Konoha's Collapse
The next morning, the sun rose as usual.
With only a few days left before the final round of the Chunin Exams, preparations were in full swing. Unlike the first two stages, which tested survival skills and teamwork, the third round was a public tournament. Feudal lords, ninja village leaders, and even civilians from Konoha and beyond gathered to witness the battles. It was a grand spectacle, designed not only to evaluate young ninja but also to showcase the power of Konoha to the world.
During these days of preparation, Naruto Uzumaki remained secluded in his hotel room, adapting to the full influence of the Nine-Tails. The newly restored Kyūbi, now at its full strength, occasionally made demands, trying to exert its will. However, Naruto suppressed the beast without hesitation. The art of sealing, much like the legendary Wood Release and Sharingan, had profound effects on tailed beasts, keeping even a creature as powerful as the Nine-Tails in check.
If he had relied purely on his own abilities, it would have taken him years to subdue the Kyūbi.
Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki urged Naruto to step outside more often. As someone who had returned temporarily to the world of the living, she wanted to see how much Konoha had changed since her time. However, the village's layout had been altered significantly after the Nine-Tails' attack years ago.
The Uchiha Clan's district, once a thriving sector of the village, had been seized after the clan's massacre. Now, only Sasuke Uchiha remained, living in isolation. The whispers of discontent among the villagers regarding Konoha's leadership were impossible to ignore.
Unlike Kushina, who tried to keep a positive outlook, Minato Namikaze found himself deeply troubled. As he pieced together the events that had unfolded in Konoha over the years, he began to regret his decision to use the Reaper Death Seal.
More than anything, he couldn't understand why Obito Uchiha had turned against the village. Neither Konoha nor he himself had ever wronged his former student—so why had Obito become the mastermind behind so much destruction?
When Minato inquired about the Third Hokage's legacy, he noticed an immediate change in the villagers' expressions. While Hiruzen Sarutobi had earned respect as the leader who guided Konoha through two great wars, the Sarutobi clan itself was another matter entirely.
After losing their influence in the Anbu and other elite divisions, the Sarutobi clan had become an unstable element in the village's hierarchy. Some joined the police force, while others took roles in different departments. Though they hadn't made any fatal mistakes, their friction with new leadership created frequent problems. Yet, due to the lingering prestige of the Third Hokage, few dared to openly challenge them.
Minato sighed, realizing the depth of the problems within Konoha. He finally understood why Kakashi hadn't informed Jiraiya about Orochimaru's infiltration. This wasn't just about Konoha's security—it was about the very foundation of its leadership.
"As Hokage, how does it feel to revisit your village after death?"
Even from several hundred meters away, Naruto heard Minato's quiet muttering, laced with sarcasm.
"The village is in bad shape, but give me ten years, and I'm confident I can turn things around," Minato stated.
Naruto let out a short laugh. "You don't have ten years. Within five years at most, the entire ninja world will change. Even if I removed my control over you now, you wouldn't be able to stop it."
Minato was silent for a moment before changing the topic. "So that's why you left Konoha to create your own village? I haven't seen it yet."
After a brief pause, Naruto summoned a shadow clone and shared some of his memories with Minato through a fist bump. The Fourth Hokage's expression darkened as he absorbed the information.
The Land of Uzumaki was unlike any other nation. It had no traditional ninja village. Instead, ninja had replaced daimyos and bureaucrats, working alongside civilians. They used ninjutsu for agriculture, infrastructure, and even technological advancements like ninjutsu miniaturization. It was a society that had already outpaced Konoha in many ways, despite its young age.
Minato couldn't help but wonder—why hadn't Naruto simply stayed in Konoha to reform it from within? But as he recalled the hardships his son had endured as a child, the answer became painfully clear.
Naruto, sensing Minato's thoughts, spoke firmly. "This isn't about you. I don't blame the heroes who sacrificed for the village. The fault lies with the old man and some of the villagers."
Minato remained silent for a long moment before suddenly asking, "You mentioned that the ninja world will undergo drastic changes in five years. Will your village be the one attacking the others?"
Naruto shook his head. "Uzushio won't start a war… at least not yet. But other forces are stirring. Your former student, Obito Uchiha, is just one of many unpredictable elements."
He looked directly at Minato. "The waters of this world run deeper than you realize. You're still too young, Fourth Hokage."
With that, Naruto cut the connection, leaving Minato alone with his thoughts. Even if the Fourth Hokage were to return in full strength, he wouldn't be able to turn the tide of what was to come.
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The Chunin Exam Finals Begin
Time passed quickly, and soon the third round of the Chunin Exams was underway.
Naruto, having deliberately forfeited his match, now sat in the stands, watching the fights alongside Kushina and Minato. With a tub of popcorn and a bottle of soda, he casually observed the high-ranking guests seated in the VIP section.
Opposite them sat the Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya, with his assistant, Tsunade. The retired Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had also come to watch the matches.
Nearby, Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, sat close to the frail yet authoritative Fire Daimyo—the ruler of the Land of Fire. The daimyo, partially concealing his face behind a paper fan, spoke with a slow, measured tone.
"Three generations… when I received your resignation letter two years ago, I was surprised. I thought you would hold on for a few more years."
Hiruzen chuckled. "I'm old. At some point, you have to know when to step down." He glanced toward Jiraiya and Tsunade. "Jiraiya has done well these past two years. It's time for me to enjoy retirement."
The Fire Daimyo nodded slightly. "That makes sense. Few shinobi live long enough to retire peacefully. But it is unfortunate about Danzo's betrayal… even now, we don't fully know the extent of the damage he caused."
Hiruzen's face darkened. "Has he been interfering with the Fire Daimyo's court? If necessary, the Fifth Hokage will send forces to deal with the remnants of his faction."
The daimyo waved his hand dismissively, then shifted the conversation. "That's not the primary concern. What troubles me is how Jiraiya and Tsunade have been pushing reforms—reforms that extend beyond Konoha into the capital. This oversteps the agreement made between my ancestors and the First Hokage."
Hiruzen furrowed his brows. "Their policies have been aggressive, but if they trouble you, I'll advise them to reconsider. Konoha and the Land of Fire share the same interests."
At this, the daimyo frowned but said nothing, merely closing his fan and turning his attention to the matches below.
As the tournament continued, tension in the air grew thick. Unknown to the spectators, Konoha was on the brink of chaos, and the long-buried fractures within the village's leadership were about to be torn open.
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