(Happy New Year! Little Train wishes all my wonderful readers a happy New Year! The seasons turn, and a new chapter unfolds each day. Thank you all for staying with me, enjoying the wonders within these pages and sharing life's joys and sorrows. In this Bingwu Year of the Horse, may you ride through spring breezes untouched by frost and hardship, soar ever higher, and find everything better than you hoped. Wherever my pen reaches, may there be reunion. In this new year, let us continue journeying across mountains and seas together in this little world. Happy first day of the New Year! Thank you for following along. Good fortune in the Year of the Horse-may you get fabulously rich and fabulously slim!)
On the roof tiles atop Kikyo Castle, two dark figures were speaking in low voices.
"As long as Lord Orochimaru cooperates, destroying Konoha won't be difficult."
The speaker wore round glasses and had a soft, effeminate voice. It was Kabuto Yakushi.
Half the face of the man opposite him was covered in white cloth, leaving only one sharp eye exposed. He was Baki, a Jonin from Sunagakure.
Baki said gravely, "Lord Kazekage has already agreed to the plan. The day of the Chunin Ninja Exams' final selection will be the day Konoha falls."
Just then, Baki abruptly turned his head, his gaze shooting toward a patch of shadow nearby.
"Who's there!"
Several shuriken sliced through the air and embedded themselves in the roof tiles in that shadow, sending sparks flying.
A figure darted out of the shadows, looking somewhat disheveled. It was Konoha's Special Jōnin, Gekko Hayate.
His face was pale. He coughed twice, his long sword already drawn.
"So there really is a conspiracy... I have to get this information to Lord Hokage."
Hayate had