A few days had passed since Naruto's relentless questioning had reduced the mighty Nine-Tails to a sulking, indignant state. The fox had been humiliated to such an extent that it refused to entertain Naruto's antics any further, retreating into silence.
Initially, Kushina had been deeply worried about Naruto's decision to engage more with the Nine-Tails. She had feared the potential risks, but as the days went by and Naruto showed no signs of harm—or fear—her concern began to ease. Her son's confidence and resilience reassured her, even if his methods left her shaking her head.
Naruto, however, was far from satisfied. Each attempt to revisit the Nine-Tails' sealed space ended in failure, with the fox either ignoring him or throwing him out outright. Frustration bubbling over, Naruto finally decided to seek advice from his Uncle Akihiko.
After listening to Naruto's complaints, Akihiko let out a hearty chuckle. "That's your world of consciousness, Naruto. If you're strong and confident enough, you can even give the Nine-Tails a good beating in there. It's all about how much control you have."
Then, with a slight smirk, he leaned closer and added, "Or, if you're really desperate, you could always ask Obito for help."
Naruto's eyes sparkled with determination, and he clenched his fists as he made a solemn vow. "Just you wait, furball. One day, I'll beat the stuffing out of you!"
Kushina, who had been within earshot, nodded enthusiastically at her son's declaration. "That's the spirit. That fox needs a good thrashing every now and then. A Tailed Beast that isn't disciplined every three days will start thinking it owns the place."
Akihiko, watching this mother-son duo, let out a long sigh, his hand massaging his temple. He felt a pang of sympathy for the Nine-Tails. Being sealed inside not just one but two Uzumakis over the years was a fate no amount of chakra could make up for.
Despite his amusement, Akihiko chose not to interfere further. He had already gathered more than enough of the Nine-Tails' chakra for his own purposes and saw little reason to step in. Naruto would have to learn how to manage Nine-tails himself, and Akihiko trusted that Naruto's unorthodox but unwavering approach would eventually yield results.
…
As the days passed, the tension in the village grew, signaling the approach of the graduation exams for Naruto, Sasuke, and their classmates. This annual event was one of the most anticipated in the village, and the usual excitement filled the air. Yet this year, there was an unusual twist.
"The Three-Village Joint Exam?!" Akihiko exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up as he stared at the frazzled Hanzo and a slightly bruised Chiyo standing before him.
The scene was almost comical. Hanzo's usual commanding presence was marred by a frazzled look, while Chiyo was rubbing a fresh scrape on her cheek. Surrounding them were several shinobi who were doing their best to stifle their laughter. Their attempts to maintain decorum only made the atmosphere more absurd.
Hanzo and Chiyo's arrival together—an exceedingly rare occurrence—had prompted Akihiko to call a temporary meeting. As the leader, he wasted no time addressing the situation with the severity it deserved.
"Behaving so recklessly despite your standing—what kind of example are you setting for the younger generation? This behavior is completely unbecoming!" His sharp tone left little room for argument.
While their antics hadn't caused any significant issues, Akihiko felt it was essential to reprimand them thoroughly. Their conduct had been an embarrassment to the Grass Ninja Village, and their behavior reflected poorly on the ideals of the 'Grass Spirit' they were supposed to uphold.
Though everyone knew Hanzo and Chiyo were usually responsible and diligent, there was one inevitable issue: whenever the two were together, they would begin bickering.
Ebizo, always the philosopher, calmly thought it was a matter of 'love.' Akihiko, however, raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of this theory.
Despite their usual demeanor, Hanzo and Chiyo could only bow their heads in shame, offering sincere apologies. Even they had to admit that things had gotten out of hand this time.
"So, are you two seriously planning to hold the Three-Village Joint Exam this time?" Akihiko asked, his brows furrowed in confusion as he steered the discussion back to the day's topic.
From what Hanzo and Chiyo had described, their recent clash had been nothing short of chaotic. Torrential rain had accompanied their battle, setting the stage for an intense and dramatic showdown. In the end, neither side had emerged victorious; both had suffered enough losses to call it a draw. The spectators, however, had been thoroughly entertained, cheering and reveling in the spectacle as though it were a grand performance.
Who would have thought that esteemed leaders—or advisors, in this case—could fight so fiercely and stoop so low, hurling insults at each other like street brawlers? The scene had been nothing short of outrageous, yet undeniably entertaining. A true spectacle, really.
Akihiko couldn't help but think that their decision to stop the fight had been less about finding common ground and more about the sheer embarrassment of their public antics. Their bruised egos had likely prompted them to rethink their approach, which led them to focus on organizing something more constructive.
Given that the graduation exams were approaching, they had apparently decided to use this opportunity to stage a competition among the graduating students of their respective villages. The idea was to test their mettle and determine who among the next generation was the strongest. Naturally, they had roped in Pakura, the person responsible for overseeing education, to help facilitate the event, which had ultimately brought them all to this meeting.
"Actually, it's not just about my rivalry with this old pipehead," Advisor Chiyo said with a resigned sigh, shaking her head. "I believe fostering a competitive environment like this can help the kids grow. This will be the first batch of graduates from Sand Village's Ninja Academy, after all. However, with so few students in the academy, and thanks to the textbooks provided by Leader Akihiko…"
She paused, glancing at Akihiko with genuine admiration. When she and Ebizo had first examined the textbooks, they were nothing short of astonished. They never could have imagined that Akihiko would provide textbooks containing the most vital ninjutsu from all the villages, completely free for the children to learn. It was an unexpected and generous gesture. No one, not even the so-called 'God of Shinobi,' had done anything quite like this.
"Because of that, some of the children have started to become a bit too self-assured," Chiyo continued. "While their arrogance will naturally wear down with experience after graduation, why not take this chance to humble them a little? Let them see that there are other kids out there—kids who are stronger, smarter, and just as capable, if not more so. It's a valuable lesson they need."
Hanzo, who had been nodding along, added earnestly, "I couldn't agree more. This kind of event could really open their eyes and broaden their perspective. It's not just about rivalry—it's about growth."
Akihiko glanced at Hanzo, who, for once, seemed unusually cooperative. He sighed in resignation. This old man truly had his quirks. Scratching his chin thoughtfully, Akihiko mulled over the proposal for a moment.
The idea of a Three-Village Joint Exam was undeniably intriguing. It would provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate the caliber of this year's graduates from the three participating ninja villages. Moreover, such an event could strengthen ties between the villages while fostering healthy competition among their young shinobi.
His interest deepened as he recalled a recent tidbit about Rain Village's rising talents. One particular girl, Ajisai, stood out. Not only had she mastered Paper Jutsu, but she had also delved into Space-Time Ninjutsu, even going so far as to create a unique technique of her own. Hanzo had practically been glowing with pride over her accomplishments for days.
At first, Akihiko hadn't paid much attention to the name. But then it struck him—Ajisai. She was none other than the future holder of the Animal Path in Nagato's Six Paths of Pain from the original time.
With this promising potential in mind, Akihiko's lips curled into a smile. He made his decision without hesitation. "In that case, let's move forward with it. Let's host our first-ever Ninja Joint Exam."
His declaration carried a note of confidence, igniting a spark of anticipation in the room. It was the start of something new—something that could reshape the future of their villages.
At Akihiko's words, the room erupted in smiles, each face filled with a sense of pride and excitement. After all, how many countries could claim to have three ninja villages? It was a rare achievement that spoke volumes about their strength and unity.
With the decision made, the focus quickly shifted to the practicalities of hosting the event. They had to ensure that everything went smoothly, from the logistics to safeguarding the children's well-being. This was, after all, a graduation exam, not a battle royale. There was no need for it to devolve into chaos like the infamous Chuunin Exams in Konoha, where injuries and near-deaths were far too common.
The main priority would be to maintain fairness throughout the competition, ensuring that all the participants had an equal chance to showcase their skills. At the same time, their safety had to be guaranteed—no harm should come to any of the young shinobi in the name of competition.
Moreover, a system of rewards would be implemented to motivate the children. A prestigious prize for the winner would surely raise the stakes and ignite their competitive spirit. The exam would take place in Grass Village, with representatives from each village overseeing the proceedings. To add to the grandeur, the event would be broadcast nationwide, allowing viewers to witness the rising stars of the ninja world. The first-place winner, especially, would earn great recognition and respect.
With the clock ticking down to the exam day, there was still ample time to fine-tune the preparations. As the meeting came to a close, the representatives from each village stood, eager to begin their tasks
As Hanzo and Chiyo left the meeting, their bickering continued unabated, as usual. Ebizo could only watch them with a bitter smile. Hanzo really was testing his luck—if he wanted his sister's attention so badly, he didn't have to argue with her all the time.
Of course, Hanzo had his own plans. Since it was rare for him to visit Grass Village, he intended to stop by the homes of some of the children later, particularly those who had been under his watch. At first, he had been uneasy about the children from other villages, but with the news of Mikoto's pregnancy, he had come to terms with it. He now considered all children, regardless of where they came from, as part of the family.
Meanwhile, Chiyo had her own plans. She was going to visit Gaara. No matter the situation, he was still a child from her village, and she felt a deep responsibility toward him. She was especially proud of how her brother and sister had been faring under her care, particularly Gaara's older brother, who was learning Puppet Jutsu from her. The two children had grown considerably under her guidance, and Chiyo was happy with their progress.
As they watched Hanzo and Chiyo leave, still in the midst of their heated debate, Akihiko and Ebizo couldn't help but shake their heads in resignation. "Troublemakers…"
…
Meanwhile, unaware of the upcoming joint exam, Naruto had successfully slipped away from Sasuke's watchful eye. He found his way through the village streets, where he eventually spotted Uchiha Obito engaged in a casual conversation with someone. Seizing the opportunity, Naruto approached him and quickly requested his help.
With Obito's assistance, Naruto once again entered the sealed space where the Nine-Tails resided. As he stepped in, he immediately noticed the familiar sight of the enormous fox, seemingly pretending to be asleep, its large form curled up lazily in the corner.
Naruto, unimpressed by the Nine-Tails' usual behavior, let out an exasperated snort. He placed his hands confidently on his hips and declared in a loud voice, "Nine-Tails, I need your help with training."
The Nine-Tails, however, remained unruffled, its eyes barely cracking open as it growled in its usual tone, "Get lost."