Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

"Anbu" The announcement of Anbu proctors brought contrasting reactions. Aizen and the other participants remained composed, while Orochimaru and his companions displayed surprise. Anbu, the elite black ops unit established by the Second Hokage, symbolized Konohagakure's pinnacle of ninja strength. Composed of hand-picked village ninjas, they undertook classified missions ranging from reconnaissance and assassination to safeguarding the Hokage.

Their signature white, animal-themed garb served as a stark reminder of their lethality. Tsunade grumbled, furrowing her brow, "what's the meaning of this, old man? Previous early graduation assessments only demanded ten minutes with a regular Chūnin! Now you're throwing Elite Chūnin at them, and not just any Elite Chūnin – Anbu!" Her disapproval stemmed from a protective concern for her younger brother, Nawaki.

"Indeed, old man," Jiraiya chimed in hesitantly. Having reviewed Aizen and the others' files beforehand, he acknowledged their potential and wasn't keen on witnessing a demoralizing display. The possibility of hindering their development, particularly Aizen, gnawed at him. Orochimaru, in stark contrast, displayed a hint of amusement mixed with intrigue. A sly smile played on his lips as he fixated on the participants below. Despite their earlier disapproval, Tsunade and Jiraiya fell silent after Hiruzen's explanation. He hinted that their understanding of the participants' abilities was incomplete.

"Ah!" they both exclaimed in realization. "Precisely," Hiruzen chuckled. "Grasping their true strengths beforehand will prove invaluable in shaping future team compositions and guiding their development. A standard Chūnin evaluation wouldn't suffice. Your presence is warranted."

Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged contemplative glances, their eyes now fixed on Aizen and the others below. Unfazed by the unexpected challenge, Aizen and his peers displayed unwavering confidence. While acknowledging the difficulty of facing Anbu Elite Chūnin, they held a deep-seated belief in their own abilities. For most, the early graduation assessment wasn't a major concern. With the exception of Aizen and Kushina, they harbored a competitive spirit, aiming to best each other rather than simply survive for ten minutes. Early graduation? A mere formality – a breeze compared to a Jōnin or a Special Jōnin. This unwavering confidence fueled their movements.

Under Sato's guidance, each participant approached their assigned opponent. "Begin!" Sato declared, and the air crackled with anticipation as the clashes commenced. The first move came in a flurry of wind –

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

The intensity rose first in Namikaze Minato's group. Unlike his usual, more conservative approach, Minato unleashed a powerful Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.

This shift in tactics was a clear acknowledgment of his opponent's strength – an elite Anbu Chunin. Delaying the fight wasn't an option. Only a swift victory could secure success. This urgency likely stemmed from his concern for Uzumaki Kushina, the only Genin in their group and potentially the most vulnerable. However, Minato's plan hit a snag. He anticipated the Anbu to react defensively to the Great Breakthrough, creating an opening for a decisive attack. Instead, the opponent surprised him with a direct assault –

Fire Style: Big Bomb.

This broad but potent jutsu completely dismissed Minato's strategy. The wind he intended to use for control inadvertently fueled the flames, turning them into a much more dangerous inferno. Forced to be on the defensive, Minato could only dodge in a flurry of embarrassment.

"Water Style·Water Mist Technique!"

Similar scenes played out across the other assessments. Despite their best efforts, the participants faced unforeseen challenges against the skilled Anbu Elite Chunin. This turn of events underscored the gravity of the early graduation exam and the critical thinking required of these aspiring Genin. The intensity of the battles escalated. A thick fog rolled across Uchiha Fugaku's area, negating the advantage of his Sharingan. Frustrated, he recognized the opponent as a skilled Water Style user. With fire techniques restricted by the water mist, Fugaku lamented the lack of Wind Style in his arsenal.

"Water Style: Water Rush!"

Similar challenges arose for the others. Uzumaki Kushina faced a formidable opponent who employed long-range ninjutsu, exploiting her strengths in close combat and sealing techniques. Kushina was reduced to a frustrated observer, watching the Anbu pepper her with attacks from afar. Even the seemingly confident Aizen encountered a setback. At first, Aizen just wanted to "play a show" quietly, as long as he could get the reward after ten minutes, and he didn't want to expose his strength too much.

It's just that when he just performed Subterranean Diving Jutsu to sink into the ground and was about to delay time, Anbu, who was wearing a cat face mask, immediately used a move to dig Aizen out of the ground, followed by a move Earth Style - Mud Stone Dragon, making the latter flee in a hurry.

Because the Earth Style restrains the Water Style, the Water Barrier that Aizen used to be in his previous spars is useless, and there is a danger of getting into trouble if he use that technique.

This Anbu actually made Aizen suffer a small loss from the beginning.

"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu!"

Aizen squinted his eyes, pretended to take out Kyōka Suigetsu from an item from a wrist seal. With the hilt gripped firmly and the blade pointing down, he issued a silent command in his heart.