The duel between Minato and Inoichi was actually quite interesting, standing out as a high-quality match by Chunin Exam standards. Generally speaking, most ninja in the exams rely on basic kunai combat and rarely display high-level ninjutsu—think Sakura Haruno's early performance, though many were even less impressive than her.
Furthermore, a typical Genin usually exhausts their chakra after a single C-rank technique. Those capable of releasing ninjutsu consecutively are considered quite gifted.
After the match between Minato and Inoichi concluded, it was Choza's turn. His opponent was similar to Ren's: a swift and decisive victory.
The tournament wrapped up quickly. The Third Hokage instructed everyone to return home and wait for the results the following day. By the time the group left the Forest of Death with their proctors, the moon was high in the sky.
"Home time! See you guys tomorrow!" Ren waved to the group and was the first to disappear.
Minato bid his farewells next; he wanted to get home and analyze the Spiraling Dance he used today. He felt the move still had massive room for growth. Shibi and Choza left shortly after, with Choza loudly complaining about needing to appease his "shrine of five viscera" (his stomach) after several exhausting days.
The Hokage's Office
"Hiruzen! Hand Ren Kurogane over to me! I guarantee I will train him into the perfect ninja!" Danzo stood before the Third, clutching Ren's profile with a look of absolute determination.
"No. I have already decided on Ren's mentor," the Third Hokage replied, shaking his head.
"Mentor? Jiraiya? That man is wandering who-knows-where! What could he possibly teach Ren? And Minato! They are both incredible prospects, yet you leave them to that fool?!" Danzo exploded.
In the past, Jiraiya had been impressive, and Danzo acknowledged his strength. But the man had vanished after the Rain campaign without a word. If Tsunade and Orochimaru hadn't confirmed he was still alive, Danzo would have already carved Jiraiya's name into the Memorial Stone. To find such a promising sprout and leave him to "free-range" growth was, in Danzo's eyes, a criminal waste of talent.
"Danzo, that child is not suited for you," the Third sighed. As Hokage, his perspective was far broader than Danzo's.
From his observations, Ren had no interest in power; he spent his days researching ninjutsu and had recently thrown himself heart and soul into the study of sealing arts. Such a talent was ill-suited for the darkness of the Root. Furthermore, Hiruzen intended for Ren to assist Minato—not in a light-and-shadow dynamic like his own with Danzo, but as a true bond between a General and his keenest blade.
There was one more critical factor: Hiruzen did not intend to let Danzo expand the Root further. Ten years ago, the Council of Elders allowed the formation of the Root because the Second Hokage had died abroad. When they returned claiming Hiruzen was the hand-picked successor, the other clans weren't exactly thrilled. To stabilize Konoha, Hiruzen had to decentralize power and create more departments.
But now, Hiruzen's position was unshakable, and he was already grooming the next generation. At this stage, the Elders and the Root were becoming obstacles. If he allowed these factions to hamstring the next Hokage, he wouldn't be able to face his predecessors in the afterlife.
In the office, Danzo gnashed his teeth while the Third remained calm. Eventually, Danzo yielded.
"Very well, Hiruzen. I will not be the one to hinder the growth of these saplings!"
Leaving those words behind, Danzo turned and walked out, leaving Hiruzen looking like he wanted to say something more but ultimately keeping his peace.
The Next Day
Ren received a summons to the Hokage's office. To no one's surprise, his entire team had been promoted to Chunin. After receiving their green flak jackets, they were immediately assigned a mission.
"You are to escort a shipment of supplies to the Land of Wind front. Once there, deliver this to Tsunade and follow her orders."
Ren took the scroll from Hiruzen's hand. This was his second time leaving the village. However, compared to the last trip, this one promised to be far more dangerous. After the escort was complete, they would be stationed at the front lines, liable to be assigned any number of combat missions.
Of course, to the current Ren Kurogane, this didn't feel like a threat at all.
The group of four followed the caravan out of Konoha. This time, the cargo consisted of three wagons of weaponry. Ren wondered what the Third was thinking—trusting such vital supplies to a group of new Chunin.
A light rain fell, and a thin mist draped itself over the forest. Team Minato walked the narrow paths, every sense alert.
"Why aren't we taking the main road this time?" Ren asked, genuinely curious.
"Generally, small paths are more discreet," Minato explained. "Even if an ambush is planned, the enemy can't be sure which route we'll take, so they can't commit large numbers to a single point. Plus, the narrow terrain here makes it difficult to stage a massive hidden ambush."
So many layers to this, Ren thought. He felt like he was learning a lot, though it probably didn't matter much for his personal safety.
The persistent drizzle turned the ground into a muddy slurry, making the wagons' progress difficult. They were now a significant distance from the village—prime territory for an attack.
Minato's grip tightened on his kunai as he pushed his sensory abilities to the limit, ready to react to the slightest anomaly. Fortunately, their luck held, and they cleared the narrowest section of the pass without incident.
The driver, a middle-aged man, chuckled. "Relax, boys! This is still the Land of Fire. Those Sand ninja can't possibly break through Lady Tsunade's line to reach the interior!"
The group relaxed slightly at the driver's words. Minato smiled back. "You're right. Lady Tsunade is very reliable!"
Through Kushina, Minato had met Tsunade a few times, though usually only in passing. When not on a mission, Tsunade was almost always at the gambling dens and rarely at home.
Ren activated his Observation Haki, taking in everything for miles. As the driver said, there was no danger. The Sand forces likely couldn't bypass the main defense line.
Right now, Konoha is packed with elites, Ren mused. They have the Sannin who can go toe-to-toe with Hanzo, and they have Hatake Sakumo, a Kage-level powerhouse. The Sand probably wants to call it quits soon. By the way... doesn't Tsunade's younger brother die around this time? Should I save him?
Before his fist-bump with White Coat Ren, he never would have considered meddling in others' fates; surviving the war himself was hard enough. But now, with power that looked down upon the current world, many regrets could finally be mended.