Chapter 42

The morning was overcast, there were no clouds or blue skies, now Team 7 was walking towards the main building where the first stage of the exam would be held, as soon as they got inside they saw many participants looking at Team 7, paying special attention, Sakura was being looked at because she was the best in the class, Sakura was looked at because she was the best in the class, Naruto was looked at because many knew what was inside him, and Sasuke was looked at as someone who knew the main hero of Konoha personally, everyone was looking at them as they walked down the corridor, suddenly Neji Hyuga himself stood against them, he continued to look at Sasuke with a surly look, and Naruto and Sakura just stood behind them and listened to their conversation.

-You're Sasuke Uchiha, aren't you-" Neji asked cheekily.

-Who's asking? - Sasuke replied indifferently.

-I'm Neji Hyuga, the best in my class," Neji answered him calmly, then translating to a cocky look continued, "I know Itachi Uchiha, the protagonist-hero of Konoha who destroyed the cursed clan to save the entire village and you don't look anything like him.

Neji had never respected the Uchiha, because he had a bad attitude towards them, even when he passed by them, they looked at him with indifference, they also considered themselves superior when they humiliated him, also his father Hizashi Hyuga, Neji had no respect for any of them, but as time went on he began to admire only one Uchiha, he was the one who even killed everyone in his clan for the sake of the village, something that even Neji couldn't do, that was the only reason why he was very well liked by Itachi and had a great view, when a year ago he came back from a rank-S mission, together with the head of the Hyuga clan, he even learned that in that mission he was able to defeat the resurrected second, because of that he began to respect him more, and looking at Sasuke he saw the last of that damned clan, who was looking right now at him as well, at this moment from what he heard, Sasuke made a vengeful face for a moment and clenched his fists and added:

-I doubt that a pathetic parody of a non-main branch of the Hyuga clan will realize how superior our clan is," Sasuke replied in the same indifferent tone.

-Sasuke, calm down," Sakura added sharply to Sasuke's side as she knew there was no way he could beat Neji now.

-I always knew that Uchiha don't change and stay the same emotionally, except for Itachi," Neji said with a slight smile, looking at Sasuke with disdain, seeing the last of those vengeful Uchiha who wanted to start a revolution.

Sasuke couldn't stand it and immediately rushed towards him with his foot, and Neji just smiled and wanted to fend off his attack with his fist, but suddenly Genin in a green jumpsuit and bushy eyebrows stood between them and added "This is not the best time to fight, After Rock-Lee finished the last sentence, Neji and Sasuke nodded, and then they simply separated, Rock-Lee notices Sakura and approaches her:

-Be my girlfriend I'll protect you from everyone-" Lee said with a smile through all his shiny teeth.

-That will never happen," Sakura replied with a pout of her lips as she looked away.

The team-7 went into a large room, they thought it was the first stage, but they were wrong.... Rock-Lee stood in their way, he wanted to see how strong he was in front of the likes of Naruto and Sasuke, he also wanted to win Sakura's heart, and then everything happened exactly the same as in the first timeline, Lee defeated everyone, he wanted to use the main-lotus on Sasuke, but he was stopped by Gai.

Flashback

Itachi sat on the porch of the castle-kikyo all night, thinking about every little thing, because earlier he just enjoyed his philosophical thinking, but this night he spent purely thinking, working with his mind to figure out what he should do next, and if he changed something else for the better, would it affect the timeline? His thoughts were interrupted by the blue dawn, followed by the sunrise, noticing the first ray that touched him as he sat on the porch of his castle-kikyo, but he decided to take off his dark cloak, which glistened with blue sparks in the darkness, putting it back in his scroll he continued to walk around Konoha, bought some groceries, then went to his home, thinking that history was beginning to unfold, It started when Naruto passed his test and became a Genin, because of Gamamaru's prophecy, the story of a young man who would memorize the names of all the tails and change the world, it would start when he went out on his first mission, even if they wrote a book or made a TV series about Naruto, it would start when he graduated from the academy and met someone who believed in him and would continue to believe in him, which was naturally Iruka...

***

It was noon, Itachi had already left the house, before he had a good breakfast with the food he had bought, now he wanted to be present at the exam, not only to make sure that the time was safe, but also as a spectator to see how Sakura handled everything, at this moment Itachi was walking along the main street of Konoha, some people nodded and bowed to him, Since he was the main hero, a hero to everyone, and he smiled slightly, signaled with his hand that he shouldn't and continued on his way, he thought it had been a while since he had eaten something like ramen and hot broth that would warm him up, since he had been sitting at the castle-kikyo all night, he hadn't made a soup or similar dish of that type in almost two weeks, Now he went to ichiraku, he had a good time there, he was the first customer so they gave him a half price discount, he smiled and started to eat, at the end he finished eating his favorite soup, he left the full price on the table, he paid the full price for 2 plates even though they gave him a discount, and then coming out of the ichiraku the vendors waved when they saw the extra money on the table and were happy to take it as a tip, continuing to walk along the main street he headed towards the big and main building where the Chunin exam would be held, the weather started to get cloudy, but the main character looked at the sky and smiled lightly, he thought it would rain, and rainy weather is one of his favorites... As he walked down the main street of Konoha, he met Kakashi, who was walking in front of Itachi, he smiled as if he was looking for him, and he took his book back and approached Itachi.

-Hi Itachi, how are you-" he began with a suspicious smile, though Itachi realized he wanted something and only smiled lightly in response.

-Hi Kakashi, I'm listening- -After Itachi answered, Kakashi realized that he guessed that he wanted something from him, also realized that there was nothing to surprise him.

-Great intuition Itachi, although the thing is, I need money, can you lend me some?", Kakashi continued without dropping his smile, hoping he didn't have money problems himself.

-Of course- said Itachi took out his wallet and gave him about 5000-ryo, Kakashi was surprised that he wanted to open his eyes, but he didn't show it, Itachi noticing this continued- you know... I already have a lot of money, this is just a unit of what I have, I didn't know how to spend it until this day, so you can keep it as my gift Heh....

-Wise decision," Kakashi smiled as he closed his eyes, also adding the word, "Thank you...

-It's not worth it, because that sage chakra seal you gave me back when we were in the ANBU is worth more," Kakashi wasn't even surprised Itachi hadn't used it yet, because he knew how powerful he was.

-If I'm honest, it doesn't surprise me, because I can't even imagine how to beat you," Kakashi said, starting to walk down the street alongside Itachi.

-Everyone has their weaknesses, that's human nature, personally I don't consider myself perfect, and if I did, the world would be a boring place," he started seriously, but Itachi said the last phrase sarcastically.

Kakashi said that because it was a rank-C mission, he didn't have much money, but he gave the rest to his team because they needed him more, and he spent his money on books and an expensive bouquet for Kurenai in honor of her birthday. Kakashi added that they had met Zabuza Mamochi, but Itachi decided not to say that he had met him before, Itachi thought he could change the timeline if he gave too much information, but if you think about it, he had already changed it by talking to Kakashi instead of being in Akatsuki, but instead of Itachi, Shisui is there now, doing all his missions, Itachi was very familiar with the story, because in paradise he had learned about Naruto and especially about his first mission, but according to Kakashi's story there were some changes, First of all he learned that Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were trapped in Haku's ice trap, it was thanks to her that they came out almost without a scratch, because her kunai trajectory was even better than Haku's senbon throw, Kakashi also said that if Sakura hadn't been there, then maybe Naruto and Sasuke would have had a hard time against Haku, also maybe Naruto would have opened the first crack of the Nine-Tails chakra and would have become obsessed with it, But Sakura's skill, Sasuke's sharingan, and Naruto's strong fortitude, working together they were close to defeating Haku, while Kakashi was finishing off Zabuza, before delivering the final raikiri strike, Haku stepped between them, and put the blow under himself, and Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke were unharmed with only a few scratches, hearing this story from Kakashi, Itachi smiled at the thought of how much stronger she had become.

End Flashback

When they reached the main building, Kakashi was glad that it was on the way to both of them, the building was the Chunin exam, Itachi was also sure that the team-7 was there now, entering it with Kakashi the others were paying special attention to them, after all Kakashi was well known, but Itachi decided not to attract special attention so he just folded the seal and did the transformation, But instead of changing his body, he just changed his jersey, removing the Uchiha clan symbol, the blue emblem, and replaced it with the same black jersey, but without the Uchiha emblem, Itachi didn't even activate his sharingan, otherwise everyone would know who he was and follow him around like fans... On the way out, Kakashi asked why he was here, Itachi replied that he just wanted to see how others were taking the exams and to remember how he took it alone at the age of 9. Kakashi was coming this way for the main reason, he just wanted to see his newfound students, when Kakashi entered the auditorium they were gone, Itachi who was next to him decided to activate the sharingan to find them faster, As he walked down the hallway he could feel a similar chakra, he showed Kakashi the way, when he reached the door there was a huge training space inside, Itachi could see it with his kekkei genkai and saw four people inside, three students Kakashi and Rock-Lee, Kakashi was curious how they were fighting, he watched the door, Itachi preferred to watch through his sharingan.

Seeing with his sharingan how talented Lee was in taijutsu, even how easily he defeated Sasuke, it made him smile, because the protagonist knew that Sasuke was too weak in taijutsu, in the years that Orochimaru trained him, he did not teach him normal and basic techniques, mostly his training was studying forbidden jutsu, In order to increase the amount of chakra injected into him by Kabuto, also because of the cursed seal, it was the only way he could summon the lightning dragon he called Kirin, he could only fight Naruto in the final fight because he had a mangekyo-sharingan and a rinnegan in his other eye.

-You know... this Rock-Li's experience and speed in taijutsu is almost as good as yours when you were 14 years old as he is now-" Kakashi said his opinion as he looked through the door at the fight between Rock-Li and Sasuke.

-I may have been much faster at his age, but I doubt I'll be as fast if he activates five of his eight gates," Itachi said.

-Kakashi answered honestly, though Itachi didn't like to praise himself, but he nodded to make Kakashi feel good about being right.

-Gai still managed to train him well this year," after Itachi's answer, Kakashi sighed remembering his eternal rival, and if you could imagine how difficult their training had been.

When Lee wanted to use the basic lotus on Sasuke, he was stopped by Gai, Itachi deactivated his sharingan because he knew the fight was over, and Kakashi wanted to see what would happen to them, but they were both interrupted by Yamato, who was wearing an ANBU mask, who came running through the hallway and stood in front of them:

-Itachi, I was just looking for you, I need your help," Yamato said.

-What's wrong Tenzo?" asked Kakashi with a dejected look, as he hadn't slept well.

-Yamato I'm listening, what happened-" Itachi added.

-The Third Hokage began to study your information obtained in the Land of Sound, the passwords and codings that you told the Third Hokage, he was able to decipher them, with the help of the ANBU headquarters, Danzo's specialists, in these codings we were able to learn that Orochimaru was planning an attack on Konoha, but it was unknown when, but in these hidden codings in the text, it was also said that Orochimaru would be at the second exam, namely in the forest," Yamato finished his speech.

-I get it, thanks for letting Yamato know, I think I can handle this mission alone- -when Itachi said that last sentence, Kakashi thought it wasn't that big of a threat, or maybe it was misinformation, but in fact Itachi wanted to go alone because he knew that Kakashi had a role to play in the second timeline.

-Okay, I'll tell the third one then- -Saying this phrase, Yamato vanished with a puff of smoke.

-Surely you don't need help with this intelligence, after all you yourself know how dangerous Orochimaru is," Kakashi asked worriedly, while offering his support.

-I said an hour ago that everyone has weaknesses, and Orochimaru has a different nature, he's lost not only his soul but also the meaning of life, I doubt if he has any defenses, I can handle him, and if I see him in my field of vision, there will be no mercy for him," Itachi said coldly, You should stay here and keep an eye on your team for now, because Orochimaru is rumored to be more attracted to the sharingan, and I know all of his techniques as well - Kakashi nodded his confidence, Itachi took out his hiraishin kunai and went home.

Itachi's POV

I'm home now, I teleported here because I left my seal, although from a certain distance moving hiraishin does not work, because many things have their own boundaries, in the first timeline, no one knew about Orochimaru's invasion plan, apparently those scouts sent by the third Hokage to the Land of Sound, back in the first timeline, they could not find out anything and thought that the village is clean and safe, and they did not get the coding, But with my sharingan I was able to get even the most dumb ones to talk, even though they didn't know anything, they just gave me numbers and cheat sheets, and then the people in the ANBU, with Danzo's help, were able to decipher these hidden messages, so now all I have to do is track down Orochimaru and chase him out of the village, I wish I could kill him right now, and not just seal his body, but tear his soul with a totsuka sword, but that's not his destiny, let him live for now... today will be the first test for team-7, I'm sure they will pass it, in the second time line, Karin is also present in this exam, although she was present in the first one and passed, you can be sure she will pass the test, especially Torune will be there too, He was great in class and will definitely find the answers to all the questions, and Sai, I'm sure his painted pictures will help him pass the answers, tomorrow they will go to the second part of the exam, namely the forest of death, I know Orochimaru will be there, so I'll go there too, and deal with Orochimaru personally...

The end of Itachi's POV

It was now about 8:00 in the evening, Itachi while he was thinking about all this, he was putting his house in order, he decided to go to bed early to wake up earlier and prepare for all...