Welcome to the CHŪNIN EXAMS ARC! It took longer than expected, but it's already here! Thank you for my dear Windschatten for betaing the whole ARC, and I hope you enjoy it 3
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That very night, Leaf's best genin gathered inside a subterranean room, ready to enter the first stage of the Chūnin Exams. Their respective jōnins instructors stood in salute near the walls, while their genin had been put in three rows, each having about a hundred and fifty young soldiers that didn't yet reach sixteen years of age.
When their leader stepped in front of them, every single one of them was still and serious as they listened.
"First of all, I want to congratulate you for having been elected to enter the Chūnin Exams," the Hokage begins, voice booming across the giant stony room. "It means that someone has seen potential in you and your skills, which will serve this village and this country greatly. However," and here the Hokage stops to give them a stern look that manages to chill even the most foolhardy of them. "Do not underestimate the difficulty of the Exams. Only the knowledge and abilities that you've attained and trained during your apprenticeships will prove if you are, indeed, worthy to be truly promoted."
The Hokage stood on a rough balcony made of stone that oversaw the whole room. At his right side was Katō Dan, acting as his advisor and next for the hat. On the other side was Senju Tsunade, who was wearing her medic coat to reflect her position as Chief Medic instead of some token royalty remnant.
Dan speaks next, taking a step forward as he addresses the crowd below. "There is no shame in staying as a genin," he says, his voice too young to be as solemn as the Hokage's, but enforcing discipline nonetheless. "There is only one chance to forfeit the Exams, and this is it. Your team will be taken out with you, but you will be able to apply again in the future. If you decide to continue, you will either have to complete the Exams or be disqualified." Or die, he doesn't say, but the genins are able to read between the lines.
When no one raises their hand, Dan continues. "This is the first stage of the Exams. Each team member will enter the tunnel that they have been assigned to and be briefed about this stage's goal. Once you've got your instructions, the Exams will officially start and you will not be able to turn back."
No one answers. Dan gives a nod to the crowd and straightens his back. He appears like the ruler he is supposed to become, and they do not find it hard to follow his command. "Then, let's start! We will be watching."
The soldiers march forward, the teams splitting as they slip into one of the three tunnels. When it's Team Two's turn, they do so without hesitation or nervousness. They have trained an entire year for this, and they will not disappoint their teacher. They might enter this first stage alone, but they are a team still.
"Let's give them a show," Sachi whispers.
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"You seem quite relaxed, Oro," Tsunade comments, nudging him awake.
They were in a small room reserved for the Hokage's entourage, adjacent to the receiving hall where the teams that completed the first stage would return to debrief the Hokage. Orochimaru was there because the Hokage wanted to 'make sure he got properly accustomed to living in the village again after so long'. Which, in simple words, meant that Hiruzen wanted to keep an eye on the student who had gone missing for two months and came back less than six hours ago.
Orochimaru opens one eye to glare at Tsunade, huffing out his annoyance. "Why wouldn't I be?" he mutters, hoping that his teammate would let him rest for a little while longer.
Tsunade, who had been equally displeased to find out that Orochimaru had taken his students to the Land of Marshes to get summons and loved to make his life difficult, has other ideas. "Because. You still haven't told me what you've been up to these last two months. Everyone is dying to hear about what happened."
"Shouldn't you be worried about my health?"
"Why should I? You've ignored all my advice about your fucked up sleep schedule for years, and you aren't going to start making up for all the missed hours of sleep now." She grins, leaning closer over the small table they were seated at. "I'm calling my teammate rights, you know? Don't be stingy, Oro! I brought you a sandwich!"
Orochimaru considers using a shunshin to go to his home and sleep the entire Exams away. But the thought of being away from his students, while they were partaking in it, kept him in the uncomfortable chair he had been grounded on ever since the opening ceremony ended. Orochimaru hadn't trained his students for so long only for them to mess it up. However, Team Two had a way of getting into trouble in spite of the common sense Orochimaru had tried to beat into them.
And, Orochimaru reluctantly admits, Tsunade had given him food. A sloppy tuna sandwich, but food nonetheless.
"They should be finishing up by now," Orochimaru says, staying put in his seat. "Does that satisfy you?"
Tsunade gives him a look. "Of course not! C'mon, Oro! Aren't you the slightest bit curious about how they are doing? Other senseis have been trading favours to see how their genin are doing. Meanwhile you… you're just sitting here!"
In truth, jōnin senseis weren't supposed to be near when their students were being examined. It was meant to ensure that no one could influence the chances in succeeding or failing the Exams. Especially since some of the instructors tended to get overly invested in their teams. Jōnin senseis prided themselves in training their students into the best soldiers they could be, and then reaping the fruits of their hard work in the form of a payment bonus, respect and bragging rights.
Orochimaru wasn't particularly interested in any of those supposed advantages of being a jōnin sensei. His students were far more valuable than anything the village could give him in thanks for his efforts. Orochimaru was the only one that knew just how much potential Team Two had, and as such, he wasn't overly worried about their performance.
"Why are you so interested?" Orochimaru asks, watching Tsunade pull at her hair in frustration.
"They are your team, Oro! It's a given I would be interested, they are like your kids."
"They are not—"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. At least tell me this, are they good or not?"
Orochimaru thinks about it. "They can be."
"Ugh, what's up with that answer!" she groans. "I need details! Help me out, will you?"
"Why?" Orochimaru asks mildly. Tsunade is momentarily flabbergasted, wondering if Orochimaru was just that cold-hearted or just an idiot. "Tsunade, if you want to make a bet on my students, just be straightforward."
Tsunade doesn't seem surprised that he had figured her out so soon, instead she chuckles dryly. "As if you haven't placed a bet on them. Everyone does, but the jōnin senseis have the upper hand because they have more intel. If you hadn't spent this past year as a hermit, you would've been a gold mine worth of information!"
Ah yes, Tsunade and her gambling habit.
"For you, you mean."
"And you, if you agree to split the profits." Tsunade wiggles her eyebrows, but stops when it doesn't gain a reaction out of him. "Fine. You're no fun."
They remain in silence for exactly one minute before Tsunade cracks. "At least tell me what you've bet on—!"
"Orochimaru."
Both of them turn to see Dan come into the room. Tsunade brightens at seeing her partner, and Orochimaru bows his head minutely in greeting. "Yes, Katō-sama?"
By Dan's slightly awkward expression, Orochimaru supposes something must have happened. "Ah, there is a… problem. With your team. The Hokage has requested your presence for the debriefing."
Orochimaru gets up from the chair, his bones slightly complaining about the effort so soon after rushing like a madman on the trip back to the village. Tsunade also gets up, frowning. "A problem? Are they hurt?" the medic in her questions.
"Ah, no, not at all," Dan is quick to reassure her. "It's just… we are at a loss at what to do."
Yes, that sounded like Team Two.
Together they made their way over to the door at the end of the room, which took them to a larger lounge area where the Hokage and two proctors were scratching their heads. Team Two stood in all their glory in the middle of the room, Sachi smiling widely.
When Team Two catches sight of Orochimaru, they immediately stand at attention. Orochimaru should have guessed they would pull a stunt that would summon him, but not quite so early. Two hours, that's how long it took them to fuck up.
"Now that Orochimaru is here," the Hokage comments, motioning for him to come closer. "Mind repeating your report, Team Two?"
Orochimaru looks at his team. They appear to be unharmed and unbothered, although seemingly prepared for quite the mission. Team Two had very little time to prepare for the Exams in terms of equipment, but they made it up for it with their experience. They were all dressed in issue duty uniforms, with full coverage clothing and in greenish tones. Black wasn't a good color for infiltration, since it was easier to spot in the dark than any other color. Orochimaru is pleased to know that they were paying attention to detail.
They have also packed light, only their retaining scrolls somewhere on their bodies and out of sight. Earlier Orochimaru had spotted some teams having a full traveler's backpack on them and, while it didn't go against the rules, it did make the proctors subtract some points from their performance. Carrying too much baggage on a mission could limit your movements, and also leave a trail behind.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Sachi says as the indisputable leader in her team. She had kept her grey and red haori on her, but Orochimaru believes it is more of a statement than a mistake. "Team Two infiltrated the perimeter at 0200 and approached our target location, took the scrolls and rendezvoused with our CO."
Neat and straight to the point. Orochimaru smiles to himself as the proctors shuffle awkwardly beside them. Team Two wasn't behaving like a rookie team, but instead like a true shinobi unit.
Despite the succinct report, the Hokage brings up a small detail. "Scrolls? Your mission was to bring one scroll back, not all three like you've done."
The Hokage was seated at a desk with three colored scrolls placed before him. If Orochimaru recalled correctly, the first stage was an infiltration mission that required retrieving a single scroll. Naturally, it wasn't so easy.
"Permission to speak, Hokage-sama."
"Granted, Sachi-kun."
"After we entered the tunnels and the proctors briefed us about our mission, we had to find our teammates in various locations around the village in under half an hour." Not difficult, considering that Team Two had a designated meeting spot in training ground forty-one. "But, when we discussed the details of our mission, we realized they were different."
A scheme to instigate conflict between teammates. Orochimaru wasn't privy to the details, since he hadn't cared enough to eavesdrop, but he could guess that each team member must have been given different details. It would challenge the team's inner dynamic and force them to reach a decision. A dysfunctional team was like a faulty explosive tag, perhaps even more deadly.
"Kasui was told to retrieve a yellow colored scroll, whereas Anko had to look for a red scroll and I was informed mine was green."
"And how does it justify what you've done?"
"Hokage-sama, we can all reach the conclusion that the first stage was a test of our teamwork and experience. The details of the mission were to get a colored scroll, but the color differed. Thus, we couldn't have known which teammate was given the correct information, and decided for ourselves."
That makes all those gathered in the room listen intently. Sachi had a way of making people pay attention to her, the flow of her words trapping them in her carefully spinned web. Since Orochimaru was her sensei however, and had spent so much time around her, he was immune to how Sachi manipulated words in her favour. This time she has an audience.
"What I hear is that you have gone against the orders of your commanding officer," the Hokage intervenes, somewhat used to Sachi's machinations. "This can be taken as a grave offense, Sachi-kun."
Orochimaru almost rolls his eyes. As if the Hokage didn't know insubordination and Sachi went together. He understood where his sensei was coming from, but—
"Insubordination as a grave misconduct only applies when the instructions given by the superior are reasonable and lawful."
"Forgive me for interrupting," Dan says, getting permission by the Hokage to speak. "You are trying to justify your disobedience by arguing that your orders were not lawful, is that correct?" Sachi nods. "Explain."
Just look at that, the prince finally having a backbone. Orochimaru pitied Dan for trying to browbeat Sachi in legal matters. Sachi's eyes glow in the poor lighting; she is amused. "Putting aside the whole concept of creating conflict for this stage, there is a very easy explanation," Sachi begins. "It was against the law."
The look of utter shock on Dan's face was worthy of being framed. The Hokage, much wiser in matters that involved Sachi, just massaged his temples and sent a prayer for patience. Orochimaru was just content in watching the scene unfold, quirking an eyebrow at Sachi's bold words.
"How did it go against the law?" Dan retorts once he recovers. Dan had been responsible for the Chūnin Exams' first stage, so it was understable that he would be taken aback when someone challenged him so openly. "The goal of your mission was very clear. Retrieve the one scroll your superiors ordered you to and then regroup. There's little to claim it was unconstitutional."
Sachi isn't intimidated by the dangerous glares she receives from everyone in the room and instead continues forward. "Forgive my bluntness, Katō-sama, but the problem didn't lie in the orders, but on the mission itself."
Sachi was digging her team a grave. Kasui and Anko were by her side, not saying a word as she provoked adversaires well outside their level. By that point many would have mutinied against their leader for getting them in trouble, but Kasui and Anko were unmoved. The trust they had in each other was blinding, though not something Orochimaru would think of as misplaced.
"How come?" Dan asks again, more sternly this time.
"Because there was no way to win," Sachi counters. "If we only retrieved a scroll, regardless of its color, we would have failed the Exams. There were no right orders, and following suspicious intel would've put the whole team in danger, as well as the whole village if the mission had been real. A mission that hasn't been issued properly is against the law, since it would cause immeasurable harm on all ends because of the supervisor's mistake."
"Yes, I know," Dan admits but not backing away. "The goal of this stage was to think for yourselves and decide a course of action when facing a difficult choice. The conflicting intel should have been enough for you and your team to realize it was a set up and, following protocol, retreat."
Quite harsh for the first stage. Everyone above genin knew that the first stage for the Chūnin Exams was only a trap to discard those too young and inexperienced. Some jōnins instructors entered their team to teach them a lesson, and the first stage was usually safe enough for the genin to fail.
However, such a scenario was too advanced for the regular genin. Genins could apply for higher ranked missions if they passed the two year mark, which would have given them plenty of infiltration missions to learn from. But, as it stood, Leaf had a problem with aspiring geniuses that wanted to be promoted in their first year and on their very first try. Meaning, they wouldn't have known what to do, much less pass.
Cunning, even for Dan, to nip the problem in the bud. There were clashing opinions on whether Leaf should train their genin better and for longer, or inflate their military ranks as much and fast as possible. Katō Dan was in the former, as was Tsunade; but not even the royal couple could do much about politics without proper backing.
But, Dan had found a way.
"That was not an option," Sachi, who was fond of loopholes and always getting her way, disagreed. "I am aware this is just a staged mission, Katō-sama, but it just wasn't realistic. Preparing for an infiltration mission is taxing in terms of resources and manpower. When a team is already on location and ready to engage, backing away is not an option."
That was another hard earned lesson only learnt by trying. No one had a way of knowing that Team Two had been doing infiltration and assassination missions during their training, and because of it, they hadn't expected someone to call them on their bullshit.
What Dan had tried to do is teach the young genin that they always had the choice of giving up. A commendable feat, but one that was unrealistic. Out in the field no one had the freedom to decide whether they lived or not, you could only act. That was what Orochimaru had taught Team Two from the very beginning, to always continue forward, no matter the circumstances. You could retreat, you could hide or run, but you ultimately had to finish your mission or suffer the consequences of leaving loose ends.
Giving up was never an option, not for Team Two.
"And how is what you're saying related to your decision?" The Hokage speaks again when he sees Dan struggle. "You decided to take the three scrolls with you. Isn't that even more of a threat than retreating after a set-up?"
Giving fake intel and then baiting ninja was the oldest trick in the book. That's why it was unadvisable to go back to the village after such a set-up or risk being ambushed or bringing an enemy to their doorstep. There were several strategies and protocols to deal with that particular situation, but not quite what Team Two had done.
"We informed our superiors about our next movement via summons, as per protocol," Sachi reminds them. "When we received no response, we went ahead with our plan."
"Which was… to loot your target location?" Dan points to the scrolls.
"The only objective that remained the same in all of our orders was to retrieve a scroll. Since we didn't have a way of knowing which scroll was the right one, we took all three of them on the basis that it would aid us in discovering who was setting us up," Sachi explains easily. "The worst case scenario was that neither scroll was valuable and we would be walking into an ambush. When it didn't happen, we took all the scrolls that had been requested and returned to the new rendezvous we had established in our report."
"So… you were intending to bait your supposed enemy?" Dan sighs, not really sure what to do with that answer.
Sachi beams at them. "Of course not. Team Two has only retrieved the scrolls because of the possibility that they might serve the Hidden Village in the Leaves. As we clearly pointed out in our emergency report given to you by the snake summons of my teammate." Sachi's smile is victorious, and Orochimaru is not really sure about the goal of her little game. "Team Two has completed their mission, how to proceed from here is the Hokage's decision."
Improvising during a mission was a dangerous thing to attempt. If you failed, you could be held accountable on the grounds of gross insubordination and dereliction of duty as well as many other petty charges that would ensure the capital offense. Acting by yourself was considered foolish, since no ninja was aware of every detail of their mission and its purpose. You might inadvertently interfere with a much larger plan, and thus ruin it.
It was understandable why Dan wanted to teach this lesson to the younger generations; that sometimes it was better to do nothing and be safe rather than do something and fuck it up. Then again, Sachi was not known for following orders she didn't like.
"My decision, hmm?" the Hokage hums, slightly peeved. "Deciding whether your insubordination is justified or not is also my responsibility, Sachi-kun."
Sachi bows respectfully. "Of course, Hokage-sama."
The Hokage turns his head to regard Orochimaru, perhaps searching for the answer in his features. Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders, not willing to play an active part in one of Sachi's schemes. Sachi had pulled another one of her stunts, and whether it would cost her and her team the chance of being promoted wasn't something for Orochimaru to decide. He had his own opinions regarding Sachi's authority problems, but he agreed that the layout for the first stage of the Exams was mediocre.
"Orochimaru," the Hokage calls. "What do you think of this situation?"
"That it is… unprecedented," he answers mildly. It was rare for such a low ranked soldier to engage in a battle of wits with someone who could very well end your career and life, but here they were. But then again, progress would never happen if not because of restless minds and reckless mouths.
"Anything else?" his sensei pushes.
"Are you asking me as a neutral party or as their sensei?"
The Hokage ponders this for a brief second. "The latter, since you cannot claim neutrality in this matter." No, he could not. Orochimaru was aloof, but not even he could hope to not be influenced by the fact that this was his team they were talking about. "Well?"
Orochimaru briefly studies his students who look up at him with blank expressions. He contains a sigh. "I've taught my students to think and decide for themselves." Is Orochimaru's answer, which doesn't really please anyone but his students, who dare to be a tiny bit smug. "This is a staged mission, and I believe the consequences to what they have done would've differed if they had been in real-life circumstances."
"So what you are saying is that because we lack details we cannot offer a good judgement?" Dan inquiries.
Orochimaru shakes his head. "What I'm saying is that Team Two solved the situation they were in by making a decision. Whether that decision was a good or a bad one should be dictated by whether their solution proved to be useful or not." Just like in real life military trials.
The Hokage strokes his beard thoughtfully. "Orochimaru is right. We lack substance to pass a judgement," he admits begrudgingly. "Well, Team Two, you seem to have learned much more than just how to fight."
Or perhaps it was only Sachi, who just liked to argue for the sake of it. Team Two bows again, Kasui and Anko glad to not be suspended from the Exams even though they were right to raise attention to this issue.
"We had the best sensei, Hokage-sama."
The Hokage must have regretted his decision of pairing them together at that moment, gritting out an "Indeed," before waving a hand. "You're free to continue taking the Chūnin Exams, Team Two. But I hope you take this as a warning. Don't try anything like this again, or it might not turn out in your favour next time."
They give a small nod and are already about to leave when Dan stops them. "Before you leave, I have to ask. If there had been an ambush, what would've you done?"
Sachi seems surprised that he would follow up on his questioning, even if it was just out of curiosity. She looks at her teammates before locking eyes with Orochimaru. When she answers, she's smiling.
"We would've gone by the protocol, Katō-sama," she says sweetly. "Leave one alive." Then, they are gone.
Orochimaru shouldn't have felt as proud of them as he did, since it rewarded their bad behaviour, but he was. He's smiling too, taking in the expressions of shock and disbelief as Sachi's words sink in. The Hokage is the most vexed of them all, since he should have known better than anyone that Team Two would and could follow on that promise. "I don't know if I should congratulate you for training such a team," the Hokage says to Orochimaru, giving him an exasperated look. "Or blame you."
"I can only take responsibility for their training, not their personalities," Orochimaru counters easily.
"I do believe it's related," the Hokage amends. "I have clear memories of a team that caused me similar fervent headaches."
"That's merely a coincidence," Orochimaru says, deciding he should speak to his team, regardless of the result of their plan. In two days the second stage will begin, and he ought to remind them of a few things. "Is there something else you might need me for?" Apart from being there and making his students behave for once.
"No, it was just this. Although you don't seem surprised."
"It's his team, of course he knows better," Tsunade, who had been silent until then, hisses. She has her arms crossed, and Orochimaru suspects she might have some opinions herself. "Now, what is this about leaving only one alive…?"
"We'll see," the Hokage says before Tsunade decides she should do something about it. "Team Two ought to give us all a show, yes?"
They make their way out of the debriefing room, the Hokage guiding Tsunade away to avoid her unleashing her temper. Orochimaru falls back, waiting for a good opportunity to disappear and seek out his students.
"Orochimaru, a quick word, if I may."
Dan was by his side, frowning deeply as he waited for the others to give them some privacy. He was taller than Orochimaru by about an inch, and even though he made himself appear harmless, he was still a powerful shinobi. They do not converse much, and when they do it is often because Tsunade was there. That's why when Orochimaru notices his serious expression, he is immediately on guard.
"The Hokage seems to cherish your advice."
"Only on matters that I might have a good understanding of." Orochimaru wasn't easily swayed, much less intimidated. Dan was Tsunade's partner, but he was something completely different to Orochimaru. "You should know this as well, as his rightful advisor."
"One wouldn't know, considering that he keeps calling for you."
Orochimaru, who was too tired for this, scowls. "If this is about what happened today, then you are a fool. I am Team Two's sensei, and I am more familiar with their antics than the Hokage himself. If you fail to see this, then you should look at yourself and stop trying to imply that there is anything else going on."
For a moment Dan is stunned, and then promptly backs away. Damned politics, they were only useful to poison the brain. Orochimaru doesn't hide his anger, and Dan must have known he overstepped, because when he spoke next he sounded actually respectful. "I apologize, it wasn't my intention to offend you."
More like pick a fight, but Orochimaru doesn't bring it up. "The Hokage chose you, Katō-sama, not me."
Orochimaru hoped that it would put Dan's worries at ease and make them move past this issue. Truth be told, there was some history between Dan and Orochimaru, even if the latter wouldn't admit it. It happened back when Hiruzen first began to share his plans for retirement, and the consequent race of who might rise to the position in his stead.
Among the candidates, there were only two who truly shone among them. Yamata Orochimaru and Katō Dan, although not necessarily by choice. Orochimaru, the Hokage's own student, who was also an academic genius, was an obvious choice; backed up by his clan's history and performance in battle. Meanwhile Dan had been an ambassador from a branch of the royal family from the capital, and heavily involved with politics ever since his sister died during the botched meeting which set off the Second Great War.
Dan had worked very hard to get the standing he had now, the respect and the acknowledgement of his peers. All the while, Orochimaru would just always be so much more than he could ever hope to achieve.
"He chose me only because you refused," Dan dares to say, although much quieter than his previous heated words. "You could have stood by his side, why—"
"Why do I have to explain myself to you?" Orochimaru thunders. "You are the only one that saw it as a competition, a competition that should have ended after the Hokage announced you as his successor."
Back then Hiruzen had approached Orochimaru in hopes that he would be willing to take the hat from him, but Orochimaru's answer had been firm. He wanted nothing to do with the Tower, and had no time for idle politics; not when he should be dedicating his life to his research. In spite of the village all but condemning him, they would rather choose the devil they knew instead of some royal off-shoot that had no real experience in the military. Everyone had assumed Orochimaru would be next in line for Hokage, and when the final decision was announced, there were more than a few raised eyebrows.
Dan knew that he hadn't been the first choice, and it still weighed heavily on him. Perhaps it explained why he worked so rigorously to make himself worthy in the eyes of the village. Not that Orochimaru cared for it.
But, Dan obviously did.
"I will not be Hokage, Katō-sama, not now, not ever," Orochimaru hisses, perhaps more aggressively than he should as Dan flinches slightly. "If you want to find a reason why I shouldn't be one, then take this as an example." Orochimaru makes sure to look him in the eye as he lets just one wave of chakra burst from his careful control. "I do not have the care nor the patience for being Hokage. I do not owe this village anything, and I refuse to give up anything else for it."
Not his clan, not his research, not his life.
Not his students.
"Did I make myself clear?"
Dan bows his head in shame, although his eyes were still stubborn. Orochimaru clicks his tongue, feeling raw and exhausted. Whatever insecurities Dan had about his position as the next Hokage was his problem, not Orochimaru's.
"I forgot myself, I apologize," Dan spoke with honest regret in his voice, but Orochimaru was not in a forgiving mood.
"Then remember this and don't let it happen again," he spat. "You don't have the time to entertain past grudges, Katō-sama. I for sure do not. If you're insecure about your position, do something about it. Don't come and bother me about it." And, for good measure, he adds, "When the time comes, I will pledge my loyalty to you as Hokage. Until then, I will make my displeasure known through more painful methods than some backhanded comments, should you pursue this issue."
Dan again bows his head, but he looks far from threatened. Orochimaru was a fighter, and a good one at that, but Dan had also built up a reputation during the war. "I understand, Orochimaru. It will be the last time."
"It better be. A Hokage shouldn't drag themselves like this."
With that, Orochimaru leaves, his mood now soured for good. Politics always ruined everything, and he wanted nothing more than to go to his lab and only resurface once he found a cure. But, as it often went, he had other prying matters.
Starting with his students.
.