The Chunin exams have concluded.
This Chunin exam was shorter than past exams, yet it was the most exciting one in Konoha's history, with the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen announcing the promotion of two individuals to Chunin.
Akihara Kagura, Uchiha Itachi.
Although Uchiha Itachi's defeat to Akihara Kagura made the Uchiha Clan somewhat displeased, Uchiha Shisui used Susanoo to swoop in and save the day, restoring some face.
Akihara Kagura had no time to worry about these things.
After all, this exam was part of two work tasks, just enough to help Akihara Kagura understand more about the reward rules of this working system.
[System Tip]: [Participate in the Chunin exam as per Sarutobi Hiruzen's request] Work task completed, reward skill [Konoha Style Taijutsu].
[Konoha Style Taijutsu (Konoha Village's basic taijutsu, includes Shadow Leaf Dance, Leaf Whirlwind, Leaf Gales, Leaf Rising Wind, Leaf Great Whirlwind, Leaf Strong Whirlwind and other basic taijutsu techniques, sourced from Sarutobi Hiruzen's task reward.)]
Goodness!
This is a jackpot!
And yet, it was just a bunch of taijutsu techniques!
Perhaps because this work task wasn't very difficult, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even have any special requirements, just asking Akihara Kagura to participate in this Chunin exam.
But this doesn't make sense...
This old man had Akihara Kagura, a Wood Release Ninja, participate in the exam, definitely with the thought of having Akihara Kagura help suppress Uchiha Itachi, but as a politician, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never openly admit that.
No wonder Shimura Danzo always cursed him...
Akihara Kagura could only console himself; his knowledge of close combat was rather basic, so this counted as covering one of his weaknesses. It's quite unbecoming for a Konoha Chunin not to know taijutsu.
With the powerful stamina brought by Hashirama Cells, this was like adding a tooth to a tiger...
In comparison...
The other supervisor, Shimura Danzo, wasn't a good leader either.
[System Tip]: [Participate in the Chunin exam and defeat Uchiha Itachi as per Shimura Danzo's request] Work task completed, reward [Wind Release: Vacuum Blade].
[Wind Release: Vacuum Blade (B-level Wind Release Ninjutsu, infuses Wind Release Chakra into a kunai to form a sharp sword, sourced from Shimura Danzo's task reward.)]
This jutsu reward feels a bit phony.
Akihara Kagura didn't even have a decent kunai.
If it were according to Shimura Danzo's request, a normal Genin defeating Uchiha Itachi wouldn't be easy; Akihara Kagura winning was purely due to the strength of the Wood Release Ninjutsu.
After checking his rewards, Akihara Kagura slowly headed back to the Root Base, planning to report to the Dark Department the next morning.
And then.
Two gatekeepers stopped him.
This time, the two gatekeepers no longer harbored fear towards Akihara Kagura, their attitude as cold as if Akihara Kagura were an outsider breaking into the Root Base.
In fact...
Akihara Kagura truly was an outsider now.
"Akihara Kagura, you are no longer a member of the Root."
The two gatekeepers stopped Akihara Kagura from entering, their words blunt: "Lord Danzo has already removed you from the Root, ordering us not to allow you free access to the base. If you want to see Lord Danzo, we can pass the message for you."
As they spoke...
These two gatekeepers were still prepared for Akihara Kagura's intrusion, even considering whether Akihara Kagura would cause a scene, but they couldn't defy Danzo's orders.
In fact, Shimura Danzo had scolded all the members of the Root, accusing them of not adhering to the Root's will, actually 'coddling' Akihara Kagura in recent days...
Was that coddling...
That was clearly forced respect!
At that time, Akihara Kagura, this little brat, was waving Lord Danzo's flag, and his strength was greater than theirs. What could these ordinary Root Ninjas do? As a result, Lord Danzo no longer favored that little brat and even blamed those problems on them.
No matter what...
The Root had finally returned to normal now.
This time, the two gatekeepers were resolute in their attitude towards Akihara Kagura. Even if Akihara Kagura caused trouble, they would not let this little brat through.
"I understand."
This time, Akihara Kagura did nothing but glanced deeply at the shadowy base, then calmly turned and left.
Konoha Village.
The moon in the sky remained bright.
Akihara Kagura raised his head to gaze at the moon; this ninja world moon wasn't a real moon but an artificially created one.
Akihara Kagura lowered his head to overlook the landscape of Konoha Village.
This village had many people, yet none were his family; it had many houses, yet none for him to reside in.
Akihara Kagura found a park bench and lay down sideways to rest for the night, planning to report to the Dark Department the next day.
The night in Konoha Village had a cold chill; Akihara Kagura wrapped his arms around himself, slowly curling up. People always find a way to get through the night.
In the dark corner.
A mysterious masked man suddenly appeared.
The Venus Flytrap Monster also slowly emerged from the ground.
"It seems we don't need to do much..."
The black half of the Venus Flytrap Monster's face revealed a sinister and terrifying smile, looking at Akihara Kagura lying on the bench, his voice carrying a mocking tone: "Is Shimura Danzo always this foolish? Casually throwing a loyal Wood Release Ninja outside?"
"Hmph, the Konoha are all fools."
The mysterious masked man snorted coldly, continuing coldly: "Those fools always think they can control everyone..."
"What do we do now?"
The white half of the Venus Flytrap Monster's face showed some confusion, curiously asking: "According to your plan, where would be appropriate to dispose of Aburame Ryuma's body?"
"Anywhere will do."
The mysterious masked man was indifferent, coldly continuing: "No one will testify for this little brat, it's already impossible for him to explain himself..."
"Who would have thought..."
The black half of the Venus Flytrap Monster's face was laughing somewhat happily: "Our plan would go so smoothly, without even needing much thought..."
"This little brat must be in despair, right?"
"Just abandoned by Shimura Danzo, now to face groundless accusations he can't defend against, without any evidence to prove his innocence..."
"Alright, let's begin."
The mysterious masked man didn't want to waste too much unnecessary time at this moment and instructed: "Let this little brat see how cruel this false world really is!"
With those words.
A space-time vortex appeared around the mysterious masked man, with his body rapidly spinning, disappearing from the scene.
Once the Venus Flytrap Monster saw the masked man disappear, its body slowly sunk back into the ground.
The entire park remained silent.
As if those two hadn't been there at all.
A small girl with a bun-styled hair passed by the park and noticed a little wanderer on the park bench, surprising her unexpectedly.
"Eh?"
However, the little girl, seeing the figure was just a boy, and looking at his appearance, should not be much older than her, then calmed down.
"..."
"Though I've often picked up strange things in the village since I was young, finding a person is still too strange!"
The bun-styled girl's face wrinkled up.
The little girl eventually gave up the terrifying thought of picking up a person, instead bouncing back home to grab a small blanket, covering the ten-year-old boy.
"..."
Akihara Kagura slowly opened his eyes, reaching out to touch the blanket covering him, quietly watching the bun-styled girl's departing figure.
"Kind-hearted people always have good luck."
"It seems my luck today is indeed good."