Chapter 33: Monitor closely.
Time flew by,
Konoha was going to hold the chunin exam next.
This was a good opportunity for the shinobi of the other villages to determine the overall strength of their enemies next generation.
Kumogakure and Sunagakure were more than happy to oblige.
"Itachi, you're mission is to show everyone the strength and glory of the Uchiha clan. You must strike fear into the hearts of the shinobi from the other villages. You must not fail, you understand?"
In the Uchiha patriarch's residence, the current Uchiha clan head Fugaku was trying to motivate his eldest son Itachi with his ever solemn expression.
The 10-year-old Uchiha Itachi had lost his teammates on a mission two years ago.
He was going to be taking the exam as a one man team.
To the Uchiha this was the perfect opportunity to make their name resound throughout the ninja world.
Itachi, being a filial son knelt in front of his father, nodding his head repeatedly.
Fugaku didn't notice that his son was feeling rather disgusted at what the clan wanted.
Around the time where he started sending shadow clones to the academy in his place, he met Shisui, another inheritor of the Will of Fire from the Uchiha clan.
After seeing his friend's view on the clan and the village, he gradually began to dislike how narrow minded and vain the Uchiha clan were.
The only thing he ever heard at home was 'the clan wishes' or 'for the clan'.
He had heard it so many times he had just gotten used to 'filtering' it out of his mind as soon as he left the conpound.
After half heartedly listening to Fugaku's instructions, he responded with,
"Yes Father, I will carry on my training now."
And disappeared using the body flicker technique.
He went towards the agreed meeting location to see his friend, behind the Uchiha's Naka Shrine.
As soon as he arrived he saw his best friend that had been waiting quite a long time.
Shisui Uchiha.
…
…
The administrative building in the center of Konoha Village.
The Hokage's residence.
Hiruzen sat on his chair, as he gazed into a crystal ball sitting in the center of the desk in front of him.
The shiny surface was showing him the Main gate of Konoha.
One after another, the genin representing each village showed up along with their guide Jonin.
Hiruzen was looking for the two major villages that had decided to participate in the event, Kumo and Suna.
The young genin from Sunagakure was Pakura of the scorch style.
Although she was still a genin, she had gained some noteriety because of her ruthless kekkai genkai.
According to information brokers on the black market, she had burnt many enemies ninjas into a crisp while fighting Iwagakure.
Her guide Jonin, Baki, was a confidant of the fourth Kazekage.
"Huh... all the villages are sending out their talents in large numbers..."
He exhaled another puff of smoke, feeling slightly worried inside.
Two people who caught his attention were slowly wondering through the gate.
Not only the Hokage, but the other jonin present too revealed a wary expression upon seeing the one in front.
The man was well known as the ninja with the strongest lightning style from as early as 15 years old. His strength had likely exceeded the Raikages after a few years.
He was likely to become as much of a menace as the Third Raikage was and cause them endless worry.
Due to the attention magnet beside her, the female beauty who seemed to be in her teens also stood out.
The only information the cloud had given in her introduction in the letter was her name, Terumi Mei.
Well, aside from the fact that she was a genin, she was a complete mystery to them right now.
Recalling the shame that the cloud Jonin caused them to feel five years ago, he released another heavy sigh inside his office.
He muttered to himself,
"Why did he come this time? It's just a chunin exam so sending a kage-level ninja must mean they are going to try something again... I'll have to make sure someone competent is watching him."
…
…
In front of the examination room
Terumi Mei had one hand on her hip as she pouted and showed a bitter expression.
"I didn't expect I would one day take part in a chunin exam as a Jonin."
"Heh~ you're representing the cloud right now~. Make sure you show off the strength of a future Mizukage and I'll give you a gift later."
"Gift?"
Her beautiful eyes looked at him strangely, she chuckled then said,
"Don't tell me it's one of those things you give to Samui. I didn't expect you to have such indecent thoughts about me."
"Sure thing, time to enjoy some of those thoughts in a hotel. Let's go!"
He reached and hugged her thin waist.
Due to the close proximity she could feel the heat coming off him causing her to blush.
She was confused what had suddenly come over him and angry he was doing this in public.
A Konoha genin called Izumo Kamizuki slammed into Hachiro's shoulder and slipped a "F*** you." before rushing into the classroom.
Looking at his back, Hachiro gave a smug look.
Then he turned to look at the ninja school and sighed,
"I wonder how many people have been brainwashed by the will of fire at this school."
Under the shade of a faraway tree, the strongest of the Anbu, Shisui Uchiha was quietly observing the Kumogakure shinobi.
He peeked through the leaves as quietly as possible and watched Hachiro talk to the woman beside him.
Not long after his meeting with Itachi, he received an order from the Hokage.
Monitor the kumogakure representatives. Specifically the silver haired shinobi Hachiro Raiden.
"Is that the best shinobi from Kumogakure?"
So far he seemed to not be taking the exam seriously.
The woman might only be their for him to entertain himself with.
He thought to himself.
For a moment, he was entranced by something.
He shook his head breaking out of it before carefully looking for his target again.
However, his target seemed to have disappeared.
"Huh... where did he go!? I couldn't have spaced out for that long!"
He jumped up on top of the tree to find out if he could see something from a higher vantage point.
"Hello there~ did you enjoy the little show?"
Suddenly, a distorted nightmarish voice sounded out from behind him.