With the dust settled on the preliminary rounds, the Chunin Exams hosted by Konoha entered a brief period of calm.
This short interval was a valuable time for the participants who had emerged from fierce competition to rest and recuperate, and also to allow the Daimyo from various countries, located in their respective domains, to set off unhurriedly and make their arduous journey.
At the same time, people from all directions began to converge on Konoha for this grand event, bringing with them considerable economic benefits.
However, beneath this facade of prosperity, Minato knew full well that deadly undercurrents were lurking.
Just like shadows that sunlight cannot illuminate, those with ill intentions would always silently blend into this surging crowd.
This was the fate of an open Village; even Minato could not simply close Konoha's gates and shut out both goodwill and malice.
However, the atmosphere in the Hokage Office was extremely heavy at this moment.
Minato stood alone by the window, clutching a letter that had just arrived, and its contents made him look more solemn than ever before.
The letter brought news of Jiraiya-sensei's return to Konoha.
This should have been a welcome piece of good news, but the words that followed immediately after pierced through that joy.
Jiraiya's journey was not merely a return home, but he was hot on Orochimaru's trail.
"Orochimaru... is back again?" Minato murmured softly.
He involuntarily recalled the "choice" Orochimaru had left behind in that cold laboratory when he departed.
His return to Konoha was definitely not just for these Chunin Exams; it was more likely that he was using this opportunity to accomplish some scheme of his own.
But the problem was, Minato couldn't guess what he was planning.
The enemy is in the dark, and I am in the light.
Minato deeply felt the difficulty of this passive situation.
In terms of strength, neither he himself nor the profound foundation of the entire Konoha could be shaken by a rogue Orochimaru.
The advantage in power was unquestionable.
But as the Fourth Hokage, responsible for the safety of the entire Village, he had to consider far more than just overwhelming power.
He had to ponder more complex and difficult questions.
How to maximize the protection of villagers' safety, ensure the Chunin Exams proceed normally, and maintain Konoha's reputation.
While rooting out and eliminating this dangerous enemy, whose methods are bizarre and unpredictable, lurking in the shadows?
How to minimize the potential damage Orochimaru could cause?
This was the dilemma facing Minato.
Just as the Fourth Hokage Minato was feeling a headache over Orochimaru's problem, a figure had silently entered the heart of Konoha.
The person was Takuno.
He did not intentionally conceal his face or whereabouts; he simply walked openly on Konoha's bustling main road.
However, a strange scene unfolded: neither the ordinary villagers passing by nor the Konoha Shinobi on patrol and guard duty noticed his true identity.
It should be known that Takuno's identity in Konoha was such that, unless they were young Shinobi, it was generally impossible not to recognize him.
He... held the title of 'Hero' in Konoha.
But this wasn't an issue with those Shinobi; the problem naturally lay with Takuno himself.
Because he didn't want them to recognize him.
So these hurried people seemed to collectively suffer from a "visual blind spot," ignoring Takuno who was right beside them, completely failing to perceive the quiet passing of such an existence capable of shaking the Shinobi World.
"Have the Chunin Exams arrived so quickly?" Takuno's gaze swept across the crowded street, a faint sigh passing through his heart.
Since his strength broke through a crucial limit, his perception of time's passage and his attention to specific events had become blurred.
This was completely different from the past, when he would firmly remember every important time node and major event that might occur.
Then, through precise calculations, he would figure out how to seize opportunities from them to seek greater power.
Now, all of that had lost its meaning.
Because Takuno's strength had already reached a peak that the world looked up to.
Even if he paid close attention, there was almost nothing in this world that could help him improve further.
His purpose for this trip was clear and explicit: he came for the Nine-Tails chakra within Kushina.
Instead of making a separate trip later, it was better to act now, during the Chunin Exams, when all parties converged and the situation was most chaotic.
Indeed, with Takuno's profound strength, even if he didn't choose any particular timing.
Even if he openly stormed into Konoha and forcibly seized the Nine-Tails from Kushina, no one could stop him.
Even if it was just a Wood Clone of Takuno walking here at this moment, its power was absolutely not something Minato could contend with.
However, Takuno would not do that, because his style of action always emphasized efficiency and maximizing benefits.
Putting on a show in front of others might bring a fleeting sense of vanity, but it had no substantial benefit for him.
Takuno would never do anything that had no benefit.
Choosing to infiltrate discreetly and utilize the chaotic timing was the strategy most aligned with his nature.
At this time, Takuno's Kaguras Minds Eye also enveloped the entire Konoha.
He was a little curious: his previous intervention had already rewritten the trajectory of fate, making the current Konoha incredibly powerful.
So, at this moment, would anyone still dare to bare their fangs at Konoha?
No sooner had the thought arisen than a familiar chakra fluctuation, like a venomous snake, suddenly tore through the tranquility of his perception, instantly drawing his attention.
"This aura..." Takuno's brow subtly twitched, then he understood, "It's Orochimaru!"
That distinctive chakra, he would never mistake it.
"So... this guy's target is still the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan?" Takuno murmured softly, a hint of understanding in his tone.
Orochimaru's obsession with the Sharingan was no surprise to anyone who had read the original work.
And Orochimaru definitely already had some Uchiha clansmen in his possession.
Takuno was even more convinced of this.
After all, the Uchiha Clan was still flourishing now; although they had suffered a heavy blow at that time, they were not annihilated.
Uchiha clansmen frequently entered and exited the Village to perform missions, and with the methods and abilities of Orochimaru, one of the "Sannin," it would be no difficult feat to silently acquire a few Uchiha bodies.
However, Takuno also easily guessed that Orochimaru would not be satisfied.
After all, the core effect of the forbidden jutsu "Living Corpse Reincarnation," which Orochimaru relied on for immortality, depended on the talent ceiling of the acquired vessel.
Those ordinary Uchiha clansmen who fell into Orochimaru's hands probably fell far short of satisfying this "science fanatic's" craving for ultimate power.
If it were him, he certainly wouldn't settle for that.
Although the Uchiha clansmen chosen for his Chimera Technique were randomly selected, the problem was that at the time, he only needed the Uchiha bloodline and did not value their talent.
Moreover, the Chimera Technique didn't have just one fusion slot; he only needed to ensure that one of the five Bloodlines possessed exceptional talent, and that would be enough.
And both the Uzumaki bloodline and the Ōtsutsuki bloodline obviously met this requirement, which naturally lowered his talent requirements for other Bloodlines, only needing their 'mechanisms'.
"The 'material' quality of the Uchiha he has in hand... must have disappointed him," Takuno mused.
So, whose talent has Orochimaru, who has quietly infiltrated, set his greedy sights on now?
Whose talent would make him willing to risk danger?
Takuno's thoughts jumped between several names: was it Itachi? Or Sasuke? Or other rising stars within the Uchiha Clan?
His gaze swept over another astonishingly talented name, Shisui.
Shisui's talent was undeniable, absolutely comparable to Itachi's, or even...
But Takuno immediately dismissed this possibility.
The reason was simple: the disparity in strength was too great.
Orochimaru confronting Shisui would be tantamount to seeking his own death.
Furthermore, Shisui's earth-shattering confrontation with the Fourth Hokage Minato had already vividly demonstrated his combat prowess to the world.
Unless Orochimaru's sanity suddenly collapsed, there was no way he would target such a top-tier expert.
As his thoughts reached this point, Takuno gently shook his head.
The ripples stirred by Orochimaru's movements and schemes had already subsided in his heart.
He was no longer the Anbu Captain General of Konoha.
The Village's hidden currents and others' ambitious schemes, as long as they didn't directly infringe upon his domain, no longer required his attention.
However, some auras in the Village made Takuno feel a bit intrigued.
"Tailed Beast chakra?" he whispered in his mind.
And this was not from a single source; he could discern the characteristic, sandstorm-like restless chakra traces of Ichibi Shukaku mixed within.
However, even more concentrated was the chakra belonging to Eight-Tails Gyuki!
This discovery made Takuno feel a bit intrigued.
If he had only sensed the aura of Ichibi, he might have associated it with Sunagakure, which was most closely related to Shukaku, perhaps they had secretly dispatched personnel to infiltrate this place.
But the appearance of Eight-Tails chakra instantly shattered that conjecture.
Kumogakure hadn't even sent any personnel to participate in the Chunin Exams this time, which meant the possibility of them planning a large-scale attack here at this moment was extremely slim.
Since Kumogakure was essentially ruled out, and Sunagakure was also excluded, then...
The answer was quite obvious: it was Orochimaru, whom he had just sensed.
Not only had he once dabbled in collecting the power of Ichibi, but he also possessed a giant horn severed from the Eight-Tails.
These people were undoubtedly the secret operatives planted by Orochimaru.
Takuno's perception delved deeper, probing the extremely unstable energy cores within them.
That chakra was filled with primal savagery and chaos, almost on the verge of losing control.
He had no doubt that as soon as Orochimaru gave the order, or if they received even a slight provocation, these ordinary people, forcibly implanted with Tailed Beast chakra, would instantly be devoured by the power, transforming into completely rampaging monsters.
To bear the power of such a fierce beast in a mortal body, the outcome was already predetermined.
"Heh... worthy of Orochimaru's handiwork." Takuno's lips curled into a cold, stern smile.
Transforming living human bodies into walking bombs—this method, so vicious and sinister, indeed matched the consistent style of that "science fanatic."
Once these "human bombs" were detonated in Konoha's core area, even the currently powerful Konoha, caught off guard, would undoubtedly suffer immeasurable and severe losses.
But... what did all this have to do with Takuno?
He was just an observer now, and he might even take advantage of the chaos to loot.
So, Orochimaru would be his scapegoat later.
It was just a pity that the 'pot' he was going to make was a bit too big, so Orochimaru might not be able to carry it.
Shaking his head, Takuno walked towards the Chunin Exams arena.
The unrest hadn't broken out yet, and there was no need for him to immediately go find Kushina.
Before that, let him see how the Chunin Exams, altered by him, would unfold.
...
Takuno sat high in the VIP viewing stands, his gaze steadily fixed on the third round of the Chunin selection exams, which had already begun below.
When the list for the first match was announced, his brow subtly twitched.
It wasn't the anticipated Naruto versus Neji, but rather Sasuke and Neji, two young prodigies, meeting in a narrow confrontation?
On one side was the second son of the Uchiha Clan head, a famous Konoha noble family, bearing the renowned Sharingan Kekkei Genkai.
On the other side was the most dazzling prodigy of the Hyuga Clan's branch family, whose pure Byakugan saw everything clearly.
This match, presented by the young elites of two ancient ocular jutsu clans, instantly captivated the attention of all spectators in the arena.
The air in the arena seemed to solidify, filled with silent tension and anticipation.
Whispers quickly spread among the viewing stands.
Although Sasuke's talent was evident to all, most people were more inclined to believe that Neji, who was a year older, would ultimately win.
Common knowledge circulating in the Shinobi World also supported this judgment: the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, with its powerful insight and Gentle Fist system, had a natural counter-relationship to the Sharingan, which relied on visual genjutsu and copying abilities.
Of course, this counter-relationship was predicated on the Sharingan not yet having evolved to a higher level, Takuno calmly added in his mind.
If Sasuke could now activate the legendary three-tomoe Sharingan, the Byakugan's advantage would be greatly diminished, possibly even completely overturned.
However, activating the Three-tomoe at this age? The possibility was slim.
Facts proved his prediction correct: in Sasuke's dark pupils in the arena, only two tomoe spun rapidly.
Even so, this confrontation was by no means ordinary.
Takuno intently watched the two confronting figures, clearly sensing the powerful aura and refined chakra they exuded, far surpassing Shinobi of their age.
In Takuno's assessment, the foundations of both Neji's and Sasuke's strength far surpassed those of their counterparts from the same period in the original story.