Assigning Duties; Arrival

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Author's Note-

Some editorial changes were made

to the previous chapter.

One in concern is the part where

Hiruzen called out an ANBU agent.

"Kinoe" has now been changed to

"Tenzō" and yes you guys have

guessed it right!

It's him.

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(Whoosh!) Tenzō landed on the floor of the Hokage's room.

"have they assembled?" Hiruzen asked.

"Yes!" Tenzō reported.

"Good!" Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage cap and left the room.

…

All jounins and special jounins were assembled on the rooftop.

Hiruzen arrived on the rooftop, following which he walked to the center.

(Whoosh!)

The ANBU White Ops group and Anko lined up behind Hiruzen.

Tsunade, Shizune, and Inuzuka Hana with her ninja dog stood on the first row as a part of the medical ninja squad, followed by Maito Gai, Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma on the second row.

Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chouza, Nara Shikaku on the third row who were part of the Ino-Shika-Chou Squad,

Hiashi Hyūga as a stand-in for his brother's old team as a part of the Hidden Leaf tracking Squad along with Aburame Shibi (Shino's Dad) and Inuzuka Tsume (Kiba's mom) along with her Ninja Dog Kuromaru which was an adult canine with a wolfish appearance. As his name suggested, he had black fur with a white underside, missing left ear, and wore an eyepatch over his right eye.

The Hidden Leaf's tracking squad usually consisted of a Byakugan user to scan distances, not in human vision, dog user to track down enemy ninja's tracks and Insect user to also track down the ninjas through smell, or chakra. The three abilities combined make the perfect tracking squads.

Next was the Flying Thunder God Formation squad consisting of Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi stood in the fourth row.

Morino Ibiki from the interrogation and torture force along with Mibu Shinobu and Mozuku stood in the fifth row.

From the fifth row till the tenth row was filled with special jounin squads…

Hiruzen stared at the people that were assembled in front of him…

"I'm sure you all were briefed regarding this meeting a few days ago…" Hiruzen said.

"Yes!" Everyone nodded.

"As you all know, there was an invasion planned by Orochimaru and the Kazekage."

"As of two days ago…"

"The Kazekage has made clear of his intention to maintain the treaty since the decline of his respective village forced this plan," Hiruzen said.

"Hokage-sama!"

"Aren't you being lenient with the Kazekage?" One of the jounins asked.

"If you are a kage, you would understand the problems of running a village."

"All decisions are taken with public welfare in mind; this also includes the ninjas living in the village as well!" Hiruzen said.

The ninjas remained silent.

"As we speak Kakashi and Jiraiya are escorting the Kazekage to the village."

"The Kazekage does not intend to forgive Orochimaru…"

"I'm sure he will aid us in defense," Hiruzen said.

"Won't forgive Orochimaru?" Another person asked.

"The details will be revealed later."

"Shiranui Genma!" Hiruzen called out.

"Yes!" Genma ran to the front.

"I want you to take Hayate's old position as the new announcer for the Chuunin Exams," Hiruzen said.

"Yes!" Genma bowed, following which, he stood by Hiruzen's side.

"Medical Ninja Squad!" Hiruzen called out.

"Yes!" The three on the first row responded.

"Your squad will not treat the injured genins from the Chuunin Exams. You are to remain on standby during the Chuunin Exam within the stadium next to the audience seats in for quick response in case of injuries of a jounin or the people in the seating area " Hiruzen ordered.

"Yes!" Tsunade, Hana, Shizune accepted.

"Jounins whose Genin members are participating in the exam can remain within the stadium, but will be repositioned along with ANBU members across different seating areas to ensure a quick response from all directions," Hiruzen ordered.

"Hokage-sama!" Gai interrupted.

"What is it? Gai?" Hiruzen asked.

"Is Kakashi aware of today's plan?" Gai asked.

"He is on his way here with Jiraiya and the Kazekage."

"I will let him know of his duties once they arrive!" Hiruzen said.

"I see…" Gai murmured.

"Any other questions?" Hiruzen asked.

"No!" Gai bowed.

"Ino-Shika-Chou squad!" Hiruzen called out.

"Yes!" Inoichi, Shikaku, and Chouza responded.

"Your squad will take three special jounin squads under your wing to protect the village from within!" Hiruzen ordered.

"Yes!" The trio bowed.

"Tracking Squad!" Hiruzen called out.

"Yes!" Hiashi, Tsume, and Shibi responded.

"Take Two special jounin squads under your wing."

"All of you will sit amongst the audience."

"Your task is to track down any enemy ninjas from the stadium, in the event they flee, to prevent further destruction!" Hiruzen ordered.

"Yes!" The trio bowed.

"Raidō!"

"Iwashi!" Hiruzen called out

"Yes!" The two responded.

"You both follow me as my bodyguards!" Hiruzen ordered.

"Yes!" The two bowed.

"Now that everyone has been assigned their duties…"

"I am going to declare a scheduled Emergency," Hiruzen announced.

"Scheduled Emergency?" Some of the ninjas asked.

"Yes!"

"The Village will be put in a state of Level One Emergency once the Chuunin Exam starts."

"Children and Non-combatants will be relocated to a safe shelter until the invasion is over!" Hiruzen announced, following which he turned towards Anko.

"Help me spread the word!" Hiruzen said.

"Understood!" Anko nodded.

Hiruzen turned to face everyone once again.

"With this, I conclude the meeting!"

"You are all dismissed!" Hiruzen announced following which the two squads, Ino-Shika-Chou, and the tracking squad chose their special jounin squads.

"Asuma-sensei!"

"Huh?" Asuma turned around to see the Ino-Shika-Chou squad behind him.

"We are leaving those brats to you!" Shikaku said.

"Mm!"

"You can leave it to Me!" Asuma smiled.

"Raidō!"

"Iwashi!" Hiruzen called out

"Yes!" The two responded.

"Follow me to the Village Gates."

"They should be arriving in the next few minutes…" Hiruzen said, following which the trio left towards the direction.

…

About an hour later…

(Whoosh!) Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the Kazekage landed at the village gates.

"Hokage-sama!"

"Sensei!" Kakashi and Jiraiya greeted.

"Mm!" Hiruzen nodded, following which, he turned towards Rasa.

"Kazekage-dono!" Hiruzen greeted.

"Hokage-dono!" Rasa called out with difficulty following which he slightly bowed.

"I apologize for not seeing the truth for what it was…" Rasa apologized.

"No..no"

"I am happy that you are here as an ally today…"

"Better late than never as they always say…" Hiruzen smiled.

"Hokage-dono!"

"Thank You for giving me a chance."

"I won't let both of our villages down, I promise!" Rasa said.

"Mm!" Hiruzen nodded.

"Have you been able to communicate your current decision to the others?" Hiruzen asked.

"NO!"

"Not yet!"

"I must speak with my son and his team!" Rasa said urgently.

"Then allow me to guide you to the exam stadium!"

"You can meet them there!" Hiruzen said.

"All right!" Rasa nodded.

"Kakashi!"

"I have designated locations to be protected by various jounins."

"I'll show yours once we get there," Hiruzen said.

"Mm!" Kakashi nodded.

"Let's Go!" Hiruzen said following which the group left together.

…

(Whoosh!) Anko arrived at the academy.

"Anko-sama!" The man at the gate recognized.

"Call the head teacher!" Anko demanded.

"Ah…"

"The headteacher is a bit sick you see…" The man said.

"Call someone else then!" Anko demanded.

"Please wait for a moment." The man left Anko to call a teacher.

Soon…

"Anko-sama!" Iruka bowed towards her.

"Ah!"

"Iruka, it is you…" Anko stared at Iruka.

"What is it Anko-sama?" Iruka asked.

"The thing is…"

….

"I see…" Iruka nodded.

"I'll leave the evacuation to you," Anko said following which she left the area.

("I hope the students will survive this ordeal…") Iruka thought about the recent batch of nine rookies, as he walked back to the classroom.

"All right class!"

"Page Fifty-Five!" Iruka announced.

Meanwhile, Konohamaru stared at the sky, while sitting down near the window.

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In the street next to the stadium…

Two men were walking side by side.

"The first match is Hyūga Neji, right?" A man asked.

"Yeah!"

"He's the number one rookie from last year."

"Though, the boy is fighting against the number one rookie, Uzumaki Naruto from this year…" the man beside replied.

"true that!"

"But, you know what?" The man stopped walking after pausing.

"I heard some rumors about him…" the man lowered his voice and said.

"rumors?" The other man asked.

"Mhm!"

"They say that Naruto cheated and got the top scores, originally there was the Uchiha boy who was supposed to get the first place…" The man said.

"The Uchiha boy?"

"Of course, he is in a match against a ninja from the sand…"

"and I have heard some nasty rumors about him!" The other man said as he continued to walk.

"What rumors?" The man asked.

"That ninja from the sand kills for fun."

"He likes to soak his sand in the blood of his enemies." The other man said.

"Does it matter?, the Uchiha boy will trash him." the man said.

"I suppose you are right!" The other man said, following which he looked towards the stadium at the front.

"Your ticket and ID please." The ninja by the giant door asked.

"Here!" The duo presented.

"All right!"

"Please head towards the H column seat D-15 and 16 respectively."

"And welcome to the Chuunin Exam Arena!"