From that point on, the matches practically became Pakura's personal stage.
Any match she entered, she crushed.
People in the audience had even started applauding for her.
Konoha had lost, but that Sand kunoichi really was strong—so strong that no one could even complain about it.
Even in the finals, Pakura still won cleanly and decisively.
Over in the VIP section, a man in a dark kimono set down his teacup and said to the person beside him, "The Sand Village is pretty strong too."
The person next to him nodded. "She really is impressive."
The Third Hokage heard them, but said nothing. He simply lifted his teacup and took a sip.
Ai was sitting nearby. Someone came over and quietly told her something. She nodded to show she understood.
Watching Pakura raise her arm in victory yet again, Shin-chan's mouth opened slightly. "Konoha actually lost."
"There's winning and losing. That's normal." The Third Hokage kept his eyes on the arena. "If we lose this time, we can win the next."
Shin-chan thought about that, then suddenly sat up straight and said very seriously, "When I take the Chunin Exams, I'm definitely going to win."
The Third Hokage turned to look at him.
Shin-chan started counting on his fingers. "I've got swordsmanship, I've got Fire Style, and by then I'll have squished all the chakra natures into one ball, so I won't be scared of anybody."
At the side, Hiroshi's mouth twitched.
The Third looked at Shin-chan and smiled as he nodded. "Alright. I'll be watching when that day comes."
The spectators had started filing out.
People in the VIP section got to their feet too, leaving in little groups.
Ai stood up and looked at Shin-chan. "Did you enjoy today's matches?"
"They were okay. There just weren't any pretty big sisters."
Ai fell silent for a moment. "Wasn't that Sand kunoichi just now pretty?"
"I'm not interested in kids under eighteen."
Ai looked at him, completely at a loss for what to say.
Hiroshi and Misae stood up too. Misae picked up Shiro, and Shiro yawned in her arms.
"Come on, let's go home."
As Shin-chan reached the door, he looked back at the arena.
"Dad."
"Yeah?"
"When's the next Chunin Exam?"
Hiroshi thought for a moment. "A few years from now, probably."
"Then I'm going to take it."
"Alright. Dad will come watch."
"You have to dress cool."
"Okay, I'll dress cool."
"Mom has to dress pretty too."
From behind him, Misae said, "Yeah, yeah. Come on already."
Shin-chan sped up and ran ahead.
Late that night, the lights in the Hokage Tower were still on.
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk. The tea in front of him had long gone cold, and his pipe rested on the tabletop.
The door swung open with no knock and no announcement.
The Third Hokage looked up and saw Danzo standing in the doorway. "It's late. What is it?"
"The exam today." Danzo walked in. "That Sand kunoichi beat our Konoha ninja that badly, and you can still sit there calmly?"
The Third Hokage said nothing.
"This is the result of how you teach them." Danzo's voice turned cold. "You're wasting those children's talent. In your hands, gifted children will only turn into mediocre ninja."
The Third Hokage's finger tapped lightly on the desk.
Danzo took one more step forward. "Give the talented children to me. I can turn them into real ninja, not the trash that gets crushed by Sand on the field."
"No." The Third Hokage lifted his head and looked at him.
Danzo's gaze turned colder. "Hiruzen."
"I said no." The Third Hokage's voice wasn't loud, but it left no room for argument.
Danzo stared at him in silence for a long while, then turned to leave. At the door, he said, "You'll regret this."
The door slammed shut with a loud bang that echoed through the empty office several times.
The Third Hokage remained seated, looking at the shut door, thinking about what Danzo had just said.
"You're wasting those children's talent."
Maybe Danzo wasn't entirely right.
But neither was he entirely wrong.
Were the children of today being protected too much?
Was the path of letting them grow slowly, learn slowly, and become stronger slowly really the right one?
The Third Hokage sighed, and a thought slowly began taking shape in his mind.
Outside, the moon drifted across the sky.
The lights in the Hokage Tower stayed on all night.
A few days later, at the ninja school—
Teacher Ibuki stood at the front of the classroom and tapped the blackboard. Once the room quieted down, he spoke.
"There's something scheduled for today."
The classroom fell silent, and everyone looked at him.
"Tonight, the whole class will be staying overnight at school."
The class went quiet for one second.
Then it exploded.
"What?"
"Tonight?"
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Teacher, did you do this on purpose?"
Teacher Ibuki tapped the board. "Quiet!"
"Teacher, why didn't you tell us earlier? We didn't bring anything."
"Yeah!"
"I didn't bring any clothes!"
"I don't have a toothbrush!"
"I didn't bring pajamas!"
Teacher Ibuki waited until the noise died down a little before explaining, "This is a special activity meant to build teamwork and independent living skills."
He paused, then added, "The school will provide blankets."
Shin-chan raised his hand.
Teacher Ibuki looked at him. "What is it?"
"Teacher, what are we having for dinner?"
The room went quiet for one second.
"Oh, right. What about dinner?"
"Is the school feeding us?"
Teacher Ibuki smacked the board again. "The school is providing dinner too. Curry rice."
Shin-chan's eyes lit up slightly. "Does it have green peppers in it?"
"No."
"Then I'm staying."
Teacher Ibuki's mouth twitched. "Weren't you just complaining?"
"I didn't know there was curry rice before."
After dinner, it was completely dark outside.
The classroom lights were on, casting a warm yellow glow that turned the windows into glowing squares.
Shin-chan was so full that he had slumped back in his chair, rubbing his belly with a blissful expression.
Teacher Ibuki sat behind the podium, flipping through some book or other, occasionally glancing up at the students.
Then—click—the lights went out.
The room was instantly pitch black.
Someone screamed. "Who turned off the lights?!"
Teacher Ibuki stood up and started feeling his way toward the switch. "Don't panic. It's probably just a blown fuse."
Before he could finish, the door was kicked open.
Several dark figures stood in the doorway.
Teacher Ibuki turned around and squinted, trying to make them out in the moonlight. "Who are you?"
The figures didn't answer.
The one in front suddenly flashed forward and chopped the side of Teacher Ibuki's neck with one hand.
Teacher Ibuki's eyes widened for a split second, then his whole body went limp. He dropped to the floor without moving.
And then the classroom descended into chaos.
Some kids screamed.
Some started crying.
Some ran blindly through the dark.
The black-clad figures stood by the podium and swept their gaze across the children.
"Don't move."