Chapter 98: A Mixed Crowd in Konoha, The Exam Begins!
Although Uchiha Yi didn't plan to stir up trouble this time, that didn't mean Konoha would remain peaceful. Beneath the surface, unseen currents continued to surge.
"Konoha sure is lively," remarked three individuals with purple markings labeled "One," "Two," and "Three" on their faces. Disguised as Grass Village participants for the Chūnin Exams, they infiltrated Konoha.
Their targets? Stone Ninja's Kuru and Cloud Ninja's Troy. Not to mention Kakashi—though he wasn't a direct priority for now.
They had already succeeded in capturing Mist Ninja Chūji and Sand Ninja Pakura. Now, only the final steps of their plan remained.
The closer they got to their goal, the more cautious they needed to be. A single misstep could ruin everything.
---
Another day passed.
Despite the few villages that chose not to attend, Konoha couldn't delay the event any longer.
Finally, the Konoha-hosted Chūnin Exams, a collaboration with other ninja villages, officially began.
The purpose of this event was clear: Tsunade wanted to showcase Konoha's strength to the other villages.
After Konoha's devastation and subsequent reconstruction, she needed to rebuild its reputation. Without such a demonstration, Konoha risked becoming a perceived weakling—an easy target for future conflicts.
Thus, the Chūnin Exams became a stage for Konoha to flaunt its revitalized strength.
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The First Round: Written Exam
Before the test could even begin, an unexpected interruption arose.
Rock Lee, the energetic boy with thick eyebrows, heard of Sasuke's genius reputation and sought him out for a challenge.
Fresh off a successful mission, Sasuke was confident in his abilities and saw no reason to refuse.
However, despite activating his Sharingan, Sasuke was no match for Lee's speed and taijutsu.
He suffered a humiliating defeat, sending him into a spiral of self-doubt.
This pre-test incident quickly ended, as the exam commenced soon after.
---
Uchiha Yi observed the proceedings from the sidelines.
The first round mirrored the original storyline, designed to test participants' ability to gather intelligence while assessing their perseverance.
There were a few deviations: Kabuto was absent, and Neji remained in Amegakure.
Notably, the three participants representing Amegakure—Karin, Hinata, and Haku—had earned their spots through rigorous selection.
All three had even defeated Neji during the trials.
Haku and Karin's victories were expected, given their unique talents and techniques.
Neji, while undeniably gifted, relied too heavily on traditional methods, making his moves predictable and exploitable.
As for Hinata, her success came as a surprise. Known for her shy demeanor, she had somehow defeated Neji—a feat even Uchiha Yi couldn't comprehend.
When he asked her about it, she blushed furiously and fainted on the spot, leaving the matter unresolved.
---
Meanwhile, Orochimaru had taken an interest in Sasuke after reviewing his background.
Just like in the original timeline, Orochimaru dispatched his subordinates from Otogakure to test Sasuke's potential.
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The first round concluded under Naruto's impassioned speech.
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As the results were announced, Mitarashi Anko made her dramatic entrance.
Clad in a fishnet outfit, she shattered the classroom window, startling the examinees.
Her sudden appearance caused confusion, but the situation quickly calmed as she introduced herself.
With a flick of her wrists, Anko threw kunai at the ceiling, unfurling a banner with her name and title.
Her flashy entrance drew mixed reactions. Many found her antics awkward rather than impressive.
At this stage in her life, Anko's confidence and charisma were still in full bloom—a stark contrast to her eventual decline.
"Isn't she Orochimaru's disciple, Mitarashi Anko?"
"I didn't expect her to be so... unconventional," Uchiha Yi remarked, chuckling as he watched the scene unfold in the surveillance room.
Seated nearby, Tsunade couldn't understand his amusement. "What's so funny about this?" she asked.
"Don't you think Anko is like a hot-blooded fool trying to act cool?" Yi replied.
His comment baffled Tsunade. While the ninja world was no stranger to eccentric characters, she couldn't see what was so amusing about Anko's theatrics.
---
The Second Round: The Forest of Death
Anko led the remaining participants to the infamous Forest of Death for the next stage of the exam.
Before entering, she delivered an ominous speech about the dangers awaiting them, insisting they sign waivers absolving Konoha of responsibility for any casualties.
This alone was enough to deter a few faint-hearted individuals, who chose to withdraw.
The rules were simple: each team received either a "Heaven" or "Earth" scroll.
To pass, they had to obtain the matching scroll from another team and make it to the central tower.
Once the preparations were complete, the participants entered the forest from various starting points.
---
Back in the surveillance room, Uchiha Yi observed the proceedings with interest.
"Hmm?" Yi murmured as he noticed his Akatsuki ring vibrating.
"A meeting? At this time?"
Realizing it was urgent, Yi excused himself from the room.
Using his Fire Release techniques, he reached a secluded area where he could attend the meeting undisturbed.
After channeling chakra into his ring, Yi's consciousness was transported to a space resembling a giant hand, where he stood upon one of its fingers.
Other Akatsuki members were also present, each standing on a finger of the colossal hand.
The meeting had begun.
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To Be Continued...
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Chapter 99: The Akatsuki Meeting—Something Feels Missing!
Lately, the Akatsuki's meetings had become somewhat frequent, leading to grumbles and complaints among its members.
For this meeting, Pain and Konan were notably absent.
The reason was no secret: Nagato was terminally ill and only had a few years left to live. His frail health made it unsuitable for him to attend meetings, while Konan stayed behind to care for him.
Nagato had officially handed over his role as leader, his Rinnegan, and his dream of peace to Obito. He and Konan had expressed their intent to spend Nagato's remaining time quietly in Amegakure, effectively retiring from the Akatsuki.
Obito accepted this arrangement without protest. There was no point in creating conflict with them—it would only complicate matters.
Even if he wanted to force Nagato and Konan to stay, it would likely backfire. Someone like Uchiha Yi, who shared a close relationship with them, might turn against Obito, throwing the entire Moon's Eye Plan into chaos.
So, despite his displeasure, Obito acquiesced. Nagato didn't have long to live, and Obito saw no reason to stir up trouble unnecessarily.
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"Quiet!"
Obito, now wearing one Rinnegan and his Kamui Mangekyō Sharingan, commanded the room with a loud, authoritative voice.
It was the first time the members had seen Obito in this new form, and while they were curious, no one dared to be the first to ask about it.
---
"Wait a second, Tobi!"
Uchiha Yi suddenly interrupted, catching everyone's attention.
"What is it?" Obito asked, a hint of impatience in his tone.
"I've been thinking," Uchiha Yi began, feigning contemplation. "Every time we have a meeting like this, it feels like something is missing."
"What's missing?" Deidara chimed in, playing along out of curiosity.
"This."
Before anyone could react, a hauntingly familiar tune—the Akatsuki's iconic theme music—began playing in the dimly lit meeting space.
The atmospheric track, filled with heavy, ominous tones, immediately set the mood, casting an eerie yet captivating aura over the gathering.
"Now this," Uchiha Yi said with a smug grin, "is how an Akatsuki meeting is supposed to feel."
The others exchanged glances but ultimately ignored his antics.
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"The intel is in," Obito declared, redirecting attention. "Three-Tails has been resurrected. This means we can finally begin the Moon's Eye Plan!"
Obito's voice carried a fervent excitement. His years of preparation and waiting were about to pay off.
"Finally," he murmured under his breath. "Rin… just wait for me a little longer."
---
"About time," Hidan exclaimed, his expression wild and ecstatic. "This means more sacrifices for Jashin-sama!"
"Wahoo! A perfect stage to show everyone the true beauty of my art!" Deidara shouted, equally thrilled.
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Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi stood silently, his mind consumed with doubt.
The Akatsuki had been his home for years, but the exact details of the Moon's Eye Plan had always been vague. As Obito revealed more, Itachi grew increasingly wary of its implications.
Would the plan truly bring peace, or would it wreak even more destruction?
More importantly, Itachi realized his little brother Sasuke was far from ready. Sasuke's progress had been slow—agonizingly so. At this rate, Itachi might not even live to see him awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, let alone reach his potential.
The looming storm of the Moon's Eye Plan would only compress Sasuke's already limited time. Itachi needed to act now to push his brother further.
"Leader," Itachi finally spoke, breaking his silence. "I'd like to take on the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki myself."
---
The room fell silent, shocked by Itachi's bold request.
The Nine-Tails was the strongest of all the tailed beasts. Even among the Akatsuki, few felt confident in their ability to subdue it.
Yet here was Itachi, volunteering for the task.
"Very well," Obito said after a moment of consideration. "You may proceed. But if it proves too difficult, fall back immediately. Do not alert Konoha prematurely."
"Understood," Itachi replied, his voice calm and resolute.
---
Kisame, standing silently beside Itachi, gave him a knowing look. He could sense Itachi's true intentions but said nothing, choosing to let the events unfold.
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"Leader, I have something to say as well," Uchiha Yi suddenly spoke up.
"What now?" Obito sighed, exasperated.
"I want to handle the Three-Tails."
Obito blinked, taken aback by the straightforward request. "Fine," he said after a pause. "Do as you wish."
Compared to Itachi's boldness, this seemed harmless enough.
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The meeting continued for another half hour as Obito assigned roles and responsibilities.
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When it concluded, Uchiha Yi left the space with a satisfied smile.
---
"Finally, the pieces are coming together," Yi thought to himself.
Years ago, he'd considered using the Ryūmyaku to explore other timelines or dimensions—perhaps even the past or future of this world.
However, unresolved issues in this timeline, particularly with Nagato and Konan, had kept him from leaving. He couldn't risk stepping away only to return decades later, or worse, to a world that had moved on without him.
Now, with most matters settled, he could begin laying the groundwork for his own plans.
---
The Rinnegan, which Nagato had handed over to Obito, held little value to Yi at this stage.
After years of investment in his abilities, Yi was confident he now rivaled or surpassed the power of a Six Paths-level Madara.
The Rinnegan was no longer a necessity.
Instead, its presence in Obito's hands would serve a far greater purpose: catalyzing the events of the Moon's Eye Plan.
The war it would spark would be catastrophic. For Yi, it was the perfect opportunity.
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"Tens of thousands of ninja, locked in battle."
"Do you have any idea how many souls that will bring me?"
Yi's grin widened. The prospect of such a monumental clash promised to be a feast unlike any other.
And so, the Akatsuki's plans began to take shape, setting the stage for a new era of chaos—and opportunity.
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To Be Continued...
---
Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb
{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}
*Thank you*
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