*Chapter 9: Preparing for Battle*

With a month to prepare for the final exams, Himanshu and Divyansh trained harder than ever. They knew that powerful adversaries awaited them, and the threat of Orochimaru loomed large. Kakashi, noticing Himanshu's potential and the presence of the Curse Mark, took him under his wing, teaching him the Chidori, a technique that required the Sharingan for precision. Himanshu embraced the training, pushing his limits to perfect the jutsu.

Divyansh, on the other hand, sought out Jiraiya, the Toad Sage. With Jiraiya's guidance, Divyansh began to learn how to tap into the Nine-Tails' chakra without losing control. It was a delicate balance, one that required immense focus and willpower. Divyansh knew that this power could be his greatest asset in the battles to come, but it also carried a great risk.

During their training, the brothers met secretly with Shikamaru, discussing strategies and potential threats. They shared with him what they knew about Orochimaru's plot to destroy Konoha, as well as the role the Sand Village would play. Shikamaru listened intently, his mind working through the possibilities.

"If Orochimaru's planning an attack, he'll use the chaos of the exams to his advantage," Shikamaru said, his expression thoughtful. "We need to be ready to counter any move he makes."

Himanshu nodded. "We'll need allies. We can't do this alone. We should reach out to Neji, Rock Lee, and the others. They may not know everything, but if we can at least warn them, they can help us when the time comes."

Divyansh agreed. "And we need to keep an eye on Gaara. He's a wildcard. If he loses control, it could mean disaster for everyone."

The brothers spent the remaining weeks training and gathering information. They carefully planted seeds of doubt and caution among their fellow genin, subtly preparing them for the impending threat. By the time the final exams arrived, they were ready.