Land of Fire.
Outside Konoha.
As the sun set in the west, two figures with long shadows strolled from afar. It was none other than Orochimaru and Shinno, who were disguised.
“Orochimaru, there's still over a month until the Joint Chunin Exams. Isn't it a bit early for us to come now?” Shinno’s voice was low as he looked towards the Hokage Rock in the distance.
“I need to make some preparations, Shinno. After entering the village, we'll go our separate ways. Don't hinder me.” Orochimaru lightly said with a chuckle.
He didn't tell Shinno his true purpose for coming to Konoha, to avoid complications from arising.
Shinno keenly noticed this, his old face full of displeasure, but Orochimaru was the mastermind behind Konoha Crush Plan, so even if he was unhappy, he could only endure it.
Today, the ones guarding the Konoha’s Gate is still Izumo and Kotetsu.
The two stood on either side of the spacious gate, lazily watching the flow of people coming and going.
Although the situation at the border of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire is a bit tense, a major war had not yet broken out after all, so their task was to maintain order, and the work was relatively easy.Orochimaru, disguised in a plain kimono, suppressed his strong aura, bowed his head in despair, and followed the crowd into Konoha.
Shinno also walked with a hunched posture, quietly blending in with the crowd into Konoha.
After entering Konoha smoothly, Orochimaru left Shinno behind and quickly disappeared into a small alley.
Shinno planned to go to the arena for the finals of the Chunin Exams to observe the terrain. He asked a passerby for directions, but after turning left and right, he found himself lost. Fortunately, there were three little brats nearby searching in the bushes, so he walked over and asked for directions.
“Hello, little ones.” Shinno smiled kindly. But when he saw the Konoha’s forehead protectors on the foreheads of the three little kids, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch.
“Old Grandpa, did you call us?” Naruto raised his head, there’s a hint of impatience on his face.
Their Team 7 had been busy recently following Tenzo to catch cats and walking the dogs. And today, they received another cat-catching mission. It’s getting late, but they still hadn't found the cat.
The three of them were in a hurry!
Shinno smiled and said: “Yes, I wanted to ask for directions.”
‘Just asking for directions…’ Naruto estimated that it wouldn't take much time, so he patted his chest righteously, and said: “Old Grandpa, ask away!”
“The arena for the finals of the Chunin Exams.” Shinno asked, “I want to go there and see.”
“Arena what Chunin?” Naruto looked dumbfounded.
“The arena for the finals of the Chunin Exams.” Shinno said with a smile.
“What finals?” Naruto still didn't quite understand.
“The arena… Never mind, little ones, I won't trouble you any longer. You can continue with your business.” Shinno forced a smile.
“Naruto, hurry up and find the cat!” Sasuke next to him urged impatiently.
“Hmph!”
Naruto clenched his fist and shouted, “This poor Old Grandpa is so old that he has lost his way. He’s so pitiful. We should help him first!”
Sasuke’s forehead throbbed angrily. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't beat Naruto, he would let him know what it means to prioritize the greater good!!
Naruto left Sasuke and Karin behind and ran to Shinno’s side. Scratching his head, he asked with a silly smile: “Old Grandpa, are you from outside the village?”
“Yeah, I heard that the Joint Chunin Exams are about to be held, so I came here specifically to take a look.” Shinno said with a smile.
“Then why don’t you wait until it officially starts?” Sasuke grumbled discontentedly from behind.
‘This old man is as annoying as Naruto…’ Sasuke is extremely dissatisfied.
“Hehehe, because when it officially starts, there will be a lot of people. I'm old and can't squeeze through the crowd, so I wanted to come early and take a look.” Shinno replied.
‘A flawless answer…’ Shinno is very satisfied with his performance.
‘Just three little Konoha’s brats, they can be easily manipulated by me.’
Karin looked steadily at Shinno, then suddenly slipped to Sasuke's side, leaned over, and whispered in a low voice: “Sasuke-kun, he's lying.”
Sasuke frowned, then asked in a low voice: “How do you know?”
“This…I can judge whether he is lying by sensing his Chakra.” Karin said.
‘This old man is a Shinobi?’
Sasuke's eyes widened, then his body trembled slightly. At this moment, he suddenly remembered the time when he pretended to be affectionate with Sakura for the greater good (Messing with Naruto’s heart).
‘Could it be that Karin…’
Karin seemed to guess what Sasuke was thinking and quickly waved her hand, then said: “Sasuke-kun, I've never sensed your Chakra, so I don't know about you lying to Sakura.”
‘That's a relief…’ Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief quietly, then immediately became furious, ‘Bastard, if you've never sensed it, how do you know I lied to Sakura?’
‘Unforgivable!!’
At this moment, Sasuke’s face turned as red as a beet!
‘Hehehe…’ Karin chuckled mischievously.
When the two were whispering, Naruto had already decided to help Shinno find the arena for the finals of Chunin Exams. When he turned around to tell Sasuke, he noticed Sasuke's expression was hideous and complicated, while Karin …Well, she’s winking wildly at him.
“What’s wrong with you, Karin? Have your eyes cramped?” Naruto asked bluntly.
“You idiot, come here quickly, I have something to tell you!” Karin stomped her foot in frustration.
“Old Grandpa, wait a moment.” Naruto said to Shinno, then ran towards Karin.
……
At the same time.
Orochimaru also arrived at the tomb of the Hashirama.
It’s just that, when he dived into the ground, he discovered that Hashirama’s remains had disappeared!
‘What’s going on?’
‘Was it stolen by someone, or hidden by Namikaze Minato?’
Orochimaru frowned in contemplation, recalling that he hadn't encountered any members of the Konoha’s Anbu along the way, and suddenly realized.
‘Namikaze Minato, you're more daring than Sandaime…’
Orochimaru praised Minato in his heart, then pondered silently, ‘Since Namikaze Minato digs out Hashirama’s remains, he will definitely use Fuinjutsu to seal it in the Anbu’s Headquarters.’
Then, Orochimaru can analyzed himself. He knew that with his Fuinjutsu Mastery, he won’t be able to quietly remove the Fuinjutsu set by Minato.
‘Then, should I go to find an old friend?’
‘Hahahaha…’ Orochimaru smirked sinisterly, then turned around and left Konoha, heading towards the Konoha Prison.
…
“Naruto.”
When Karin saw Naruto running over, she hurriedly pulled him to the side and whispered, “This old man is lying, he's a Shinobi!”
‘A Shinobi?’
Naruto blinked his eyes twice. He had a good memory and remembered that Shinno had just said he was old and couldn't squeeze through the crowd, so he came early to take a look.
But if the other party was a Shinobi, even if they were old, they could easily push through the crowd with Chakra.
And why would he hide the fact that he was a Shinobi?
The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it becomes!
“Naruto, let’s go and notify Tenzo-sensei.” Karin felt that this old man was a spy and decided to report it for safety.
However, after Naruto became Genin, he was stuck with Tenzo’s assignments of catching cats and walking the dogs in the village every day. He was bored out of his mind. Now, encountering who seemed to be a spy, Naruto was very excited.
“No need to call Tenzo-sensei. Just a mere old man, I, Namikaze Naruto, can handle him alone!”
Naruto put his hands on his hips and shouted at Shinno, “Spy old man, surrender obediently!”
‘What?!’
Shinno’s heart skipped a beat: ‘Spy?’
‘How could I possibly…’
‘Wait, it seems I am indeed a spy.’
‘No, no, the focus should be on how they figured out I'm a spy?’
‘No, no, no, the focus of the focus should be on what this kid just called himself?’
‘Namikaze Naruto?’
‘The son of Yondaime Hokage?!’
‘My luck is too good, isn't it?’
Shinno’s heart was both shocked and delighted, and he looked at Naruto with gleaming eyes.
“Naruto, you idiot, how could you say such things without knowing the other party’s strength? What if you encounter a strong enemy?” Sasuke complained unhappily, but he also has eager expression on his face. He’s obviously also bored by Tenzo’s assignments.
Only Karin felt like she had fallen into an ice cave.
In the instant when Shinno’s mind stirred, Karin sensed a huge amount of Chakra from him, ‘This level of Chakra, plus this age, the other party is definitely an Elite Jonin-Level spy Shinobi with rich combat experience!’
‘Against such a big shot, how could Naruto and Sasuke-kun possibly beat him?’
‘I'm afraid they'll be taken out with just one glance, right?’
‘It’s over, it’s over, it’s over.’
‘Tenzo-sensei, where are you?’
‘Big brother, where are you?’
When Karin was desperate, she suddenly saw someone coming from the corner of the street…
“Second brother?!”
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