"Come to think of it, Kakashi, you should be promoted to jounin soon, right?"
Seisuke said, picking up some ramen with his chopsticks.
"Oh, it seems so." Kakashi looked at him indifferently and said, curiously, "How do you know?"
"Your strength should be sufficient." Seisuke replied.
Minato smiled and said, "Kakashi is very strong. But with your strength, Seisuke, you should also be able to become a jounin. After all, you killed four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. That achievement is extremely impressive even among us jounin."
The intelligence from Kirigakure had been transmitted back. Seisuke had become famous and was in the spotlight. He could be said to be the most dazzling star among the younger generation. Even Kakashi, the son of the White Fang of Konoha, couldn't overshadow his brilliance.
"Killed... the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist..." Rin opened her mouth wide.
Obito still didn't believe it. "Are you talking about the real Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
Asuma gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Is there a second such team on the battlefield with Kirigakure? By the way, why didn't the old man promote Seisuke to jounin? His strength is surely enough."
Minato said, "The promotion to jounin isn't that simple. One needs to reach the jounin level in ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and knowledge comprehensively. Unless one is extremely special, they might remain a special jounin forever."
Take Guy for example. He has no talent for genjutsu and ninjutsu. Logically, he should be a special jounin, but he is a jounin because his strength is strong enough, and with the blessing of the Eight Gates, he has extremely powerful power. Otherwise, the Third Hokage wouldn't have made him a jounin.
"I see." Seisuke showed a pensive look and suddenly said, "Oh no, I feel like I'll never become a jounin in my life."
Everyone: ∑ (′△｀)?!
Minato wiped the sweat off his forehead and asked, "Why do you say that?"
"It's about knowledge. I cheated in the written part of the Chunin Exams. Do you think I can pass the jounin assessment, Teacher Minato?"
"Ah... well..."
Kushina laughed. "Should I go and pull some strings with the Third Old Man?"
"Kushina..." Minato looked at his girlfriend helplessly. Even if such a thing could be done, it shouldn't be said out loud.
"Thank you for your kindness, Sister Kushina, but being a special jounin isn't so bad either." Seisuke didn't care too much about this. His strength was there, and he wasn't afraid of anything. Moreover, by accumulating more battle achievements and pulling off a few more major feats, he didn't believe the Third Hokage wouldn't promote him to jounin.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Minato stood up and said, "Well, I'll take them to the exams. I'm leaving now."
"Okay, goodbye, Teacher Minato, Sister Kushina."
After paying the bill, Seisuke and Asuma also went back to their respective homes.
Seisuke used shadow clones to practice Wave - Riding Strike in the hot spring at his home until evening. Then he heard someone knocking on the door. He climbed out of the hot spring, evaporated the water on his body, opened the door, and saw Rin.
"Eh, Rin? Why are you here? Come in and have a seat."
Rin waved her hand and smiled. "No need. Could you please come to the cherry - blossom tree at the school at ten o'clock tomorrow morning?"
"Oh, no problem. Is it about Kakashi being promoted to jounin?"
"Have you already guessed it, Seisuke? That's right. Kakashi passed the exam and was promoted to jounin this afternoon. I want to hold a celebration. After all, he's the first among us to be promoted to jounin."
"I was the first to be promoted to special jounin, you know. Special jounin is also a kind of jounin."
Rin stuck out her tongue. "I wasn't around then."
"Just kidding. I'll be there tomorrow. Do you want to come in and sit for a while?"
"No, no. I still need to invite several others."
She waved her hand. "I'll count on you tomorrow, Seisuke. Goodbye!"
"Okay, goodbye."
Seisuke waved back. After thinking for a while, he thought, "What should I give as a jounin gift? I've got it."
A light bulb went off in his head. He put on his shoes, closed the door, and headed to the bookstore.
The bookstore owner was about to close up when he saw Seisuke coming. He said unhappily, "I don't sell books to kids."
"Uncle, it's a gift."
Without further ado, Seisuke rushed in, picked a suitable book, and put down the money for it.
"Hey, kid, you gave too much."
"Oh." Seisuke ran back and took another book.
Bookstore owner: "..."
...
The next day
Under the cherry - blossom tree at the Ninja Academy
Obito was holding a bouquet of flowers, so excited that he could hardly contain himself. Rin asked me to come here. There must be something. Great, I'll confess my love to her this time!
"You're not planning to confess your love, are you?"
"Yeah." Obito nodded subconsciously, then was startled. He found Seisuke standing right beside him.
Obito shouted, "Why are you standing next to me?"
"Because Rin asked me to come too. And not just me, there are others. So..." Looking at the bouquet in Obito's hand, Seisuke said, "Are you going to confess now? It's not the right time yet, Obito."
"Not just you?!"
Obito became dejected. That's right, she has a crush on Kakashi.
Seeing Obito looking so down, Seisuke patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't be so dispirited. Cheer up. I believe you can do it. Can you do it?"
"Seisuke..."
He really is my best friend!
With tears in his eyes, Obito said with a slight choke, "I can."
"Not energetic enough. With such a soft voice, how can you chase a girl? Louder!"
"I can!! I definitely can!!!!"
"Good, full of spirit!"
"Obito!"
At this moment, Rin came running over, waving her hand. Obito immediately hid the bouquet, but Seisuke snatched it away.
"What are you hiding it for? Give it to me."
Rin ran over and smiled. "Have you been waiting long?"
"He's not late, which is already quite an achievement. Rin, this is for you." Seisuke handed the flowers to Rin.
Looking at the bouquet, Rin was a little flustered. "Huh?" Being given flowers all of a sudden...
Seisuke added, "Obito prepared it for a long time. He was just too shy to give it to you."
"Seisuke, what are you talking about?" Obito stammered, trying to defend himself.
Rin smiled, reached out to take the flowers, and said, "They're beautiful. I like them very much."
"I'm glad you like them." Obito scratched his head foolishly.
Seisuke, you're my best friend from now on!!!
There seemed to be a special pink bubble rising between the two.
Ah, youth...
"Rin, we're here."
Asuma and the others came in groups. Almost all of their peers had been invited here by Rin.
After all, Kakashi was the first among them to be promoted to jounin. And that guy Kakashi had a very withdrawn personality. This was also to help him integrate with them.
Rin had been preparing for this gathering for a long time.