In mid-August of Year 46, the students who had graduated not long ago were already facing the Chunin Exams.
As usual, team leaders nominated candidates, while those with outstanding ninja potential were automatically recommended by the higher-ups.
For ninja from civilian families, everyone felt that getting the chance to take the exams early was a good thing!
D-rank missions paid too little. After the team leader took their cut, most Genin barely earned enough to update their ninja gear.
So, as soon as the news got out, the youngsters were buzzing with excitement. Those who had graduated early this year were especially eager to take part.
Might Guy had been nominated by his team leader. He was happy, but a little frustrated, too. The village's selection process emphasized team combat, and his two teammates couldn't keep up with him.
Inside the Forest of Death, at Training Ground 44, Might Guy had dragged his teammates there for extra training. He stared speechlessly at the two who had fallen to the ground long ago.
"Guy, we only graduated recently. We don't have to push ourselves this hard!"
Ebisu, who had been hit by the Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu, grumbled. He hadn't planned on becoming a Chunin so soon and knew exactly where his abilities stood.
Nearby, Genma Shiranui was tied to a tree, wearing the same lifeless look. He'd done even worse—he'd gotten caught in a trap.
"There's no hope, Guy! Our team doesn't have a sensory-type ninja. This kind of match is just too difficult..."
"You two idiots, don't give up until the very last moment!"
Might Guy stood not far away, his Forehead Protector on and his green, skintight outfit snug against his body. He scolded them with wide eyes, then tried to twitch his ears and sniffed the air, muttering impatiently:
"Where are you?!"
On the giant tree right in front of Guy, hidden among the thick foliage, Shu Furukawa hung upside down beside a branch. Seeing Guy below lose patience and start shouting, he finally cut the thin wire.
"Whoosh!"
The trap sprang again. Kunai and Shuriken shot toward Guy below.
Caught off guard, Guy instantly drew his nunchucks and blocked the weapons with a series of clanks. Then he suddenly accelerated and charged straight toward the giant tree above.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Shu Furukawa released his jutsu at just the right moment. Guy, caught in midair, twisted awkwardly to dodge the fireball. When he landed on a thick branch, half his body was charred black.
Just as Guy tried to pursue him, gritting his teeth as he prepared to release his chakra, Kakashi—who had been waiting for his moment—rushed in before he could blink.
After activating his body, Kakashi moved incredibly fast. He spun like a top as he attacked, and his short blade kept slashing, leaving Guy with no chance to do anything but defend himself.
When Kakashi seized an opening and circled behind him for another surprise attack, the exhausted Guy hurriedly put some distance between them.
The two chased each other along the tree trunk. Guy finally managed to shake Kakashi off and reach the ground, but the situation changed again.
"Ah!"
With a scream, Guy sank into the earth until only his head was left aboveground, just like Ebisu.
Shu Furukawa, who had carried out the ambush, strolled up to them. After a brief moment of thought, he took the initiative to "discourage" them.
"Don't expose your back to the enemy."
"Looks like your team leader shouldn't have nominated you so hastily. Becoming a Chunin too early might not be a good thing."
After Kakashi rescued the three of them, he narrowed his lifeless-looking eyes and said a few more words for once.
"C-rank missions have been getting more dangerous lately. Even if you become Chunin, no Jonin will be assigned to look after you."
"There are too many missions from the village. Something doesn't seem right."
This year, Konoha had accepted every mission that came its way. It ignored Sunagakure's complaints and took on missions of every rank as long as the money was there.
The Jonin were swamped, while low-level missions were handed off to Chunin without much talent and Genin without enough experience.
The two of them didn't tell their teammates what was really going on. Besides taking on missions, the other villages were stockpiling food and ninja gear, while Konoha quietly built up its "forces."
With local clashes breaking out, taking D-rank missions was actually the better choice.
"That's right, Guy! Even if you become a Chunin, it'll be hard for you to become a team leader. Shu and Kakashi are even restricted by their age."
Ebisu hurried to persuade him. He really didn't want to take the exams right after graduating. Genma Shiranui felt the same and, afraid Guy would stubbornly push ahead, added some reassurance.
"Guy, you can wait until next year. I'll work hard on missions from now on."
Guy stroked his chin, then finally nodded. He wasn't afraid of danger, but he had to consider his teammates' situation, too.
"All right, you're right. Youth has only just begun. I was in too much of a hurry!"
Normally, students graduated at twelve, and now they were graduating even earlier. Kakashi hadn't thought much about it in the past, but after taking on several high-level missions, he understood what the village intended.
If the war went badly, these students who had graduated early would be sent to the battlefield. Watching Guy laugh heartily as he regained his energy, Kakashi let out a quiet breath.
"Guy, you're not a tool. Don't die."
"..."
After eating so much barbecue that he could barely walk, Guy had completely recovered. When they said goodbye outside the restaurant, he didn't forget to "rein himself in."
Kakashi waved, suddenly feeling a little down. He turned to Shu Furukawa and asked in a low voice:
"Shu, did you know all this from the start? Were those lessons in the textbooks really just lies told to children?"
"War needs tools. Age and identity don't matter."
Kakashi had become a Chunin at six and had been very proud of it. Looking back now, the village had been holding him up as an example, encouraging youngsters to leave school early.
"Don't assume things that haven't happened."
"Whether you become a tool is up to you. As for Hideichi Hyuga's situation, there's nothing we can do."
"Maybe the Hokage can change everything? You could try."
Shu Furukawa gave a simple reply. Several ninja villages were preparing for war, and Kumogakure's AB Duo had become famous enough that even the Chunin in Konoha had received reports about them.
"The Hokage?"
Kakashi instinctively looked up at Kage Rock. In the night, he could only make out its outlines. The three Hokage carved into the cliff were shrouded in darkness.
Late at night, Shu Furukawa returned to his apartment. Just as he was about to open the door, he turned toward the shadows and spoke in a low voice.
"Lord Orochimaru, what brings you here?"
"Such keen senses. It seems Tsunade wasn't talking nonsense while drunk. Shu, won't you invite me in for a while?"
Orochimaru, wearing a Jonin's green flak jacket, slowly stepped out of the darkness. Seeing Shu Furukawa open the door and gesture for him to come in, he immediately smiled and continued in his raspy voice.
"I knew I was right about you!"
Once they entered the living room, Orochimaru glanced around. Shu Furukawa brewed a pot of cold tea and had barely sat down on the sofa when Orochimaru made him an offer.
"Shu, would you be interested in exploring the secrets of the soul with me? It's the first step toward immortality."
Seeing the excitement on Orochimaru's face, Shu Furukawa didn't answer directly.
"I thought Lord Orochimaru was preparing to take the Hokage Position. Teacher Tsunade has been troubled by it every day."
"The Hokage? Teacher Sarutobi is still young. All that talk in the village is meaningless."
"To seek the truth, eternal life is what matters. In the end, a ninja has to rely on strength."
When the subject turned to the much-discussed question of who would become the next Hokage, Orochimaru merely scoffed. The Hokage meant nothing beside eternal life.
Shu Furukawa didn't take him seriously. If a candidate were nominated right now, the Sannin would be the best choices. Narrow it down further, and it came to a contest between Tsunade and Orochimaru.
"Trust me, you'll be interested in this jutsu!"
Before Shu Furukawa could ask another question, Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, then briskly produced a scroll.
Shu Furukawa took it and glanced at the contents, his expression immediately turning to surprise.
"The Spirit Transformation Technique? A forbidden jutsu?"
"Forbidden jutsu are only forbidden to ordinary ninja. The village has never stopped researching them. Most people simply don't have the talent."
Pleased by Shu Furukawa's surprise, Orochimaru chuckled as he explained. Then he added:
"If you agree, this will be a secret between the two of us. Once you've mastered the jutsu, I'll need your help with some experiments in the future."
"Your Medical Ninjutsu will also be a great help to me. Tsunade can't stop praising you, and I trust my old friend's judgment!"
Seeing Orochimaru hand him another scroll, Shu Furukawa stopped looking through it and spoke solemnly.
"Mastering this jutsu could take a very long time!"
A smile appeared on Orochimaru's face again. He wasn't concerned about the time; instead, he said expectantly:
"Looking forward to working with you, Shu. I knew I was right about you!"
"..."