Shikamaru led the group through Konoha's war-torn streets, smoke billowing from distant buildings as explosions rocked the village perimeter. The sounds of battle echoed all around them—metal clashing against metal, jutsu incantations, and the occasional roar of a summoned beast.

  "Two blocks ahead," Neji called out, his Byakugan active. "Large group of chakra signatures. Mostly undeveloped—academy students."

  "How many adults?" Sasuke asked, kunai ready in his hand.

  "Twelve. Clustered primarily at the front and rear of the group."

  Shikamaru nodded. "That matches the standard academy evacuation protocol. Four instructors at the front, four in the middle, four bringing up the rear."

  They rounded the corner into a large plaza that had been cordoned off during the exams. The academy students—around two hundred children ranging from six to eleven years old—huddled together in tight formations. Some of the youngest ones cried openly, while the older students maintained brave faces despite the fear evident in their eyes.

  The instructors stood at attention, their faces grim but composed. Mizuki was at the front, clipboard in hand, checking names off a list. His silver hair caught the sunlight as he turned to greet them.

  "Ah, reinforcements! Perfect timing." Mizuki waved cheerfully. "We were just about to move to the secondary location."

  Sakura's eyes narrowed as she scanned the group. "Where's Iruka-sensei?"

  "He split off to draw away some Sound ninja who were coming too close," Mizuki answered without hesitation.

  Kiba sniffed the air, Akamaru growling softly at his side. "Something's off," he muttered.

  "I don't see any combat injuries," Sasuke noted, eyeing the instructors. "If you evacuated through the east sector like protocol states, you would have encountered at least one skirmish."

  Lee stepped forward. "And why are you heading north? The emergency shelters are to the east, beneath the Hokage Monument."

  Shikamaru moved to the front of their group, hands casually in his pockets but shoulders tense. "The route deviation is what concerns me most. Jonin Commander Nara specifically ordered academy evacuations to the monument shelters. Why change course?"

  Mizuki's smile faltered for just a moment before returning, slightly forced. "The primary shelters were compromised during the initial attack. We intercepted intelligence that enemy forces were targeting them specifically. Standard protocol in such situations is to divert to secondary evacuation sites."

  "Funny," Shikamaru drawled, "as the son of the Jonin Commander, I would have heard about that contingency. And I didn't."

  The other genin formed a loose semicircle behind Shikamaru, subtly positioning themselves between the academy students and the exits from the plaza.

  One of the female instructors near the back shifted uncomfortably, exchanging nervous glances with another teacher. "Mizuki-san, what's going on? You said this was an emergency drill coordinated with the exam security forces."

  Mizuki sighed, his cheerful demeanor dropping away like a discarded mask. His eyes hardened as he looked at the genin. "You're too smart for your own good. Must be why they sent you specifically."

  He set down his clipboard, straightening to his full height. A few of the academy students closest to him backed away instinctively, sensing the change in his posture.

  "Yes, I work for Lord Orochimaru. Have been for years now." He said this loudly enough for all to hear. "And no, we're not going to any emergency shelters."

  Gasps erupted from both students and the four teachers who weren't part of the conspiracy. The eight compromised instructors moved in unison, forming a protective barrier around Mizuki and drawing weapons.

  "Traitor!" Kiba snarled, Akamaru barking aggressively beside him.

  A flash of genuine anger crossed Mizuki's face. "I'm not the traitor here!" he snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at the Hokage Monument in the distance. "The village betrayed me first!"

  His voice echoed across the plaza, momentarily silencing even the distant sounds of battle.

  "I gave everything for this village," Mizuki continued, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Fifteen years of service. Seventy-four missions—thirty-three B-rank, forty-one C-rank. I did whatever it took to complete those missions. Whatever it took!"

  His eyes darted to some of the older academy students. "They don't teach you about the ugly parts in the academy, do they? The things we have to do in the field when there's no clean option. The lines we cross to protect this village."

  Sasuke stepped forward. "If you're so loyal to the village, why help Orochimaru attack it?"

  "Because this village stopped being worth protecting when it stopped rewarding loyalty!" Mizuki's fist clenched. "I earned advancement. I earned recognition. But all I got was suspicion and sidelong glances because I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty."

  He paced in a tight circle, agitation visible in every movement. "Do you know what it's like to come back from a mission where you've done terrible things for the sake of the village, only to have the Hokage look at you like you're damaged goods? Like you're a liability?"

  "That doesn't justify betraying Konoha," Neji stated flatly.

  "Doesn't it?" Mizuki laughed bitterly. "The Third Hokage betrayed this village long before I did. You're all too young to remember, but I do. After the war, he had to be practically forced to step down. The elders and clan heads practically dragged him out of the office to make way for the Fourth."

  His eyes narrowed. "And then, when the Fourth died stopping the Nine-Tails, before his body was even cold, the Third snatched the hat back up. No interim leadership, no consideration of other candidates."

  Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "You mean like Orochimaru?"

  "Exactly like Orochimaru!" Mizuki nodded emphatically. "The most brilliant shinobi the village has ever produced. The strongest of the Sannin. The obvious choice for leadership."

  "The obvious choice for a psychiatric evaluation, maybe," Kiba muttered.

  Mizuki ignored him. "Instead, Sarutobi clings to power like a drowning man, giving positions of authority only to his closest supporters and those who share his weak ideals."

  One of the non-compromised teachers stepped forward, trembling but determined. "Mizuki, these are children! Whatever your grievances with the Hokage, they shouldn't be caught in the middle of this!"

  "Shut up, Suzume," Mizuki snapped. "The children won't be harmed. Lord Orochimaru values them as Konoha's future—a future he intends to guide."

  He turned back to the genin. "Which brings me to you. You're exceptional, all of you. The finest genin your generation has produced. Lord Orochimaru has spoken highly of your potential."

  His voice softened, becoming almost reasonable. "You don't have to die today. You don't even have to fight for him yet. Just step aside and let us take the children to safety. Real safety, away from the battle."

  "Take them where?" Sakura demanded.

  "To the secure facility Lord Orochimaru has prepared outside the village," Mizuki answered. "Once the fighting is over and he sits in the Hokage's chair, the children will be returned to their families. Those whose families survive, anyway."

  "And those who don't?" Shino asked, speaking for the first time, his insects buzzing ominously around him.

  Mizuki shrugged. "Will be raised to serve the new regime. It's better than being orphaned with no direction."

  "You expect us to trust Orochimaru with children?" Sakura's voice dripped with disgust. "The same man who experimented on village citizens? Who turned that poor girl Isaribi into a fish monster?"

  "The same man who gave me this," Sasuke added, touching the curse mark on his neck.

  Mizuki's eyes gleamed when he saw the mark. "The gift he gave you, you mean. Power beyond what the academy could ever teach you. What the Third would ever allow you to learn."

  He extended his hand toward the genin. "Think about it. All of you have been held back by Konoha's restrictive teachings. The Hyūgas, bound by their clan's rigid hierarchy. The Uchiha, denied the full potential of their Sharingan. Even you, Nara—your clan techniques barely scratch the surface of what shadow manipulation could achieve."

  Mizuki pointed at Sakura. "And you. Orochimaru has been very interested by your transformation. Imagine what Orochimaru could help you become if this is what you achieved on your own."

  Lee stepped forward, his bandaged fists clenched. "A true shinobi does not seek power at any cost. We train to protect our precious people!"

  "Pretty words," Mizuki sneered. "Did Gai teach you that? Another one of Sarutobi's devoted followers who never questions orders." He looked at all of them. "You're being manipulated. I'm offering you a chance to see the bigger picture."

  Hinata shook her head. "The only manipulation here is yours, Mizuki-sensei."

  "I'm trying to save your lives!" Frustration colored Mizuki's voice. "The fighting has already begun. Lord Orochimaru will defeat the Third—it's inevitable. When he does, those who stood with the old regime will suffer."

  "Then we'll suffer," Shikamaru said simply.

  "Don't be fools!" Mizuki gestured to the children behind him. "Think of them, if not yourselves. They need protection. They need to be taken somewhere safe until this is over."

  "We agree," Sasuke said coldly. "Which is why we're taking them to the real shelters."

  Mizuki's expression hardened. "So that's your answer? You'd throw away your lives for a decrepit old man who's led this village into decline?"

  "For the Will of Fire," Sakura corrected. "For the village that raised us."

  "The village that took everything from me," Sasuke added, his Sharingan activating. "But still gave me something to protect."

  One of the compromised instructors leaned toward Mizuki. "They're not going to cooperate. We should just take them all by force."

  Mizuki considered this, eyeing the determined genin before him. Eight elite chunin-level instructors against nine genin and four washed-out chunin should have been an easy calculation, but something in their unified stance gave him pause.

  "Last chance," he offered, hand falling to his weapons pouch. "Stand aside, or join us. Otherwise..." He left the threat unspoken.

  For several heartbeats, silence dominated the plaza. Mizuki's hand remained on his weapons pouch, while the Konoha genin stood in resolute formation before him. Several academy students were openly crying now, sensing the tension.

  "So that's how it is," Mizuki finally said, his voice unnervingly calm. "I suppose we'll have to do this the hard way."

  He nodded almost imperceptibly to his co-conspirators. In that instant, eight chunin instructors moved in perfect coordination, drawing weapons and rushing forward in a practiced formation.

  "Now!" Shikamaru commanded.

  The genin exploded into action, meeting the attack head-on. Lee and Neji surged forward, intercepting the first wave while Sasuke's hands blurred through signs.

  "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A massive fireball roared from Sasuke's mouth, forcing three instructors to break formation to avoid being incinerated.

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  The academy students scattered, screaming in panic as kunai and shuriken flew overhead. The four loyal teachers tried desperately to corral them, but chaos had already taken hold.

  "Don't just stand there!" Konohamaru shouted, jumping onto a bench to be seen above the crowd. "Everyone follow me! Special Corps formation, now!"

  Inari appeared at his side, whistle between his lips. He blew three sharp blasts—the emergency evacuation signal they'd been taught, instantly grabbing the attention of the young students.

  "Class leaders, take point!" Moegi called out, her voice surprisingly authoritative. "Everyone else, form up behind them!"

  Udon, despite wiping his perpetually runny nose, stepped forward confidently. "First-years, to me!"

  The chaos began to organize as Konohamaru's group established control. Even the youngest academy students recognized the drill they'd practiced, instinctively falling into formation. Those who were too overwhelmed or confused were gently guided by older students.

  Meanwhile, the battle exploded across the plaza. Lee was a green blur intercepting two chunin instructors simultaneously. His strikes were blindingly fast, forcing both opponents onto the defensive.

  "First Gate: Gate of Opening...release!" Lee's skin flushed red as his chakra surged. "Second Gate: Gate of Healing...release!"

  Nearby, Hinata and Neji fought back-to-back, their Gentle Fist techniques creating a defensive perimeter that none of the instructors dared breach directly.

  "Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!" Neji thrust his palm forward, sending a concentrated blast of chakra that knocked a charging instructor off his feet.

  Hinata moved with newfound confidence, her strikes precise and deliberate. "You won't get past us!"

  Kiba and Akamaru had transformed into twin whirlwinds of fangs and claws, keeping three instructors pinned down with their ferocious Fang Passing Fang technique. The plaza reverberated with their feral growls as they tore through anything in their path.

  "Is this what you taught us?" Kiba snarled between attacks. "To betray our own village?"

  Sakura moved with startling efficiency, her rabbit-enhanced legs propelling her between opponents. She caught one instructor with a devastating kick that sent him flying into a wall, the concrete cracking from the impact.

  "Don't hold back!" she called to the others. "They're not our teachers anymore—they're enemy combatants!"

  Behind the front-line fighters, Shino stood unnervingly still, his hands extended. Clouds of insects poured from his sleeves, forming a living barrier between the escaping students and several instructors attempting to intercept them.

  "My insects find your chakra... distasteful," Shino stated flatly as his kikaichu swarmed two chunin, draining their chakra and leaving them collapsed on the ground.

  Sasuke provided ranged support, his Sharingan tracking every movement. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Multiple fireballs peppered the area, cutting off escape routes and forcing the enemy instructors to keep their distance.

  Shikamaru's shadow stretched across the ground, branching into multiple tendrils that captured and immobilized instructors trying to flank their position. "Your tactics are predictable," he drawled. "We've been studying under you for years. Did you think we weren't paying attention?"

  "How are they this coordinated?" one of the instructors gasped, narrowly dodging Lee's Dynamic Entry. "They're just genin!"

  Mizuki gritted his teeth. "They're not 'just' anything. They're the elite of their generation." Despite his frustration, there was unmistakable pride in his voice. "Look at them—this is what Konoha produces when it gets out of their way!"

  Near the edge of the plaza, Karin had established a makeshift triage area, her sensory abilities allowing her to monitor the entire battlefield while directing the flow of academy students.

  "Three more hostiles approaching from the northeast," she called out. "Chunin-level chakra signatures, moving fast!"

  "Got it!" Kiba acknowledged, breaking off to intercept.

  As the battle raged, Konohamaru, Inari, Moegi, and Udon had successfully organized most of the academy students into an orderly evacuation. The loyal instructors formed a protective ring around them, fighting off any traitorous chunin who broke through the genin's defensive line.

  "This way!" Konohamaru directed, pointing toward an alleyway that would lead them toward the Hokage Monument. "Quiet and quick, just like we practiced!"

  Inari ran alongside him, a determined look on his face. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad Sasuke-san made us run all those evacuation drills."

  "I still think the 'surprise attack by giant toads' scenario was a bit much," Moegi muttered.

  "Not looking so ridiculous now, is it?" Udon replied, adjusting his glasses while keeping pace.

  A chunin instructor suddenly landed in their path, three kunai already flying toward them. "You're not going anywhere!"

  Before the weapons could reach the students, they were knocked aside by a shuriken. Suzume, one of the loyal teachers, stepped protectively in front of the children.

  "I taught you that throw, Kaito," she said coldly. "Though clearly not well enough."

  The traitorous instructor sneered. "Always the perfect teacher's pet, weren't you, Suzume? Never questioning orders, never thinking for yourself."

  "I'm thinking quite clearly now," she replied, drawing a kunai. "Students, continue the evacuation! I'll handle this!"

  The children rushed past as Suzume engaged her former colleague in combat. Similar scenes played out across their escape route as loyal chunin teachers intercepted their traitorous counterparts.

  Back in the plaza, Shikamaru caught Hinata's attention. "We need to get these kids to safety fast! The main streets aren't safe with battles all over the village."

  Hinata nodded. "What do you suggest?"

  "Underground." Shikamaru reached into his pouch, pulling out a small scroll. With a quick hand sign, a puff of smoke revealed a small black rabbit.

  "You called, Shikamaru?" Anbori asked, his nose twitching with excitement.

  "I need a tunnel—big enough for the academy students to pass through. From here to the emergency shelters in the Hokage Monument."

  Anbori's eyes widened. "That's... that's really far! And I'm not exactly built for making human-sized tunnels. Even for children, that's asking a lot."

  "I know," Shikamaru acknowledged. "But we're running out of options."

  The rabbit hesitated. "I mean, I could try, but it would take hours, and the structural integrity would be questionable at best..."

  Shikamaru reached into his pocket and pulled out a small seed. "If you do this, I'll get you a full basket of Yamanaka special hybrid carrots. The ones they normally only sell to daimyos."

  Anbori's ears perked up instantly. "The golden-hearted variety with the sweet tops?"

  "The very same."

  The rabbit's paws shuffled with excitement. "Well... I might be able to manage something. But I'll need help."

  Hinata stepped forward, biting her thumb. "I can assist with that." She performed a quick series of hand signs. "Summoning Jutsu!"

  In a puff of smoke, Carrot appeared, her orange fur gleaming in the sunlight. "Hinata-chan! What's up? Ooh, is that a battle? Can I help? I've been practicing my sickle techniques and—"

  "We need you to dig," Hinata interrupted gently. "With Anbori. A tunnel large enough for the academy students to escape through."

  Carrot's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "Ugh, digging duty? With him?" She shot a look at the black rabbit.

  "Hey!" Anbori protested. "I'm the best digger in the warren and you know it!"

  "Yeah, yeah, for those tiny little bolt-holes you call tunnels. This needs to be big enough for humans."

  "Children," Hinata corrected. "And there are lives at stake."

  Carrot sighed dramatically. "Fine. But you owe me, Hinata-chan! Like, premium vegetable smoothies for a week!"

  "Deal," Hinata agreed quickly.

  The two rabbits sized each other up before Anbori twitched his nose. "I'll take point. You shore up the walls behind me."

  "Don't tell me how to dig," Carrot grumbled, but followed as Anbori dove into the ground with surprising speed, dirt flying in all directions.

  Within minutes, a sizable tunnel entrance had formed, sloping gently downward. The rabbits worked with astonishing efficiency, Anbori's front paws becoming blurs of motion while Carrot packed and reinforced the tunnel walls with chakra-infused soil.

  Shikamaru turned to the others. "Karin, Kiba, Shino, Hinata—you four come with me. We'll escort the students through. Lee, Neji, Sasuke, Sakura—can you hold them off long enough for us to get everyone through?"

  The four fighters nodded grimly.

  "We've got this," Sakura affirmed, cracking her knuckles. Her ears twitched, picking up the sound of approaching footsteps. "Someone else is coming."

  A woman with dark hair landed gracefully in the plaza, surveying the battlefield with calm detachment. Her Konoha forehead protector gleamed in the sunlight.

  "Tsubaki," Mizuki called out, relief evident in his voice. "Perfect timing!"

  "Neji, Lee!" Sakura called over her shoulder, her rabbit ears twitching as they tracked multiple approaching enemies. "We'll handle this!"

  Lee hesitated, his bandaged fists clenched. "But Sakura-san—"

  "We've got this," Sasuke cut in, Sharingan swirling as he analyzed their opponents. "Those students are the priority. We can't let Orochimaru get his hands on the next generation."

  Neji gave a curt nod. "Understood. Lee, come on."

  "Yosh! We shall protect them with our lives!" Lee saluted before darting to intercept the incoming enemies, Neji following close behind.

  Sasuke and Sakura stood alone in the plaza now, facing Mizuki and the newly arrived Tsubaki. Bodies of unconscious or wounded Academy instructors—both loyal and traitorous—lay scattered around them. The sounds of battle echoed from all directions across the village.

  Mizuki smiled, twirling a kunai lazily around his finger. "Look at you two. Standing your ground against a pair of chunin without flinching. So different from the kids who used to hang on my every word in class."

  "We're not kids anymore," Sasuke replied coldly.

  "Indeed you're not." Mizuki's smile widened. "Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura—or should I say Uchiha Sakura now, given the symbol on your back?"

  Sasuke shifted slightly, positioning himself in front of Sakura.

  "I have to say, I'm proud of how far you've come." Mizuki's voice dripped with false sincerity. "Top of your class, passing the Chunin Exams preliminaries, fighting off jonin-level opponents in Wave. It's quite the résumé for rookies barely out of the Academy."

  Tsubaki moved to Mizuki's side, eyeing the genin with detached amusement. "You were right, darling. They've turned out impressively well. Especially the little rabbit girl. Quite the transformation."

  "I told you," Mizuki preened, slipping an arm around Tsubaki's waist. "My students always excel. It's all in the teaching."

  Tsubaki giggled, pressing herself against his side. "So modest, too." She ran a finger down his arm. "You always did know how to spot potential."

  Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Are we supposed to be flattered that you're taking credit for our abilities after betraying the village?"

  "Betrayal is such a harsh word," Mizuki sighed dramatically. "I prefer to think of it as just early acceptance of the new Hokage's orders."

  Sasuke kept his gaze fixed on the pair as he whispered to Sakura. "Notice something?"

  "He's not chasing the students anymore," she murmured back. "None of them are."

  "Exactly."

  Mizuki caught their exchange and smirked. "Very observant, Sasuke. Your eyes see more than just chakra flows, I see."

  "You never actually cared about the students," Sasuke stated flatly. "This was all a ruse to split our forces."

  "Not entirely," Mizuki shrugged. "I genuinely was offering them protection. By keeping them away from the Monument."

  Sakura felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?"

  "Come now, Sakura-chan. You were always the smart one." Mizuki's smile turned predatory. "By the time those children reach the Hokage Monument, this little conflict will be over. The Third will be dead, and Lord Orochimaru will be addressing the village as its Fifth Hokage."

  "You're delusional," Sasuke spat. "The Hokage isn't that easy to kill."

  "We never said it would be easy," Tsubaki interjected smoothly. "But it is inevitable." Tsubaki disengaged from Mizuki's embrace, circling around him like a cat. "This is the way the world works. You know this, Sakura." Her voice was honey-sweet, dripping with condescension. "You pick a winning horse and back it to the end. Sure, there might be some bumps on the road, but you stick to your man, thick and thin."

  She molded herself against Mizuki's side, who wrapped an arm around her possessively.

  "That's what you've done with the Uchiha, isn't it?" Tsubaki continued, nodding toward Sasuke. "Transformed your entire body, risked your life repeatedly—all to secure your position at his side. I respect that kind of dedication. It's exactly what I've done with Mizuki."

  Sakura bristled, her ears flattening against her head. "That's not—"

  "We're not so different, you and I," Tsubaki cut her off. "We both recognize power and align ourselves with it. The only difference is that I chose the winning side."

  "If you're so confident, why divert the students?" Sasuke demanded. "Most of the civilians have evacuated by now. Konoha will start its counterattack any minute."

  Mizuki threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing off the empty buildings surrounding the plaza.

  "You think we don't know that? Orochimaru-sama and I are both from Konoha—of course we know the protocols." He wiped a tear of mirth from his eye. "Did you think this was the extent of the Fifth Hokage's planning?"

  Something in his voice—the utter certainty, the complete lack of doubt—unsettled Sakura deeply. A trap within a trap, then. But what?

  "You're not going to win," she insisted, though her voice lacked its earlier conviction.

  "We already have," Tsubaki replied simply. "You just don't know it yet."

  With practiced synchronicity, Mizuki and Tsubaki each reached into their pouches and withdrew small glass vials. The liquid inside Mizuki's was a murky purple, while Tsubaki's contained a familiar golden substance that seemed to capture and refract the sunlight.

  Sakura's breath caught in her throat. "That's—"

  "Recognize it?" Tsubaki smiled, holding up the vial. The golden liquid inside was unmistakable—the acceleration elixir Queen Joousa had given to Sakura years ago, though altered with strange dark striations running through it.

  "How did you—?"

  "You really should be more careful where you keep your valuable possessions," Tsubaki chided. "Though I suppose I should thank you for your unwitting contribution to the revolution of the Leaf."

  Sasuke glanced at Sakura, confusion evident in his eyes.

  "It's mine," Sakura explained quickly, her voice tight. "The special elixir the Queen gave me years ago—the one to accelerate my transformation. I never used it. It was in my room."

  "Combined with Lord Orochimaru's enhancement formula," Mizuki added proudly. "A perfect synthesis of two revolutionary approaches to human enhancement."

  Tsubaki uncorked her vial, the scent of honey and something sharper—chemical and unnatural—wafting from it. "To the new Leaf Village."

  "To power without limitations," Mizuki echoed, uncorking his own vial.

  "Don't!" Sakura leapt forward, but it was too late.

  In perfect unison, they tipped their heads back and drained the contents of their vials.

  High above the village, a streak of light shot into the sky, bursting into a distinctive pattern of purple sparks. The signal was unmistakable.

  "What is that?" Sasuke demanded, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

  "The beginning of the end for the old Konoha," Mizuki answered cryptically. "We've played our part. Now it's time for the main event."

  Across the village, on the outer wall, a figure with white hair and red markings above his eyes watched the signal flare with satisfaction. Kimimaro turned to the assembled Sound ninja behind him, his expression impassive.

  "Orochimaru-sama's signal," he stated calmly. "Time to begin phase two."