Dilemma

"It has already been a year huh..." Ichigo had long since joined the Ambu, he was first put in a team, but as time passed and he became stronger, his accomplishment accumulated, and he was put under the direct command of the Hokage.

It had been announced that the chunin exam will be organized in Konoha this time and as such the preparation has already been made, in fact, the examinees have already started arriving in the village. This also means that the main casts have already graduated and are working under Kakashi.

'But that's none of my business.' Although they might be the reincarnation of Indra and Ashura, it didn't mean much for him anyway. They were no friends of his nor were they family so he didn't really care about any of this. His relatives are and always have been his priority, he is gonna get rid of anyone that targets them.

'I already killed some Root Ambu... But it seems like Danzo still didn't hear my warnings.' Ichigo thought, detecting the presence of three hidden ninjas, they seemed fairly strong as well. He was not a sensor, but after being in the Anbu his senses became even better, he even acquired a kind of sixth sense for those things.

He was currently home, and it was nighttime, they were probably keeping an eye on him and his family, Ichigo thought, but still, this was not something he was gonna tolerate.

And as such he quickly disappeared from his previous place, not even seconds later he already toured the entire surrounding and found the three hiding enemies.

"Two jonin and a chunin... Just some fodders." He said out loud but at the speed, he was moving they didn't even remark that he disappeared from his previous position, so they certainly can't hear him. "What should I do this time?" He wondered, acting as if they were already dead.

"Yes, I know, this seems like a good idea!" He quickly decided on his next step of action.

Vibrating one of his arms at great speed, he quickly killed all three of them. And took their corps to the Root base. He knew the location of this place because he worked directly under the Hokage, meaning he had access to a greater number of important information.

"They didn't even feel any pain... this will be my mercy." He departed, and although this was supposed to be a warning for the Uchiha killer, he knew that Danzo wouldn't stop.

That's also why, he planned to get rid of the man, during the Konoha crush Plan. He didn't really care about canon at this point, he was strong enough to be one of the tops of this world. He was strong yes but even faster. At this point, he wondered if even the Raikage could hold a candle to him in this department.

As arrived back home, he took a quick shower and got back in bed, he didn't need much sleep, but he liked sleeping, it was liberating.

'I previously decided not to save the third but now I am hesitating.' The reason he was hesitating was not because of canon or anything but he had mixed feelings and thoughts about this.

He read too many fics in which the third was depicted as a cold-hearted manipulator, but in this world, from his observation, Hiruzen is a kind-hearted man.

'He is in no way perfect, but he doesn't deserve to die like this.' He spent a high amount of time with the man, he could tell. Well, it was possible that he was being manipulated to think so as well.

'All of this is giving me a headache.' He couldn't decide what to do. He wanted to believe his instinct that Hiruzen is just a kind-hearted grandpa but his critical mind tell him that, all of this could be fake, and he could have been played all along.

'What should I trust? The fanfics I read? or the original show and my instinct?' He wondered as he fell asleep.

***

The next day.

"Falcon!" Hiruzen called, He was looking outside through the windows like he usually did. His back was facing the newly appeared Anbu.

"Since you already know the details, I won't beat around the bush." He said as he turned around to face the Anbu. The Ambu himself seemed young from his corpulence. "Some are already here but many more ninjas will be coming for the chunin examen." Hiruzen said.

"I already ordered for the village's security to be reinforced but the unexpected might happen." He said in a serious tone, that he had a bad feeling about all of this.

"Your specialty is concealment and your speed made that even easier, so I would like you to keep your eyes open." Hiruzen said in a serious tone and he knew he didn't have to say more. The boy was a smart one, he will without a doubt understand what he meant.

"Understood, Hokage-sama." Falcon as excepted perfectly understood what the Hokage meant. He didn't just not only understand it, but he also knew that the man's worries were founded.

"Then, that's all." Hiruzen contently nodded as the Anbu with the code name Falcon disappeared.

***

Later that day. Lee, Neji, Tenten, and Ichigo were having a meal at the Ichiraku ramen shop.

"Ichigo! As dashing as ever!" Tenten complimented as Ichigo took a seat a greeted everyone.

"What can I say, it's always important to be well dressed." Ichigo smiled, he was in what he would call a Muzan template, meaning it was Muzan's typical attire but minus the hat. And he looked really good in it.

"Say Ichigo, would your mother be able to make me something?" Tenten asked with expectation.

"Well, Probably, but do you have the monetary-" Ichigo was going to ask but was cut off. "Yes I do; please!" Tenten was getting too excited.

"Then you should pass by her shop and see if there is something you like and for her to take some measure." He said, but he could see from the corner of his eyes that Neji and Lee were also staring at him. "What?" He asked with a smile.

"Well... You see..." Lee couldn't speak for some reason while Neji looked away.

"If you also want something, then go check as well if there's anything you like." He said. His mother's store became quite popular this year since she proposed goods like no other on the market. Courtesy of him, of course.

"So Guy-sensei decided to sign you up?" Ichigo asked, he wanted to change the subject.

"Yes, but more as we asked him to do it." Neji corrected. They were the ones to take the initiative.

"Couldn't let you be the only chunin!" Lee said putting down his empty bowl of ramen. "Another one please." He asked for more. "I get you." Ichiraku took the order. Minutes later he served the workaholic another bowl. "Eat well, you will need to be operational for the chunin exam." The cook smiled. "It's on the house!" He added much to everyone's joy.

"Also, they say that the last survivor of the Uchiha clan will also be taking the exam... I want to fight him!" Lee said as he devoured the new bowl served to him.

"Sasuke Uchiha was it?" Ichigo said. "He is certainly strong enough to be a chunin." Ichigo also put down his now empty bowl. "Another one please." He said. "On it!"

"But he should not be at your level yet." Ichigo added while cleaning his mouth with a towel.

"That's what I have been telling him, but he is adamant to fight." Tenten gave her impunt.

"Well, I can certainly understand him, since he can't beat me he wants to persecute another dojutsu holder." Neji said, he had a smirk. which very much enjoyed Lee. "That's not the case, I just want to see what the holder of the legendary Sharingan is like."

"And can't beat you? I remember that our current score is 5 to 4 in my favor!" Lee added with a smirk of his own.

"Try without using the 8 gates to see." Neji countered. "Try without your Byakugan to see." Lee didn't back down.

This very much seemed childish, but this was the consequence of Ichigo's existence, Lee and Neji's personalities changed due to the fact that they frequent him. But still, some things are hard to change, like Lee's hunger for battle and Neji's hate for the main house of his clan.

Speaking of which, he met that little girl Hanabi quite often when he accompanied Neji to his clan's territory if it could be said such. In fact, he met her every time he go there, it was like she waited for him to show up.

'Is she...? Well, it wouldn't be a surprise considering how her sister was.' He thought, but it still perplexed him, if that was really the case then why him? What did he do to catch her attention or admiration? he didn't know.

***

The time skip is calculated, don't worry, although I don't like and won't repeat canon, the chunin exam is an important step to change the future, And believe me, you will be surprised.

Also, a year passed, where do you think the template percentage is right now?