Since the second phase of the Chūnin Exams lasted five full days, Konoha had prepared rest quarters within the central tower to accommodate any teams that completed the task early. Naturally, the Leaf expected that some teams might finish the exam ahead of time.
As for the idea that early finishers should be penalized to ensure "fairness" in the next round—such a notion didn't exist. Battlefields are rarely fair, and neither is the Chūnin Exams. Every team started under the same conditions. If a team arrived late and entered the next round in worse shape, that was simply a reflection of their capabilities. The Hidden Leaf wasn't a pampering caretaker. Those who couldn't keep up would be eliminated. No exceptions.
Under Hayate Gekkō's guidance, the six Genin from Teams 8 and 10 were split into two rooms. The accommodations were basic, which was understandable. These rooms were merely for resting, not luxury. Having a private space at all was already a privilege.
After saying their goodbyes to Kiba and the others, Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji entered their assigned room. Just as they finally started to relax and unwind from the pressure of the forest, a knock came at the door.
Ino opened it and was surprised to see Hayate again.
"Is something the matter, sir?" she asked.
"The Hokage wishes to speak with Nara Shikamaru," Hayate replied calmly, his gaze shifting past her to the lazy-looking Genin sitting on a wooden stool inside. "Come with me."
Shikamaru immediately stood up. The fact that only he had been summoned told him plenty. The Chūnin Exams were too important to be halted, even in the face of Orochimaru's infiltration. The village's reputation—and the future of promising Genin like Kiba and Hinata—were on the line. Still, the higher-ups needed clarity on what had happened in the forest, especially regarding the impersonator posing as a Grass-nin.
And of all the Genin involved, Shikamaru—based on both his performance and demeanor—was the most suitable to speak on behalf of the group.
Giving a brief nod to Ino and Chōji, Shikamaru followed Hayate through the corridors toward the Hokage's temporary office on the upper floor of the tower.
When they reached the office door, Hayate knocked and waited.
"Come in," a deep voice responded from within.
Hayate opened the door and gestured for Shikamaru to enter, closing it behind him.
Shikamaru's eyes swept across the room the moment he stepped inside. The furnishings were spartan—practical and free of ornamentation, reflecting a shinobi's utilitarian sensibility. Even though this was the temporary office of the village's highest authority, there was no excessive display. A few shelves lined the wall, filled with scrolls—whether mission reports or jutsu records, he couldn't tell. Directly ahead, hanging on the wall behind the desk, was a large calligraphy scroll that read simply:
忍道 — The Way of the Shinobi.
The strokes were bold and fluid, yet carried an unyielding strength. Shikamaru, not one for art, still felt that the writer must have been a shinobi of profound insight.
Beneath the scroll sat a solid wooden desk, behind which was an elderly man wearing a white Hokage cloak. His frame was lean, skin weathered and dark, and his shoulders stooped slightly with age.
It was the Third Hokage himself—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"We meet again, Shikamaru," Hiruzen said, setting aside the scroll he'd been reading and offering a warm smile. "First, congratulations on passing the second phase. I hope you'll maintain this momentum into the next round."
"Have a seat. I have a few questions for you."
He gestured to the chair beside the desk. There was no pressure in his voice, no posturing. At his level, Hiruzen didn't need to impose authority—his presence alone was enough. The truly great never needed to shout to be heard.
Shikamaru hesitated for only a moment, then sat down, meeting the Hokage's eyes.
"The ninja your team encountered in the Forest of Death—the one disguised as a Grass-nin—was not on the list of registered Genin. We believe he was a Chūnin, possibly even a Jōnin from another village, who infiltrated the exams in violation of the rules," Hiruzen said calmly. "I'd like you to recount exactly what happened. From the moment you first encountered him, all the way through to the end of the engagement."
Shikamaru nodded and began explaining.
He described how Teams 8 and 10 joined forces in the forest, their reasoning for cooperating, and how they'd stumbled upon Karin—a real Grass-nin—while pursuing another target. Karin had informed them of a suspicious teammate, and after some strategic planning, they decided to engage. Though they nearly failed due to the enemy's strength, they eventually managed to defeat him.
He then told the Hokage how he had discovered the man's facial disguise and realized he wasn't on the exam roster. Given his use of unfamiliar techniques and overall strength, Shikamaru had suspected him of being an infiltrator and chose to bring the body to the tower for confirmation.
Hiruzen listened silently, occasionally asking pointed questions. Shikamaru answered every one with calm clarity.
He had nothing to hide. His actions had been calculated and justifiable. The "coincidence" of discovering the disguise was minor enough not to raise red flags, and the story held together.
"You all performed admirably," the Third Hokage said at last, nodding in approval. "There's nothing wrong with forming alliances mid-exam, so long as they're based on shared goals rather than prearranged collusion. You adapted to battlefield conditions and took initiative. That's what makes a capable shinobi."
A ninja's purpose was to win battles—not to chase ideals of fairness or honor.
The way of a shinobi was not like that of wandering swordsmen or naïve warriors seeking glory through single combat. It was cold, calculating, and rooted in victory by any means.
Satisfied with Shikamaru's answers, Hiruzen dismissed him with a nod. The matter of the corpse would be taken over by Konoha's forensics and intelligence divisions.
Shikamaru rose and bowed respectfully before heading out.
As he stepped into the hallway, he spotted Hayate approaching with two other Leaf shinobi. One of them was a familiar face: a bespectacled, somewhat shy-looking man who gave a polite nod upon seeing him.
Chiba Gen.
They weren't exactly close, but Gen had mentored him briefly in chakra control and medical ninjutsu. For Shikamaru, Gen's teachings had proven invaluable.
The man walking beside Gen was much larger—broad-shouldered and rugged, with a trimmed beard and a steady expression. A fellow Konoha specialist, no doubt.
As they neared, Gen smiled.
"Didn't expect to see you here already," he said. "You made it through the exam, huh?"
Shikamaru gave a rare sincere nod. "Your training helped a lot, Gen-sensei. Especially with chakra control."
Gen chuckled, scratching his nose a little awkwardly. "I've got work to do, but it's good to see you. We'll talk later, yeah?"
Shikamaru gave him a parting nod and watched as the three disappeared into the Hokage's office.
He then turned and left.
There were more exams to come, and he needed to be ready.