Chapter 1
A good number of people, chūnin and jōnin in rank and of varying expertise, stood before the Third Hokage. Many of them already had an inkling as to why they had been called, but that didn't stop them from being surprised at some of the big names that had shown up this time. Especially at the sight of a full head of waist-length spiky white hair, its owner sitting at the step that led to the Hokage's desk.
"I've called you all here to discuss an important matter." Started the old man. "Some of you may have guessed the reason already."
"So soon? I thought we'd have a little more time." Muttered Kakashi.
"I take it the other lands have all been notified of the upcoming event?" asked Asuma. "I know that some of their genin have already arrived in our village."
"And? When do we start?" inquired Kurenai.
"We'll start in one week."
"That's pretty short notice." Frowned Kakashi.
"Listen closely: exactly in seven days from today, on the first day of July, the genin will be gathered and tested. Only the very best will be selected as chūnin."
There was a moment of silence and then… a snort.
"Well, if that didn't sound ominous or anything…"
The Hokage frowned at his old student, but Jiraiya just waved it off.
"Since when are you interested in the Chūnin Exams?" asked Hatake with a raised eyebrow.
Both the Hokage and the Sannin heard the unvoiced 'or is it because Naruto may be entered' clear as day, but neither called him out on it.
"I'm not." Shrugged Jiraiya. "I'll be leaving as soon as this meeting's over."
"Jiraiya was only here to escort someone." Said the oldest Sarutobi looking at his old student with raised eyebrows. "Though it begs the question of where he is."
"I think the kid decided to stop by T&I to get his partner cleared first." Explained the Sannin.
"The new arrival you notified us of?" digged Ibiki, scarred face set in a heavy frown.
The Hokage nodded at the Head of T&I. He had forewarned his department that they'd have a jōnin join their ranks soon, one who had accepted to submit to an interrogation at his arrival. That and the procedure to follow were the only information he'd been given, though. Hiruzen hadn't wanted anything too important, like the j ōnin's identity, to leak yet.
From the corner of his eye, the old man saw his Jōnin Commander's thoughtful look. Shikaku probably knew just as much as Ibiki, if not because of his position then due to Inoichi being notified. The Yamanaka had been chosen to take on the case since Ibiki had enough with running T&I and preparing the exams. Anko too, though she wouldn't have been his choice, either way. The Head of the Intelligence Division had been the next best choice.
"He may be a little late, but don't worry; he'll be here." Assured Jiraiya.
Sighing, the Hokage held back the impulse to shake his head at his student's relaxed attitude. It wouldn't look very professional on his part.
"Alright, it is time to choose our candidates for the Chūnin Exams. To begin, will those in charge of the rookie genins step forward?"
The three jōnin did so, already knowing what was coming from watching amongst the crowd the previous years.
"Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma, what do you say? Are there any in your squads you'd recommend? Who are ready for the exams despite their inexperience? As you know, any genin who has carried out eight or more missions is technically eligible for the examinations." Voiced the Hokage. "Beyond that, only you can decide when they are ready. Of course, most genin require a much longer training period: at least twice that many missions."
There was a second of silence as they all thought of his words. Although the information was common knowledge and repeated each year, there was always some jōnin who nominated his rookies. Some just did it to test them, some to try and get rid of them sooner and some thought theirs were ready. Only rarely did they actually pass, though.
"So, Kakashi, you begin."
"I lead Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura." Started the famous jōnin, his right hand coming up in the shape of the traditional Seal of Confrontation. "I, Hatake Kakashi, recommend all three of these genin for the Chūnin Exams."
At their backs, Umino Iruka let out a small shocked gasp. Jiraiya, although seeming outwardly uninterested, watched him closely.
"My team is Team 8: Hyūga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino. And now I, Yuhi Kurenai, recommend all three." Stated the red-eyed kunoichi, taking the same stance as her fellow jōnin.
Lastly, Asuma adopted the traditional stance, cigarette still held between his lips.
"And my team is Team 10: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji. And now I, Sarutobi Asuma, recommend all three."
A few mutters and whispers rose up behind them when all three jōnin nominated their respective teams for the demanding and dangerous exams. Never had it happened that all their rookies were recommended at the same time and many wondered what was going on. They were all highly regarded shinobi, but… wasn't it a bit hasty to nominate their teams so soon? Their first teams, at that.
Some of them cast surreptitious looks around the room, searching out everyone's reactions and especially those who they knew had family amongst the genin. However, if they were expecting any opposition, it came from a most unexpected source.
"Hold on, just a minute!" interrupted the Academy teacher.
"Yes? What is it, Iruka?"
"With all respect, the genin names that were just given were all my students at the Academy. I know their skills and abilities and I agree that they show great promise, but it's too soon. They all need more experience before they're tested. If they try now, they're sure to fail the exam."
As the conversation evolved into an argument between the Academy teacher and the jōnins, getting more and more heated as Kakashi waved off Iruka's concerns, the door opening went almost unnoticed until someone stepped inside. Then all eyes turned to the newcomers.
"Ah, you're finally here." Said the hokage gesturing for the crowd to let them through.
With slow nearly silent steps, two men stepped forward among the shinobi. Yamanaka Inoichi was easily identified, his pale blond hair and pupilless green eyes a dead-ringer for his clan. The man that accompanied him on his entrance deliberately ignored all the eyes studying him, dawning recognition in some of them.
He was dressed in simple black and dark green travel clothes, the outline of mesh armour underneath and a couple of hidden kunai clear to the shinobi's keen gazes.
The man had short spiky black bangs held back by a Konoha hitai-ate that covered his forehead, the rest of his hair gathered in a ponytail at the back of his head, and pale very distinct foreign-looking features that held an understated elegance betraying a noble heritage. Exotic green eyes roamed over the room's occupants, stopping a second longer on some of the present shinobi, before focusing on their seated leader.
"Hokage-sama, sorry for our lateness: the interrogation went on a bit longer than expected." Said Inoichi.
"Mummy-guy causing you trouble, kid?" teased Jiraiya.
"He can't help himself." Said Inoichi's companion in a soft light voice with a note of fondness before giving a respectful vow. "Hokage-sama."
"Kuro-hiko, welcome. Konoha is glad to have you back." Greeted the old man with a small smile. His words were received by a heavy silence settling over the watching crowd. "I take it the results were positive?"
"Yes, and they have all filled out the proper documents and received their hitai-ate, as per your instructions." Answered Inoichi.
"That's good. We'll discuss the details once the meeting's over." Concluded the Hokage, nodding at him.
Bowing slightly in deference, Inoichi stepped off to the side and leant back against the wall next to his teammate. However, Shikaku barely acknowledged him, his dark eyes staring intently at the Kuro prince.
"We were in the middle of choosing our candidates for the Chūnin Exams." Said Hiruzen, directing an expectant look at the newcomer.
The dark-haired man nodded in understanding before taking a small step forward. Under all their watchful eyes, he straightened and brought his right hand up to his chest in the Seal of Confrontation. Many of them drew startled breaths even before he spoke.
"I lead Team 9: Yuki Haku, Kaguya Kimimaro, Sora. I, Kuro Haku, recommend all three for the Chūnin Exams."
One could hear the birds chirping outside through the silence that enveloped the room, a silence only broken when the white-haired Sannin stood up and dusted off his knees.
"Well, my job's done." He directed at the Hokage. "I've brought him here and his brats are finally entering the exam. I'm off. Lots of research to do, you know…"
"You just don't want the Civilian Council catching wind of you being in the village." Replied Harī with a hint of amusement.
"You wound me, Harī. After all this time, I would've thought you knew me better."
"I do; that's why I said it."
Jiraiya laughed mirthfully, scratching the back of his head.
"Right, right… I best get moving then." Sighed Jiraiya.
"You be careful out there and remember our deal."
"Yeah, yeah, I will. I leave the rest in your hands."
With that, the white-haired shinobi vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Now about the other genins, I'm ready to consider your recommendations." Continued the Hokage as if nothing had happened.
Sighing and knowing that the matter was closed, the jōnin all stepped back and let their fellows speak up for their more experienced squads. As one of them started to speak, Anko shifted a bit behind Kakashi, making room for the hiko between herself and Iruka.
"So you're back." She whispered.
"Seems so." Replied an amused Harī.
He could see clear as day that their closest comrades were more focused on listening in on them, 'discreetly', than learning who else got recommended.
"Didn't know you'd made jōnin."
"Got a field promotion around five years ago." The hiko explained, answering the unasked question. "Courtesy of Jiraya."
"I sense a story there."
"If you're free this afternoon, come by and we can catch up."
The kunoichi was just about to agree and demand he have dango ready for her when she sensed a spike of chakra nearby. More accurately, everyone felt it and politely ―and wisely― decided not to comment. A few places to their right, Morino Ibiki stood staring ahead, eyes dark.
"Can't." she muttered sullenly. "Gotta help Ibiki with the paperwork for the bloody exams."
"That sucks." Said flatly the man.
"Yeah, well, not as much as having a team must. At least I get to torture the little upstarts in the second part." Anko cackled.
Quietly. Somehow.
Harī snorted.
"So who's Mummy-guy?"
"The Hokage'll announce it soon enough."
"Oh, come on, Harī…" pretested the woman, pushing him.
Pushing a bit too hard, apparently, as the male bumped into Iruka.
"Sorry." He muttered.
"Don't worry, hiko." Replied the chūnin with a kind smile.
Harī glared at the purple-haired kunoichi, but she wasn't looking at him anymore. Instead, her eyes were focused on a point to their left, lips slightly pursed. Following her line of sight, his eyes were met by intense black eyes staring back at him. He froze for all of a second before giving a small nod to Shikaku, who was leaning against the wall next to Inoichi, and looking away.
"How about you come over for lunch tomorrow?" he asked, pointedly ignoring her staring contest with the Jōnin Commander.
"That's doable. Will I get to meet your brats?" her nose scrunched up at the idea.
"Yeah, but I think you'll like them."
"Doubt it." She snorted.
The green-eyed man shrugged.
"And Mummy-guy? Will he be there, too?"
"Probably. Unless he's training."
"Is he any good? Can't be all that much if he's covered in enough bandages to look like a mummy." She snickered.
Harī arched an eyebrow. She did the same.
"He is good. Try not to antagonise him, though. Please. He's a pain to deal with when he's grumpy."
Her eyebrow climbed higher and he shrugged, looking forward again.
"I had to try."
Anko laughed again, this time loud enough that the Hokage shot them a look that clearly told them to kindly shut up.
"Tomorrow, then." Sighed Anko as the meeting finally came to an end. "I look forward to telling you all the gritty details of what's been going on since you left the village."
When the kunoichi didn't receive a reply, she looked to her left and found a human-sized space between Iruka and herself. She huffed in annoyance.