Takeshiro stopped moving once he entered his office and quickly cast a sound-proof seal. With a tired sigh he took his kage hat off and placed it on the table and leaned against it as he turned to face the door. He only had to wait a few seconds before it opened to reveal the Yakumura Clan Head, Mashin Yakumura.

Mashin Yakumura was a tall and broad man with long spiky hair that were the same shade of chocolate brown as his eyes. While he wasn't as pale as his son Yuji he had lost the tan that he had once had. He wore a dark brick red yukata and sandals.

He had belonged to the generation before Takeshiro and was the former head of the Torture and Interrogation Unit, during which time he had gained infamy on the levels of Konoha's Ibiki Morino.

"It has been a while Lord Anbakage." Mashin's voice was calm and smooth as a gently flowing river, "I assume it is truly urgent if you have summoned me here on the day of the exams."

Takeshiro nodded and looked around the room quickly, "Crow, Wolf, Inu."

Mashin didn't bat an eye as three ANBU appeared kneeling on the ground in front of him, "Halving the defenses in this room?"

The kage ignored him as he looked down at Wolf who wore the ANBU Commander clothing, "Wolf remove your mask."

The amber wearing ANBU nodded and removed his plain mask to reveal the face of Tenji Shuji, "Yes Lord Anbakage."

Takeshiro studied his face before sighing once again, "Crow, Inu, detain the impostor commander."

Tenji couldn't even blink before he felt the two ANBU move. Within the second he felt a blade at his neck and a chakra suppressor being applied to him. In the next he, and the ANBU holding him, disappeared from the room.

Mashin did bat an eye at that and, if not for being a veteran shinobi, would have been surprised at the speed of the occurrence, "Impostor you said? And what happened to the real Tenji Shuji?"

"Dead." Takeshiro bit out as he clenched his fist, "The ANBU Commander has a seal applied internally on their bones that alerts me if their heart stops beating. Hence why I have called you here."

The man nodded, "I understand. The new head of the T&I Unit, Nagi, is impressive but I understand that you would want a seasoned individual performing the interrogation."

"Thank you Mashin." Takeshiro turned to face the window, "Sora will be destroyed with this..."

Mashin bowed and left the room to leave the kage by himself. Of course there were three others in the room, hiding in the shadows. Takeshiro slumped against his desk and sighed into his hands.

"Sora will be destroyed...and Uindo just lost his arm and now his little brother." He sighed once again, "Damn it!"

Yori looked down at the genin in front of him and was happy to see that no one was late. He didn't know what he would do if one of them were late and their match came up. Well he knew what he would do but he was just thankful that it wouldn't have to happen now.

He looked up at the sun to judge the time, despite the many clocks around the stadium that he could see, and knew that they were supposed to start soon. Looking at the Kage box he was glad to see a blur before Takeshiro appeared standing in front of his seat. The kage sent Yori a small nod and the Atsuchi heir nodded up in return.

Yori turned back to face the genin, "Welcome all to the final stage of this year's Chunnin Exam! I do apologize for such a large roster however that just means more genin to place your bets on!" He ignored some of the laughter around the stadium, "The rules of this exam are simple. Fight until your opponent can no longer fight. If the opponent is unconcious or I call the match then any further action will result in the disqualification of the other genin. I am trying to avoid pointless death here." He looked at all of the genin, "Before we begin are there any that would like to forfeit? Know that there are none who would judge you for it."

Yori looked at them all but focused on Kira as he remembered the last time they had spoken.

"I don't think i could do it. They told me that woman could fight Kenki Akuma by herself and he took me out easily! I'm just...not strong enough!"

Sure enough Kira's hand seemed to slowly inch up into the air as she argued with herself. Yori nodded and Kira's eyes grew wet as she looked away.

Please don't be ashamed of me...Yori-kun.

"Are you sure?"

She clenched her eyes closed and nodded, "Yes."

"Very well then. Fu shall advance to the next round. Will everyone but Tatsuya Tamotsu and Keiri please go up to the balcony?"

The genin all bowed, besides Kenki who laughed instead at Kira who ran to the balcony the moment they were able. Dante and Tatsuya shared a look before he too left. Soon the only three in the field were Yori, Tatsuya, and Keiri.

Tatsuya eyed the brown haired genin and was able to tell with just a single look that he was one of the weaker in the exams.

One spear will be enough. The dull training one will do.

Yori raised his right hand in the air, "Let the first round of the chunnin exams begin. Ready?" he threw his hand down, "Hajime!"

Yori jumped away as Keiri began to go through hand signs while Tatsuya unsealed a spear from his scroll, now holding a spear with a dull wooden blade at the end.

"Lightning St-" Keiri could no longer speak as the end of the spear struck his throat and sent him stumbling back. The Kumo genin clutched his throat as Tatsuya moved quickly in front of him with the spear in hand.

"It's over." Tatsuya swept the spear at Keiri's legs and sent the genin falling to the ground. Before he could right himself the spear was placed at his throat and Tatsuya's foot placed firmly on his chest, pinning him to the ground.

"I do believe this is enough for one as weak as you."

"Wait it's over already? But we just got up here!" May yelled out and leaned over the balcony, "Tatsuya must be good! I want to fight him!"

Dante laughed, "Shouldn't you be focused on me first."

May turned to him and gave a bashful smile, "Oh that will be a good fight first! Kikiyo told me you're pretty strong!"

Kikiyo tensed as Kieko looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Oh?"

Miki and Fuji chuckled as they leaned against the wall to watch as Dante, Kikiyo, and Kieko became the center of attention. Yuji, Kenki's teammate, sighed and ignored them while Fu's teammates talked among themselves. Ryo, Kurotsuchi, and Fu were having a quiet conversation. Kira, who had ran ahead, left the balcony to join her sensei in the audience.

"He was in my village so of course I would do some reconnaissance. And don't forget I've seen him fight before. He took out the centipede summon in Iwa with a technique that he hadn't even practiced with." Kikiyo turned to Kieko, "Don't be afraid I have no intention of taking your man from you."

Dante's face reddened while Kieko nodded, "Very well. Having a rival would complicate things, especially if it was you."

"You all are truly pathetic."

All eyes turned to Kenki who looked down on them all with a sneer, "You all talk about romance and laugh while you ignore what shinobi really do. We kill. We raze. We steal. There is no such thing as joy in our business." He put his hand out to them with his palm up, "And by the time this exam is over you'll all know suffering."

Fuji narrowed his eyes, "It's going to be fun seeing you knocked down a peg or two."

Kenki smirked but said nothing as Yori called for Kenki and Fuji to join the field. Once the call went out Kenki turned and jumped from the balcony.

Fuji glared after him and turned to face the others, "He's going to fight you next Dante. I know he'll win this fight but I'll make sure he takes an injury or two with him when he does." He walked to the balcony and felt his anger swell inside of him, "He hurt my teammates. I won't forgive that."

Without another word he jumped over the balcony as well just as Tatsuya entered the balcony area.

"Fuji Yakumura versus Kenki Akuma, Hajime!"