The Sannin Return

Three more days passed. There were two days left until the Chunin Exams began.

As always, Chiba trained under Kushina Uzumaki's guidance. As his training continued, he grew increasingly proficient with Water Style Ninjutsu. As for Earth Release, Kushina Uzumaki's Water Style Impact had made it increasingly solid. Both its defensive and offensive power had improved by leaps and bounds.

Kushina had also discovered Chiba's weakness: his chakra reserves. From a Genin's perspective, Chiba's chakra reserves were indeed outstanding, nearly reaching Chunin level. But to Kushina Uzumaki, who came from the Uzumaki Clan, it was far too little. After using only a few jutsu, he was nearly drained. This greatly limited the effectiveness of his ninjutsu.

However, Chiba had an advantage that made up for this: taijutsu. His taijutsu was remarkably strong, and his learning ability was exceptional not only in ninjutsu, but in taijutsu as well. He likely possessed extraordinary talent in both taijutsu and ninjutsu. Moreover, he possessed the most necessary and powerful talent for taijutsu: Unwavering Willpower—that was, perseverance.

Kushina Uzumaki had kept an eye on his independent training every day. No matter how tired Chiba was, he always completed a fixed amount of training. In her eyes, these daily exercises were not something a seven-year-old child should have been doing.

Even an adult ninja probably lacked the perseverance to carry out such dull and grueling taijutsu training every day...

Taijutsu consumed relatively little chakra while remaining extremely powerful. It could compensate for his insufficient chakra reserves, the fact that he could not fully unleash the power of his ninjutsu, and even the strict limits on how many times he could use it.

This put Kushina Uzumaki at ease. At the same time, she removed some of the Water Style Ninjutsu she had originally planned to teach him, focusing instead on practical techniques, support techniques, and Water Style Ninjutsu that could assist his taijutsu. Since he had limited chakra and could only use ninjutsu a limited number of times, he should focus on techniques that would be effective in real combat.

Chiba had vaguely noticed the shift in Kushina Uzumaki's training focus over the past two days and understood her intentions. With the Gate of Pain still impossible to open and no idea when Gate of Pain Mode would be fully developed, he had privately considered focusing on taijutsu with ninjutsu as support. His thoughts happened to align with Kushina Uzumaki's.

Chiba also practiced Water Style Ninjutsu and trained in Earth Release even more seriously, and his rate of improvement continued to increase.

Once Gate of Pain Mode was fully developed, he could place equal emphasis on taijutsu and ninjutsu.

While Chiba trained diligently on one side, three people arrived at the Hokage's Office on the other.

The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at the three people before him, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, you've worked hard."

Standing before the Third Hokage were two men and one woman. The sole woman was breathtakingly beautiful, with a diamond-shaped violet mark on her forehead. Even her loose clothing could not conceal her curvaceous figure. Though her breasts were tightly wrapped, they still seemed ready to burst free.

She was the future Fifth Hokage, one of the three before him, Tsunade Senju—also known as Princess Tsunade.

Beside her stood a white-haired man whose appearance was not particularly striking. He wore a toad forehead protector bearing the character for "oil." He was the teacher of the Fourth Hokage and Seventh Hokage, and one of the Sannin: Jiraiya.

The last man, handsome with a somewhat sinister charm, was undoubtedly Orochimaru.

If Chiba had been there, he would surely have remarked that Tsunade and Orochimaru seemed no different from how they would be in the future.

"Perfect. Since the Chunin Exams have been moved forward, you three can serve as judges in my place." The Third Hokage could not help smiling as he looked at his three prized disciples.

"The Chunin Exams? Weren't they supposed to be held several months from now?" Orochimaru spoke first. His voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried a strange charm, possessing an eerie kind of pleasantness.

"Yes, this year's exams have been brought forward," the Third Hokage said.

The Sannin exchanged glances.

Jiraiya pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Is it because there is an urgent need to select fresh talent?"

"Yes." The smile on the Third Hokage's lips slowly faded. "A month ago, Minato and Kushina gathered intelligence that the powers of the major shinobi nations had infiltrated the small villages and minor countries beyond the borders of the Land of Fire. I fear it may be detrimental to Konoha and the Land of Fire."

The Sannin exchanged looks again.

Tsunade sighed. "Is there going to be another war? I truly don't want to see those children heading to the battlefield."

After Tsunade spoke, the Hokage's Office fell into a heavy silence.

The Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru all wore grave expressions.

In the end, Orochimaru broke the silence. "Then, Teacher Sarutobi, have you found any promising candidates?"

The Third Hokage glanced at his most prized disciple. A glint flashed in his eyes as he placed three Ninja Registration Files on the Hokage's desk and pushed them forward slightly.

"Three children who have just graduated from the Ninja Academy, as well as some other children who have shown potential over the years." As the Third Hokage spoke, he took out several more files.

The Sannin each picked up the files.

"Hyuga Yukina..." Tsunade looked over the registration file.

"Uchiha Hirohiko..." Jiraiya also examined a file.

"Taki Chiba..." Orochimaru glanced at it, then looked up and asked, "Seven years old? All three of them are only seven?"

"Yes." The Third Hokage nodded.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm? She mastered it at that age?" A faint look of surprise appeared on Tsunade's face.

"And here, the Sharingan, Shadow Clone Jutsu? This... Aside from Kakashi, this group has talents like this as well, only one year younger?" Jiraiya was also somewhat surprised.

"High-Speed Taijutsu... This seems rather ordinary, for taijutsu," Orochimaru said, seemingly disappointed.

"Lord Orochimaru, Taki Chiba's information has not yet been updated. Besides High-Speed Taijutsu, he is also skilled in Earth Release and Water Style Jutsu." Hokoma, standing beside the Third Hokage, hurriedly added. After pausing, he continued, "He also defeated Hatake Kakashi."

"Hatake Kakashi? You mean Hatake Kakashi—the prodigy who graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, Minato's disciple?" Jiraiya blurted out in surprise.

Orochimaru's face also showed astonishment.

"Yes." Hokoma nodded emphatically.

The Sannin looked at one another, then focused all their attention on Chiba's Ninja Registration File.

"Who is the teacher of these three?" Tsunade asked.

"Kushina Uzumaki." The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe.

"Kushina?" Jiraiya blinked, clearly surprised.

"The one from the Uzumaki Clan?" Orochimaru's eyes flickered.

"Take these files back and review them first. Then, as judges, select talents according to the circumstances of the Chunin Exams," the Third Hokage said.

"Understood."

The Sannin looked at one another, then at the files in their hands and the pile on the desk. They nodded, then left the Hokage's Office.

Only after the three had left did Hokoma quietly wipe away his sweat.

As expected of Konoha's Sannin. Merely standing there gave off a terrifying pressure.