SHINOBI EXAM

"Is this a swearing-in ceremony before going out to battle?"

Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage, cast a glance at the Sand Shinobi. His eyes lingered on Gaara, the red-haired boy who had once declared, "No strangers allowed in."

He turned his attention to the more mature version of Gaara, shown in the video. "He doesn't look like a particularly charismatic individual. What could someone like him say to unite this fractured alliance? It's no small feat to rally the five great nations, each steeped in years of hatred."

Tobirama had once tried to bridge these divides himself, and though he succeeded to an extent, he knew just how monumental the task was.

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Silence in the Swearing-In

In the video, silence reigned. Gaara stood before the vast Ninja Alliance, staring at the sea of shinobi assembled beneath him. His expression remained stoic, unreadable. He appeared hesitant, as though unsure of what to say.

Kakashi Hatake, the battle-hardened Jonin of Konoha, was the first to break the tension. "Gaara," he said, his voice calm and encouraging, "You are the commander-in-chief of this great alliance. Please, say a few words to inspire the troops."

Yet, the young Kazekage remained silent.

The ninjas below exchanged nervous glances. Gaara was only 18 years old, the youngest of the alliance commanders. The oldest, Mifune of the Land of Iron, was 65, with decades of experience. Even the next youngest, Darui of the Hidden Cloud, was 26. Many in the crowd began to murmur, questioning if Gaara was truly fit to lead.

"Can we really trust a child to lead us into battle?" a burly Iwagakure ninja muttered. His voice carried, and others nodded in agreement. "He's too young. What does he know of war?"

A Sand Shinobi nearby bristled at the remark. "Gaara-sama is no mere child! You don't know anything about him, so keep your mouth shut!"

Tempers flared. The Iwagakure ninja snapped back, his voice rising. "Humph! All I know is that Sand Shinobi were our enemies not long ago. How do we know they won't betray us?"

"You Rock Shinobi are no better! We fought you tooth and nail in the last war!"

The argument escalated. Tensions simmered, threatening to boil over as more voices joined in. Old grudges surfaced, and mutual distrust spread like wildfire.

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Old Grudges Resurface

From the Hidden Leaf contingent, a young Hyuga ninja, his Byakugan deactivated, muttered under his breath. "They're not wrong. Sand was behind the attack on our village during the Chunin Exams. If it weren't for them, Lord Third Hokage might still be alive..."

"Hyuga's Fire Disciple!" another Konoha ninja whispered urgently, trying to calm him. "Keep your emotions in check. This isn't the time or place for this."

"I know!" the Hyuga retorted, his fists trembling. "But it's hard to forget. Or forgive."

Meanwhile, in the real world, the present-day Hyuga clan leader, Hiashi, frowned as he watched the video. His stoic exterior gave nothing away, but inside, he felt a pang of guilt. The death of his brother, Hizashi, haunted him still. He could see the anguish on the younger ninjas' faces in the video, and it mirrored his own unresolved grief.

Neji, Hiashi's nephew, clenched his fists as he watched the argument unfold. His mind raced with memories of his father's sacrifice and the injustices his branch family endured. "How can they expect us to fight alongside those who caused us so much pain?"

Hinata, standing beside Neji, placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Brother Neji... please, try to stay calm."

Neji exhaled sharply, trying to suppress his anger. "Calm? They expect us to work with the very people responsible for my father's death. How can I stay calm?"

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The Weight of Leadership

As the argument in the video continued to escalate, Kakashi and Mifune exchanged worried glances. If the alliance unraveled now, before even facing the enemy, the war would be lost before it began.

All eyes turned back to Gaara. The young Kazekage still hadn't spoken. His face betrayed no emotion, but his eyes scanned the crowd. He seemed to take in every word, every insult, and every accusation.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"Silence," he commanded, his voice calm yet authoritative. It cut through the din like a blade.

The crowd fell quiet, more out of curiosity than respect.

Gaara took a step forward. "I am Gaara of the Sand. I was once a weapon. A monster created to destroy. I know what it means to hate, to kill, and to be alone."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. The ninjas below listened intently, their animosity momentarily subdued.

"But today, I stand here not as a monster or a weapon. I stand here as one of you—a shinobi. And I tell you this: our enemy cares nothing for our past grievances. Madara Uchiha seeks to erase us all, to turn us into mere tools for his ambitions. If we continue to fight among ourselves, we are doing his work for him."

Gaara paused, his eyes scanning the crowd. "We have all lost something to war. Family. Friends. Homes. But if we let our losses divide us, we will lose everything. Our villages. Our future. Ourselves."

The crowd murmured, his words beginning to resonate.

"We do not have to like each other. We do not have to forgive the past. But we must fight together. If we do not, we will all perish. I ask you not as a commander, but as a fellow shinobi: fight with me. Fight for the future."

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Reflections and Realizations

The video froze on Gaara's determined face, and the scene shifted back to the audience watching in the present day. Even those who had doubted Gaara felt a grudging respect for his words.

Senju Tobirama nodded thoughtfully. "The boy has wisdom beyond his years. It seems he has learned much from his past."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sighed deeply. "He carries a heavy burden. As did I."

Tobirama glanced at him. "The burden of leadership is never light. But you, Monkey, did your best. The world you inherited after my death was far from ideal."

Hiruzen's expression darkened. "I made many mistakes. Naruto... the Uchiha... the Hyuga... I failed so many times."

"You did what you could with what you had," Tobirama said firmly. "No leader is perfect. Not even my brother."

Nearby, Orochimaru, who had been watching from the shadows, smirked. "The old man is feeling nostalgic, it seems."

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The Third Hokage's Legacy

The discussion turned to Hiruzen's reign and the decisions he made. Many in the audience had strong opinions about his handling of Naruto, the Uchiha Massacre, and the Hyuga incident.

"I hated the Third for what he allowed to happen to Naruto," one viewer admitted. "But looking back, I understand why he made those choices."

Another nodded. "If Naruto's identity as Minato's son had been public, every enemy of Konoha would have targeted him. The Third was protecting him the only way he knew how."

"True," a third agreed. "And let's not forget, the Third inherited a village recovering from the First and Second Ninja Wars. The pressure he faced was unimaginable."

In the background, Danzo sneezed, muttering to himself, "Someone must be talking about me."

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Final Thoughts

As the video ended, the audience was left in deep thought. Gaara's speech had reminded them of the importance of unity, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The Third Hokage's legacy, though controversial, was a testament to the complexity of leadership.

For Hiruzen, the video was bittersweet. It was a reminder of his failures, but also of the resilience of the new generation. "Perhaps," he mused, "the future will not be as bleak as I once feared."

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Author's Note:

The Third Hokage often gets a lot of hate for his decisions, but when you consider the context—the wars, the political pressure, and the fragile peace he had to maintain—his actions make more sense. He wasn't perfect, but he did his best to guide Konoha through turbulent times. Leadership is never easy, especially in a world as unforgiving as this.

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