The unrest surrounding graduation and team assignments lent Konoha an unsettled air. As night fell, Ling sat quietly in the courtyard of the old Hatake residence. He appeared to be refining chakra, but his mind was intensely focused as he discussed the day's events with Tobirama inside his head.
The team assignments... Team 10 is Ino-Shika-Cho. Team 8 is Hyuga, Inuzuka Clan, and Aburame-a standard combination of bloodline abilities and secret techniques. Team 7... Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha, Ling reviewed inwardly. And I'm listed as "special instruction pending," temporarily under Kakashi's supervision. The Third's intentions are obvious.
Hmph. The same old balancing act. Tobirama's voice held a trace of disdain, but also a hint of approval. He's putting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the last of the Uchiha bloodline, and you-a member of a Hatake branch family with an unusual background and enormous potential-together under Kakashi, his most trusted Anbu elite. It makes you easier to monitor and control while giving you a seemingly reasonable environment to grow in. Hiruzen Sarutobi always seems especially "considerate" when handling these internal relationships.
Just then, Ling's finely honed senses caught an extremely faint yet strangely familiar chakra fluctuation from the direction of the Training Ground-the same cold, sinister chakra he had sensed from Mizuki during the graduation exam that afternoon. Though it vanished in a flash and was deliberately concealed, it could not escape Ling and Tobirama's keen perception.
Hmm? That rat is on the move. Tobirama immediately grew alert. He's heading toward the school... no, farther in, near the Classified Documents Room. What is he planning?
Almost simultaneously, a vast, chaotic surge of terrifying chakra, filled with negative emotions, erupted for an instant in the direction of the Training Ground like a torch igniting in the darkness, only to be forcibly suppressed at once.
The Nine-Tails' chakra! Is the Jinchūriki in trouble? Ling was startled.
Yet Tobirama's reaction was unexpectedly calm, even tinged with the mockery of someone who saw through everything.
No. That isn't right, Tobirama cut him off coldly. The eruption was too concentrated, and it disappeared too quickly. It doesn't look like a loss of control. It's more like... a deliberate leak of chakra, used as a signal. Besides, the Anbu movements throughout the village may look frantic, but they're orderly. They seem to be following a predetermined plan rather than responding to an unexpected crisis.
Ling immediately understood his implication. "You mean... this was arranged?"
Almost certainly. Tobirama sneered. That fool Mizuki-I could tell this afternoon that his intentions were crooked. His eyes kept shifting, and he showed a greedy, manipulative interest in the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Put his movements now together with that abnormal burst of Nine-Tails chakra... hmph. To curry favor with that "great figure" he admires, the defector Orochimaru, he took it upon himself to trick that simpleminded dead-last into stealing the Scroll of Seals!
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi... Tobirama spoke with the certainty of someone who knew his former subordinate inside out. That crystal ball of his isn't just decoration. He probably saw everything clearly from the moment Mizuki began manipulating the Jinchūriki. He allowed all of this to happen. He may even have quietly made things easier so Naruto could "successfully" steal the scroll.
"Why?" Ling asked, puzzled. "The Scroll of Seals is so important..."
Why? Tobirama scoffed. Three birds with one stone. First, he gets rid of Mizuki, an unstable element within the village. Second, and most importantly, he gives the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki a chance to embrace the "Will of Fire." Have Iruka, who once knew that same loneliness, find Naruto and take an attack for him-a little performance of a teacher sacrificing himself for his student. That would easily plant bonds and loyalty toward Konoha and his "comrades" in the Jinchūriki's hollow heart. That is the strongest seal of all! Third, he can test Naruto's potential along the way and see what he can learn from the Scroll of Seals. A fine calculation indeed.
Tobirama's analysis was cold and incisive, stripping away the appearance of an unexpected nighttime incident to reveal an intricate chess game orchestrated by those at the top. Ling felt a faint chill as he listened, gaining a deeper understanding of both the Konoha High Command's methods and Tobirama's seasoned cunning.
Then should we... do something? Ling asked.
Do what? Tobirama countered. Expose the Hokage's scheme? Or help that dead-last who doesn't even realize he's being manipulated? Save it. Every actor in this play is already in position. All we need to do is watch. Remember, our goal is to stay hidden and grow, not step into the spotlight too soon-especially by getting involved in a sensitive incident concerning a Jinchūriki. Conceal your perception. Act as though you never noticed anything unusual.
Ling obeyed, suppressing every trace of his presence until he seemed like nothing more than an ordinary graduate quietly training at home. He could faintly sense Iruka-sensei's chakra rushing anxiously toward the Training Ground, followed by a brief clash. Mizuki's chakra rapidly weakened and vanished, and then Iruka and Naruto's chakra came together, returning slowly and steadily.
See? The play is over, Tobirama said flatly. They gained a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki utterly devoted to Konoha, eliminated a traitor, and everyone got what they wanted. What a perfect evening.
It was impossible to tell whether his tone held praise or sarcasm.
The next day, the graduation briefing took place as usual. Iruka-sensei looked tired, and there was some bruising near his eye, but he seemed especially spirited. He announced the team assignments.
When the class heard that Team 7 consisted of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, the atmosphere grew subtly awkward. Naruto looked excited and smug, seemingly proud of his "heroic feat" the night before, completely unaware that he had been nothing more than a pawn. Sasuke remained aloof, indifferent to Sakura's infatuation and Naruto's noise. Sakura, meanwhile, wavered between her obsession with Sasuke and her disdain for Naruto.
Ling's assignment also turned out exactly as Tobirama had predicted.
"Ling Hatake." Iruka-sensei looked at him warmly, with a hint of particular concern. "Your circumstances are unusual, and Lord Hokage believes you need more tailored instruction. Therefore, you'll be temporarily assigned to Team 7 under Kakashi's supervision, but he will arrange additional training sessions suited to your needs."
See? Tobirama snorted within his mind. He's slipped you neatly into this closely monitored team and given that brat Kakashi a pretext to teach you privately. This way, Danzo won't be able to interfere right away.
Ling calmly accepted the Konoha forehead protector Iruka-sensei handed him, his expression unchanged. "Yes, I understand, Iruka-sensei."
He walked out of the classroom holding his brand-new forehead protector. The sunlight was a little dazzling. Naruto was loudly showing off the incredible ninjutsu he had "learned" the previous night-the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique-drawing repeated exclamations from Kiba and Choji.
Ling simply tied the forehead protector around his forehead in silence. Its cool touch reminded him that he was now a Konoha ninja. At the same time, Tobirama's cold analysis the night before had made him all the more aware that the ninja world went far beyond the missions and training on its surface. Beneath it lay countless unseen contests and schemes.
All right, brat. Stop dwelling on this boring political theater. Tobirama's voice pulled him back from his thoughts. Since you're temporarily under Kakashi's supervision, we can't waste the time before that lazy fellow shows up. Starting today, you'll practice developing the Absolute Defense form of Water Release: Water Formation Wall! Within three days, I want you able to instantly create a curved water-mirror barrier that refracts light and disrupts visual perception!
Before you continue