Aftermath and a New Prologue

Orochimaru's night raid was like a massive boulder cast into the tranquil lake of Konoha, stirring up a thousand ripples.

The next day, the atmosphere inside the Hokage's office was dreadfully heavy. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, stared at the report submitted by the Anbu, his face ashen. The Nine-Tails chakra lingering at the scene, the sinister serpentine aura, and the corroded wooden substitution logs all pointed to one person: one of the disciples he had once been most proud of—Orochimaru!

"He actually dared to infiltrate the village and strike directly at the jinchuriki!" The Third's voice was filled with both fury and heartache. Orochimaru's recklessness had exceeded his expectations. What shocked him even more was that Uchiha Ling's performance had been enough to force Orochimaru back. Although it relied on the power of the Nine-Tails, the strength, composure, and that elusive Flying Thunder God Technique he displayed caused the Third to raise his assessment of the child once again.

He summoned Ling immediately.

"Ling, you are clear on what happened last night, aren't you?" The Third tried to keep his tone sounding calm.

Ling nodded, his face wearing a perfectly measured expression of "lingering fear" and "exhaustion." "Yes, Grandpa Hokage. A terrifying person suddenly appeared, wanting to take Naruto away. In my desperation, I don't know how, but I used that red power... and then, he left."

He simplified the process into an instinctive reaction during a moment of crisis, doing his best to disguise the fact that he had actively controlled and utilized the Nine-Tails chakra to attack.

The Third looked at him deeply, not pressing for more. He knew Ling was hiding something, but dealing with the threat posed by Orochimaru was more important right now. "You did well to protect Naruto and yourself. That man is an S-rank missing-nin wanted by Konoha, Orochimaru, and he is extremely dangerous. From now on, the security level for both you and Naruto will be raised to the maximum."

He paused, his tone turning serious. "Furthermore, regarding your use of the Flying Thunder God Technique..."

Ling felt a chill in his heart, knowing this was the real point of the conversation.

"The Flying Thunder God is a space-time ninjutsu that the Second and Fourth Hokage prided themselves on. It is extremely difficult to master and involves the core tactical secrets of the village," the Third said softly. "Where did you learn it? Of course, if you are unwilling to say, I will not force you, but I hope you understand that great power requires corresponding responsibility and restraint."

Ling had long since prepared his excuse. He raised his head, his gaze "candid." "It was a chance encounter. While I was training in the forest outside the village, I found a tattered scroll that recorded some fragmented knowledge about spatial markers and movement. I practiced it by trial and error, and I didn't expect it to actually work... but I only know the most basic parts." He attributed everything to "good fortune" and "talent," explaining the source while also appearing weak to his enemy.

The Third stared at him, seemingly judging the truth of his words, then sighed. "If it was fate, then it is your fortune. However, the Flying Thunder God Technique is of great importance. From now on, unless necessary, try not to use it within the village to avoid causing unnecessary panic and covetousness."

"I understand, Grandpa Hokage." Ling responded respectfully. He knew that the Third had accepted his possession of the Flying Thunder God, but had also drawn a red line.

Walking out of the Hokage's office, Ling returned to his small courtyard. New, more elite Anbu had already taken their positions, surrounding the courtyard like an iron barrel. Ling could sense that there were also sensory ninjas from the Yamanaka and Hyuga clans mixed in.

This level of "protection" was less about guarding against external threats and more about deeper surveillance and control. Ling sneered inwardly, but remained calm on the surface.

Through the Flying Thunder God, he quietly made a trip to Tanzaku Town to inform the members of "Dawn Wind" about the news Orochimaru might be interested in, and once again emphasized the importance of lying low.

"Orochimaru..." A strange glint flashed in Kimimaro's eyes. He vaguely remembered the name; it seemed to be related to his past experiences.

"Don't worry," Ling reassured him. "His primary target right now is me and Konoha. As long as we don't expose ourselves, he won't waste too much energy looking for us for the time being. Use this time to continue improving your strength."

After arranging external matters, Ling shifted his focus back to himself. His brief clash with Orochimaru made him clearly realize the gap between himself and a true Kage-level powerhouse. If not for the trickery of the Flying Thunder God and the unexpected nature of the Nine-Tails chakra, he would never have been able to force the opponent back.

"System, pull up my detailed status."

[Host: Uchiha Ling]
[Age: 6]
[Bloodline: Uchiha (Single Tomoe Sharingan), Sage Body (Beginner)]
[Chakra Nature: Fire, Wind, Yang, Water (Trace), Lightning (Weak)]
[Core Ability: Nine-Tails Chakra Form (Growable, current fusion rate 7%), Flying Thunder God Technique (Fragmented)]
[Special Status: Eight Trigrams Seal (Half of the Nine-Tails), Absolute Bond with Uzumaki Naruto]

The fusion rate had increased to 7%; that crisis had indeed accelerated his growth. But it wasn't enough!

He began to train more systematically. At the Ninja Academy during the day, he was no longer satisfied with just crushing the theory; he began to selectively "ask" his instructors about advanced chakra shape transformation, nature fusion, and even sealing techniques to further enrich his theoretical system. At night, he diligently honed his taijutsu within the courtyard's barrier, practiced the Flying Thunder God, and attempted to communicate with the Nine-Tails chakra on a deeper level (while ensuring his own safety).

He knew that mere dormancy and defense could not solve the fundamental problem. He needed a bigger stage, an opportunity that would allow him and "Dawn Wind" to truly make a name for themselves and use it to break free from the current situation of being overly "protected."

That opportunity arrived soon enough.

Several months later, during a routine report to the Third on his "learning progress," the Third mentioned quite casually:

"Ling, your strength and intellect have far surpassed your peers. Keeping you confined to the academy might be a bit of a waste. Recently, the village has been preparing for the new Chunin Exams. Although it is mainly for Genin, as a special case, perhaps you could participate as a special observer or an external personnel to witness the style of ninjas from other countries. What do you think?"

The Chunin Exams!

Ling's heart gave a sudden jolt. He knew that according to the original history, this would be the beginning of the Konoha Crush plan and an important turning point in the plot! Although the timing seemed to have advanced slightly due to his intervention, what was meant to come would come eventually.

This was a crisis, but even more so, a huge opportunity! In the chaos, there was so much he could do: protect Naruto, defeat Orochimaru, display his power, and even reap the benefits!

He suppressed the waves in his heart, his face showing the appropriate "curiosity" and "anticipation." "Chunin Exams? That sounds very interesting. Thank you, Grandpa Hokage, for giving me this opportunity. I will observe and learn diligently."

Walking out of the Hokage's office, Ling looked up at the azure sky, a cold curve hooking at the corner of his mouth.

The storm was coming, and he was already prepared to ride the wind and break the waves.

The Chunin Exams would be the prologue for him and "Dawn Wind" to officially step onto the stage of the ninja world!