Chapter 27: Chunin Finale

                                    

                                          
The final team match of the day was coming up. The team from Shimogakure would face the third Iwa team. The winner of the match would be the one to face the team from Konoha. Team seven was ready to begin their humiliation of Iwa so they were actually rooting for the Iwa team to win. If it wasn't for their mission they would have supported the team from Frost simply because they were one of the few teams not to try to harass them.
                          
Despite a valiant effort by the Frost team they were outmatched by the team from Iwa. The environment did not suit a Suiton user and Doton was the natural counter to Suiton. Still the Frost team managed to force one Iwa member to concede. It was a respectable showing and would probably be enough to have at least one of them promoted to chunin. It was a rarity in the first place to have minor villages make it to the third part of the exam.
                          
Yakata collected her genin and brushed past Kakashi. "Good luck Kakashi-san, I'm going to be leaving now before the fireworks begin." Kakashi gave her an eye smile, "Your loss you are going to miss a great show." Yakata walked away and Kakashi listened in to the proctor announcing the next matches.
                          
It would be Konoha against Iwa and the second Iwa team against the last Kumo team. Immediately after those two matches the last battle will take place. Kakashi's team nonchalantly strolled back to their home away from home while half a dozen Kumo shinobi escorted them to avoid any battle in the street.
                          
That night thousands of messages were sent across the elemental nations. Spies of all the nations sent word of course, some through jutsu others threw bird and others pushed themselves to travel in person. This was momentous news - outside of another village being invaded there was nothing that could top this kind of information.
                          
***BREAK***
                          
That very night news arrived in Iwagakure. The Tsuchikage immediately called for his advisors despite the late hour. His bleary eyed granddaughter had been attending the discussions ever since she began pining after the old man's job so despite her tiredness she was also present. Onoki threw the letter on the table and said, "The Yellow Flash had a son and no one knew of this? How could you be so incompetent?"
                          
"Forgive us Tsuchikage-Sama. No one knew a Namikaze still lived!"
                          
Onoki resisted the urge to scatter his spy master's particles to the wind.
                          
One of the clan leaders spoke up, "Failure aside we must act now. The brazen arrogance of the demon spawn must be answered. This is an outright provocation!"
                          
Onoki considered the facts. Konoha had deliberately provoked them. They had to know that they would try to kill the son of their most hated enemy. So why put him at risk this way?
                          
'They could be trying to assassinate my son. Kitsuchi is one of our most powerful jonin. Is Konoha trying to lure him into a trap to murder him?'
                          
Onoki had been silent so another clan leader started to speak. Onoki shut him up quickly, "I'm thinking, QUIET."
                          
'They must think they can kill him. Kakashi is a deadly assassin but my son is also quite powerful and he will have several jonin with him. Do they have additional forces lying in wait?'
                          
The silence stretched on.
                          
'I know this is a trap. Konoha would never risk their greatest hero's offspring without good cause. But even if I could tolerate his existence in this world I would have hundreds of shinobi abandoning their post attempting to hunt him down. Even knowing it's a trap I must fall for it.'
                          
Onoki was the oldest Kage living. He was feared for his Dust Release but also for his vast experience on the battlefield.
                          
'They want to murder my son? They want to kill my jonin? If I can't avoid the trap I must make them choke on their morsel!'