— Follow me, Saitama! — a triumphant grin spread across Anko's face. The bald man, with an already habitual, "Well, okay," calmly followed the kunoichi – only his cloak billowed behind him.
Mitarashi sped up slightly; her wristwatch showed one minute to five. She glanced expectantly at the sprawling tree located not far from the window of auditorium three hundred and one. It was fifteen meters, maybe a little more, to the building. But for a shinobi, was that even a distance? Definitely, the giant stood there for a reason. After all, why else would there be a tree near the auditorium, if not for the examiner's unexpected entrance?
— Well, ready to make an appearance?
— Uh-huh, — Saitama nodded, picking at his ear. — I just don't understand why we're moving away from the main entrance?
— You're so boring. We're proctors, after all.
— And...?
The girl shook her head, making her way to that very tree.
— We'll burst in suddenly through the window! There! — she tapped her fist against her palm.
— Uh... maybe we shouldn't? — Saitama asked cautiously.
— We should, Saitama, we should. I'm sure Ibiki scared the genin so much they wet their pants, and only the most resilient ones remain. — Saitama just scratched the back of his head in bewilderment at this statement. — Therefore, our loud appearance will be a kind of culmination of the First Stage.
Anko, meanwhile, reached the tree and, using chakra, began to climb the vertical trunk as if it were the ground. She continued her monologue about the Chunin Exams. When she was about level with the third floor, she suddenly felt that something was missing. Securing herself on a branch, she looked down.
— Hey, Saitama, — she hissed. After all, the window wasn't far, so she tried to be as quiet as possible so that when the time came, she could burst into the classroom unexpectedly.
— Wha'? — the bald man tilted his head back. He was still on the ground.
— Don't "wha'?" me, just quickly climb the tree. It's our cue.
Looking at Saitama's expression and his appearance in general, she began to waver. After all, the bald man didn't look like a shinobi at all, and only the buckle on his black belt showed his affiliation with the Leaf ninja. Although Jiraiya himself also didn't look like a serious person, but nevertheless...
— Saitama, please be serious. Stop fooling around, — the girl listened to what was happening in the auditorium. The kunoichi's keen hearing caught the words: "Congratulations, you have successfully passed the first test!" Immediately after, a noise of many voices arose in the auditorium. Not much time was left.
— Climb faster...
Saitama looked from Anko to the tree, then to the window, then back to Anko, then back to the tree again. His eyebrows furrowed, and his gaze became serious.
— Damn, I don't know how to walk on trees. Maybe we should just go through the doors, as it should be?
— Stop feeding me ramen to my ears. You also said you didn't know how to walk on water, — Anko was starting to boil. She still remembered those moments when she had to carry the bald man piggyback across the Nami Strait.
"Or..."
The girl suspected something was wrong. Did he want Anko to carry him on her back again this time? No way, that was too much. She certainly wanted to make a spectacular appearance, but not to that extent.
Imagining such a picture, she shook her head.
— Enough jokes. I'm not going to carry you piggyback. And anyway, I didn't forgive you for that back then.
— But I really don't kno...
— Then jump onto the tree! — Mitarashi interrupted, continuing to hiss.
Saitama's eyes lit up with understanding:
— Ah, I get it. You want to burst into the classroom through the window, breaking the glass.
— Exactly! — Anko exclaimed. — I just told you that.
The bald man nodded understandingly, folding his arms across his chest:
— Of course, then I'll jump straight from here.
— Well, — the girl doubtfully assessed the distance from the base of the tree to the third-floor window. About thirty meters. She wouldn't be able to jump that far in one go, but this was Saitama. He was incredibly strong.
— Okay. Let's do it from the ground.
— Uh-huh, sure. As soon as you're ready to jump – just say so.
The noise in the auditorium began to subside, and Anko finally decided to act:
— On the count of three, Saitama.
— Okay.
— One... Two... Three! — Mitarashi pushed off the branch properly and burst into the auditorium.
***
When Ibiki, barely suppressing a smirk, explained the "true" essence of the test, the hubbub began to subside. He took off his bandana, showing the genin the gruesome scars and burns that covered his head. The examinees finally fell silent, impressed by what they saw. After saying a couple more inspiring remarks in the style of the Sandaime, Morino pulled his bandana back on and wished the genin good luck.
As soon as Ibiki finished speaking, something in a cloak with purple hair burst into the auditorium right through the window.
"Anko, couldn't you have just entered normally...?" flashed through his mind. Yes, it was his former subordinate from the Torture and Interrogation Force.
The kunoichi hadn't even properly landed when a kunai was thrown at her head. The girl barely managed to dodge. Ibiki's mouth fell open in surprise.
"Uzumaki Naruto... This guy..."
— Oops, he-he, — the blond stretched a smile from ear to ear and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. — Sorry, Anko-sempai, you appeared so suddenly. My hand just twitched.
— You little brat, — Mitarashi hissed, baring her teeth. The girl felt the thin cut on her cheek with her hand. Wiping away the blood, Anko licked it off her finger.
All the genin stared in shock, looking from her to the blond. A tense silence hung in auditorium three hundred and one.
Anko cleared her throat and declared:
— What are you all sitting around for, you shinobi larvae? It's not time to relax. I am one of the proctors for the second stage of the exam – Mitarashi Anko, and this is my partner – Saitama...
The kunoichi waved her hand somewhere behind and to the side.
Seeing the genin's uncomprehending gazes, Anko felt a bad premonition. She cautiously turned around... but there was nothing behind her.
The corner of Mitarashi's mouth began to twitch.
— Saitama... — she called the second proctor, but no one answered.
She called louder, but the result was the same. With a permanently progressing nervous tic, the girl approached the window to scold the bald man, but, to her surprise, he was nowhere to be seen.
Anko quietly cursed and turned to the genin with a strained smile...
***
Saitama, meanwhile, was already approaching the main entrance of the Academy. He hadn't followed Anko for one simple reason. He didn't want to pay for a broken window, because it was quite likely that if he had burst in with her, then in theory he would also have had to pay for the subsequent repairs and materials.
Although... Even when he was approaching that tree, he had no desire to burst in noisily. After all, he was a proctor in the exam. He should set an example for the younger generation. Therefore, he would rather enter with the proud look of a true shinobi-mentor.
Yes, it was definitely not related to paying for subsequent repairs. Absolutely not related. But he needed to save up for a TV...
With conflicting thoughts, Saitama pulled the handle of one of the doors towards him. It didn't budge at first. Pulling harder, he stared in bewilderment at the compressed metal plate in his hands.
Suddenly, the doors slid open to the sides. Saitama instantly hid what remained of the doorknob behind his back, adopting a serious expression. A trio of children ran out onto the street: a snotty boy, a red-haired girl with rosy cheeks, and a boy with a blue scarf. The children paid no attention to the bald man, only rushed with cheerful whoops towards a small alley in the backyard.
When the little ones disappeared from view, the bald man sighed with relief, but did not lose his vigilance. Pressing the handle to his chest, he cautiously looked around, whistling some simple tune. Making sure that no one had noticed him, he briskly threw the massive doorknob over his shoulder – it whistled as it flew into the distance.
Saitama confidently stepped into the Academy. Once inside, he suddenly stopped: "Damn, I don't know where to go... Although... Anko was sitting on a tree, and she was sitting quite high."
Scratching his bald head, he decided to check all the auditoriums on the second floor; if he didn't find her, he would look higher. Now all that remained was to find the stairs.
***
— Cat, do you think it's a good idea to spy on kunoichi in the bathhouses? — an ANBU in an owl mask whispered barely audibly.
— Owl, relax. Our mission is to monitor the jonin-sensei from the Hidden Waterfall. — Obviously, the shinobi in the cat mask wasn't worried about being detected, because it was quite noisy during the day, and their concealment skills were some of the best in Konoha. Therefore, spying from the women's side of the bathhouses was quite possible.
— Then why are we only watching the kunoichi? There's also a male jonin.
— Well, if you want so much, you can watch the guys.
— Cat, you're incorrigible. A perverted bijuu. Kami will punish you for this one day.
— Hah... won't punish me. I am an admirer of Jiraiya-sama's books, — Cat said proudly. — And I'm curious what it's like...
"Boom," a dull thud sounded, and Cat suddenly stopped mid-sentence and fell from the tree. The height wasn't great, less than ten meters.
Owl didn't immediately understand what had happened. But when he realized...
— Cat! — the ANBU hissed quietly and, jumping down, rushed to his partner, who was sprawled face down on the ground.
He began to shake his friend by the shoulder, but the latter showed no signs of life.
— Cat! Wake up! Cat, are you alive? — his gaze caught a metallic object glinting a few meters away from them, which turned out to be a slightly bent plate, resembling... a doorknob?
— What the...? — Owl muttered in bewilderment, carefully feeling his friend's pulse. It was there, but he was unconscious.
He rolled the body onto its back, but suddenly a girl's scream came from the side. The ANBU looked around and realized they had been caught.
A half-naked kunoichi was screaming, the very same jonin-sensei from Waterfall. Nearby stood a couple of naked Konoha kunoichi – red either from embarrassment or indignation. He didn't really want to check.
"Aha, Kami won't punish you, yeah right," flashed through Owl's mind.
He sighed resignedly. The surveillance mission had failed.
***
— Phew, it's hot. Aren't you hot in that hood and mask, Kakuzu-san?... Kakuzu-sa-a-an? — the masked man leaned against a tree, looking at the treasurer with feigned curiosity.
Kakuzu tried to ignore the weirdo who answered to the name Tobi. After several unsuccessful assassination attempts, the mercenary simply ignored him. The other Akatsuki members had also somehow gotten used to his presence. Only Deidara, for some reason, couldn't calmly accept the masked man's taunts.
They were currently on their way to a town in the Land of Fire, not far from the Land of Grass. According to intelligence, there were two jinchuriki there at once – the Two-Tails and the Four-Tails. Unprecedented luck, a jackpot, because there was a bounty on both of them in the Bingo Book. Through his channels, he had turned in Yagura Karatachi's head after sealing Sanbi, receiving a very substantial sum. He had almost fought with Sasori over the jinchuriki's body; in the end, they decided that Yagura's remains would go to the puppeteer, and the heart and head to the treasurer. Yes, Kakuzu was lucky that after the extraction, the former jinchuriki was still alive for some time, so Kakuzu, despite Sasori's indignation, acquired a new powerful heart with the Suiton element.
Two days had passed since they had extracted the Three-Tails from the Fourth Mizukage. Kakuzu had no idea how Yagura had ended up at their base and who had the strength to bind him, but the fact remained. They had begun to extract the tailed beasts and seal them into the statue. The Leader's plan had begun to come to life.
Pain's goal – as Kakuzu understood it – was to gather all the bijuu into his hands in order to gain the ability to show everyone his power. Power against which no one would dare to stand. Power that would elevate Akatsuki to the top and allow them to establish a new order. To bring peace to these lands in the future. In the process, of course, there would be a lot of killing and violence, but that was Pain's will, the will of God. At least that's what the Leader believed... A conceited bastard.
The Akatsuki treasurer, frankly speaking, didn't give a damn about the Leader's plans. Especially after he learned about the self-proclaimed god's attitude towards the organization members. The main thing for Kakuzu was money, and the more the better, and anyone who thought otherwise was an utter fool and idiot. He was in Akatsuki only because of them. Currently, there was enough money in the organization after looting Gato. But there was no such thing as too much money. The organization's influence and capabilities would increase many times over after being strengthened by the bijuu. And hypothetically, the money could also increase many times over. However... Kakuzu didn't want to feel like just a tool. He wanted something more. The thought that he could be replaced just like Hidan didn't give the mercenary peace.
Tobi, seeing Kakuzu's zero reaction and how he had sunk into thought, decided to shift his attention to a new victim.
— Deidara-sempai! Deidara-sempai, what do you think...
— Shut up, or I'll blow you to hell!
Usually, the Akatsuki bomber didn't lose his smirk, but after Tobi joined the organization, his smirk sometimes transformed into something else. Now, for example, as soon as the blond heard his name called, he immediately grimaced as if he had swallowed dog excrement.
— You're so mean, sempai. Poor Tobi, nobody loves him. Everyone ignores him. Why?
— Because you're a stupid clown, hm?
— Stop paying attention to him, — the puppeteer creaked. — Better admit that my art is superior to yours.
— Ha! Not a chance! Sasori-no-danna, you just don't understand the beauty of the moment! Art is…
Deidara's tirade was interrupted by a strange sound from Tobi.
Everyone automatically turned to him.
— Oops, I must have eaten something wrong today. My stomach's bloated, he-he… — the masked man began to wave his hand, as if shooing something away.
— Bastard, — Deidara growled. — I'll...
— Let me guess, — Tobi raised his index finger. — ...Blow me up? — Deidara, meanwhile, took clay from his pouch, the mouth on his palm licked itself greedily. — Sempai, you have absolutely no imagination... A-a-a! — Tobi began to run away from the explosive birds that flew at him one after another. The masked shinobi disappeared behind the trees. A series of explosions was heard.
— Enough already, — Sasori creaked. — Don't waste clay needlessly. — Deidara reluctantly obeyed his partner and canceled the technique, trying to calm down. But the bomber's teeth grinding could probably be heard even in Ame.
The mask appeared from behind a tree.
— Oh, sempai, are you done already? What about your promise to blow me up? — Deidara demonstratively turned away at this. The blond no longer fell for Tobi's further taunts. At least, not yet.
Suddenly, Tobi appeared right in front of Kakuzu's face. The treasurer squinted, trying to peer into the mask's opening and understand this shinobi. Understand his motives.
— Kakuzu-san, I think I know why you don't like me.
— Oh really? — Kakuzu snorted.
— Uh-huh. You're just used to Hidan-sempai. And you don't like that I appeared in his place. That he was replaced so easily, right?
The mercenary didn't answer, only closed his eyes.
This Tobi was well-informed about Akatsuki's affairs. It was quite possible that he had previously been in contact with the Leader and Konan. Where he came from was unclear. He was strong, but pretended to be a worthless fool. Why?
The masked man, throwing up his hands, continued:
— Ah, that strong male friendship. Do I really have no chance at all to join your little tandem?
Kakuzu didn't react in any way.
— Maybe it's not friendship at all, but, hmm... love?
The treasurer still maintained a cold mask of indifference on his face. However, under the fabric mask, the corner of his lip twitched slightly.
— And if I bring Hidan-sempai back, will I be able to be a witness at your wedding?
Kakuzu's eyes snapped open, and a black tentacle pierced the masked man's heart, but, as expected, it passed through his body without causing the slightest damage.
Tobi stepped back slightly, and the threads retracted back into Kakuzu's hand.
— Well, I offer you my whole soul, and you poke me with all sorts of things.
— What nonsense are you spouting? It's impossible to pull Hidan out of Konoha alone. Besides, the Leader made it clear that damn Hidan himself was to blame and we won't be rescuing him.
Tobi, ruffling his already sticking-up hair, looked at the sky.
— Tobi is good. Tobi will be able to bring the prodigal priest back to Akatsuki. Especially since only the priest's head remains there.
— Hmm... if you can really do it.
— Of course! Tobi is the coolest and strongest shinobi in the world! — Tobi struck a proud pose and began to poke himself in the bicep, which wasn't visible at all under his cloak.
— Alright, — the mercenary nodded, drilling the masked man with a hostile gaze. The latter was an enigmatic figure; perhaps he would be able to retrieve Hidan's head after some time, but it probably wouldn't be soon. And if he couldn't... well, that would even be for the best. Failure would most likely cost him his life. Konoha wasn't the kind of village you could walk into like it was your own home.
— Excellent! — Tobi threw his hand up. — In the name of the Power of Youn... ahem! — he cleared his throat. — In the name of the Power of Love and for your wedding, I will do it! — he finished grandiloquently, after which he ran off headlong, gradually disappearing in clouds of dust.
— He kind of ran towards Iwa, right? — Deidara remarked, glancing at the receding figure.
Sasori nodded:
— That's right. Konoha is in the other direction.
Kakuzu wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose. After all, he shouldn't have taken that clown's words seriously...
***
One hundred and twenty-three genin passed to the second stage of the Chunin Exams. This was many times more than Anko had expected. She remembered asking Ibiki about it, but he had just waved it off, saying that there were many good kids this year. Well, let's assume there might be many kids, but the Head of the Torture and Interrogation Force had never been known for his kindness; apparently, the Hokage had given him appropriate instructions, so Morino was a little "kinder" today. And what was the point of hiding it – he had definitely overdone it.
And although additional gates didn't have to be built, nevertheless, much more time had to be spent on preparation; if the Second Stage was originally planned to begin at eighteen hundred hours, reality made its adjustments – the start was at twenty-three thirty.
— Oh, there you are, — Saitama's voice was heard.
Mitarashi cast a gloomy glance at the bald shinobi who had approached training ground forty-four:
— This is called neglecting your duties.
— Huh... what do you mean?
— Why didn't you come in with me back then? I looked like an idiot, — Anko exclaimed indignantly. — You're an examiner. Where have you been all this time anyway?
— Well, at the Academy. And then...
— I didn't see you there, — Anko interrupted.
— I didn't see you either. Strange, isn't it?
Anko let out a heavy sigh. Perhaps it was even for the best that the genin hadn't seen him. Their fragile psyches could have been broken by the appearance and extravagant attire of the bald shinobi.
— The second stage of the current exam involves the genin surviving in training ground forty-four for five days, — Mitarashi began to explain the essence of the exam. — We'll wait a day, after which we'll slowly move out into the Forest of Death towards the central Tower.
— Uh-huh, — Saitama nodded. — And why not go now? Why wait?
— Because there are too many people there right now. In a day, the strongest will reach the goal first, and the weak... the weak simply won't survive there.
Anko grimaced, recalling the Red Zone that the Hokage had enlightened her about. Mitarashi had previously had no idea about it, but after the "picnic in nature" with Saitama, she was impressed by the creatures there and promised herself never to go there again. Although she wouldn't stick her nose in there anyway, the barriers were too powerful, capable of being broken by force only by shinobi at the Kage level (or Sarutobi Hiruzen, who could enter that zone as if it were his own home, using a special fuin key). And that was excellent, because if the monsters from that zone, Kami forbid, were to break free, no one would remain alive on the training ground.
Saitama was truly amazing if he managed to get in there.
— Are we going home? — Saitama asked.
— Don't ask stupid questions. While we're examiners, we have to be here.
— But what's the point? We're not doing anything right now, are we?
Anko clicked her tongue. She was wondering the same thing – why did they have to hang around here for a whole day? And without the possibility of sleeping or getting a decent meal.
— I don't know what the point is either, Saitama. If you want to know – ask the Hokage, — she smirked sarcastically.
— Ah, well, okay, — he turned around and walked off somewhere.
— Hey, where are you going?
— Well, to the old man, — the bald man turned around, spreading his hands. — I'm going to ask.
— Wait, I was just kidding.
— Kidding? — Saitama repeated. — I didn't quite understand the joke? Why can't we just ask him?
Anko wearily looked at a lone star that had appeared in the darkening sky. The outlines of a crescent moon began to appear nearby. Despite the approaching night, the coolness didn't even think about descending on the lands of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. It was still quite hot.
Mitarashi looked Saitama up and down. The guy evoked ambivalent feelings in her. She kind of liked him, because he was incredibly strong, quite quick-witted when he wasn't pretending to be a block of wood from under a Kawarimi, and he could cook deliciously, which was important. And there was some kind of mystery about him. A secret she wanted to uncover.
But at the same time, he annoyed her terribly with his indifferent look, as if he was bored all the time and nothing was interesting to him. And she was tired of him acting stupid and pretending to be a dim-witted fool... or wasn't he pretending? It was unclear. She wasn't sure about anything anymore.
— Let's go to the hut, we can make tea there, — Anko suggested.
— Tea sounds good. But a second dinner with potatoes is still better. Maybe I'll quickly run home?
Anko imagined the crispy french fries that Saitama had gotten her hooked on. She couldn't even say for sure what she liked more – dango or fries?
This dilemma made her mouth water for a couple of moments, but she quickly pulled herself together. She had dango in her box for a couple of days. She had specifically brought them so as not to starve during her duty.
— No, Saitama. We can't, we have a mission, — Mitarashi said. — And remember – while we're here – not a word about fries. If you want, you can have some of my dango. Just this once – I'll treat you.
— Hmm... are you serious? — Saitama's eyes lit up.
— Uh-huh, — Anko agreed uncertainly. But immediately mentally cursed herself, remembering how she had gone broke on ramen for the bald man at Ichiraku a month ago.
Judging by Saitama's gaze, she would probably have to go on a diet for a couple of days.
***
Evening descended upon the Village Hidden in the Leaves. The cicadas quieted down and no longer disturbed the residents with their chirping.
Hiruzen sat at the table in the semi-darkness, wearily slumped in his chair. His hat rested on his lap. His unfocused gaze stared into nothingness. He didn't even feel like smoking; he only wanted to fall into bed and lose himself for about six hours.
Usually, he stayed in the Tower until late at night, or even until morning. Sometimes he even slept right in his office, but now he decided to go home to the Sarutobi clan compound. "I need to rest," he thought.
Despite the Chunin Exams and the possible threat from Akatsuki, everything was under control; ANBU patrols were vigilant day and night, and sensors from the Inuzuka, Hyuga, and Aburame clans were also deployed. Nothing could slip past their sensory perception.
The Hokage was confident in his subordinates, so now he could afford to relax a little.
He had already gotten up from his chair and headed towards the exit when suddenly the door was literally blown open. A dark silhouette flew into the office.
Out of surprise, Hiruzen almost launched a technique at the insolent intruder, even forming the concentration seal. However, upon closer inspection in the dim light, he saw an ANBU. Calming down, he grimly exhaled and trudged back to the table. Apparently, he had relaxed too soon. Judging by the subordinate's impudence, what he was about to hear would cost him all his sleep.
— Forgive me, Hokage-dono! Bad news! — exclaimed the operative, forgetting even to bow.
Sarutobi tensed up. Sitting down at the table, he lit his pipe to somehow calm his nerves.
What could have happened that made an ANBU shinobi look so worried?
Without waiting for a nod from Hiruzen, the guy continued:
— An Akatsuki prisoner.
— What about him?
— This... — the ANBU lowered his head. — He... he's gone.
The Hokage choked on his smoke. This news was indeed bad. No, it was terrible news. And he couldn't raise a combat alert, because the exam was currently underway. They needed to maintain at least the appearance that Konoha had no problems. Coughing, the Third began to clarify:
— How did he disappear? When did this happen? Are there any signs of forced entry into his cell?
— Um-m... — the shinobi stammered.
— What are you mumbling about? — the Hokage raged. — Don't pull the bijuu's tail and answer. Clearly and to the point!
— I can't know, Hokage-sama. His disappearance was discovered just now. Ibiki-san decided to check on the prisoner. The sensors have already been informed, but according to them, no one entered the territory...
— No one entered?! — Hiruzen interrupted, shouting. — Then how, in your opinion, did he disappear? Or did his head suddenly grow legs?
The ANBU flinched from the sudden burst of killing intent. The Hokage's formidable aura made the shinobi break out in a cold sweat.
However, in the next moment, Ibiki entered the office through the still-open door with a calm step. The Sandaime's killing intent slowly began to subside.
— Ibiki, what is the meaning of this? — pulling himself together, Hiruzen inquired insinuatingly. — Didn't you say that no one could pull the prisoner out of the dungeon?
Morino frowned and remained silent. The Head of the Torture and Interrogation Force himself didn't know how this could have happened. After all, all precautions had been taken. A fuin barrier blocking teleportation techniques. Traps that could only be deactivated by shinobi from his department. Posts at key points.
Ibiki began to explain these thoughts.
— I don't want to hear excuses, — the Hokage said in an icy tone. — This is your failure, since you couldn't provide proper security.
Morino calmly endured the Sandaime's piercing gaze. He only rubbed his chin, his eyes closed, trying to understand what had gone wrong.
— I'm not Shikaku, of course, but I have some assumptions, — Ibiki began cautiously. — There are a couple of possibilities here. Either a traitor has appeared in my department who released the priest... or we ran into a very skilled Akatsuki shinobi who easily passed through the fuin barrier blocking teleportation. Both options are possible.
— You think Akatsuki has agents in Konoha?
— I have no idea. If they do – then we will find them. But if not... — Ibiki frowned.
A tense silence hung in the air.
The Hokage released a couple of smoke rings. Closing his eyes, he said:
— If an enemy shinobi can come to our village at any moment as if it were their own home, and we don't know about it, then this could become a huge problem. No, what am I saying, it's already a huge problem.
— There's a plus side to this situation, — Ibiki said. — We learned everything we could from the prisoner, and in essence, we don't need him anymore.
— Are you saying we were helped to get rid of him? — Hiruzen snorted.
— I'm saying that this "Akatsuki" organization poses a direct threat to Konoha. And to nip it in the bud, we need to send someone to Amegakure...
— We will not send anyone to Ame right now, — the Hokage said firmly. — It's not the time. After the Chunin Exams – definitely. But now – it's too dangerous. Remember Shikaku's words. We need to keep a close eye on the guests.
Ibiki pursed his lips and slightly lowered his head.
— Don't worry, — Sarutobi smiled, puffing on his pipe, — as soon as the exam is over, I plan to send Kakashi and Saitama there. They have already encountered Akatsuki and emerged victorious from their clashes. Perhaps I'll add Jiraiya to them – he should be returning to Konoha soon.
— I have nothing against Kakashi and Jiraiya, but I have absolutely no faith in that bald guy, — Morino grimaced. — He doesn't even look like a shinobi.
— Ibiki, as long as Konoha has Saitama, we have nothing to fear, not even the Fourth Great Ninja War. You have no idea who he is and what he is capable of.
For a moment, the corner of Ibiki's lip curled skeptically, but he immediately returned a gloomy expression to his face. The Hokage knew better. If the Sandaime said that this clown could be useful, then it was so. After all, psychological attacks against opponents were still a valid tactic.
***
— Achoo! — Saitama covered himself with his elbow. After that, he rubbed his nose and continued to chew his dango as if nothing had happened.
— What's wrong, did you catch a cold or something? — Anko asked, sipping green tea from her mug.
The bald man pondered for a moment:
— Nope.
— Then why did you sneeze? Allergies?
Saitama scratched the back of his head and said quietly:
— Yeah, to exams.
— What?
— Oh, nothing. I'm saying, this exam is good, you can go hunting in the Forest in a day. Shall we go to the Picnic Zone tomorrow?
— Go yourself, — Anko grumbled. The girl involuntarily shivered.
— Well, okay, — Saitama nodded, throwing the last dango into his mouth. Anko watched this ball with such a sad gaze as if she were saying goodbye to a loved one. She sighed mournfully, a quiet rumbling sound came from her stomach.
— Ugh, I wish this would all end soon, — she whispered barely audibly.
Saitama finished his tea. Despite the invigorating brew, the bald man's eyes were closing, and his body was leaning to the side. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, then went to the futon spread out near the wall. He plopped down on the floor, wishing Anko good night.
Mitarashi didn't have a wink of sleep, and hunger was starting to get the better of her. Her partner had eaten all the dango; she had only managed to grab a couple, which didn't last long at all.
Not even a few minutes passed before a steady snoring sound came from Saitama's side. Anko, however, got up and went outside. Something was bothering her. Something was coming. She couldn't understand what the problem was, but her intuition wouldn't leave her alone.
"What's wrong?" Anko fixed her gaze on the fence of training ground forty-four. "Why is my soul so uneasy?"
It was unlikely that it was because the bald man had taken her dango. Sometimes on missions, she didn't eat anything but food pills for several days. So that wasn't it.
Suddenly, an image of snake eyes flashed in her mind, and for some reason, her hand reached for her neck. For that very juuin seal, installed by Him.
"No, he has no business here. The Chunin Exams should proceed without incident..." Anko shook her head, driving away the delusion, slowly inhaled and exhaled, calming down.
A few minutes later, she was lying on the futon in the hut near the entrance.
— Khr-r-r... phew... — came from the wall.
— Saitama, don't snore! — Mitarashi hissed. Silence reigned for a few moments... but soon the snoring resumed and became even louder.
— Saitama! — she said louder, sitting up and turning her head towards the source of irritation. He was sound asleep, lying on his back. She wanted to go over and kick him properly, but quickly dismissed the thought. Zabuza had once tried to attack the bald man in his sleep – as a result, Tazuna's house had fallen apart, and the swordsman himself had miraculously survived. She certainly wasn't going to attack him, but she didn't want to test Saitama's reflexes in his sleep either.
"Alright. Let Saitama at least get some sleep," Anko exhaled and lay down, putting her hand behind her head. Tomorrow would be a tough day. And she needed to try to get a good rest too.