"Have you heard? That Mizuki guy tried to tempt Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals."
"Unbelievable! Has he lost his mind? Doesn't he know what that kid Naruto is capable of?"
"Relax. That kid Naruto is smarter than we give him credit for. He told Minamoto-sensei and the Hokage everything. The whole act was staged to lure Mizuki out."
"Tch, that kid... Not bad, but he still has trouble controlling himself."
"True, but with the Hokage and Minamoto-sensei watching over him, it should be fine."
The next day, on the streets of Konohagakure.
The events of the previous night were the talk of the town.
Although the details shouldn't have leaked, the Nine-Tails' chakra eruption within Naruto had been so intense that many people felt it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, had no choice but to spin the story and release a modified version of the events. Surprisingly, this improved Naruto's reputation among the villagers.
"But didn't I tell Kakashi to make sure things didn't escalate so much?"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kitagawa Minamoto with a helpless expression. His headache was evident.
"The Nine-Tails' chakra eruption is no small matter, even if nothing serious happened in the end."
"Maybe Mizuki pushed Naruto too far, causing him to lose control," Minamoto shrugged, quickly changing the subject.
"Anyway, I've already looked into Mizuki's case. I suspect he's connected to Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru?"
Hiruzen's expression darkened. Although he knew Minamoto was deliberately steering the conversation away, he didn't want to dwell on the previous night either.
"Are you certain?"
"Not completely, but we might need Inoichi-senpai to verify it. Still, I don't think I'm wrong," Minamoto replied seriously.
"Last night, I clearly sensed him using a power that belongs to Orochimaru. I've encountered Orochimaru a few times before, so I wouldn't mistake it."
"In addition, during a brief interrogation, Mizuki admitted he intended to deliver the Scroll of Seals to Orochimaru. But I think it's more complicated than that."
"Using Orochimaru's power?"
Hiruzen frowned deeply, his thoughts drifting to Anko Mitarashi.
"This definitely needs thorough investigation. But anything involving Orochimaru..."
"It won't be easy to uncover everything, given how cautious he is," Minamoto added, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"And Mizuki likely doesn't know much. After all, he's just a Chūnin teacher. However, given the timing..."
"I understand your concerns, and I share them," Hiruzen said, puffing on his pipe as he stood up.
His frustration was palpable. His former student, Orochimaru, was proving to be a constant source of trouble.
"This upcoming Chūnin Exams seems to be more problematic than I anticipated, especially with Orochimaru and Akatsuki involved..."
Hiruzen sighed heavily. This year's joint Chūnin Exams were shaping up to be anything but straightforward.
The presence of the Five Kage alone was enough to complicate matters. Adding Orochimaru's schemes to the mix made things even worse.
And then there was Akatsuki.
Akatsuki not only had conflicts with Konohagakure but also harbored a significant grudge against Kitagawa Minamoto.
It was hard to say whether they would take action during the exams.
"So, why not just cancel the exams altogether?"
Minamoto suddenly blinked and asked curiously, "If it's such a hassle, wouldn't canceling it solve everything?"
"..."
Hiruzen nearly choked on his pipe. Was this something that could just be canceled on a whim?
"Minamoto, some things aren't as simple as you think. The world isn't just black and white, nor is it simply right or wrong.
"From the village's perspective, what you see as a problem often comes with opportunities. You still have a lot to learn, understand?"
"Hmm..."
Minamoto nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that the old man was grooming him as if he were the next Hokage.
Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on it. Instead, he reflected on Hiruzen's earlier words.
"Akatsuki?"
Minamoto had indeed considered the possibility of Akatsuki making a move.
After all, he had been hitting them hard for quite some time. It was only natural they'd want to retaliate.
Thinking about it, Minamoto realized his grudge against Akatsuki ran deep.
Whether it was his true self or his "Ōtsutsuki Minamoto" persona, he had always struck Akatsuki with overwhelming force.
It wouldn't be surprising if they decided to act.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. There's no need to worry too much. With you and everyone else in the village, Konohagakure will be fine," Hiruzen said with a smile, noticing Minamoto deep in thought.
"And by the way, Kakashi should be wrapping up soon. Aren't you going to check on him?"
"No need. I just didn't expect it to be those kids," Minamoto replied, pursing his lips.
He had initially planned to handle it himself but was dragged into other matters by Hiruzen.
"Speaking of which, when Naruto's chakra erupted last night, I sensed two unfamiliar chakra signatures within him. It's quite strange."
"Two unfamiliar chakra signatures?"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed, a peculiar thought forming in his mind.
Could it be...
Knock, knock, knock—
Before he could finish his thought, a knock at the door interrupted him. Regaining his composure, he called out, "Come in."
"Lord Hokage."
Kakashi entered, followed by Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. The three looked somewhat disheveled.
Kakashi, however, seemed unfazed. He nodded slightly at Minamoto before continuing,
"The test is over. They've passed, so I'd like to request a mission."
"..."
Hiruzen was momentarily stunned. Passed? And now they wanted a mission already?
After some hesitation, he asked tentatively, "Isn't this a bit rushed?"
"Rushed? Minamoto started with a mission right away back then. Let's just assign them a simple one, like a C-rank mission," Kakashi replied casually.
"..."
"Right, Minamoto? You started with a C-rank mission, and it was easy, wasn't it?"
"Absolutely. A C-rank mission is no big deal," Minamoto said with a smirk.
"..."
Watching the master and disciple banter, Hiruzen felt a headache coming on.
[Reward Calculation Complete]
[Side Quest Completed: As the White-Haired Protagonist, It's Only Natural to Clean Up!]
[Reward: Scroll of Seals]
[Exclusive Naruto Quest Completed: Results Far from Ideal]
[Reward: Nine-Tails Chakra (Can be fused with the Divine Tree's Source)]
"How are you feeling now?"
In the Land of Rain, within Akatsuki's base.
Black Zetsu stood before Nagato, speaking in a low voice. Nagato clenched his fists, testing his strength.
"I feel good—better than I expected. I didn't think you had such abilities."
"Good. But remember, this is only a temporary measure," Black Zetsu replied, shaking his head as if unwilling to discuss the matter further.
"My clone can assist you in combat and provide some chakra support, but that's all it can do."
Of course, Black Zetsu wasn't being entirely truthful. He had ways to fully restore Nagato—such as transplanting White Zetsu's body.
But Black Zetsu was always cautious.
After all, he had survived for millennia, manipulating the Uchiha clan and others without being discovered.
Revealing all his cards at once was never his style. He preferred to adapt to the situation, revealing his hand little by little while feigning great sacrifice.
This way, he could better control those around him.
Nagato was no exception.
Given Nagato's terrifying potential, fully restoring him would not align with Black Zetsu's ultimate goal.
Instead, sending Tobi (Obito) to monitor Nagato, much like he had done with Obito in the past, was the best course of action.
"Neither fully restoring him nor letting his power go unchecked is ideal. This approach will maximize his utility while keeping him in check," Black Zetsu thought, satisfied with his plan.
"Now, you should take some time to adjust and ensure there are no issues," Black Zetsu said.
"I understand. This is already a great improvement," Nagato replied, standing up.
Though his frame was still frail, his spirit seemed rejuvenated.
"By the way, how are the others?"
"Hidan is the same as always. Kakuzu and Sasori are nearly ready, though they still need a Wind Release heart. They're waiting for the Chūnin Exams to act," Black Zetsu explained without hesitation.
"As for the others, Kisame is fine now. His body has always been resilient, and his chakra depletion from before has recovered. As for Itachi Uchiha..."
At the mention of Itachi, Black Zetsu's expression soured.
He had little patience for Itachi, viewing him as a mere double agent.
But Itachi's strength and Obito's interest in him made him a necessary asset.
"For now, we've restored his combat capabilities, but his health remains poor. Still, as long as he can fight, it's enough."
Nagato nodded, satisfied with the report.
"Good. It seems the upcoming Chūnin Exams won't be an issue."
Initially, Nagato had little interest in the Chūnin Exams.
But after being targeted by Minamoto's relentless attacks, his interest was piqued.
This time, he was determined to make a move.
"By the way, have we recruited any new members?"
"Yes. We've secured Hiruko, and there's another potential recruit."
"Who?"
"A former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, now residing in the Land of Waves."
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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