Chunin Exams Ends

The next match was on the brink of commencing, with both participants already positioned in the arena. Their focused gazes locked onto each other, silently acknowledging the start of the battle.

Having given their confirmation to the proctor, Haruki, the air buzzed with anticipation. For the Root operative, it was more than just a battle—it was a mission directly assigned by the village and Lord Danzo himself, compelling them to push the Shigaraki ninja to their limits.

As the match kicked off, the Root ninja wasted no time channeling chakra into their feet, swiftly creating distance between themselves and the Shigaraki ninja. Determined to keep their opponent at bay, they employed strategic maneuvering.

However, much to their bewilderment, their surroundings abruptly began to spin, disorienting their perception. In a dizzying whirl, their own body came into view, revealing the Shigaraki ninja standing behind them, their kunai stained with fresh blood.

Seizing the opportunity, the Shigaraki ninja swiftly activated their enhancement seal, synergizing it with their physical enhancement quirk, multiplying their attributes by a factor of ten.

With a seamless motion, they brandished a kunai, channeling chakra into their legs and closing the distance between them and their opponent in a fraction of the time. In one swift, precise motion, they sliced through their opponent's neck, putting an abrupt end to the battle.

The atmosphere in the arena fell into an eerily quiet state, with only those at the jonin level or higher managing to keep up with the astounding display of talent before them. Not even among this elite crowd could everyone fully comprehend the lightning-fast speed witnessed, leading to a unanimous agreement that such prowess should not belong to a mere genin. It was clear to all that this match was no contest.

The Third Hokage, observing the swift conclusion of the battle, couldn't help but narrow his eyes in deep contemplation. He keenly noticed the unique quality of the Shigaraki genin's sage mode, hinting at something had changed about it since a month ago. Meanwhile, the Kazekage found himself reeling from the spectacle, finally gaining a true understanding of Konoha's cautiousness towards the Shigaraki village. If their genin possessed such incredible might, he couldn't help but wonder about the unfathomable strength held by their higher-ranking ninja.

"Lady Rin," the Third Hokage began, his tone laced with a jest that carried a touch of accusation. "I must say, your genin do not appear to be typical genin at all. One could easily mistake them for highly skilled jonin in disguise."

Rin showed no sign of faltering, not even bothering to meet the Hokage's gaze. Her voice exuded unwavering confidence as she responded, "Lord Hokage, I can personally vouch for the authenticity of my genin. All I can say is that Shigaraki genin are unlike any others from different villages."

She then shifted her attention fully towards the Hokage, her tone now tinged with ridicule. "Furthermore, Lord Hokage, let us not pretend that the ninja you have participating in the finals are truly genin either. The only genuine genin among your ranks is that Uchiha boy, and even he has already surpassed the level of a mere chunin, bordering on the capabilities of a low jonin, as his impressive victory over his opponent clearly demonstrates."

The Third Hokage, though startled by Rin's revelation, maintained his composed exterior and refused to let his surprise show. However, Rin's subsequent words struck a nerve, causing his stern expression to falter. "No need to be startled," Rin confidently declared, meeting the Hokage's gaze head-on. "I am an Uzumaki, well-versed in the techniques of my clan. Hiding emotions or faking chakra levels is futile against me."

A smirk played on Rin's lips as she relished the growing concern and animosity emanating from the Hokage. "There's no cause for concern," she continued, her tone ringing with assurance. "As I mentioned, my genin are not your average genin, and no one among your ranks is a match for them."

Disregarding the Third Hokage and blatantly ignoring the Kazekage, Rin turned her attention towards the looming farce of the next match. Sensing that Rin had no intentions of further discussion, the Third Hokage shifted his gaze to the Kazekage, and in that silent exchange, a newfound understanding washed over them both regarding the Shigaraki leader and the threat she represented.

The following matches unfolded much like the first, with the Shigaraki ninja swiftly and ruthlessly dispatching their opponents. The crowd fell into stunned silence, never before witnessing such a resounding defeat suffered by Konoha in the very chunin exams they hosted.

The Third Hokage was on the verge of breaking, having lost numerous high-level ninja, even those who were affiliated with Danzo. As he glanced at Rin, a surge of frustration washed over him, causing him to grit his teeth. Rin, seeing the opportunity to taunt the Third Hokage, decided to speak up.

"I tried to warn you that my genin were different from the rest. All those lives lost, it's on you," she said, her voice laced with ridicule. The Third Hokage, attempting to reason with Rin, replied, "Lady Rin, your ninjas need not be so brutal. Our intention was to establish peace between our villages and honor our connection with your late clan. We have an Uzumaki in our village now, and I'm sure he would be delighted to know he has family here."

Rin, sensing Naruto's presence from her current location, scoffed. "I can sense him from here, but considering what's sealed within him, it's as easy as finding the sun in a cloudless sky. It's amusing how you claim to honor the Uzumakis, yet you didn't lend them a helping hand, nor do you make any effort to do so," she said, her voice dripping with disdain as memories of her own experiences in the former Grass Village resurfaced.

The Third Hokage was taken aback by Rin's attitude and the tone she used. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt over the Uzumaki incident, but he also knew that he couldn't risk the safety of the village. "Lady Rin, you must understand that as a leader, tough decisions have to be made, and sacrifices are sometimes inevitable," he spoke, trying to appeal to her as leader-to-leader.

Rin, however, remained firm in her convictions. "No, I don't understand. Because I have the power to make decisions that I believe are right, without worrying about the village. I have the strength to protect it without losing anything else in my life," she declared, her voice filled with conviction as thoughts of Kurogiri crossed her mind.

The Kazekage observed the escalating tension between Lady Rin and the Third Hokage. Part of him agreed with Rin's statement, understanding the importance of strength, particularly in the harsh environment of the Sand Village.

The Third Hokage seized the opportunity to speak again. "Well, not all of us can be fortunate enough to possess such strength, especially with your village's sage mode," he said, hoping to gain some information from her about it.

Meanwhile, as Rin and the Hokage engaged in conversation, the matches in the arena continued. The first round came to an end, and it was announced that the second round of matches would begin soon.

Itachi had been closely observing all the matches, trying to formulate a plan to face the Shigaraki ninja without bringing shame to his clan or village. However, much to Itachi's surprise, his father, Fugaku, approached him, offering words of encouragement and advising him not to risk his life.

Fugaku acknowledged Itachi's strength but emphasized that even he struggled to keep up with the speed and power of the Shigaraki fighters. He believed that Itachi was more valuable to their clan and village alive.

"Itachi, I know you are strong, but after witnessing those matches, I could barely keep up with Shigaraki's speed and strength with my Sharingan," Fugaku said to his eldest son. "You are worth more to our clan and village alive, so withdraw from the matches orders from me, Uchiha clan leader, and the Hokage. Your earlier display has already proven your capabilities, and you will still be granted the rank of Chunin."

Itachi understood the difficult decision his father was making and respected his father's and the Hokage's orders. Though it was a challenging choice, Itachi had observed for a long time and realized that he couldn't come up with a proper strategy to guarantee his success. "Father, I understand, and I will heed your advice and the Hokage's order. I will withdraw from the matches," Itachi replied, accepting the decision.

As Itachi announced his withdrawal from the matches, the audience, aware of the Shigaraki ninja's deadly abilities, understood that he was simply avoiding the same fate. While they would typically be disappointed with a withdrawal, given the number of instant deaths caused by the Shigaraki fighters, they sympathized with Itachi's decision.

However, due to Itachi's withdrawal, the matches now consisted solely of Shigaraki ninja facing off against one another. This resulted in the Shigaraki ninja claiming all the top spots in the exam.

The Third Hokage was deeply frustrated as the reputation of Konoha suffered greatly due to the events of the Chunin Exams. His frustration grew and was directed towards Rin, who was seated next to him. Rin, always seizing the opportunity to ridicule the Third, spoke up, sensing his growing frustration.

"I must say, Lord Third, I am not impressed by your younger ninja," Rin remarked, no attempt to hide her mockery. "But I will admit that Itachi displayed good judgment by quitting a fight that would only get him killed."

The Third Hokage clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure in the face of Rin's taunts. He knew that the situation was far from ideal, and the impact on Konoha's reputation weighed heavily on him.

After having her fun at the Third Hokage's expense, Rin decided it was time to return to the Shigaraki village with her ninjas. She was aware that she couldn't be away for too long, considering the presence of a malicious creature that lurked beneath the ground. Fortunately, all the Shigaraki ninjas possessed the ability to see this creature using infrared vision, allowing them to keep a vigilant watch.

The Third Hokage felt a strong urge to retaliate against Rin, but he knew she was already aware of his ill intentions. Her unwavering confidence discouraged him from acting on impulse. Instead, he decided to leave any operations outside the village to Danzo and his remaining loyal followers, knowing they would be better equipped to handle those matters.

Although frustrated and disheartened by the situation, the Third Hokage understood that now was not the time for hasty actions. He needed to gather intelligence, come up with a strategic plan, and regain the trust and reputation of Konoha, but for now, he would have to bide his time.

The Third Hokage extended an invitation for both Lady Rin and the Kazekage to join him in his office so they could discuss the results of the exam. The Kazekage nodded in agreement, but Rin had no intention of engaging in any further discussions. As far as she was concerned, their mission in Konoha was complete, with her Shigaraki ninjas decimating the Konoha ninjas in front of the VIPs and spies from other villages.

"No, Lord Hokage, I will not be joining you. My ninjas and I will be leaving the village immediately to return to our own village. I expect an influx of missions for us soon," Rin said with a self-satisfied smirk. She excused herself and departed, accompanied by her two escorts, prepared to meet up with the genin and jonin Shigaraki ninjas.

The Third Hokage watched Rin's departure with a mixture of frustration and concern. He knew that Rin's ninjas actions had dealt a severe blow to Konoha's reputation, and that swift action was needed to rectify the situation. 

The Kazekage, observing Rin's departure, became certain that an alliance between the Sand Village and Shigaraki was unlikely. At this point, he believed that aligning with the Leaf Village was the safest option. As the Hokage and the Kazekage made their way towards the Hokage's office, Rin had already left to gather her ninjas and return to Shigaraki.

"Lord Kazekage, do you see why I initiated this alliance?" the Third Hokage said to the Kazekage. "The Shigaraki Village's genin surpass those of the five major villages, and her disrespectful attitude towards us is apparent."

"Lord Hokage, I could sense her disdain for Konoha. It was clear as she blatantly ignored me, not even acknowledging my presence that she doesn't respect the Sand Village either," the Kazekage recounted Rin's attitude.

"Yes, Kazekage. That's exactly why we must be prepared. We have planned an ambush using rogue ninjas to intercept her on her way back, to either capture or assess her abilities," the Hokage informed the Kazekage, recalling the secret bounty listed for Rin Uzumaki.

Meanwhile, Rin and her ninjas had already gathered at the gates of Konoha, ready to depart. However, before they could leave, Danzo appeared, seeking to speak with Rin.

"I am Danzo Shimura, one of the elders of Konoha, a student of the Second Hokage, and an ally of the Uzumaki. As one of the last few livings Uzumaki, Rin, you belong in Konoha, not some small village," Danzo said in a stern tone, staring at Rin with the intention of bringing her under his control.

Rin couldn't help but smirk upon hearing Danzo's words. Having experienced Orochimaru's time in the village, she had gained a deep understanding of the man standing before her – the very person responsible for her clan not receiving assistance and the downfall of the Senju.

"So, I should come to Konoha to be of use to the village, and I suppose I'd be expected to explain the Shigaraki Sage Mode as well, Elder Danzo?" Rin retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Danzo's face scrunched up with anger upon hearing the sharp sarcasm in Rin's voice, preparing to respond. Before he could, however, Rin continued speaking.

"Oh, you can't hide your emotions very well, can you? Now, why should I come to Konoha when I lead an entire village of ninjas? With the display our weakest ninjas superiority, they demonstrated today, perhaps the Leaf should consider joining us," Rin said, laughing in the face of the enraged Danzo.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Danzo yelled at Rin, drawing the attention of those near the gate. "Do you honestly believe that your small village can even compare to Konoha, Rin Uzumaki? You will regret this action!" Danzo yelled furiously as he stormed off to meet with the Third.

Rin watched as Danzo stormed off, a confident smirk plastered on her face. She was well aware of the sinister intentions harbored by both Danzo and the Third Hokage. Nonetheless, Rin relished in the anticipation of crushing their plans, proving to them and the world that the new leader of Shigaraki was no pushover.

Meanwhile, in the Third Hokage's office, the Hokage and Kazekage observed the interaction between Rin and Danzo through the Third's crystal ball technique. "Lord Hokage, it appears your elder cannot control his temper. But by reading her lips and witnessing her suggestion of Konoha joining her, it's clear that she holds little respect for the Leaf Village," the Kazekage remarked, realizing that if she didn't even acknowledge the Leaf, it explained why she hadn't paid any attention to him, the leader of the Sand. In Rin's eyes, the Sand Village posed no threat whatsoever.

"You are correct, Lord Kazekage. This kind of attitude from a small village is indeed abnormal. However, Shigaraki is an abnormally powerful smaller village. They possess combat power that can rival our larger villages, and that cannot be ignored," the Hokage admitted, his frustration evident not only towards Danzo's actions but also towards Rin's attitude.

As the Hokage, he took great offense to Rin insinuating that her village was stronger than the most powerful village in the world. He was counting on the assassin Danzo had hired to take care of her.

Observing the frustration on the Hokage's face, the Kazekage felt a sense of inward satisfaction, knowing they were both facing the same challenges due to Rin's attitude. "Lord Hokage, how do you plan to attack her? I know you wouldn't use individuals directly associated with you, so you must have employed several assassins. And not just any assassins, but ones with an unquestionable S-rank status," the Kazekage inquired, his gaze fixed on the Hokage.

"Yes, Lord Kazekage, we have employed three S-rank shinobi for this task. In addition, some of our secret forces will accompany them to ambush the Shigaraki ninja. The three ninja are Juzo, the former Mist Seven Swordsman, Kakuzu, known as 'the undying,' and Sasori of the Red Sand," the Third Hokage revealed, fully aware that Sasori was a rogue ninja from the Sand Village.

The Kazekage, however, remained unfazed by the news of Sasori's involvement. He was well acquainted with Sasori's skills and capabilities. Alongside the other two powerful shinobi, not even a Kage could underestimate their strength. "I see that you have chosen formidable individuals to confront her, and with Sasori among them, they will be able to keep the other ninjas occupied," the Kazekage acknowledged, agreeing with the choice of ninja for the job.

Little did they know, Rin had no intention of relying on her ninjas to fight against this ambush. She wanted to personally demonstrate the true power of the Shigaraki village's leader, serving as the new deterrent, and providing her master, Kurogiri, with the time needed to evolve now that Orochimaru has disappeared.