Ichiraku Ramen.
Naruto Uzumaki took out his notebook, scribbled in it for a moment, and then ordered a bowl of pork bone ramen. Sasuke and Sakura also picked more expensive options from the menu.
Kakashi Hatake rested his chin on his hand nearby, looking at his three students. "Tsk, you guys aren't going easy on my wallet, are you?"
"But Kakashi-sensei, you're a Jonin!" Sakura Haruno said with a grin, waving her hand. "You must have plenty of savings!"
"Jonin don't make that much money..." Kakashi waved at the waitress. "Miss Ayame, can I just get the cheapest clear broth noodles?"
"Huh?" Ayame turned to look at the helpless-looking Kakashi and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. "Of course, Mr. Kakashi."
While waiting for their food to arrive, Naruto finished writing and looked up. "Kakashi-sensei, how come I haven't seen the Pervy Sage lately?"
"Hmm, I suppose Jiraiya has his own things to be busy with," Kakashi said, tapping the table as he told a small lie. As far as he knew, Jiraiya's recent meeting with the Third Hokage hadn't gone well. It was clear the gallant Sannin had no intention of becoming the Fifth Hokage, so he had disappeared again.
Jiraiya, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, was a travel-loving frog sage who never liked to stay home or be tied down by responsibility. Perhaps there were deeper reasons, like the ever-present shadow of Danzo Shimura. The disagreement over how to handle Danzo might have been the final straw that drove Jiraiya away.
The night Kakashi had seen Hiruzen in the hospital, the old man's face looked deeply troubled. Jiraiya must have left Konoha right after their meeting. At the very least, he had vanished from the sight of Konoha's other ninja.
"Is that so?" Naruto frowned. "He clearly said he'd help me with my training, but now he's nowhere to be seen..."
"Is that right?" the white-haired Jonin leader replied dismissively, being completely irresponsible. Given Naruto's recent progress in developing new ninjutsu, who would dare claim they could help him train? It was less like training and more like being a test dummy for jutsu that could land you in the hospital at any moment.
Kakashi glanced at the price list and couldn't help but sigh. "I really miss that guy Tenzo..."
Tenzo was the Wood Style user Hiruzen had taken from the Root, and also one of Kakashi's few good friends from his ANBU days. Their connection ran deep. Back then, Kakashi often teased Tenzo into paying for his meals, which was one of the few bright spots in his otherwise cold-blooded ANBU career.
"Senpai."
An arm suddenly reached out and patted Kakashi's shoulder. The person wore a cute animal mask, clearly an ANBU ninja.
Everyone in Team 7 turned to look at the newcomer. Kakashi looked up, a little puzzled. "Whoa, where did you come from?"
"You were just talking about me, weren't you, Senpai?" The ANBU ninja, Tenzo, sounded unusually cheerful, but he didn't plan to linger. He said in a deep voice, "Senpai, the Third Hokage needs to see you."
"Eh?" Kakashi looked at Ayame, who was already starting to bring out their ramen, and said seriously, "It's about the Chunin Exams, right?"
"I don't know."
"Then let's go quickly!"
"Wait..."
"The money hasn't been paid..."
"Kakashi-sensei..."
The sensei who was supposed to be treating them left. This time, it probably wasn't just to escape the bill, but because of the Hokage's summons.
Naruto held his bowl of ramen while flipping through his notebook. Sakura quietly ate her ramen, lost in thought. Sasuke listlessly stirred his noodles with his chopsticks. After Kakashi had slipped away with the ANBU, they were stuck paying not only for their own expensive ramen but for Kakashi's as well.
Ayame suddenly extended a finger and tapped Naruto's forehead protector. "Naruto, did you forget something important again?"
Everyone close to Naruto knew his memory wasn't the best. He always wrote down important things but still often forgot them.
"Hmm, no," the blond genin said, putting down his chopsticks. "I was just noting down the jutsu Sasuke just learned, so I don't forget it in our next fight."
"..." Sasuke shot him a dissatisfied look. "When would you have time to look at a notebook during a fight? And what if an enemy gets their hands on it? You'd be leaking my intel."
"Don't say that, Sasuke..." Naruto smiled at him and said in a low voice, "If my notebook gets stolen, the enemy must have already defeated me. With your strength, Sasuke..."
The unspoken jab made Sasuke grit his teeth and snort. "Hurry up and eat. We still have to go to the mission assignment office this afternoon."
"I hope we get some simple missions..." Sakura shivered as she thought about their past assignments. "We'd better not take any more C-rank missions..."
Just one ordinary C-rank mission had landed her in the hospital for half a month and had been a terrifyingly close call.
As the three members of Team 7 were finishing their meal, a strange voice came from the street. "You don't even dare to take C-rank missions? Konoha's ninjas don't seem that impressive..."
Another female voice chimed in, with a hint of helplessness. "Kankuro, this isn't the Sand Village."
"You're being too cautious, Temari."
"I just hope my younger brother doesn't cause trouble."
"Too late. He's already causing trouble," Sasuke muttered, putting down his chopsticks and suddenly rushing outside.
Crack!
The sound of something breaking rang out.
When Naruto and Sakura ran out of the ramen shop, they saw Sasuke forcefully twisting the neck of a puppet, nearly breaking it apart. Standing opposite him were three unfamiliar ninjas.
The most nervous of the three was a girl tightly gripping a huge fan, warily watching Sasuke's every move. The male ninja next to her had his face painted in a comical pattern and wore a look of lingering fear.
Only the boy standing at the very back, with a head of red hair, dark circles under his eyes, and a giant gourd on his back, watched Sasuke with intense interest. All three of them wore headbands with a symbol completely different from Konoha's.
Naruto's gaze swept past the painted ninja and the girl, his eyes finally resting on the red-haired boy. His head gradually began to ache.
He must be someone important.
Naruto forced himself to stop thinking, his fingers unconsciously pressing his temples. "They are..." he said, the headache making his voice strained.
"Sand Ninja," Sakura answered in a low voice, drawing a kunai.
-----
Bonus:
Naruto: Nine-Tails, that guy's identity...
Nine-Tails: Kill him! Now!
Naruto: I'm asking for his identity, not a kill order!
Nine-Tails: Just kill him first, then we'll talk!
Naruto: Are you crazy? I don't even know who he is!
Nine-Tails: He's an enemy! A very dangerous one!
Naruto: Are you serious?
Nine-Tails: Of course! I can feel it!
Shukaku: The Nine-Tails is a big dumbass.