SHINOBI EXAM

[Reward 3—]

Sand Shinobi froze, unsure whether to feel fear or hope.

[Corresponding to the respondent's Ninja Village, ten deceased ninjas are randomly selected. The respondent may choose one to resurrect.]

Silence engulfed the area.

The ability to bring back the dead—a power so extraordinary, it was attributed only to the Sage of Six Paths. Many questioned whether this was some cruel jest. Yet, as they gazed at the human puppet crafted from the Third Kazekage's body, doubt began to fester.

Could Konohagakure truly wield such power? Even if the legendary Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, were still alive, would such feats be possible?

"Elder, what should we do next?" asked a nervous Sand Shinobi, breaking the heavy silence.

The elder hesitated before replying. "There are two questions remaining. We must secure the human puppet of the Third Kazekage and verify if the claims of resurrection are real. For now, relay this: No one is to act rashly until we have more answers."

"Understood!" The ninja bowed but hesitated before adding, "Elder, wasn't Absolute Defense exclusive to Gaara? Why did Luna Jōnin meet such a tragic fate?"

Before the elder could respond, another shinobi arrived, kneeling and holding out a scroll bearing Konoha's emblem.

"Report! A scroll from Konoha's Ninja Eagle!"

The elder unsealed the scroll and quickly skimmed its contents.

---

"Hey, why is it always me, an old woman nearing death, who gets dragged into this mess?"

The voice cut through the tension before the speaker appeared. Sand Shinobi turned to see none other than Granny Chiyo, the reclusive puppet master who hadn't shown herself in years.

"Konoha has called for a Five Kage Summit," the elder announced, folding the scroll. "Either they admit to their schemes for dominance, or they deny involvement in the recent images."

Granny Chiyo scoffed. "And what does that have to do with me? I've retired!"

The elder narrowed his eyes. "You're here to confirm whether that puppet..."

Before he could finish, Chiyo bolted toward the field. Her speed contradicted her claim of frailty, startling everyone present.

"Careful!"

Chiyo halted abruptly, her sharp eyes fixed on the human puppet.

"The craftsmanship, the details, the markings... This is Scorpion's work! That boy!"

Her voice trembled with emotion.

Years ago, not long after the Third Kazekage vanished, her grandson Scorpion had disappeared as well. Now the truth stood before her—Scorpion had turned rogue, killed the Third Kazekage, and crafted him into a puppet.

Pain flickered in Chiyo's eyes. War had taken her son and daughter-in-law, leaving her to raise Scorpion alone. But now, she was left wondering: Had the loss of his parents driven her grandson to such a dark path?

Even her hatred for Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, paled in comparison to the bitterness war had sown. She knew that vengeance wouldn't bring back her loved ones.

"The Five Kage Summit... The Fourth Kazekage has already left for Konoha. Considering the time, he should have arrived by now," the elder said cautiously.

However, unbeknownst to them, the Fourth Kazekage had already fallen to Orochimaru.

---

Konohagakure - 44th Training Ground

The vast training ground, spanning 20 kilometers in diameter, was a dense rainforest filled with towering trees, rushing streams, and a variety of creatures—both benign and deadly.

For the Genin participating in the Chūnin Exams, surviving here wasn't the most challenging aspect. The true difficulty lay in protecting their own scrolls while stealing those of their opponents.

But luck was fickle. A team might endure grueling battles only to discover they had acquired a duplicate of their original scroll. Without both the Heaven and Earth scrolls, they couldn't pass.

Distrust among ninjas from different villages often exacerbated the tension, leading to unnecessary conflict even when cooperation might have been an option.

"Examiner Anko!"

Mitarashi Anko looked up from her dango, annoyed. "What is it?"

"Please come with us."

---

Anko followed the Chūnin to the Jizo Stone Statue, where three mutilated corpses lay. Judging by their attire, they were Kusanagi who had participated in the exam.

Anko frowned. "I don't recall seeing these candidates. If they were killed en route to the exam, it's their own fault for lacking strength."

Morino Ibiki, arriving shortly after, corrected her. "These Grass Shinobi participated in the first exam. The other two died during the trial of life and death."

Anko's eyes narrowed. "So, imposters were eliminated during the first phase? But how did they manage to infiltrate the second exam?"

At that moment, a frantic voice called out, "Examiner Anko! The barrier at Exit 37 has been breached!"

Anko's expression darkened. Someone had broken into the training ground, jeopardizing the Genin exam.

---

Meanwhile, the Sand Village remained in turmoil.

Granny Chiyo stood motionless, staring at the puppet crafted from the Third Kazekage's remains. Memories of Scorpion as a child flashed through her mind, a bittersweet mix of love and regret.

The elder approached cautiously. "What do you think, Chiyo?"

Her voice was cold. "This puppet... It's unmistakably Scorpion's work. I must go to Konoha. If this 'resurrection' is real, I will know."

The elder hesitated. "Do you truly believe Konoha is capable of such a feat?"

Chiyo didn't answer, but her mind was made up.

---

Back in Konoha, tensions escalated as the Five Kage Summit drew closer. The revelation of the Third Kazekage's fate had sent shockwaves through the villages, and trust among the nations was at an all-time low.

The situation grew more precarious as Orochimaru's machinations unfolded in the shadows, threatening to plunge the shinobi world into chaos once more.

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