Chapter 155: Chapter 155 : The Ninja World is Changing!
In this way, Uchiha Haru gradually became something of a mentor to Kimimaro, Uzumaki Karin, and Chōjūrō. He would occasionally appear on the training grounds to offer guidance and instruction.
Other times, Kimimaro, Karin, and Chōjūrō would actively seek him out to ask questions and learn from his experience.
The three were undoubtedly gifted young shinobi. Their rapid learning and constant improvement in strength were proof of their natural talent.
Among them, Kimimaro, who was a little older, stood out as the strongest. Uzumaki Karin, lacking a solid foundation in ninjutsu, lagged slightly behind.
This, of course, was expected.
Kimimaro was born into the Kaguya clan—a lineage that revered combat above all else. The rigorous training and harsh upbringing he endured were far beyond what most shinobi experience. His possession of the kekkei genkai Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse) gave him a distinct advantage, unique even among elite bloodlines.
Given their similar learning capacities, it was only natural that Kimimaro was the strongest of the trio.
As for Karin, her slower progress could be attributed to two major factors: first, she had never undergone proper ninjutsu training before, and had to start from scratch. The second reason was the presence of the Six-Tails sealed within her.
This tremendous power would become an immense asset in the future, especially in combat—but in the early stages, it greatly complicated chakra control and hindered her progress.
This was a trial every jinchūriki had to overcome on their own.
No exceptions.
But if she could endure and break through this bottleneck, her growth would be exponential. Like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, she'd soar to new heights of power.
As for Chōjūrō—he was shy, lacked confidence, and sometimes gave the impression of being a little slow.
But when it came to ninjutsu training, none of those weaknesses showed.
Especially in kenjutsu. His natural affinity for the blade was extraordinary. He was a born swordsman.
And his perseverance was unmatched.
No matter the setback, he never gave up. He remained the most diligent of the three.
Watching them train brought Haru back to the days when he himself had first begun his shinobi journey.
And in terms of raw talent?
The three young shinobi of the Hidden Mist far surpassed what Haru had been capable of at their age.
It was easy to imagine that, a few years from now, these three would make quite the impression at the Chūnin Exams.
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of sparks would fly when they clashed with the "main characters" of the Naruto world.
Meanwhile, Haru continued his own training in senjutsu.
Sage Mode was notoriously difficult to master.
Before Haru, the only known user of senjutsu from Mount Myōboku was Jiraiya—and even his control over it was far from perfect. The learning process was grueling and time-consuming.
But Haru was different.
Thanks to his Ōtsutsuki-enhanced body, he possessed an extraordinary advantage when it came to learning ninjutsu of any kind.
It had been the same with the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Body Flicker Technique.
And now, it was the same with senjutsu.
He could comprehend it after a single glance. He could master it as soon as he understood it.
The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku was utterly stunned—numb, even—by his progress.
Was this what they called a prodigy?
No—it was unnatural. Monstrous.
In less than a year, Haru had essentially mastered senjutsu.
His control over the fusion of senjutsu chakra and conventional ninjutsu reached perfection.
Eventually, he stopped going to Mount Myōboku altogether.
There was nothing left for him to learn there.
With senjutsu under his belt, Haru's strength skyrocketed.
But exactly how powerful he had become—even Haru wasn't entirely sure.
Training was over.
Now came the time to enjoy life.
After all, wasn't that the purpose behind all the hard work?
With little to occupy his time, he passed his days in leisure—visiting entertainment halls to watch dancers and musicians, observing the three students train at the practice field, or occasionally having lighthearted conversations with Mei Terumi.
In the evenings, Uchiha Mikoto—who had taken a liking to these late-night visits—would often come by again.
Life was peaceful. Comfortable.
And just like that, three years passed in the blink of an eye.
The Chūnin Exams were fast approaching.
This particular exam would be crucial.
Especially for those shinobi villages that had long been weakened or sought to reestablish their standing in the world.
In recent years, the balance of power among the Great Shinobi Nations had shifted dramatically.
Konohagakure—the once-undisputed leader of the ninja world—was no longer the mighty presence it had been.
Its veterans had grown old. The new generation—supposed to rise and take their place—had run into complications.
A lack of strong successors cast a long shadow over the village's future.
And with the mass exodus of the Uchiha clan, one of the village's cornerstones, Konoha's power suffered a critical blow.
The "Number One Hidden Village"?
That title felt increasingly hollow.
The Hidden Cloud Village, ever ambitious, had long sought to seize that mantle. The Hidden Stone Village, though more subdued, remained a formidable power. They had nothing to prove and didn't rely on flashy appearances.
Then there were the Hidden Mist Village and the Hidden Sand Village.
Historically, these two had always been considered the weakest among the Five Great Nations.
The Mist had long been shrouded in bloodshed and fear under its oppressive, tyrannical leadership. Its isolation made things worse.
The Sand, meanwhile, was trapped in a brutal environment of deserts and scarce resources. Their living conditions alone made prosperity difficult.
But this time, the tide had turned.
Because of Uchiha Haru.
When the Uchiha clan followed him and defected to the Hidden Mist, everything changed.
They uncovered and dismantled the plot of the masked man, Uchiha Obito.
They shattered the infamous "Bloody Mist" system.
They established a new Police Department to maintain order and a Medical Corps to tend to the wounded—both modeled on what Konoha once had, but lost.
The village had undergone a dramatic transformation. Konoha now bore a renewed appearance—flourishing, thriving, alive with the vitality of a reborn military force. Its strength had grown exponentially, and more than anything, what it needed now was an opportunity to prove itself. To demonstrate its power. To solidify its prestige among the other nations.
The Hidden Sand Village was a different story.
They were weak. Poor. Their resources depleted, their ninja forces thinned by years of conflict and economic decline. And yet, pride would not allow them to shrink away in shame. They would not simply bow out.
No, even the Sand wanted to muster up its remaining strength. To stand tall and prove their worth to the world.
Likewise, newer emerging shinobi villages—such as the Hidden Sound and the Hidden Grass—were itching to show off their talents. The upcoming Chūnin Exams would be their stage.
As the day of the exam drew closer, each village released its official roster of participating genin and their supervising jōnin.
Konoha, the host of the event, was naturally at the center of it all and refrained from announcing anything unnecessary. All eyes were already on them.
From Kumogakure—the Hidden Cloud Village—came Samui, a student of Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
From Iwagakure—the Hidden Stone—was Kurotsuchi, daughter of the Third Tsuchikage.
From Sunagakure—the Hidden Sand—came Maki, personally accompanied by the Fourth Kazekage himself.
From Kirigakure—the Hidden Mist—came none other than Uchiha Haru.
Everything was ready.
The Chūnin Exam was about to begin.
But it wasn't just the Five Great Nations who had their eyes on the proceedings.
The Akatsuki were watching, too.
"Nagato," the masked man spoke as he stood atop a tall tower, hands folded behind his back. Rain poured endlessly in Amegakure, as it always did. "The Chūnin Exam might just be our chance."
The masked man's voice was cold and resolute.
"In the past few years, our need to stay hidden stalled the progress of the tailed beast extractions. We've hit a bottleneck."
"We've lost several members—Kakuzu, Hidan, and Jūzō Biwa."
"But it wasn't a complete loss. We managed to capture the Seven-Tails and the Five-Tails. Together with the Three-Tails we took from the Mist, we currently have three bijū."
"According to my intel, the Jinchūriki of the One-Tail, Six-Tails, and Nine-Tails will all be participating in this Chūnin Exam."
Nagato stood in silence for a moment, his body frail and hollow beneath the mechanical frame that kept him moving.
"You're suggesting we make a move during the exam?" he asked calmly.
"It's an opportunity," the masked man confirmed. "But Uchiha Haru is said to be leading one of the teams to Konoha. Haven't you always avoided confronting him directly? Why the change of heart?"
"I'm tired of waiting," the masked man said, his tone unwavering. "Besides, with so many ninja villages participating—both major and minor—even Uchiha Haru won't be able to manage everything."
"If we move precisely, we can carry out the operation in complete secrecy."
"But just in case something goes wrong," he added, turning to Nagato, "I'll need you to go in person."
Nagato gave a subtle nod. He understood. He had waited long enough to see his ambitions realized. Facing Haru was inevitable.
Still, something else nagged at him.
"But didn't we promise Uchiha Itachi the Nine-Tails would be his target?"
Nagato looked up, his eyes weary but sharp. "And we both know his complicated ties with Konoha."
Other members of Akatsuki might have been unaware of Itachi's true motives—but not Nagato. Not the masked man.
One led in name. The other, in action.
They understood Itachi better than anyone else in the organization. He was a man walking a tightrope between personal sacrifice and national loyalty.
They both knew he represented Konoha's interests as much as he represented Akatsuki.
The Nine-Tails. Naruto Uzumaki. The very heart of Konoha's new generation. Targeting him was like drawing a sword across Itachi's throat.
And Itachi was not someone they could underestimate.
The masked man's voice cut through the silence. "I've thought about it."
"For this mission, the Akatsuki will split into separate operations."
"Itachi and Kisame will go to the Hidden Cloud Village. Their goal: capture the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Deidara and Sasori will head to the Hidden Stone to seize the Five-Tails."
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