Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"I understand. Tomorrow, for the second exam, I'll station extra men around the Training Ground. If anything unusual happens, they'll intervene immediately."
Hiruzen asked no further questions; he chose to trust Tejima Shinichi's judgment. After all, from this day forward he would stake Konoha's future on this youth.
Seeing this, Tejima Shinichi smiled.
His purpose here had been achieved —giving Hiruzen a heads-up and patching any holes before trouble could start.
With the status of Third Hokage's disciple, Tejima Shinichi dared not gamble on what Orochimaru might think of him, so he prepared in advance. If Orochimaru really appeared… fighting to the death knowing you can't win is the foolishness called "hot-blooded"!
Preparing one step ahead could prevent that —why not do it?!
The conversation seemed to draw to a close… Hiruzen rose and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window; the setting sun bathed Konoha in warm gold, smoke from cooking fires curling upward...
"Another day gone." He gazed at the Village outside, voice weary. "Time flies so fast!"
Tejima Shinichi stepped to his side, likewise looking out over this land that carried countless people's dreams.
"If you feel tired, sensei," Tejima Shinichi said, offering a suggestion, "you might start considering suitable Ninja to serve as the Fifth Hokage."
Hiruzen's head snapped around, brows raised as he stared at Tejima Shinichi.
Meeting his gaze, Tejima Shinichi continued:
"Even if you've decided to groom me as successor, for me to truly be worthy of the Hokage seat… I'll need at least two or three years of tempering and accumulation. Before that, you could find someone in the Village able to shoulder this duty… and get some rest."
Hiruzen was stunned. He hadn't expected Tejima Shinichi to say such a thing.
No craving for power… the attitude surprised him, then filled him with relief.
In a daze he seemed to see another's shadow —his teacher, Second Hokage Senju Tobirama.
That man, likewise famed for wisdom, calm, and foresight, had at the last moment entrusted the Hokage burden to him… He studied Tejima Shinichi's profile; the young outline seemed gilded by sunset light.
"Indeed…" Hiruzen murmured, eyes distant. "You really are like the Second Hokage."
"Same calm, same far-sightedness, same… wisdom beyond your years and sense of duty to the Village."
He patted Tejima Shinichi's shoulder—hard.
"I'll seriously consider your advice."
Tejima Shinichi nodded and said no more.
Outside, the last afterglow brushed the Hokage Rock, dyeing the statues of past Hokage a dark gold.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the Village sink into twilight.
Sparse lights flickered on in the streets; faint shouts of youths sweating on the Training Ground drifted on the air.
Hiruzen's pipe glowed in the dusk, pale smoke blurring the wrinkles at his eyes.
"Let's go," he said softly after a long while. "There's still the exam tomorrow."
Tejima Shinichi inclined his head; as he turned, the hem of his coat stirred the air.
The door shut gently, leaving only the pipe's ember winking in the darkness…
...
Entrance to the Forest of Death.
Morning mist still lingered; tall wire fencing sealed the entire area as a forbidden zone.
Eighty-one Genin who passed the first exam gathered here.
Anko Mitarashi stood before them, black mesh shirt under a beige coat.
She grinned, sharp canines showing:
"This place is called the Forest of Death—soon you'll experience its horrors firsthand!"
"S~c~a~r~y~"
A goofy voice piped up.
All eyes turned: Uzumaki Naruto was wiggling his hips, screwing up his face in imitation of Anko's tone.
Seeing this, Anko's grin widened; with a flick of her wrist a Kunai shot out, whistling.
"Shh!"
The Kunai grazed Naruto's cheek, leaving a bloody scratch and thudding deep into the trunk behind him.
Naruto froze, touched the blood on his face, too scared to speak.
Tejima Shinichi, standing in the crowd, pressed his lips at the punch-worthy scene.
'With behavior like that —not to mention Anko —even I want to hit him!'
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he noticed someone sidle up to Anko.
The man wore Kusagakure garb, an eerie smile on his face. Most striking was his extraordinarily long tongue, which casually curled around the Kunai and handed it back to Anko.
Tejima Shinichi's gaze locked onto this Grass Ninja.
'So you really came… Orochimaru!!'
Orochimaru, in his Grass Ninja disguise, seemed to feel that stare. He turned and his snake-like vertical pupils met Tejima Shinichi's eyes.
Across the crowd the two looked at each other.
A flicker of interest crossed Orochimaru's eyes; of course he recognized Tejima Shinichi.
'To make the old man take a disciple at his age…' Orochimaru's tongue brushed his lips. 'Just what talent do you possess?'
He was curious.
The Hokage seat was a goal he'd coveted for ages, yet here stood a youth being groomed for it by Hiruzen!!!
Wasn't that the very knot in his heart!
Once he too had been Hiruzen's disciple, yet the one who became Fourth Hokage wasn't him. … Tejima Shinichi didn't flinch; he met that gaze head-on.
Their stare lasted only seconds, yet it felt like ages.
Orochimaru looked away first, melting back into the crowd.
At that moment Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū edged closer to Tejima Shinichi.
"Shinichi," Kobayashi Takeshi whispered, glancing at the Grass Ninja who'd vanished, "anything special about that guy?"
Tejima Shinichi's eyes stayed fixed on that spot.
"Yes," he answered.
Satō Yū pressed, "Even you find him tricky?"
Tejima Shinichi looked back at his two teammates.
"Facing him, I still have to avoid a direct clash!!!"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū froze, disbelief written across their faces.
Shinichi's strength had even earned Yamato's admission… that it needed serious attention.
And now the words "avoid a direct clash"… "If we meet him in the exams," Tejima Shinichi said with absolute certainty, "don't worry about me —his target will definitely be me. All you have to do is stay alive."
Kobayashi Takeshi opened his mouth but no sound came; Satō Yū's face paled slightly.
Both fell silent.
A mere Chunin Exam actually hiding an opponent even Tejima Shinichi had to retreat from.
It… was simply outrageous!
…The scroll distribution began.
Each squad stepped forward to receive a sealed scroll pouch.
When Team One's turn came, Tejima Shinichi took the pouch and opened it on the spot.
"Earth Scroll."
He glanced at it and announced calmly.
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū leaned over to look; their expressions turned grave.
After every squad had received their scrolls, they were guided to different entrances of the Forest of Death.
Team One was assigned to Entrance Twenty-One.
In front of the heavy iron gate, a proctor Chunin double-checked the time.
"The exam will officially begin in ten minutes."
Tejima Shinichi stood before the gate, his gaze piercing through the iron bars into the depths of the forest.
Dense canopies blotted out the sky, and the cries of unknown creatures echoed from within.
"Get ready," he said. "Our goal this time —cut down on unnecessary trouble and speed-run the exam!"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū nodded in unison, adjusting the positions of their Ninja Tool pouches.
The proctor Chunin raised a hand, eyes on the timer.
"Three, two, one... begin!"
The iron gate rumbled open.
At the proctor's shout—"Go!"—
Tejima Shinichi shot forward like lightning, the first to dash into the Forest of Death. Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū followed on his heels, the trio vanishing into the thick shadows in an instant.
Almost simultaneously, eighty-one Genin sprang forward like arrows loosed from a bow, surging into the Forest of Death.
Footsteps, snapping branches, clashing Ninja Tools—sounds mingled...
At another entrance,
Orochimaru, disguised as a Grass Hidden Ninja strolled unhurriedly, two Otogakure subordinates flanking him.
"So... Lord Orochimaru, who should we look for first?"
one of the Otogakure Ninja asked in a low voice.
Orochimaru's long tongue flicked across his lips, serpentine pupils glinting with amusement.
"Uchiha Sasuke... and that new student of the Third Hokage... both pique my curiosity," he rasped. "But, as planned, we start with the Uchiha boy."
"Understood."
The trio accelerated, racing toward their calculated direction... Sunagakure squad's sector.
Gaara strode ahead, expressionless, his gourd on his back. Temari and Kankuro followed cautiously behind.
"That Tejima Shinichi..." Gaara suddenly spoke, voice icy, "the Third Hokage's student..."
An image of the black-haired youth surfaced in his mind.
The calm with which the boy had subdued Temari and Kankuro at the Village gate, the composure under every stare inside the exam hall, and the colossal, indescribable volume of Chakra he had sensed... A bloodthirsty grin spread across his face!
"Find him," Gaara ordered. "I'll crush him with my own hands!"
Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances, worry in their eyes, but they dared not disobey.
"Yes," Temari answered softly.
Kankuro tightened his grip on the puppet scroll on his back...
Inside the Forest of Death, shadows danced as Tejima Shinichi's trio raced through the trees.
Suddenly—
"Aaaargh—!!!"
A shrill scream of agony tore through the forest's hush, so filled with terror that startled birds burst from distant branches.
All three halted at once.
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū immediately stopped, standing back-to-back and scanning their surroundings, breathing quick and shallow.
"It's already started?" Satō Yū whispered, face paling. "We only just got in..."
Kobayashi Takeshi clenched his Kunai, swallowing hard. "This is..."
Tejima Shinichi stood still, gaze fixed toward the source of the scream, eyes narrowing slightly.
"In that case," he broke their thoughts, "let's begin too!!!"
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū looked to him at once.
"Shinichi, what do you mean?"
Without replying, Tejima Shinichi crouched, two fingers of his right hand touching the ground, and closed his eyes.
"A Sensing Technique!?" both Kobayashi and Satō exclaimed..
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū exchanged a glance, then instinctively spread out, one left and one right, guarding him while keeping watch on the forest around.
Tejima Shinichi's Chakra spread out like invisible ripples, racing in all directions.
Everything within the forest etched itself into his mind—twisted roots, lurking venomous insects, prowling beasts... and those Chakra signatures brimming with hostility or panic!
Eyes still shut, Tejima Shinichi's brows twitched slightly.
"Straight ahead, three kilometers."
At his words Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū pivoted, Kunai raised, eyes sharp as they stared into the dense forest.
"A three-man squad is heading our wa—huh!?"
The next instant, Tejima Shinichi's words cut off abruptly.
Within his perception, one member of that squad possessed an enormous, savage Chakra —belonging to a Tailed Beast!!!
"Gaara..."
Tejima Shinichi murmured the name in his heart, the corners of his mouth curving upward uncontrollably.
"Oh?" he chuckled aloud. "So it's you lot... Seems you've made me your target!"
With that, Tejima Shinichi opened his eyes, stood, and brushed nonexistent dust from his hands.
"Prepare for battle," he said curtly. "They're coming straight for us."
Kobayashi Takeshi and Satō Yū looked at each other; puzzled by his grin, but long trust made them obey without hesitation.
Moments later, three figures emerged from the shadows of the forest ahead.
Red hair, heavy dark rings under his eyes, the huge gourd on his back —Sandstorm Gaara led, with Kankuro and Temari flanking him.
Kankuro looked at the ready trio and sneered, "Not bad reflexes, eh?"
Though wary of Tejima Shinichi's strength, Kankuro couldn't resist a taunt —after all, Gaara was right beside him, giving him full confidence.
Temari unfurled her Three Stars Fan, sweeping her gaze across Team One, pausing for a heartbeat on Kobayashi Takeshi's bandaged wrist.
Gaara's eyes locked straight on Tejima Shinichi, the pale green irises devoid of emotion, while grains of sand around him began drifting upward without wind.
"Blood..."
Gaara's voice was hoarse; his formerly dull eyes flushed crimson in an instant.
"I need your blood... to prove I exist..."
He raised a hand, and the sand gathered into a claw.
"I'll kill you... and slaughter everything I see... Mother will surely be satisfied..."
A chill ran down Kobayashi Takeshi's spine; Satō Yū's face paled, her breathing ragged.
Tejima Shinichi studied the obviously deranged Gaara and stepped forward.
"Driven insane by the monster inside you, huh?!"
"How pitiful—!!!"