20 - Moving in Silence

Jiraiya made himself comfortable on the fence surrounding the main room of The Training Cave complex. He popped a stick of roast pork into his mouth to enjoy the show that awaited. Naruto clutched a rubber ball at the center of the room and took a wide stance. Sasuke, Kushina and Minato were watching from a fair distance away. Their silent anticipation did no favors for Naruto's anxiety. He almost regretted welcoming more spectators to his training session.

What if I mess up in front of everyone? I'll look like the loser Sasuke always says I am!

He glanced in his family's direction and was emboldened by his mother's sincere smile. She nodded as if to say, "You can do this, ya know."

Taking a deep breath, Naruto stared at the rubber ball as he began to pool chakra in his palm, willing it to maintain the orb shape characteristic of a Rasengan. Doubt crept in, but he pushed all negative thoughts aside and focused on the hard facts in front of him. Mom was right. He knew how to do this! He'd done it last night and proven that to himself. There was nothing to fear.

The rubber ball twitched. He rested in the knowledge that he was prepared for this test, funneling in still more chakra. The hollow object at last began to wobble. Naruto smiled when the intensity of the chakra within the ball escalated. Its weight was balanced throughout, just like what he'd managed to accomplish last night in the backyard. Letting out a passionate cry, he brought the technique to its natural peak of power. The rubber ball blasted apart with a distinct pop, resulting in a mixture of applause and cheers from those in attendance. Floating in the destroyed ball's place was a perfectly round Rasengan. The potent mass of chakra spiraled in every direction, giving off a dull hum.

"Okay, hotshot," Jiraiya said between chews of his snack, "now for the real test."

The Toad Sage tossed his student a water balloon and got comfortable again. Naruto nodded with a devious grin and held the balloon out in front of him. Channeling chakra for a Rasengan, he stood motionless. Time passed without so much as a leak from the balloon. Naruto gave his teacher an enthusiastic thumbs up.

"Wow," Jiraiya said, removing the misshapen toothpick from his mouth. "He's really done it."

"Of course I have!" Naruto pointed an accusatory finger. "I told ya, Pervy Sage."

"Yeah," the white-haired shinobi sighed. He hopped down from the ledge. "You got me, kid."

"Sooooo? Remember what you promised?!"

"Yeah, yeah, a free bowl of ramen at Ichiraku on me. Deal's a deal."

"Nuh-unh. Two free bowls of Ichiraku Ramen!"

"Damn," Jiraiya muttered while reaching for his wallet. "I was hoping he'd forget about that part."

Sasuke strode across the room to engage Naruto in a lengthy secret handshake the two memorized long ago. They ended the ritual with a half-hug.

"Well done," Sasuke said, mustering up the emotion for a smile. "Even for a loser."

"Oh, shut it," Naruto said, laughing as Kushina and Minato rushed over to pull him and his brother into a group hug.

Jiraiya settled for patting his student on the back. "Excellent progress. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, Minato, Kushina. He's your kid after all."

When their hug broke up, Minato bowed out of the gathering. "Sorry, Naruto. They're here because it's time I head back. I have some lingering tasks awaiting me at the office."

Genma, Iwashi and Raido Body Flickered onto the scene at the top of the stairs by the main entrance. Everyone but Minato stood in temporary disbelief. He had noticed the three visitors far in advance of anyone else.

"Oh," Naruto said. "No big deal. Thanks for coming, Dad! See you at home."

Everyone said their goodbyes. Minato teleported away with his guards. Those who remained went on a scenic walk back to the village. They had the time, after all.

Naruto dragged Jiraiya by the arm. The boy had his doubts about whether he could trust his teacher to stay true to his promise rather than give them all the slip. Kushina and Sasuke derived a sickening amount of joy from watching the two bicker. Jiraiya made no attempt to break free, but he and his wallet groaned all the way to Ichiraku.

Darkness cloaked a spacious bedroom hidden deep within an underground hideout. Calm as ever, Kabuto dropped to one knee, bowed his head, and waited to be addressed. His master crossed his arms at the other end of the room.

"Welcome back," Orochimaru said. "Rise, Kabuto."

The bespectacled assistant obeyed. He cleared his throat. "Our meeting was successful. Sasori doesn't suspect a thing. I gave him sparse updates. Just enough to appease."

"Excellent." Orochimaru stepped a few paces to the right and lit a torch recessed into the wall. "Those Akatsuki are a troublesome bunch. However, once my plans are set in motion, we should be able to gain a foothold such that not even they can challenge me." His sinister laugh permeated the darkness.

"Of course, Lord Orochimaru."

"Kabuto, go and meet with the others. Make sure everything is in place for the plan, both here and in The Sand. If you need additional resources, come see me."

"Yes, sir." Pausing before exiting the room, Kabuto asked, "And what about Danzo?"

Orochimaru snickered. "He knows his role in all of this, but watch Danzo just in case. It's key that he doesn't step out of line. Our infiltration of The Leaf depends on it."

The Sannin's subordinate seemed to want to object, but instead he nodded and saw himself out. Kabuto pulled the door shut and walked down the main corridor. He had grown accustomed to the dim lighting here, but something in the corner of his eye caused him to flinch. Was he seeing things? Taking his glasses off to inspect the lenses, he saw nothing, and wrote the moment off as nothing more than floaters clouding his vision.

Kabuto made his way to the armory, where he expected to find Danzo's operatives and squadrons of Sound Ninja preparing for the big day. There was never an idle moment around here anymore. A ghost of a smirk danced across the medical ninja's face. Soon, Lord Orochimaru's vision would become reality.

Kushina sat in her usual meditative pose, careful not to let her chakra fluctuate too much. Past memories flooded back to her as she let down the walls separating her from The Nine Tails' potent chakra. The malevolent force pulsed to life, as if taunting Kushina with the looming threat it posed. Her once-confident words to the fox rang in her ears.

"This is unfortunate for both of us. You may be here to keep the world in check, but I am here to keep you in check!"

This declaration felt hollow in hindsight—a twisted mockery of her current situation. She couldn't even protect herself. How was she supposed to protect the world from this evil entity? Even a remnant of its power was proving too overwhelming for her. Hopelessness closed in, threatening to break her concentration.

Then she remembered her loved ones.

Like a light at the end of a tunnel, the faces of Minato, Naruto, Sasuke, Master Jiraiya and so many others warmed her spirit. Reminded her why she couldn't give up. She could do this. She would do this! The shapeless mass of Tailed Beast energy reined in its slow expansion outside of the perimeter of torii gates. Kushina sighed with relief.

Thanks, everyone.

She blinked back to consciousness outside of her inner domain and smiled. Her belly was still chock full of delicious ramen. The taste of the rich broth lingered on her tongue. Hopping up from her bed, Kushina left the room to make some coffee. Energy was a necessity today. She and Hiruzen were scheduled to meet in the afternoon to discuss the security measures she was implementing in preparation for the exams. Kushina found Sasuke standing in the living room practicing hand signs.

"Hey," he said.

"Sasuke! I figured you'd be out training by now, ya know."

"Felt like staying inside today. But speaking of training, when do you think my bow will be ready? I want to ask Kakashi-sensei to help me with manipulating lightning chakra, but I'd like to try combining it with my long range attacks too."

"Minato's weapons guy said he'd put a rush on it for us and have it back to me in two days."

"Great. Thanks, Kushina."

"Don't mention it." She made her way across the room and put a gentle hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Her voice dropped to a tender whisper. "By the way, how are you doing?"

His eyes flitted toward the floor, the brief lapse saying more than words could. "I'm managing." He let out a long sigh. "It's all so strange. Like everything I knew has been flipped upside down and inside out, you know?"

She nodded and bit her lip. "I'd imagine so. I'm sorry. I found out when you did, and I'm still wrapping my mind around all this too. It must be even harder for you."

"It's just…I'm not even sure what I should do now. I know I want to see Itachi when I can, and I know I want to clear his name, but where do I even start? And the Chunin Exams are only weeks away. How can I care about that when my brother's…?"

He didn't finish. He didn't need to.

Kushina put an arm around him. "Look, Sasuke. You can't do anything about Itachi's predicament right now. So focus on the things you can change instead."

"Like?"

"Like becoming the best shinobi you can be, so that when your brother does need you, you'll be ready. Just remember that we love you, and we'll be here to help. You won't be facing it all alone."

Sasuke took in her words and relaxed his shoulders. "Thank you."

"Anyway, don't let me interrupt. Those hand signs aren't gonna master themselves, ya know!"

She kissed the side of his head and went on her way, humming a tune. Her thoughts were already racing with potential modifications she could recommend Hiruzen make to the village's ninjutsu barrier system. Her current working concept was a layered design that she hoped he'd be amenable to; if not, she had a backup in mind. Minato was doing all he could on his end to ensure the exams went off without a hitch. Kushina, as his wife, was more than happy to do her part. They vowed long ago that they would face everything together.

The Konran Mask flapped against Naruto's hip. He marched into the heart of The Training Cave with a broad smile on his face. Eyeing the mask, he thought back on all that he accomplished in the past few days. His mom may have had her reasons to worry, but to Naruto, this relic was a badge of honor representing his growth as a ninja.

"Okay!"

He pumped his fists and examined the obstacle course-style training facility. Every section of the place seemed devoted to some form of trying to kill or injure the user. There was a series of large interlocking gears that formed a precarious set of walls around several training dummies. The dummies slid along a grid of connected tracks. A sizable gap between the 'walls' and floor plummeted straight to the bottom of a pit lined with spikes. What this deathtrap was supposed to offer in terms of training was anyone's guess.

Getting back to the reason he was here, Naruto brought his fingers together into a cross shape and tapped into his chakra reserves. He was glad to have the rare chance to spend time here on his own. Mom and Dad were busy prepping for Chunin Exams stuff, and Sasuke was training at home. This was the perfect opportunity to try out the special training method Pervy Sage and Dad told him about.

Smoke filled the area. When it cleared, there were ten Narutos present.

"Alright," the original bellowed. The others gave him their full attention. "We're gonna divide and conquer, believe it!"

He set five of the clones to work hitting the training dummies. One of them sparred directly with him. Two more practiced manifesting the Rasengan. The last clone practiced throwing shuriken at targets. The entire top floor of the complex was buzzing with activity. They worked well into the afternoon, sharpening their skills.

According to Pervy Sage and Dad, all of the experience gained by a clone would return to the original once the clone disappeared. Unlike him, they weren't able to make as many clones—or sustain them for as long—as he could. That put Naruto in a unique position to speed up his progress. So far their guidance had proven true. However, a test run with ten clones only scratched the surface of what he was capable of at max capacity. Naruto smirked.

Let's test those limits!

It didn't take long to reach a point where he was comfortable with his grasp of the Shadow Clones' shared memory. This nifty trick left Naruto somewhat weary, but its benefits far surpassed the drawbacks. He made the appropriate hand sign again and a flood of clones popped into existence out of thin air, spilling over into other floors and rooms that made up The Training Cave's insane square footage. Over the next few hours, the structural integrity of Jiraiya and Minato's exclusive sparring location was tested like never before by the boy both blessed and cursed with a mixture of Minato's talent and Kushina's tenacity.

Sakura stepped out onto the street cradling a bag full of groceries. She thanked the store owner and made her way back home. The streets were populated by civilians and shinobi alike. Something was different about the village today, and Sakura couldn't put her finger on what. Then, as she paid closer attention, it hit her.

Reminders about the imminent hosting of the next Chunin Exam were around every corner. Prominent signs hanging next to shopfronts advertised limited time sales on front row seat tickets to the final matches. Children laughed as they chased one another and 'played ninja' with rubber kunai and faux headbands from not just The Leaf, but other territories as well. Uniformed Chunin and Jonin busily carted supplies in either direction. While the scene may have been a lot to take in for first time visitors, for a local like Sakura it was mere background noise. She kept walking and focused her mental energy on ignoring her surroundings. No one apart from the kids at play said anything outright about what was just around the corner. Nonetheless, it was impossible to deny that The Chunin Exams were on everyone's minds.

She grimaced, remembering her recent training and the daunting challenge ahead. Instead of giving in, Sakura held her head high. There were hours of poring over textbooks and research studies in her future. Otherwise, she would be flying blind testing some of her latest theories. Her grip on the grocery bag instinctively tightened.

Calm down, Sakura, she thought to herself. It's nothing you can't handle.

This wasn't a lie by any means. She had the academy test scores to prove it, after all. If she applied herself, then she had every reason to believe she would find practical uses for her accumulated knowledge. A month and change was more than enough time to transform herself into a kunoichi worthy of a spot in the Chunin Exam roster! Smiling to herself, Sakura stopped in front of the door to her home and let herself in.

"I'm back!" she called out as she slipped off her shoes.

Once she helped Mebuki unpack all of the groceries, it was off to the library. Sakura refused to let time get away from her. She'd bet all of the ryo in her savings that Naruto and Sasuke were hard at work this very second. The determined kunoichi sped up the flight of stairs to her room. She combed her hair (despite trying to ignore the impulse), grabbed just the essentials, and headed out.

Hiashi Hyuuga handed an envelope to Minato across his office desk, keeping a watchful eye on it as The Hokage returned the letter to its original spot. The Clan Head's tight-lipped expression held fast, even when Minato addressed him.

"So," The Fourth said, steepling his hands, "Hiashi, what are your thoughts?"

Hiashi blinked himself back into focus. "Sorry, Lord Hoka-" Their eyes met and he recalled his leader's aversion to formality in their interactions. Albeit with difficulty, he corrected himself. "Minato." He cleared his throat. "To be frank, this comes as a bit of a shock."

"I'm sure. My apologies for not bringing up the truce until now. I didn't want to say anything until negotiations were further along."

Hiashi's eyes were glued to his feet. "Of course." He hesitated. "Will they be…attending the Chunin Exam as well?"

"No, no. It's still too soon for anything like that. Right now, my utmost concern is The Leaf's safety. So at least for now, I'd like to limit the extent of this alliance."

"Right."

"Given your clan's past experiences, I wanted to let you know ahead of anyone else so that you and the others wouldn't feel blindsided. I don't want this to seem like a slight against the Hyuuga."

"Not at all, Minato."

"Are you sure?"

Keeping his emotions in check, Hiashi made eye contact again. "I am."

"Alright. Well, in that case you're dismissed. Thanks for your time. And thanks for being so cordial about all this."

Hiashi delivered a stiff bow, then shuffled out of the office. In his haste, he almost breezed past the door guard. Genma peeled away from his post to escort Minato's latest visitor outside. A new guard materialized in an instant to fill the vacancy. Genma strode down the hall and descended each floor in relative silence. He stole quick glances over his shoulder which were easy for Hiashi to clock even without activating his Byakugan. Trailing just a tad too far behind Genma, the Clan Leader couldn't help but wonder if somehow his impassive expression had faltered. Did those around him feel the intense emotion raging in his heart?

Genma stopped at the door that led outside and bade him farewell with a smile. When he crossed the threshold from the Hokage's Mansion to the courtyard, Hiashi reminded himself not to break form. He stilled his emotions until he was well outside of the premises. The farther he walked, the more deliberate and heavy his footsteps. He rounded a corner and merged with the flow of passing foot traffic. Assured that he was alone now, Hiashi made a tight fist.

On her walk to the library, Sakura bumped into none other than her teammates. They stopped at an intersection and greeted one another. The three Genin retreated into an alleyway where they could talk without blocking the road.

Sakura ran a hand through her hair. Sweat was pooling on the back of her neck. "Nice to see you."

"What's up, Sakura?" Naruto gave her a bright smile, hands interlocked behind his head.

A shudder ran from her head to her toes. She somehow still hadn't gotten used to The Hokage's sons being her teammates. Two of the most promising shinobi the academy had to offer, on her squad? Try as she might, Sakura could never fully tamp down her disbelief. She tuned back into the conversation to find her teammates blinking at her while they waited for a response.

"Oh!" Sakura said, finding her words. "Sorry. I was just on my way to the library."

Sasuke looked into her eyes, making her melt into a puddle of nerves yet again. "Really?" he said. "Why so early in the day?"

"Yeah!" Naruto seconded. "You should come train with us instead!"

She let out a polite laugh. "No, no. Thank you Naruto, but I have to go do some important research. Maybe we can all go next time, okay?"

The word 'research' seemed to be a point of contention for Naruto. He frowned, but pushed down whatever emotion he was feeling and nodded.

"So, have you decided if you're entering or not?" Sasuke said.

"What?" She took a moment to process the question. "Oh, right! The exam. Of course I am. Why wouldn't I?"

"Allllllllright!" Naruto shouted, throwing a fist in the air. "We're gonna wipe the floor with the other teams, believe it!"

His brother patted him on the shoulder. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still have a lot of work ahead of us."

Looking away, Sakura thought back to her recent struggle with this very decision. She hoped she could live up to the bold statement Naruto made. Much to her regret, Sasuke picked up on this vibe and addressed her.

"Hey, Sakura. What is it?"

She flushed pink and held up her hands. "What, me? Nothing's the matter. Seriously! Anyway, I should probably be on my way. I'll stop by the training field later."

"Great," Naruto agreed with a nod. "If we're not there by the time you're finished, just come to our house, okay?" He started down the path toward his and Sasuke's destination as Sakura broke off to go in the opposite direction.

A firm hand took hold of her elbow, causing her to look back. Sasuke's gaze was locked onto her.

"You don't have to act tough in front of us," he said in a low voice.

Sakura felt pinned to the spot by his serious stare. His ability to break through her defenses with a single look shook her to her core. Rather than respond, she eased out of Sasuke's grasp and went on her way. Naruto continued walking, oblivious to their exchange. A few paces later, he realized Sasuke wasn't following and called for him to hurry up. Sakura ducked around a corner and took a shortcut to the library without looking back.

In one graceful stride, Hiashi Hyuuga stepped into the room where the clan elders, their attendants, and his twin Hizashi were all assembled. Hiashi nodded in silent acknowledgment of everyone before pulling the paper divider shut behind him. The others took their places and sat cross-legged. Meanwhile, he got comfortable in his designated spot front and center. Stern faces stared back at him while he gathered his thoughts. His brother was the sole person in the room whose expression softened when Hiashi looked at him.

Breaking the silence, Hiashi said, "Thank you all for coming. I have called you here to discuss my recent meeting with The Hokage."

A wave of grunts traveled across the room. Tension spiked as Hiashi paused to consider his words. He threw one last look to his brother, who put on a strained smile.

"The Fourth has notified me of a very important political decision," Hiashi said. "One with tremendous impact on our clan."

"What is this about?" his father rasped.

The Hyuuga Elder held himself upright despite the doubtless stress on his old bones. The mere sound of his voice left everyone rigid with anticipation. His drooping eyes were an almost haunting, washed out white — ravaged by time and the past demands of clan leadership, no doubt. Age had long since stripped away any shred of muscle mass; the willowy body he now possessed had to be animated by sheer fortitude. Still, he remained no less powerful a presence than he was throughout his sons' childhoods.

"Father," Hiashi replied, "The Fourth is working to repair relations with a foreign power."

"Which one?"

A suffocating hush fell over the room. Hiashi grimaced, accepting that this question was unavoidable.

"The…The Hidden Cloud."

The restricted meeting room erupted into chaos.

The Hidden Leaf Village was surrounded by a translucent chakra barrier; to most, it was undetectable. Those with some knowledge of chakra detection, like the gray-haired young man snaking his way through the noisy crowd, were an exception. A simple disagreement along the path leading to the village escalated to a borderline brawl that was beginning to turn heads.

Kabuto Yakushi used this opportunity to skulk past the disorganized masses. He blended in with a handful of people who were lined up to enter the front gate. Glancing back at the scuffle, Orochimaru's right hand sighed with relief. He'd made it just in time to avoid getting stuck behind a bottleneck. Those he cut in front of were much too occupied to notice. Kabuto smirked; if there was one thing he excelled at above all else, it was knowing how to disappear.

Another presence hung just beyond his consciousness, rattling around like a prisoner against the bars of a cage. Everything in him screamed in protest, but he could not—no, would not back down. Kabuto's toes buckled. He flexed his fingers and grunted, determined to see this through. Sheer willpower kept him focused on his mission. Fu's chakra settled down at last, finding harmony with the shared host body.

The line leading through the front gate progressed with little fanfare as a pair of Chunin snuffed out the petty fighting at the rear. Soon, Kabuto could see the tops of buildings. Something else he noticed made him curse under his breath.

Itachi's intel had a few gaps. The perimeter's ninjutsu barrier was multilayered. Kabuto could only assume there was a built-in function to alert guards of unauthorized intruders. Making matters even worse, the line he was standing in forked into two a few heads down from him. They seemed to be funneling visitors through a couple of smaller gates. Peering around the tall traveler blocking his view, Kabuto noted people going through some type of security check. Either these were recent changes, or the rogue Uchiha from whom Sasori sourced his information had a solo agenda.

Interesting, Kabuto said to himself. This information may be to Lord Orochimaru's advantage.

He would need to report his findings to Sasori early enough that his cover wasn't blown, but his true allegiance took priority. The short term goal was to get in and out while making as little of a splash as possible. Or at least, that was the original plan. Kabuto sucked in a breath as he was directed to one of the forking paths. In a matter of seconds, he would meet the gate guard. The burden was on him to spin a convincing enough tale to gain entry.

"Don't stop moving. I'll deal with this."

Kabuto flinched, unaccustomed to the additional voice echoing in his mind. He played the surprise off as stumbling mid-stride and paused to await his inspection. The man in front of him grumbled as his cart was inspected. A tarp hid the contents from Kabuto's view. No matter. He had enough to work with already.

"A real hassle, isn't it?" The Sound Ninja declared.

The disgruntled traveler turned to face Kabuto. His leathery skin was accented by long dark hair tucked under a cloth bandana. Calloused hands and age spots bespoke years of service in some sort of trade. "Hm?" he said with mild disinterest.

"All this." Kabuto splayed his hands. "Security is tight, what with the Chunin Exam coming up and all. I get that. Even so…" He waited for the man to latch onto his bait and was not disappointed.

"You're tellin' me! I come here every three months to sell my wares, but I've got seven more stops t'make before I head home."

Although it was easy to tell by his earthy colored garb, Kabuto humored him. "Where's home for you?"

"The Sand. I hear we've got that team with the Jinchuuriki entering this year."

"Is that so?" Kabuto pushed up his glasses beneath his hood.

"Yup. Kazekage's boy, Gaara. Damn kid's always freaked me out. I'd hate to be whoever he goes up against."

"Color me intrigued. I might just buy a ticket if he makes it to the semifinals."

The guard let the merchant through, and it was now Kabuto's turn. He raised his arms and let the assigned ninja examine him. Inside, he felt Fu's chakra concentrating into a single point.

"Now, Kabuto! Switch with me."

Okay. How do I do tha-

A stern-faced shinobi with a hand near her ninja tool pouch stalked closer. The inspector yielded to her, signifying she must have held some unique status despite the two wearing vests that implied equal rank. All of this transpired within a vacuum. If Kabuto had to describe the experience, it was as if everything was happening around him but not to him. He tried to move his head or speak, but could not. The mind transfer swap had succeeded without him having any idea.

The woman's sharp gaze fell on him. She twisted her mouth into a prominent frown. "State your business," she demanded. "And remove that hood, or I'll remove it for you."

"Alright, alright," said Kabuto's voice in a friendly tone. He shrugged off the hood and grinned. "Easy! I have nothing to hide."

Her unflinching glare made it obvious she'd heard that countless times before. "Business?"

He flashed his identification.

"I'm one of the Chunin Exam entrants, miss."

"Entered seven times, eh? Can't be all that strong then, can you?"

"What can I say? I don't know how to give up."

"Anyway, that's besides the point. Visiting teams aren't due to arrive for another week."

"Y-yes, but you see, I got approved for an early arrival."

She snatched the identification card out of his hand and looked it over, this time with more scrutiny.

"See?" he said. "It's right there in the corner."

Still not satisfied, the guard flung the card back at him and he caught it out of the air with a deft hand. "What for?"

"I've come a long way to purchase flowers for my beloved."

Her brow crinkled. "Flowers?"

"Yes. I know, I know! I could have just chosen an arrangement from a local store, but I've heard stories about the beautiful carnations at Yamanaka Flower Shop. My Miwa's very high maintenance, you see."

"Is she, now?"

"Heh, sure is, miss. Only the best for her."

A long silence left Kabuto on edge. Fu, on the other hand, maintained a steady heart rate. He smiled, keeping his cool in spite of the potential situation on their hands. To Kabuto's relief, the woman's frown gave way and she nodded, rosiness reaching her cheeks.

"How gentlemanly of you! That's some dedication you've got. I'm not the warmest personality…"

Kabuto scoffed. "You don't say?"

Quiet down, Kabuto! Fu replied internally.

"...but I'd appreciate it if my husband surprised me with kind gestures like that."

Fu shook Kabuto's head. "Shame. He's a lucky man."

The woman let out a high pitched giggle that in no way matched her intimidating front. She seemed to have done a complete 180 right before their eyes.

"Oh, stop it! You're clear. Go on through. Give Miwa my best!"

The guard waved Kabuto past and Fu hurried along, keeping up the false persona all the way through the small archway. Kabuto regained control of his body the moment his foot touched Leaf Village soil. His jovial smile vanished. He threw his hood on again and melted into the crowd.

"I have to say, I'm impressed," Kabuto admitted as he walked. "Even by my standards, that was some quick thinking."

"I'm a Yamanaka. It comes with the territory."

The bespectacled spy chuckled. "Touché. Ready for the main act?"

"Just get me into position."

Kabuto found an isolated spot behind a building that gave him a clear line of sight toward the secondary gate. He scanned the area and noticed a ring of guards stationed atop raised platforms that encircled the entire village perimeter. Eyeballing it, they were spaced out by intervals of about thirty degrees. Kabuto allowed Fu access to these thoughts and crouched low.

"Count us lucky that they're all facing outward," he whispered. "Your turn again, Fu. Remember, get in, take what we need, and get out."

"Understood."

Fu hijacked his body again, retrieving the earpiece hidden under Kabuto's clothing. He nestled it in place and waited for it to crackle to life. "Fu here. Torune, your status?"

"In position."

"Good. Initiating secondary transfer."

"It's been more than ten minutes. You need to return to your real body."

"I know. No need to worry. I'll be quick."

Kabuto watched as Fu made him stand up, form the hand sign associated with his clan's special ability, and eject himself in the direction of one of the guards. Sinking to the ground, Kabuto shook back into focus. The guard Fu transferred himself into froze and almost fell off of his platform. A fellow guard called out to him, but Fu played the incident off without missing a beat. He shouted a few reassuring words, even pulling the fellow guard's nickname from his victim's memories to add legitimacy. This seemed to clear up any suspicion and the other guard left Fu to his own devices.

Fu's new host body resumed its guard duty. While Kabuto made his way back toward the exit, he glanced up at the mind controlled guard. Fu walked himself through a sequence of hand signs. He repeated the process three more times, receiving a passing insult from one of the other guards for his forgetfulness. Kabuto lost sight of Fu as he left the village through the main gate. Making sure not to be seen by those who granted him entry, he hurried to the treeline. Once again, a foreign consciousness flowed into him. With the allied Root Ninja as his passenger, Kabuto Body Flickered deeper into the underbrush.

Torune all but materialized out of thin air, a testament to his regiment's stealth skills. Danzo really knew how to pick his henchmen. Deep down, Kabuto hoped Lord Orochimaru had a contingency in place. If Danzo steered off course from the plan, dealing with these two would prove troublesome. He was careful to hide these thoughts from Fu, of course.

A floating cloud of insects deposited Fu's limp body close to Kabuto, then dispersed. Torune stepped back, giving his partner room so he could terminate the mind transfer. Kabuto smiled when he felt Fu's consciousness leave him, this time for good. The real Fu spasmed awake and wiped a trail of blood from his nose.

"Something the matter?" Kabuto asked when Fu and Torune shared a look.

"That was too close, Fu," Torune said, ignoring Kabuto's question.

"I had it under control," Fu assured him. "Besides, I got what we needed."

"Good. Just don't push it next time."

"Sorry, Torune, but I can't promise that. Anything for Lord Danzo."

Torune hesitated, then nodded. "For Lord Danzo."

Kabuto rolled his eyes. He wanted to gag at their codependent loyalty to scum like Danzo. He swallowed to keep from projectile vomiting and followed the pathetic pair. They glided along at an impressive speed. That is, until something else caught Kabuto's attention.

His heartbeat fluttered at the sight of a familiar grove of trees. Just beyond it was the cozy cabin residence he'd been fond of in a past life. Back then, 'Kabuto' represented far more than just a name. Snapping back to the present, he noticed Fu and Torune were leaving him behind. Kabuto silenced his useless bout of nostalgia and pressed on. All three rogue ninja leapt across the branches of The Leaf's outskirts as a unit. They picked up the pace, leaving the village they once called home in the dust.

Hinata slammed one of her palms against a training post. Chakra pierced its cloth padding, penetrating into the deeper layers of the aged wood. She pulled her hand back and winced, observing the bruises mottling her skin.

"Not enough," she said between gasps. "I have to refine the chakra further."

Shrugging off the spikes of pain coursing through her arm, she got back into proper stance for another attempt. The moment she began funneling chakra to a focal point, however, someone entered the courtyard, breaking her concentration. She stumbled and turned with a sheepish grin, hoping the newcomer hadn't seen her less than elegant moment.

"Good afternoon, Lady Hinata," said the heiress's standoffish cousin. Neji's brow pinched. Perhaps he'd hoped to pass by without her noticing him?

She gasped. "N-Neji! Good afternoon. How are you?"

The Branch Member had his arms crossed in quiet defiance of the decorum expected of him. His lips were just short of a snarl. "I'm fine."

Hinata tried for a welcoming smile. "Great. Would you like to…join me in my…"

Neji disappeared through a door before she could get out the word "training." Hinata hunched forward, discouraged. Things had never really been the best between them, but she at least tried to show kindness to her cousin. In early childhood, they talked a lot more often. That changed almost overnight, though, leaving her to wonder if she'd done something to offend him.

When Hinata brought it up with her father, he brushed the question aside. "The Branch Family exists to serve The Main Family," he said for the millionth time. "Do not concern yourself with such trifles." Any chance of getting an answer to this mystery died at that moment.

These days, Neji treated her with a fragile veneer of respectful aloofness. She'd been a fool to expect a smile every now and then would change that.

Resigned to this fact, Hinata turned back to her task. She trembled with the weight of her own inadequacy. The frustration of being shackled to a responsibility she was unable to shoulder. The downright unfairness of this very duty being held against her by so many in her family—her dismissive cousin included.

What did I ever do to deserve this?

Tears welled up in Hinata's eyes. However, the thought of Naruto curtailed her temptation to break down. Her frown morphed into a smile as she focused on the memories they made. He thought so highly of her. Believed in her. Somehow, even someone as unlucky and unskilled as her managed to become best friends with the Hokage's prodigy of a son!

Naruto never gave up. He always figured out a way to move forward, and seemed to find hope where others saw lost causes. If someone like him was confident in her chances as a shinobi, who was she to say otherwise?

Hinata poured her conflicting emotions into her next strike. Her hand flared with chakra. She moved to attack again, maintaining perfect form. Anger, doubt, sadness and shame fueled her precise palm strike. The post buckled under the impact, lifting half an inch from its grounded position. The paved floor surrounding the post cracked. Not enough to uproot it, but still causing Hinata to shrink back in shock and horror.

A hole the size of a small coin was burned into the post's cloth padding. Its fabric sizzled, sending a thin wisp of smoke into the air. Just the thought of the look on her father's face when he saw the damage she'd done filled Hinata with regret. He would have to send for workmen to make the necessary repairs. She hurried off to report her mistake. Letting emotion get the better of her had caused her Gentle Fist Style to spread out too far from the point of impact. She wouldn't make such a rookie mistake again. Like it or not, the hopes of The Hyuuga Clan rested on her ability to master her craft.

Hinata was already gone by the time the post she struck split down the center like a finely sliced cake. A pile of wood divided with perfect precision into eighths was all that remained.

Neji called out to alert his father before letting himself in. There was no answer. "Father, are you in here?"

He found Hizashi out back. The skilled Jonin was practicing his kata on a sizable patch of grass. His moves were sloppier than usual. Even with his father's back to him, Neji could sense anger emanating from him. His chakra flow was unstable. Disturbed.

"Oh, hello Neji!" Hizashi said, plastering on a smile as he spun to perform the next motion. His poor attempt at deceit was useless against the perceptive Branch Family prodigy.

"Dad, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"I may not be a veteran Byakugan user like you, but even my eyes can see through whatever this is." Neji's gaze hardened. "You're upset."

Hizashi dropped his arms to his sides. His performative smile fell away. "I suppose you were bound to notice sooner or later."

Neji arched an eyebrow. Hizashi sighed and nodded his head toward another building. Picking up on the signal, Neji followed close behind.

The chosen location for their secret conversation was a humble, standalone room. Large glass panel windows installed in opposite walls added a sense of openness to the space. Ordinarily, this place was used for meditation and chakra control exercises. However, its somewhat thicker walls and considerable distance from the Main Branch living quarters made the room an excellent fit for their needs. Hizashi and his son dropped to their knees in mock prayer.

"Neji," the former whispered, "I need to tell you something."

"About what? Was the operation discovered?"

"No, it isn't that."

"What, then?"

Cold silence left Neji on pins and needles.

"The timeline has moved up," Hizashi said at last.

His son gasped, unable to resist springing upright. "What's going on?"

"Shhh!"

Hizashi planted a hand on the back of his son's head and nudged him toward the floor. "You see, Neji, I realize now that I was wrong to wait. We've endured enough! Preparations begin tomorrow."

Neji froze when an impossible sound came from Hizashi's side of the room.

Is father…crying?

Sakura found Naruto and Sasuke at the Third Training Ground. Naruto was practicing throwing his Flying Thunder God kunai along with two of his Shadow Clones. Meanwhile, Sasuke was crouched low doing stretches. She surmised he must have been taking a break between rounds of his training regimen.

"Oh!" Naruto piped up when their eyes met. "Hey, Sakura! How was the library?"

She flashed a polite smile. Her cheeks burned with discomfort at having so many eyes on her. Even if four of them belonged to clones, it was still awkward. "G-Good! I really learned a lot."

Sasuke rose from his leg stretches and nodded in recognition of her arrival. "Ready to join us for our next drill?"

"Sure am! What's next?"

"Water walking practice!" Naruto said with gusto. "Wait, uh, you have learned how to do that, right Sakura?"

"Not exactly, but I read up on it a while back. Sounded easy enough."

Sakura bounded over to the edge of the water and dipped a foot in. Without hesitation, she took a full step forward over the lip of the lake. Naruto and Sasuke dashed in to stop her.

"Wait, Sakura!" Naruto called out. "You'll fall i-"

He came to an abrupt halt, sharing a look with Sasuke. Sakura was tip-toeing her way across the water. Once she was comfortable with her chakra distribution, she took a brisk walk from one end to the other.

"Wow!" she said, laughing to herself. "Look, you guys. I'm doing it!"

Sasuke stood with his mouth agape. "She's…she's a natural."

Naruto gave a slow nod. "No kidding!"

When the initial shock died down, all three Genin took turns traveling from one end of the lake to the other. The boys found themselves panting with exertion in their attempts not to be outdone by Sakura. Her pristine chakra control was on full display as she breezed through the exercise. She skipped and danced along the water's surface like a seasoned pro! Team 7 settled the challenge once and for all with a race to see who could get across quickest. Although Naruto and Sasuke were more proficient by the end of the session than at the start, in the end, Sakura emerged victorious with the fastest time.

They lounged on the grass for a bit afterward. Sasuke and Naruto nursed their fatigued legs. Their exhaustion hadn't registered at first, but once they stopped to rest, the accumulated strain of the consecutive drills hit all at once. Sakura, on the other hand, was humming a tune with a happy smile on her face. Her smile faded when she noticed them groaning and wincing through the pain.

"Are you two alright?" she said, kneeling to inspect their injuries.

"Yeah," Sasuke said. "It'll pass."

"Wow," Naruto added. "I thought mastering the Rasengan would make this a piece of cake, but it still took a lot outta me."

"That's just because we're not used to the ratio yet," Sasuke said. "Not enough that it's second nature, at least." He nodded toward Sakura. "You're just naturally talented at it, though, Sakura."

Sakura shrugged and flashed a nervous smile. "Yeah, that's what Kakashi-sensei said." She gasped, an idea popping into her head. "Hey! Wanna get some food after this? I'm suddenly starving."

"What are you in the mood for?" Sasuke asked. He held up a hand to stop Naruto from answering first. "Ichiraku, we know. But it's her turn this time. Sakura?"

She put a finger against her chin. "Hmm, I don't know. How about barbeque?"

Sasuke nodded. "Sure. I could go for that."

Naruto crossed his arms and frowned, but accepted the decision. Taking turns was only fair.

"So anyway," Naruto said, his mood brightening, "What did you learn at the library today? You said it went well, right?"

Sakura winked. "Oh, that? Let's just leave it a surprise, 'kay?"

"Alright, Sakura. I can't wait to see whatever awesome progress you're making. Believe it!"

Sasuke's brow deepened with intrigue but he didn't say a word. When he and Naruto were okay to walk, they got up, grabbed their things, and followed Sakura. She led the way to her restaurant of choice with a smile on her face.

Minato entered a vast room full of spherical objects on raised platforms. These large, translucent orbs were spaced out at equal intervals. The place was empty apart from the man he was here to meet. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the wall smoking a pipe. He was busy leafing through one of several folders full of paperwork on a table.

"Thanks for meeting me here," Minato said.

"Ah! Greetings, Minato."

"I trust the installation is coming along well," the Fourth said, sweeping the room with a glance.

"Yes. Things seem to be moving quickly now that the most difficult phase is behind us. Thank you for getting those imports fast tracked on such short notice."

"It's nothing," Minato said with a nonchalant wave. "Although really, you ought to be thanking Yamato. Not me."

"Yamato?"

"Yeah. He took care of the request for me."

"Ah, excellent. He has come a long way from those days, hasn't he?"

The bittersweet memory of the day he and Minato were approached by the handful of ANBU agents who refused to defect with Danzo hung over Hiruzen like a raging stormcloud. Their scared and dejected faces reflected the impact of his poor decision making during his term. How could he ever hope to undo all of his wrongs? His crestfallen expression betrayed these worries.

A hand rested on Hiruzen's shoulder, dispersing his dark thoughts.

"He has," Minato agreed. "All of them have. Lord Third, look at me." The Leaf Elder obeyed after a brief hesitation. "You and I are Hokage. The Leaf has endured so much up until now, and with another Chunin Exam on the horizon, there's no doubt in my mind that there will be more to come. We need to do what we can for the current village. It needs us now more than ever. I need you. Lord Third, will you help me protect what our predecessors built?"

Hiruzen shook with emotion, but continued to smoke from his pipe out of reflex. "Of course I will, Minato. Apologies for zoning out like that. I'm just old and full of regrets."

"I know the feeling. Nowhere near to the level of what you've been through, but still." Minato leaned on the wall next to Hiruzen and sighed, taking one of the folders at the bottom of the stack for himself. "Lately, I find myself having to make amends almost daily. All these years and I still question whether Fugaku might've been the right man for the job."

"Minato, I recommended you as my successor because I believe in your ability to keep The Will of Fire burning strong. Every day, you prove to me that my choice was anything but a mistake. I'm honored to be helping you host this year's exam. Just as you said, the village needs us now, so let's work together."

The words of encouragement from Hiruzen brought a smile to Minato's face. "Right. Thank you, Lord Third." He got down to business, displaying the contents of the folder in his hands. "So, looks like we've got quite a few competitors from The Grass Village this time around."

"Yes, I've noticed that."

"Is this distribution of Genin normal, or is it typically not so skewed?"

"It can vary, but let's wait and see where the chips fall. I suspect we'll see an increase in attendance from all participating villages this year. After all, your sons are the primary reason so many tickets have been sold in advance." Hiruzen winked.

Laughing, Minato shook his head and replied, "They haven't even formally accepted their invitations yet! But yeah, it's fair to assume that's only a matter of time. There's no way they'd miss this."

The Third Hokage put another folder on the table next to him and then opened the next village's file. "How are Naruto and Sasuke, by the way?"

"They're doing well! Naruto's already mastered creating the Rasengan. He learned it in less than two days, as impossible as that sounds."

"My, my! I suppose that's to be expected of the child of you and Kushina."

"Haha, yeah. I guess so. And Sasuke is okay, but…"

"But?"

Minato had to keep his adoptive son's well-being in mind, as much as he may have preferred full transparency between himself and Hiruzen. "We had a little fight, but from what I can tell it's blown over now. Also, Kushina's working on a new weapon for him! He picked up archery again a few weeks ago."

"Ah, is that right? It would seem that the new generation is no less motivated than yours was, Minato, even though we are in a time of relative peace and stability. The future bodes well for us."

Smiling and nodding, The Fourth allowed himself to get lost in his thoughts. Everything was okay in the village now. His family was on good terms with him. Kakashi seemed to be doing a lot better too, now that he had a team of his own to watch over. Minato's training goals were closer to fruition with each passing day. He was happy, of course, yet he couldn't help worrying that with all of the recent good in his life, something horrible was bound to come along and tip the scales.