Crisis

The preliminary round had concluded, and the Chunin Exam hosted by Konoha entered a brief period of calm.

This short interval was both precious time for the contestants who had emerged from the fierce competition to recover and a chance for the daimyo of every nation, far away in their respective domains, to set out at their leisure and make the journey here.

At the same time, crowds from all directions began converging on Konoha for this grand event, bringing considerable economic benefits with them.

Yet beneath this prosperous facade, Minato Namikaze knew full well that deadly undercurrents were bound to lurk.

Like shadows sunlight could never reach, those with ill intent would always quietly blend into the surging crowds.

Such was the fate of an open village. Even Minato Namikaze could not simply shut Konoha's gates and turn away goodwill and malice alike.

However, the atmosphere inside the Hokage Office was exceedingly grim.

Minato Namikaze stood alone before the window, gripping a letter that had just arrived. Its contents had put an unprecedentedly grave expression on his face.

The letter brought news that his teacher, Jiraiya, had returned to Konoha.

That should have been welcome news, yet the words that followed shattered that joy.

Jiraiya had not returned merely to come home. He had come while closely pursuing Orochimaru's trail.

"Has Orochimaru... returned again?" Minato Namikaze murmured.

He could not help recalling the "choice" Orochimaru had left behind when he departed from that cold, sinister laboratory.

Orochimaru had absolutely not returned to Konoha merely for this Chunin Exam. More likely, he intended to use this opportunity to carry out some scheme of his.

But the problem was that Minato Namikaze could not guess what exactly Orochimaru was planning.

The enemy was hidden, while he stood in the open.

Minato