SHINOBI EXAM

It had to be said, Tobirama was speaking with pride. "This is the Land of Fire, Konohagakure, the ninja village established after the alliance between the Senju and Uchiha clans, led by my elder brother..."

"Not just Senju and Uchiha, but also numerous other clans such as the Hyuga, Sarutobi, Nara, Yamanaka, Akamichi, and others gradually joined Konoha. Even ordinary people can become ninjas."

"Everyone is classified into Genin, Chūnin, and Jōnin based on their strength. Children graduate from ninja school to become Genin, and missions are assigned according to their rank…"

Tobirama was not a talkative person by nature. Many people saw him as cold and calculating. But here, with Itama, he couldn't stop speaking about Konoha.

He had so much he wanted to say to his younger brother. He and his elder brother had always dreamed of bringing Itama and Wazama to Konoha, protecting them and ensuring their safety.

"An alliance?!" Itama exclaimed, genuinely surprised but also happy for the two brothers. "That's amazing! Brother Hashirama and Brother Tobirama's dream has come true!"

Itama could still remember that painful evening in the Senju tribe, deep in the forest, when Wama's death devastated them. At that time, both Tobirama and Hashirama had already been working toward ending the wars and creating an agreement to establish rules for peace.

"As expected of Brother Hashirama and Brother Tobirama!" Itama said, admiration evident in his voice.

Tobirama, however, felt a pang of sorrow. He knew all too well that Itama was supposed to have died in the war against the Uchiha. When his body was found, their dream had already been shattered. The alliance was supposed to protect people like Itama—the very children they had hoped to shield from the horrors of war.

Tobirama sighed and patted his younger brother gently, a rare moment of affection. "Let's go back to the Senju house first. There's much to explain, including why you were resurrected."

Tobirama then turned his attention to Naruto. "Your seal is weakening. As a Jinchūriki, you must learn to control your emotions. Don't let the power of the tailed beast tempt you."

Naruto was about to protest when he remembered something more urgent. "Please help Sasuke first! That guy Orochimaru bit him, and now he's unconscious!"

Tobirama knelt down beside Sasuke, examining the curse mark that had been exposed on his neck.

"A curse seal..." he murmured, his fingers hovering over the black spiral design.

Suddenly, Sasuke screamed in pain, and Naruto and Sakura rushed to his side.

"What's going on? What are you doing, Second Hokage?!" Naruto shouted in panic.

Sakura, on the verge of tears, cried, "Sasuke-kun, are you okay?! Hokage-sama!"

Temari, however, cut through the chaos. "Can he still participate in the Chūnin exam? The rules state that if you lose consciousness, you're disqualified."

"Sasuke will wake up! He'll be fine!" Naruto argued desperately. "Right, Second Hokage?"

Tobirama focused, sensing Sasuke's condition through his chakra. "I've sealed the curse temporarily. He'll wake up within the hour."

Sakura asked, still concerned, "But will the curse seal affect him?"

Tobirama nodded, his tone serious. "The curse seal won't completely harm him in the long term, but it enhances his power at the cost of his health. If not managed well, it can easily spread its influence, especially if someone with a curse seal tries to manipulate him."

He paused, his thoughts drifting for a moment. "This curse seal reminds me of something… Could it be that Madara's eventual descent into madness was caused by something similar? Maybe Black Zetsu planted a curse on him, affecting his emotions, just like how the curse seal affects Sasuke."

Tobirama's mind was filled with uneasy thoughts about the subtle but dangerous influence of Black Zetsu and how it had slowly twisted Madara's heart, even after he became an embodiment of power.

Naruto, oblivious to his thoughts, quickly asked, "But will Sasuke be okay?"

Tobirama replied firmly, "Yes. But I suggest you all stay vigilant. The curse seal can't be removed easily, and it could have long-term effects. Sasuke will need to be monitored closely."

Sakura was still uneasy, but Naruto's expression brightened slightly when he heard that Sasuke would wake up soon.

After a brief pause, Tobirama looked at Naruto seriously again. "The person who attacked you—Orochimaru—he's not someone participating in the Chūnin exam. His strength exceeds that of a Jōnin, and it's abnormal that you managed to defeat him."

Naruto and Sakura were taken aback. "Orochimaru is stronger than Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, worried.

"Yes, and Kakashi would have needed help to defeat Orochimaru, even with all his strength. You've done well, but it wasn't without outside assistance," Tobirama said gravely, his experience in battle clearly informing his judgment.

Naruto clenched his fists. "So, even though we didn't technically win, we still passed the exam, right?"

Tobirama nodded. "You passed the second exam. But I wouldn't consider it a fair victory, given Orochimaru's interference."

Before anyone could respond, Gaara suddenly spoke up, holding an Earth Scroll in his hand. "This is the scroll Naruto and the others got. They guarded the Heaven Scroll and secured the Earth Scroll, according to the rules."

Naruto stared at the scroll, his eyes wide. "Wait, that scroll… It belongs to the three Sound Ninjas!"

Gaara continued, "Had Orochimaru not appeared, you would have won outright."

Naruto grinned widely. "Gaara, you're such a good guy! Thanks!"

Gaara, who was not used to such compliments, blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

At that moment, a Konoha Anbu agent knelt before Tobirama, interrupting the moment. "Second Hokage-sama, there's been an unusual image again. The Third Hokage is requesting your presence."

Tobirama's expression darkened. "The image has appeared again? Gather the Anbu. We need to investigate all teams in the Chūnin exam immediately."

The tension in the air heightened as everyone recalled the eerie image they had seen earlier. But this time, the ominous death question was absent, and the image held a different kind of weight.

Tobirama's command was clear. "Let's see what new revelations this image will bring."

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End of Chapter.

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