A week later, with the arrival of the Hokage and the Tsuchikage, the official phase of the Chunin Exams was about to begin.
The match-ups were quickly posted: Gai versus Hiruko, and Setsuna versus Pain.
Outside the oval-shaped arena, Setsuna gave Gai a final warning. "Your opponent isn't simple, Gai. Go all out, but if you can't beat him, just concede. Don't feel bad about it."
Gai nodded emphatically. "I understand! I won't push myself to the point of collapse. I've never beaten a genius on my first try, but I will constantly chase them until I surpass them!"
Just then, a beautiful, slender girl approached them. "Lord Setsuna, thank you for your protection during the preliminary exams."
"Don't mention it. You're a ninja from the Hidden Star Village, right?" Setsuna asked.
"Yes, my name is Natsuhi." Natsuhi wanted to say more but noticed her teammates seemed to be heading her way, so she spoke quickly and urgently. "If possible, I'd like to invite you to visit the Hidden Star Village when you have some free time. This is a personal request."
Having said her piece, she hurried back to her team.
Obito nudged Setsuna with his elbow, a mischievous grin on his face. "Setsuna Bro, a gorgeous lady is totally captivated by your charm! She's already invited you to her place!"
Setsuna laughed dryly. "Don't talk nonsense. She probably has a serious matter to discuss."
"If it was serious business, why would she be so secretive? She clearly has something on her mind." Obito stood on his tiptoes to pat Setsuna's shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Setsuna Bro, us boys have to know how to protect ourselves out there!"
Setsuna shook his head slightly. He could mostly guess Natsuhi's purpose: she likely wanted to ask him to get rid of the radioactive meteorite in the Hidden Star Village.
"Speaking of a radioactive meteorite..." Setsuna rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "I recall the Nine-Tails having a life-draining technique called the 'Baryon Mode,' which simulates the process of solar nuclear fusion. I should find a chance to extort the Nine-Tails' ultimate trump card next time, and see if I can use that radioactive meteorite for training."
While it required draining life force, he figured one more debt wouldn't hurt. If he really needed to activate the Eight Gates Formation one day, stacking it with Baryon Mode wouldn't be a big deal. He just wasn't sure if a Sage Pill could save him afterward.
"The matches are about to start. Let's go in."
Although the name was Hiruko, the puppet Sasori chose was not the monstrous form from the original story. After all, he needed to show the potential of the Hidden Sand to the Wind Daimyō, and fielding an "Ultimate Genin" who looked forty or fifty years old would be indefensible.
Therefore, Sasori chose a slightly modified version of his own appearance as a young child.
In the VIP box, the portly Wind Daimyō tugged at his beard and asked, "Is that porcelain-doll-like boy, Hiruko, our examinee from the Land of Wind?"
A nearby attendant replied, "Yes, that is him."
"What a charming young boy," the Wind Daimyō's eyes sparkled with a certain light. "After the exam, tell the Wind Shadow I plan to form a Twelve Guardian Ninja squad, modeled after the Land of Fire, to recruit talented individuals. This boy, Hiruko, looks excellent. Have him join the first generation of Guardian Ninja."
The attendant gave a knowing smile. "Of course, I believe Lord Kazekage will agree. Otherwise, we can charge him with disrespect for his absence from this crucial examination."
The Wind Daimyō snorted lightly. "The Kazekage is getting a bit too full of himself, claiming he couldn't return because he was collecting gold dust. If the other Daimyō hear about that, they'll think our Land of Wind is too poor to keep the lights on."
There were three chairs on the main platform, but the center chair was vacant. The Hokage and Tsuchikage sat on the left and right, respectively.
"To miss such an important occasion... Do you know the situation with Lord Kazekage, Lord Tsuchikage?" the Third Hokage asked.
(The Five Kage refer to each other with respectful titles.)
"How would I know? But Lord Hokage, with the aid of the 'Darkness of the Shinobi,' shouldn't you know more information than us?" Ōnoki replied with a slight smile.
The Third Hokage was quite speechless. What was with Danzō's reputation? Why were there people everywhere throwing shade at him?
Ironically, this only made the Hokage more confident that Danzō wasn't colluding with anyone.
Ōnoki teased further, "I heard Lord Hokage's son also participated in the exams. Did he not even make it to the main tournament?"
The Third Hokage was calm about Asuma's results. "He can only be considered a genius among normal people. It's difficult for him to compete with true prodigies on the same stage."
Ōnoki raised an eyebrow. "Does Lord Hokage mean that the four who made it to the main tournament are all true prodigies?"
"Why bother asking what you already know, Lord Tsuchikage?" The Third Hokage was clearly annoyed. "Before this Chunin Exam, I had never heard the names Hiruko or Pain."
While Setsuna's existence was perhaps too overpowered for the exams, was that his fault? He hadn't deliberately hidden Setsuna. Meanwhile, Pain and Hiruko were clearly "ringer" candidates that the Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand had temporarily found—they simply weren't playing fair.
Ōnoki pretended not to understand and changed the subject. "Let's stop bickering, the two of us old men. Time to watch the matches, time to watch the matches."
The oval field of the Hidden Sand arena glistened under the noon sun. The towering stands around the perimeter were packed with ninja and nobles from various nations.
Gai took a deep breath, his green jumpsuit swaying gently in the breeze. He looked around and saw Obito and Shizune in the audience cheering for him.
"Begin!" With the referee's signal, Gai immediately adopted his fighting stance.
Sasori slowly raised his hand, and three uniquely shaped puppets unfolded from the scrolls on his back.
"This amount of puppets should be enough," Sasori's voice was eerily calm. "I hope you can manage to interest me, at least a little."
Gai grinned, showing off his sparkling teeth. "Youth is meant for challenging limits! First Gate, Gate of Opening, OPEN!"
A burst of air erupted, and Gai shot toward Sasori like an arrow.
"Naive." Sasori flicked his fingers, and the three puppets attacked simultaneously.
The first puppet opened its mouth, launching dozens of poisoned senbon like a rainstorm toward Gai.
The second puppet extended sharp blades from its arms, spinning as it sliced toward Gai's waist.
The third puppet moved quickly along the ground, attempting to trip Gai's legs.
"Second Gate, Gate of Healing, OPEN!" Gai's speed increased again. He weaved through the needle rain, his body twisting at impossible angles.
When the blade puppet drew close, Gai executed a backflip, his feet precisely kicking the puppet's head, sending it flying several meters back.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!" Upon landing, Gai immediately spun his body, sending a sweeping kick that sent the ground puppet flying.
"Good Taijutsu," Sasori commented calmly, his fingers moving rapidly, as if playing a piece of music.
The three damaged puppets reassembled, forming a single, larger fighting machine with six arms, each wielding a different weapon.