The Fateful Uchiha

The day before the Chunin exam, Kakashi showed up at Team 7's meeting late as usual. However, he didn’t give them a bogus excuse this time. He simply announced to them he had recommended them for the upcoming Chunin exam. Kiba, Sakura, and Sasuke started yelling at him, complaining about the lack of time to prepare for it. What kind of sensei announce to their students, that they will participate in the chunin exam a day before the said exam?

“A ninja must be prepared at all times. It’s your fault for getting caught off guard.” Kakashi said. “But I’m a generous sensei, I will give you the day to prepare.  So today's training is canceled. Use your time wisely. Remember to be on time for the exam tomorrow morning. Arriving late wouldn’t look very professional…” He added before vanishing.

“Looks who is talking about being on time,” Sasuke said to his teammates.

Unknown to the genins, their sensei was still nearby, spying on them.

“We don't even know what this exam is all about,” Kiba said. “How do we prepare for it?”

“All the candidates are meeting at the Academy tomorrow. The exam or part of it may be a written test.” Sakura said.

“Written test?” Kiba said in a worried tone.

“The venue means nothing. It could be a meeting point before all the candidates are taken somewhere else.” Sasuke added.

A thoughtful silence fell upon them. Kakashi, from his hiding place, smiled behind his mask. He was glad to see his students use their brains. And they were listening to each other. Kakashi had noticed an improvement in their teamwork since they came back from their last mission. It seemed that their shared traumatic experience brought them closer and made them mature a bit. 

“So how do we prepare for it?” Kiba asked.

“Kakashi isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t put us at a disadvantage. If he waited until the last minute to tell us about it, then we don’t need to do anything special. We just prepare ourselves like we do for any mission.” Sasuke said. 

Kakashi nodded from his hiding spot.

“A backpack may get in the way if we have to fight,” Kiba said.

“Obviously… Do you have storage seals?”

“No,” Sakura admitted. They’re quite expensive…”

Kiba shook his head. He didn’t have any either.

“Jun makes them. I’ll take a few from him. Meet me in half an hour at our usual training ground.” Sasuke said.

Sakura clasped her hands in a delighted air.

“Oh thanks, Sasuke.”

“Yeah, thanks, man. We'll see you in a bit.”.

“Don’t forget your gear,” Sasuke warned.

Sasuke went to pick up the storage scrolls. But Kiba and Sakura went to get their things together. Kakashi followed them from a distance. He was curious. They didn’t live in the same area, so why were they leaving together? Sakura didn't move to the Inuzukas, did she? He knew her relationship with her parents had been tense since their last mission. But he didn’t think she left home. 

The jonin saw Kiba and Sakura enter the Inuzuka’s residence together, and each came out with a backpack. Listening in their conversation, Kakashi realized that Sakura had been invited the day before to Kiba’s... Just like the week before… Moreover, Kakashi had noticed that Kiba’s smell was frequently found on Sakura’s clothes and vice versa. He thought nothing of it until now. It seemed the two were much closer than he thought. He was surprised though. He thought Sakura only had eyes for Sasuke. The mission in the Land of Waves really changed his students.  

Maybe it was to be expected. They went through a difficult experience together. Maybe they needed each other to get through it. Kiba had refused to get another dog to replace Akamaru. He trained even harder to learn to fight on his own. Kakashi was impressed by his progression. Sakura also took training more seriously now. When she let loose, she could pack a punch. She had K.O.ed Kiba a few times during their training sessions. When it came to chakra control, she even bested Sasuke.

Half an hour later, Team 7 met again. They sat under a tree as they prepared their equipment. 

“Kunais?” Sasuke asked, looking at his stock.

“I have four sets,” Sakura said.

“Four sets for me too,” Kiba counted his own.

“Six for me. Shurikens?” Sasuke said.

“One set... Three sets of senbons, too.” Kiba said

“Two sets. I have a steel wire for traps as well.” Sakura replied.

“Four sets for me. I also have steel wires and Fuma shurikens.”

“Show off! Why do you need so many?” Kiba asked with humor.

“To compensate for when you miss your target.” Sasuke replied.

“Hey…”

“Guys, let's stay focused, alright? So, sleeping bags?

Everyone nodded.

“I have a cover, does that count?”

“What about food and water? We should probably take some.” Sakura proposed. 

Sasuke shook his head.

“Stopping to eat could slow us down.”

“And starving wouldn’t?” Kiba countered. 

Sakura chuckled.

“Let’s take some just in case.”

Kakashi lingered for a few more seconds before disappearing. He felt comfortable about his decision to let them take part in the Chunin exam. They were ready, and this could be the boost they needed to regain confidence in their ability. Kakashi was realistic though. He didn’t expect them to pass. The exam was very competitive. 

Many people failed the first time. It was common to become Chunin the second or third time. The first time was to give the genin an idea of what was needed to be promoted and what they were lacking. However, Kakashi was hoping for his students to surprise him. He didn’t put it past them.

Either way, they would gain a lot from it. And they better not lose against Gai’s genins, or his rival wouldn’t let him hear the end of it. And also Yamato’s students… Yamato was his junior. Kakashi had a reputation to maintain.

***************

Hiruzen liked to walk around the village. He was currently enjoying the sunset near the Hokage monument when he felt a presence appear next to him.

“Jun, what are you doing here?”

“I came to speak to you, Lord Hokage.”

Hiruzen sent him a curious glance. He wondered if the Uchiha clan leader had found out about his sister being a member of the ANBU.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Do you mind walking with me?”

The Sandaime nodded and followed the Uchiha clan leader. The latter took him to the arena where the finals of the Chunin exam would take place. They were standing on the roof of the stand from where the Kages would watch the fights.

“Why are we here?” The old man asked.

Jun sighed. He had been thinking for several months now whether he should do what he was about to do. He knew the fate awaiting Hiruzen, but he had decided to help him. Why? Jun wanted to get rid of Orochimaru.

“Sandaime, there is a good chance Orochimaru may show up during the Chunin exam.”

“The village is on high alert. It won’t be easy for him to enter.”

Jun shook his head.

“Aren’t you underestimating him too much? How many shinobis in this village can stop him?”

Hiruzen sighed. He knew his former student’s abilities all too well. 

“Myself, Jiraiya, and Tsunade are here. Even Orochimaru knows better not to fight all three of us.”

“Orochimaru is cunning. It’s safe to assume he knows his former comrades are in the village. He will set up a diversion to pull them away from his real objective… to keep them busy.” Jun said.

“His real objective… You believe Orochimaru will come after me.”

Jun nodded.

“I have no proof, but I strongly believe so. He wanted to become the fourth Hokage, but you chose Minato Namikaze instead. He was forced to run away from the village when you discovered his horrible experiments. He must resent you for it. I believe he will attack Konoha and personally come for you.”

Hiruzen remained silent for a moment as he looked Jun in the eyes.

“I wouldn’t put it past Orochimaru to do exactly what you just said. But how would he get to me? Not just anyone can get close to a Kage.”

“Orochimaru is cunning and resourceful. I believe he’s been preparing for it. During the finals of the Chunin exam, the Kages will be present to watch their genins. All of you will sit together here.”

“You think he will impersonate a Kage? That’s not possible.”

“The village of Oto is newly created. No one knows or has met their Kage. Some of the genins they sent are affiliated with Orochimaru. Again, I cannot prove it; otherwise, I would have gone to the Division. But I’m sure of it.”

“So that’s how you think Orochimaru would get close to me.”

Jun nodded.

“I believe he will try to isolate you from your ANBU guards to fight you. The question is can you kill Orochimaru?”

The Hokage remained silent.

“I don’t know. I could kill the Orochimaru from years ago when I banished him from the village. But I don’t know how strong he’s become. And I’m far from my prime.”

Jun sighed.

“I may not win, but I will not lose.” The Sandaime added.

“The Shiki Fujin? You’re planning to use the Death Reaper Seal as a last resort?”

“You… How do you know of that forbidden Jutsu? Even Orochimaru doesn’t know about it. The Fourth Hokage only taught it to me.”

“I know my way around Fuinjutsu.” Jun vaguely explained. “But Orochimaru wouldn’t be defeated so easily. You know he’s obsessed with immortality. I’m sure he has some jutsu to cheat death. He wouldn’t come to fight you if he wasn’t fully prepared and convinced he would win.”

“You are right. Knowing his personality, if he really does come, he must be sure of himself.”

“Maybe you should ask Jiraiya-sensei to be at your side during the finals?”

“If you are right, then Orochimaru knows Jiraiya would come to aid me since he’s in the village. As you said, he will have a diversion in place to keep him and the rest of you busy so he could fight me alone.”

“That is why I asked you if you could kill him. Orochimaru loves forbidden techniques. He’s been playing with the dead lately according to the info I got during missions.”

“With the dead?”

“I don’t know the details, but he seems he’s been using living bodies to wake up the dead.” 

“It can’t be… The Edo Tensei! Orochimaru, how far will he take his thirst for power?”

“Edo Tensei? What is that?” Jun played dumb.

“It is a forbidden technique that binds the soul of a dead into a living vessel. Summoning them as they were in the last moments of their death to do the summoner’s bidding.”

“Such a jutsu exists?” 

“Unfortunately… It was created by the Second Hokage. I never thought Orochimaru would learn of it. Danzo could have mentioned the jutsu to him when he was alive. If Orochimaru can use the Edo Tensei, he will become even more troublesome to deal with.”

“What are the weaknesses of the technique?”

“The vessel cannot be killed and has unlimited chakra. But they’re not as strong as they were when they were alive. Killing the summoner doesn’t end the technique. One must release the soul from the vessel or have the summoner release the technique, or seal the reanimated person.”

“What a troublesome jutsu…”

“Indeed.”

Jun walked around the roof as he formed hand seals.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m setting my Paralyzing Trap seal on his roof. Remember the spots I’m putting the seal on.” He said to Hiruzen.

“How can you be sure Orochimaru will choose this roof?”

“He won’t be able to lure you too far away. Otherwise, he takes the risk of people interfering before he can isolate you.” Jun replied as he finished setting up his traps. 

The symbol of the seal disappeared, leaving no trace of it. However, if someone sets foot on it, the seal will activate immobilizing them.

“If you lure Orochimaru or his reanimated ninjas on my seal, it may give you a break to find a way to deal with them.”

“You seem very sure Orochimaru will come.” The Sandaime said.

“When it comes to Orochimaru, it never hurts to be cautious. If he doesn’t show up, then good. Otherwise, it wouldn’t help to be ready.”

Hiruzen locked eyes with him.

“Sandaime, I could have kept quiet because I have no proof of Orochimaru’s plan. But I decided to tell you anyway.”

“I know. You’re not one to joke around with such matters. I could tell you were serious.”

Jun nodded. 

 “You have a few days until the finals. You should use them to prepare for a fight.”

“Don’t you think I’m a bit too old to train?”

“Did they give you the nickname the God of Shinobi for nothing? Show us what you can do, Lord Hokage.” Jun said as he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

He had warned the Sandaime and gave him crucial information about Orochimaru and how he would fight. Jun even set his trap seals on the roof to help him. The rest was now up to Hiruzen. Frankly, he couldn’t care less if the old man died, but Jun wanted Orochimaru dead. And he was willing to use the Hokage for it. Hopefully, the Sandaime would be able to kill his former student and put an end to Orochimaru and his machinations.