In the real Shinobi World...
In Konoha, although most of the candidates from other villages had failed the second stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams, this rare period of leisure gave them a chance to relax and experience the village's bustling life. People filled the streets, and ninja moved among the shops and food stalls, while the aromas of grilled skewers and sweet desserts filled the air. The candidates went about in groups of two or three: some sampled Konoha's local specialties, some picked out equipment they liked at ninja tool shops, and others sat in dessert shops, chatting at their leisure.
Although they had failed to reach the final stage, everyone knew that the final exam a month later was the real main event. The candidates who had advanced would face off in fierce battles before a vast audience, showcasing their strength and wits. Such battles were not only a test of their abilities, but also a challenge to their will and determination as ninja. Though disappointed, the candidates who had failed to advance were also full of anticipation. After all, battles like those weren't something they got to see every day.
During the days of waiting, many candidates also began to reflect on their performance in the exams. Some recalled their mistakes in the Forest of Death and regretted not working better with their teammates; others recognized shortcomings in their tactical planning and resolved to train harder in strategy when they returned home; still others lamented their lack of strength and resolved to double their efforts in training, hoping to distinguish themselves in the next Chunin Ninja Exams.
I'll definitely succeed next time! That was the vow in many candidates' hearts. They knew that becoming a Chunin was more than a title; it was also an important step forward in their careers as ninja. Only through constant effort and refinement could they take on more responsibility in future missions and become truly elite ninja.
At Konoha's entrance...
As Jiraiya prepared to leave for an outlying base to look for Tsunade, he was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that ever since she had left the village, Tsunade had lived a wandering life, fleeing the pain of her past. As her former teammate, Jiraiya understood how important Tsunade's strength and wisdom were to Konoha, and he resolved to persuade her to return, no matter what it took.
Just as he stepped outside the village entrance, ready to set out, he spotted two familiar figures in the distance—Tsunade and her disciple, Shizune. Tsunade looked as languid as ever, a sake flask in her hand and a slightly drunken look on her face, while Shizune followed behind her, carrying Tonton, the little pig who was always with them. Jiraiya was delighted. He hadn't expected Tsunade to return of her own accord before he had even set out.
He hurried over and greeted her with a smile. "Hey, isn't that Tsunade? What a coincidence. I was just about to go looking for you!" Tsunade glanced at him and replied lazily, "Jiraiya? What are you doing here? I didn't hear anything about you coming to find me." Jiraiya scratched his head and smiled. "The village needs you now. As your old teammate, of course I had to come get you myself. But it looks like you came back on your own, so you've saved me the trip."
Tsunade snorted and waved a hand. "Don't get the wrong idea. I only came back to have a look and take care of a few things while I'm here. Don't expect me to become the Fifth Hokage like in that Heavenly Screen video." Her tone held a touch of disdain and resistance; she clearly had no interest in the position of Hokage.
Jiraiya frowned, his tone turning serious. "Tsunade, you know the state the village is in. Our teacher is old now, and the village needs someone with strength and prestige to lead everyone. You're the best person for the job." Tsunade stopped and turned around, looking Jiraiya straight in the eye. "Hokage? Whoever wants the job can have it. I'm not taking it. I don't want to get mixed up in that kind of trouble."
Beside them, Shizune quietly urged her, "Lady Tsunade, the village really does need you right now..." Tsunade cut her off with a wave. "Shizune, that's enough. I only came back to have a look. I'm not interested in anything else." With that, she continued walking, apparently unwilling to discuss the subject any further.
Jiraiya watched her go and sighed helplessly. He knew Tsunade's resistance to becoming Hokage stemmed from the pain of her past and the shadow left by losing her loved ones, but he also knew that deep down, she still cared about Konoha. He hurried after her and said with a smile, "All right, since you're back, at least go see our teacher. I'm sure he wants to see you too."
Tsunade slowed slightly at his words, a complicated look flashing across her eyes. She was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "All right, seeing our teacher would be good. But don't expect me to change my mind." Jiraiya smiled and said nothing more. He knew persuading Tsunade would take time, and all he could do was guide her step by step, helping her rediscover her sense of responsibility and belonging toward the village.
The three walked into the village together, the rays of the setting sun falling on them and stretching their shadows.
Inside the Konoha guesthouse, the curtains were tightly drawn, and the dim candlelight cast flickering shadows on the walls. Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, sat quietly at a table, his pale fingers tapping lightly against its surface. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the secret letter that had just arrived.
"Jiraiya... Tsunade..." he murmured, his voice hoarse and chilling. "What a nostalgic coincidence."
The clamor of Konoha's villagers drifted faintly through the window. They seemed to still be discussing the images shown on the Heavenly Screen. The corners of Orochimaru's mouth rose in a cold smile, but his gaze grew ever more dangerous.
"I didn't expect the few scenes shown by this Heavenly Screen to bring you both back to the village at the same time..." He slowly stood and walked to the window, looking through a gap in the curtains toward Hokage Rock in the distance. "It seems I'll have to adjust my plan a little."
He looked down at his hands. They still looked like the Fourth Kazekage's for now, but soon they would return to their original form and tear this false disguise to shreds.
Orochimaru summoned a small white snake, which spat a sealing scroll from its mouth. He lightly traced the inscriptions on its surface with a fingertip and murmured, "Release."
A cloud of smoke dispersed, revealing several specially made containers. Each held a different sample of flesh and blood suspended in liquid—the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju; the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju; the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze... and even the corpse of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, which he had acquired not long ago.
"Fortunately, I prepared in advance." He reached out and picked up one of the containers. A silver-white lock of hair floated inside—Dan Katō's hair.
"Tsunade's old lover..." He gave a quiet, cold laugh. "I wonder what expression she'll make when she sees 'him' standing before her again?"
Orochimaru recalled the Konoha Ninja his subordinates lurking on the outskirts had secretly captured over the past few days. They were all good sacrifices. "I have enough sacrifices for Impure World Reincarnation, but I'm still a little short..." he mused. "If I can distract Jiraiya and Tsunade, my plan can proceed smoothly."
He walked slowly to the window and looked toward the Hokage building in the distance, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"Teacher..." he murmured to himself. "Soon, we'll have a chance to 'catch up' properly."
The Heavenly Screen's images had caused an unprecedented stir among the nobles of the various nations.
At the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire, several daimyo dressed in splendid robes sat within four enormous screens, their solemn faces reflected on them.
"Everyone, I assume you've all seen it?" The Daimyo of the Land of Wind spoke first, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "The power of those ninja... has exceeded anything we imagined."
"Exceeded our imagination? It's far more than that!" The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning snorted. "The power in those battles on the Heavenly Screen was practically comparable to that of gods! If one day a Kage from some ninja village or a missing-nin wanted to overthrow us, could our armies stop them?"
Silence fell.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth slowly raised his teacup but didn't drink. He simply stared at the tea rippling inside and said quietly, "We control the civilian population and the economy, while the ninja villages control military power... That was a balance. But if ninja have grown strong enough to disregard our armies, then that balance has already been broken."
"Our samurai and armies probably couldn't even delay ninja of that caliber," the Daimyo of the Land of Water said gravely. "Look at that ninja called Pain on the Heavenly Screen. He could destroy a mountain with a single Ninjutsu! Our walls, our armies, even an entire daimyo's residence must look like they're made of paper to them."
"What's even more frightening is that while the ninja villages are nominally under our control, what about in practice?" The Daimyo of the Land of Fire narrowed his eyes. "The Kage's authority is almost independent of ours. They have their own finances, their own rules, and even the power to make their own decisions about war. We give them payment for commissioned missions, and on the surface they accept our orders, but when it truly comes down to it, who can guarantee they won't turn on us?"
"Especially now..." The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning lowered his voice. "The Heavenly Screen has exposed some things from the future. Might that lead the ninja to harbor disloyal thoughts? For instance, might some of them decide they'd rather control everything themselves than follow our orders?"
"We can't sit here and wait for disaster." The Daimyo of the Land of Earth set down his teacup, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "We must find a way to keep the ninja's power in check."
"How?" The Daimyo of the Land of Water frowned. "Ninja have Chakra, Ninjutsu, and even those strange Kekkei Genkai. Ordinary armies are no match for them."
"Perhaps... we could strike from within," the Daimyo of the Land of Wind said slowly. "The ninja villages aren't united, and there are conflicts between their various clans. If we could incite them to fight among themselves and weaken their overall strength..."
"Or we could support a new force." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire looked thoughtful. "For example, we could build a military force that doesn't rely on Chakra, or... find special weapons capable of countering ninja."
"Whatever we do, we must act." The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning rose, sweeping his gaze over the others. "Otherwise, one day in the future, we may not even know how we died."
After the meeting ended, the four screens went dark one after another, but the seeds of unease had already been planted in their hearts.