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The rest period passed in a blur.
The second phase of the Chūnin Exams was drawing to a close.
Neji, seated in quiet meditation, felt it before he saw it. His [Observation Haki] picked up a familiar presence.
'So… they made it.'
He smiled.
'Of course they did. I wouldn't expect anything less.'
---
Team 7 stood before the massive stone altar inside the central tower. In their hands were the [Heaven Scroll] and [Earth Scroll], retrieved through hardship, betrayal, and battle.
The moment of truth.
They opened both scrolls—
Inside, a single bold kanji character glowed:
「人」—"Human."
"…What's that?" Naruto blinked. "It says… 'person'?"
Sakura frowned. "No, it's… more than that."
But Sasuke's eyes narrowed in an instant. She recognized the seal work immediately.
"Drop it—both of you! Now!"
The scrolls burst open midair.
POOF!
A swirl of smoke filled the room. Team 7 fell into defensive stances.
But when the smoke cleared…
"…Wait, what?!"
"Is that—?"
Standing in the mist was a figure they hadn't seen in months, though once he was part of their everyday:
Iruka-sensei.
"Yo," Iruka said with a smile, his voice warm. "Long time no see."
But his gaze faltered when it landed on Sasuke.
"…Wait a minute. You're… Sasuke?"
Sasuke gave a calm nod. "Yeah."
There was no need to explain further. This was her now. She had long since stopped denying it.
Iruka's smile faltered. "You kids… you're still messing around with Transformation Jutsu even during the exam?"
"You trying to make me tear up with nostalgia?" he teased, still not fully grasping the situation.
Sasuke turned away, avoiding his eyes.
Naruto, meanwhile, was beaming until Sakura slammed her fist into his head.
"OW!! What was that for?!"
"This isn't a joke!"
Sakura quickly explained everything: Orochimaru's attack. The Curse Mark. Sasuke's transformation.
Iruka stood in stunned silence.
Crack.
The pocket watch in his hand shattered in his tightening grip.
His smile disappeared.
"…I see."
The warmth in his eyes dimmed. "Follow me."
Neji closed his senses. He wouldn't eavesdrop any further.
The Hokage will know how to handle this.
---
Upstairs in the tower's secured conference chamber…
The Third Hokage sat quietly, puffing on his pipe. His gaze rested on Anko, seated across from him, her hand pressed against the curse mark on her neck.
"Still painful?" Hiruzen asked.
"A little," Anko muttered. "It's bearable now. Thank you."
Beside them stood Izumo and Kotetsu, the ever-present gatekeepers.
"Orochimaru," Kotetsu said, voice low. "He's one of the Sannin, right? Even the ANBU avoid him…"
"I thought he was dead," Izumo added. "Why now?"
Anko's fists clenched.
"…Because of Sasuke," she said bitterly. "That monster wants the Uchiha's bloodline."
Just then—
BAM!
The doors flew open. Iruka burst in, breathless.
"Lord Hokage! I have something urgent to report—about Sasuke!"
He stepped aside as Team 7 entered behind him.
Sasuke walked in without hesitation, standing tall even as every gaze in the room locked on her.
After hearing their full account, Hiruzen's brow furrowed deeply. He looked at Sasuke, the girl standing in place of the Uchiha heir.
Only Orochimaru could pull off something like this.
But why?
Smoke curled from his pipe.
"…The exam will proceed," he finally said. "But Sasuke's movements must be closely watched."
He leaned forward.
"Especially… that Curse Mark."
Sasuke took a step forward.
"Lord Hokage."
Her voice was firm.
"I want to continue the exam."
"If Orochimaru has a plan, this will force him to show his hand. Pulling me out now would only help him."
"This exam—it matters. To me. And to us."
Her eyes didn't waver.
Hiruzen studied her. The room was still.
Then—
Naruto broke the silence.
"Hey, old man! You're gonna protect us, right? If that snake guy shows up, you'll take him down!"
Hiruzen chuckled softly.
When he wants something… It's "Grandpa Hokage." Any other time, I'm just "the old man."
He nodded. "You have my word. Continue the exam."
"But Lord Hokage!" Iruka protested. "She—!"
Hiruzen raised a hand.
"That's final. Iruka, escort them back. They need to prepare for what's next."
Iruka clenched his jaw.
He wanted to protest. Every instinct screamed to pull them from danger.
But the Hokage had made his decision.
"…Understood," he said quietly.
As they left the room, Naruto hummed and stretched. "Whew! Close call!"
Sasuke let out a slow breath.
Sakura looked tense, but relieved.
Iruka trailed behind, his chest tight.
I wasn't strong enough to stop them… again.
---
Back in the room, Hiruzen stood as a monitor lit up the final data from the second phase of the exam, arriving on-screen.
Anko stepped forward.
"Lord Hokage… about Sasuke…"
"I know."
Hiruzen turned his back on them.
"Summon Kakashi. And then…"
He began giving quiet orders, strategic. Surgical.
Anko and the others listened.
They had work to do.
---
Down in the central hall, 21 Genin, those who had passed, stood assembled.
Team 7 is among them.
The proctors arrived.
The jōnin leaders gathered.
Even delegates from the Hidden Sand were present now.
The final stage was about to begin.
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