Beyond the Heavens.
In the vast darkness of outer space, a rift in the void quietly opened.
From within the spatial tunnel, two figures emerged. One was tall and broad, a hulking mass of muscle like a walking mountain of flesh. Sitting casually on his massive shoulder was a much smaller figure, whose presence was far more imposing despite his size.
His eyes bore the pale hue of the Byakugan, while the centers of his palms revealed the blood-red pattern of the Rinnegan. Twin horns shaped like rabbit ears protruded from his forehead, and he wore a flowing white robe, delicate and translucent like a noble's mantle, along with ornate garments and wooden sandals.
Otsutsuki Kinshiki.
Otsutsuki Momoshiki.
Following the death of Urashiki, the two had finally arrived, the Otsutsuki clan had come to the shinobi world!
"Still no response... Looks like Urashiki's been taken out." Kinshiki muttered grimly, his brow furrowed as he extended his senses.
Momoshiki gave a cold snort. "He must've acted before we arrived, reckless fool. Got himself killed by that traitor. Serves him right."
Kinshiki turned toward him and said in a low tone, "Even if he was careless, for that disgrace of a traitor to take him down... it means that traitor has gained considerable power."
"It doesn't matter."
Momoshiki's voice was calm and indifferent. "I know that traitor's abilities inside and out. Even if Urashiki failed, with your help, we'll be able to capture him and bring him to justice."
As he spoke, a faint glow flickered across his Byakugan as he looked down toward the shinobi world, beginning his search for Otsutsuki Kaguya.
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The Shinobi World.
Konoha.
In the bedroom at the top of the Hokage Tower, Kaede's eyes slowly opened, only to see a beautiful face inches away from his own, clearly leaning in with intentions.
When she noticed he had awakened, Mei Terumi didn't flinch or retreat.
She stopped with her face nearly pressed against his, smiled playfully, and said, "Good morning, Hokage-sama. Time to get up. Breakfast is ready, and you've got to prepare for the Chunin Exam soon."
Kaede glanced at her suspiciously and tilted his head. "What were you trying to do just now?"
"Oh… I didn't get the chance to do anything yet."
Mei licked her lips with a glint in her eye. Her voice was smooth as silk. "Shall I do it now?"
Just as she leaned in again, a voice called from outside the room:
"Hey! Does it really take you that long just to wake him up?!"
Rin stepped into view, wearing a slightly greasy apron and holding a kitchen knife in one hand and a spatula in the other. She paused at the door and glanced toward the bed.
Noticing the situation, she squinted, gave a sweet (yet sharp) smile, ignored Mei entirely, and said warmly, "Kaede, you're awake. Hurry up and eat before breakfast gets cold."
Sensing Rin's killer intent, Mei slowly sat up, though she didn't move aside. Instead, she smiled back at Rin and said, "Why don't you go back and finish cooking? I'll help the Hokage get dressed."
Rin raised her hands slightly, the knife and spatula gleaming as she smiled just as sweetly. "We're out of cooking oil. Could you go buy some? If we don't get more, the food won't taste good. It's urgent."
Mei tilted her head. "Didn't we still have half a jar just now?"
Rin let out an exaggerated sigh. "We did, but Isobu accidentally drank it. He'll probably drink the rest, so we really need more."
The two women locked eyes.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Amid that quiet standoff, Kaede sat up calmly, got dressed without saying a word, and moved as if none of it concerned him in the slightest.
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Half an hour later.
Kaede stepped out of his bedroom in full dress. After a quick breakfast, he donned his Hokage cloak and considered wearing his hat but ultimately left it behind, casually tossing it on the table.
Without the traditional Hokage hat or even a mask, he walked straight out of the Hokage Tower toward the arena of the Fourth Round of the Chunin Exams.
The venue was located in a massive training field in the southern district of Konoha, surrounded by towering cliff walls and capable of hosting tens of thousands of spectators.
By now, the arena was already packed.
Most in attendance were Konoha villagers and shinobi, but nobles from all over the Land of Fire had also arrived to witness the spectacle.
"They say this is the biggest Chunin Exam ever held since the unification of the ninja world. With all these dignitaries present… he's definitely going to show up, isn't he?"
Sitting in a front-row seat on the grandstand, Kazahana Koyuki scanned the crowd as people poured in. Then suddenly, her eyes widened as she looked toward the eastern side of the arena.
There, wearing his Hokage cloak, Kaede strode in at a relaxed pace, flanked by seven or eight elite guards, heading straight for a private viewing platform reserved for him alone.
"Whoa! Hokage-sama is here!!"
The moment he appeared, the stadium erupted. Countless shinobi and civilians leapt to their feet, wildly waving and cheering in his direction. A number of young girls were especially animated, waving and screaming with all their might, desperate to catch his eye.
Some even looked ready to charge toward his section.
"I knew this would happen…"
Kakashi sighed and rubbed his temple.
He had told Kaede to wear a mask or at least the Hokage hat. But Kaede had ignored both suggestions and showed up with just the cloak, silver hair swaying gently in the breeze.
The cloak fluttered dramatically behind him as he waved at the crowd with a gentle smile.
Whoosh!
It was like dropping water into a hot oil pan, instantly explosive.
The entire stadium roared to life once more.
Kakashi's eyes twitched. He turned to the shinobi behind him and waved. "Teams Six, Seven, Eight, go help with crowd control!"
"Yes, sir!"
The teams responded and quickly scattered in all directions to restore order.
Amid the noise, Kaede's gaze swept over the crowd and locked momentarily on Koyuki in the front row. He gave her a light smile and then sat down in his private seat.
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Meanwhile, in the center of the arena, the contestants for the fourth round of the Chunin Exams had already assembled.
Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, Haku, Shikamaru Nara, Temari, and others stood ready.
The total of twenty participants had been divided into ten matchups.
Among them were Shikamaru vs. Neji, and Haku vs. Rock Lee. But the final match of the round, the most anticipated of all, was:
Naruto Uzumaki vs. Hinata Hyuga.
"A match against the Fourth Hokage's son, huh…"
In the upper rows of the stands, Hiashi Hyuga, along with Hizashi, Hanabi, and other members of the Hyuga clan, sat watching the display board. Hiashi murmured as he read the pairing list.
He turned to Hanabi and said, "Hanabi, pay close attention. You'll see just how powerful your sister has become under Hokage-sama's guidance."
Hanabi gave a cheeky smile. "That blonde guy doesn't stand a chance. Big sister is Hokage-sama's student, after all."
As she glanced toward Kaede, her eyes shimmered with admiration.
If only she could be his student too…
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria