The morning after the council decision was quiet, the kind of stillness that preceded major undertakings. Renjiro sat in his Jonin Commander office with the finalized Chūnin Exam roster spread across his desk; multiple lists were organised with meticulous precision. Genin teams, Jonin senseis, Chūnin proctors, Jonin proctors, medical personnel, administrative personnel, support personnel, and security personnel. Each name had been vetted, each position confirmed, each responsibility assigned. The final delegation totalled eighty Konoha personnel.
He was mildly annoyed by the roster decision but had already accepted it; Danzō had gotten his way, and the argument was over. Now Renjiro's responsibility was making sure the people actually sent to Kumo returned safely. He began reviewing every individual rather than simply accepting the roster, his eyes moving across the names with the precision of a commander assessing his troops.
Danzō got his way, he thought, his internal voice carrying the weight of his resignation. The argument is over. Now my responsibility is making sure the people actually sent to Kumo return safely.
Saki Yamanaka sat opposite him, surrounded by paperwork. She had spent the last several days coordinating travel arrangements, personnel assignments, medical supplies, examination documents, accommodation lists, security clearances, and communication protocols. Her desk was a battlefield of scrolls and ledgers, and her expression carried the particular exhaustion of someone who had been working for days without rest.
"Eighty people," she said, her voice carrying the weight of her disbelief. "That's an enormous delegation. Are you sure this is necessary?"
Renjiro answered calmly, his voice carrying the weight of his authority.
"The number is necessary. We need enough personnel to cover all aspects of the examination: proctoring, security, medical support, administration, and emergency response."
Saki pointed out that many of the people accompanying them were experienced shinobi who would normally remain inside Konoha. She specifically raised the internal-defense concern; Konoha was sending away numerous Jonin, several capable shinobi would be absent simultaneously, and if something happened while they were gone, the village's defensive depth would be reduced.
"Are you sure the Hokage is comfortable with Konoha losing that much manpower temporarily?" she asked, her voice carrying the weight of her concern.
Renjiro's answer was calm, measured.
"Minato himself is the contingency. If an emergency alarm reaches him, he can return instantly, respond to an attack, summon reinforcements, and potentially return the entire delegation if necessary."
Saki pointed out that Minato couldn't personally be everywhere, her voice carrying the weight of her practical concern. Renjiro considered mentioning something; his own Hiraishin mastery meant he could also serve as an emergency extraction point, potentially moving personnel back to Konoha if necessary. He briefly considered telling Saki, then decided against it. His reasoning was simple; Minato specifically asked him not to reveal his mastery yet, there was no tactical reason to expose another Hiraishin user, and the fewer people who knew, the more valuable the secret remained.
Saki doesn't need to know, he thought, his internal voice carrying the weight of his decision. Neither does the village. Not yet.
He moved to the proctor roster, taking particular pride in this section. The proctor selection reflected his philosophy; competent, adaptable, observant, and capable of judging leadership rather than simply combat ability. Among others, there were four key names.
Kakashi Hatake was a Jonin proctor; Renjiro considered him one of the most naturally qualified candidates. Exceptional analytical ability, calm under pressure, excellent understanding of tactics and shinobi psychology, and particularly suited for evaluating genin who relied on unconventional strategies.
Asuma Sarutobi was also a Jonin proctor; more grounded and socially perceptive, excellent at judging teamwork, leadership, and battlefield instincts. His Sarutobi heritage gave him credibility without making him excessively rigid.
Might Guy was an Elite Chūnin proctor; Renjiro deliberately chose him because Guy evaluated determination and effort differently from the more analytical proctors. Guy could recognise genuine combat potential even when conventional measurements underestimated someone. Renjiro saw Guy's name and thought he may have accidentally created a problem for everyone else's ears.
Kurenai Yūhi was an Elite Chūnin proctor; exceptional at evaluating composure, deception, psychological manipulation, and genjutsu awareness. She balanced Guy's straightforward personality.
Renjiro considered the four together an unusually strong judging panel.
He looked over the four names with quiet satisfaction. Kakashi, Asuma, Guy, and Kurenai; he concluded that the proctor lineup was excellent. Saki noticed his expression and asked whether something was amusing.
"I've assembled an excellent proctor team," Renjiro said, his voice carrying the weight of his satisfaction.
Saki dryly pointed out that he had selected them himself. Renjiro essentially accepted the compliment from himself anyway, a small character beat showing his confidence and occasional lack of humility.
The final logistical check was conducted with methodical precision. Every person received identification, travel instructions, emergency procedures, accommodation assignments, and examination documentation. Medical teams verified supplies, Jonin senseis gathered their genin, and the atmosphere shifted from administration to deployment. Konoha was preparing to send one of its largest organised groups into a former enemy's territory.
The entire delegation gathered at the designated assembly point, the scale of the group immediately apparent. Dozens of shinobi stood together; genin visibly excited or nervous, Jonin maintaining professionalism, medical personnel checking equipment, proctors discussing their responsibilities. Kakashi and Asuma were calm, Guy was far too enthusiastic, and Kurenai remained composed. Renjiro surveyed everyone before departure, his gaze moving across the assembled shinobi.
He told the delegation that they would not be walking the entire distance; several people had assumed they would travel normally until reaching the border. Minato arrived, and they teleported with Renjiro. The transition was instant; one moment they were in Konoha, and the next they were at the Land of Lightning border.
Renjiro materialised beside the Hiraishin formula he had planted during his previous journey to Kumo. The surrounding landscape was dramatically different from Konoha; rugged mountains, cliffs, narrow valleys, and colder air greeted him. He looked back toward the distant road, his expression unreadable.
Minato reminded him not to reveal his teleportation unless it was necessary. Renjiro nodded and asked if Minato would be fine teleporting such a huge crowd. The Hokage's response was calm, carrying the weight of his authority.
"I'm the Hokage; I have to be."
Minato teleported back to the village.
Back in Konoha, Minato appeared and prepared to begin the mass deployment. He began teleporting the delegation in groups; one group disappeared from Konoha, and moments later, they appeared beside Renjiro. Another group, then another. The process demonstrated the absurd logistical potential of Hiraishin.
Renjiro watched as genin appeared, Jonin arrived, medical personnel materialised, proctors arrived, and support personnel appeared. The area around him rapidly filled with Konoha shinobi. Some genin were stunned by the experience; others immediately began looking around. Renjiro remained completely unfazed.
Someone asked how Minato could teleport so many people. Renjiro explained that the Hokage had spent years refining the technique.
He watched Minato continue the process from afar through the established Hiraishin network. He recognized how different Minato's technique was from his own; Minato was using physical anchors and direct chakra synchronization, while his own system could theoretically perform similar operations. But he remembered Minato's warning; no one needed to know Renjiro could do this yet. He allowed Minato to remain the only publicly known Hiraishin master.
The final group appeared, and Minato himself arrived after completing the transfer. He asked whether everything was ready, and Renjiro confirmed that everyone was accounted for, supplies were present, proctors were assigned, and emergency procedures were active. Minato looked over the enormous group, recognising the political weight of what they were doing. The Hokage then returned to the village, leaving Renjiro in charge.
Unlike the teleportation, the final approach had to be done on foot. Renjiro led the delegation toward Kumogakure, the group moving through the mountainous Land of Lightning terrain. The further they travelled, the more obvious Kumo's military presence became; sensory shinobi watched them from the surrounding terrain. Konoha's genin gradually realised how different this was from ordinary missions; they were entering the territory of a former enemy.
The mountains opened up, and Kumogakure appeared in the distance. Massive structures carved into the mountainous terrain were visible, along with Lightning Release infrastructure and defensive installations. The Konoha delegation slowed slightly, the atmosphere becoming quieter. Renjiro remembered the war; many of the adults present had fought against Kumo. The genin were too young—or not even born—to remember it.
The entire Konoha delegation reached the entrance to Kumogakure; Kumo guards watched the approaching group, and Konoha shinobi stood together behind Renjiro and Minato. The scale of the delegation became apparent from the Kumo perspective. Former enemies now arrived not as an invading army, but as participants in a joint examination.
Renjiro looked toward the village as the gates of Kumogakure opened.
=====
Bless me with your powerful Power Stones.
Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcome
If you can, then please support me on Patreon.
Link - www.patreon.com/SideCharacter
You Can read more chapters ahead on Patreon
Latest Chapter on Patreon: Chapter 943-Hypothetical experiment(2)