While the second exam in the Forest of Death was in full swing, Mizuki rarely walked the streets without purpose. On this particular day, he strolled alone—lingering near pubs, hot springs, and the occasional women's bathhouse—not out of lust or boredom, but to confirm a single, crucial suspicion.
"That white-haired pervert... it has to be Jiraiya, right?" Mizuki muttered to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips as he spotted the unmistakable figure peeping over the fence of a women's open-air bath. "If this guy doesn't return to the village on time, there's no telling if Konoha can handle a joint invasion by Orochimaru and the Sand. If the situation shifts, and Konoha suffers heavy losses, things could spiral."
Satisfied that the Toad Sage had returned—true to his nature if not the schedule—Mizuki turned to leave. But halfway through the motion, a new thought struck him. He shifted direction toward the Hokage Tower.
At the office door, Mizuki gave a courteous knock.
"Come in," called the Third Hokage, his voice wearier than usual. With the Chunin Exams in full swing and tension rising between the villages, he hardly had a moment to spare.
Mizuki entered, shutting the door behind him with deliberate care.
"Mizuki? I don't recall assigning you a mission today. What brings you here?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, setting aside a scroll.
"Lord Third, I have something important to report."
"Oh?" The old man paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "Go on."
"I believe I've spotted Lord Jiraiya in the village," Mizuki said. "It's been years since I've seen him, but I'm confident I wasn't mistaken."
"Jiraiya?" That gave the Hokage pause. "Where?"
"Outside the women's open-air bathhouse."
"…I see." The Third let out a quiet sigh, clearly suppressing exasperation. "That does sound like him."
As shameless as always, Mizuki thought but didn't say.
"Were you noticed? Did you inform anyone else?"
"No, I came straight here after spotting him. I doubt he noticed me either."
"Good. Let's keep this between us."
"Understood."
"You're dismissed."
As Mizuki exited, the Third Hokage opened a drawer and retrieved a report on recent movements in the Hidden Sound and the Sand. His gaze lingered on the information long after Mizuki was gone.
"So… Jiraiya, you sensed it too, didn't you? Let's hope these are only shadows, and not signs of something worse."
Meanwhile, deep in the Forest of Death, the second exam was already descending into chaos. Battles flared unpredictably between Genin teams desperate to survive.
At the bank of a quiet stream, a nearly invisible ripple spread across the surface. A cluster of faint, translucent forms resembling jellyfish drifted toward the shore—part of Mizuki's cloaking genjutsu array. From the shallows emerged a thin, hunched form: one of Mizuki's synthetic clones, a chakra-core construct developed through his forbidden experiments.
The clone crept through the foliage undetected, its movements smooth and cautious. Mizuki had mapped every tree and root during the Forest's earlier monster-clearing mission. That knowledge now gave him free passage.
"There you are," Mizuki murmured, eyes narrowing as he spotted a familiar formation: a three-person team from Kusagakure—two boys and one girl. Not the imposters Orochimaru had eliminated and replaced, but the real team housing a rare prize.
Uzumaki Karin.
A carrier of the Uzumaki lineage's unique vitality and sensory powers, she was far more valuable than her teammates. And unlike Orochimaru, who was currently licking his wounds after a humiliating encounter with Uchiha Itachi, Mizuki was ready to move quietly.
Few targets remained who were both unprotected and useful. Karin had no clan watching her, no powerful jōnin sponsor, and no one would mourn a Kusagakure genin. She was perfect.
He spent hours rigging the surrounding terrain with traps, sensory seals, and genjutsu-triggered warning lines, awaiting the perfect moment. Below, Karin bickered with her teammates, one of whom already bore signs of injury.
"A pity," Mizuki muttered, watching the two boys. "Average strength. Might've passed the exams if not for bad timing. But this year's Chunin Exams are crawling with monsters. Genin like you are just background noise."
Just as he finished setting the last barrier seal, one of his early warning threads twitched.
"Already? That chakra… Uchiha Sasuke?"
He grinned.
"Well, this is convenient. I missed our chance to meet during the written exam, but this time, the stage is set."
Mizuki created another shadow clone and transformed it into a Kusagakure ninja. After all, with the real Kusa trio still alive, there was no shortage of scapegoats to blame.
On the forest floor, Sasuke had spotted one of Mizuki's disguised traps while gathering water. He advanced cautiously, newly activated Sharingan scanning for chakra irregularities—yet still, the trap detonated underfoot.
A burst of kunai shot past him, followed by an eruption of smoke and concussive force that sent him sprawling.
"Typical Konoha arrogance," Mizuki's voice echoed through the illusion barrier. "Charging alone into enemy territory. You think you're invincible because of your eyes?"
Masked Kusa shinobi emerged from the shadows—phantoms conjured by layered genjutsu. Real kunai mingled with fake ones, creating a disorienting storm of threats.
Sasuke coughed, barely avoiding another blast. He drew breath and retaliated.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A blazing orb scorched the illusory landscape, dissipating several illusions but leaving the real enemy untouched.
"Predictable," Mizuki said from the shadows. "Is that all the Uchiha have left?"
Sasuke growled, fury rising. "You talk like you know me. Who the hell are you?! Hiding like a coward."
"I know plenty," Mizuki taunted. "The only Uchiha left—weak, broken, and still arrogant. Can't even use your Sharingan properly."
"You want to see what it can do?"
Sharingan blazing, Sasuke charged again, this time weaving between real and false attacks. But Mizuki wasn't here to win. He was here to test.
As the illusion continued to distort space and pressure Sasuke's reactions, Mizuki evaluated calmly.
"He's fast. But inexperienced. Raw talent, no control."
Kunai aimed at Sasuke's eyes and barely missed. Mizuki's clone chuckled cruelly.
"Did your clan die for this? Pathetic."