The Chunin Examination concluded, and the candidates resumed their daily routines.
Special training also continued as usual the next day.
Perhaps due to the success of Obito and others, many special training students became particularly diligent.
Genius is nothing special, for Konoha has always had geniuses.
But Obito and Might Guy are different, as if everyone was once fighting together, and Obito and Might Guy were just a little more affluent. After a year, Might Guy and Obito suddenly became millionaires.
Since they progressed step by step beside them, they felt that even if they couldn't become as strong as Might Guy, they shouldn't be like this.
Asuma, who had a good relationship with Obito, was especially motivated, as they felt this more deeply.
Mokgetsu was gratified by this because this was precisely the purpose of his planned holiday—allowing these students to see the level of excellence of the best among their age group.
According to Mokgetsu's observations, the S-level rewards were based on the students' progress; the more the students learned, the more he rewarded them.
The rest was up to the skill level; it was tough to gain proficiency with Fire Release at the Perfect Level, while it was much quicker with Skilled-Level Lightning and Earth.
Due to Mokgetsu's demonstrated teaching ability, Genin like Nara Shiomizu were content to consistently undergo special training.
Nara Shiomizu was surprised that aside from the Five Great Attributes, Mokgetsu was also adept in the special nature transformation of the Yin Attribute. Though he couldn't teach Shadow Secret Techniques, he could solve some Yin Release problems for him.
Five days after the Chunin Examination, the list of promotions to Chunin was finalized.
At this time, the Hidden Mist members also left Konoha, since Konoha wouldn't issue Hidden Mist Headbands. The Hidden Mist members had to return for their promotions as well.
Mokgetsu guessed that the Hidden Mist might not have strawberry ice cream at the moment because he saw Terumi Mei frantically buying up strawberry ice cream before they left Konoha.
She even generously returned his favor with three servings of strawberry ice cream.
"Previously, you treated me to two servings, so I, Terumi Mei, repay kindness with kindness. Enjoy these three servings!" Terumi Mei said proudly.
She initially didn't have much money, but because they were leaving, the sensei gave them some funds to buy Konoha specialties and souvenirs from the Land of Fire.
Terumi Mei spent all this money on buying ice cream, which she thought was great, as Hidden Mist didn't have it, and it was delicious.
Terumi Mei was very satisfied with this visit to Konoha; she tasted delicious strawberry ice cream and even gained the sensei's favor, with her only regret being falling in the top eight.
"Then I will accept them without hesitation." Mokgetsu smiled lightly and took them, then left.
Although he wasn't very interested in such sweets, he could give them to the students.
Watching Mokgetsu's back, Terumi Mei had an expression of contemplation.
She always felt that Mokgetsu was quite strange, not in the silly way like Obito, but gave her a peculiar feeling.
Just now, Terumi Mei finally understood what that peculiar feeling was—because when Mokgetsu interacted with her, he didn't treat her as an outsider or a foreigner.
Due to wearing a Hidden Mist headband, even with someone as silly as Obito, Terumi Mei could sense a clear distance from him.
Mokgetsu wasn't particularly close to her, but when exchanging words with him, Terumi Mei felt as if she were speaking with an unfamiliar villager from her own village.
Had Terumi Mei not stayed in Konoha for a while, she would have struggled to notice the difference.
"What a strange guy..." Terumi Mei muttered to herself, then stopped dwelling on it, thinking perhaps she was overthinking.
...
"Going to the Hokage Office? Could there be a very arduous task assigned to us?" Obito asked excitedly upon hearing Minato's words.
"Is it to rescue a kidnapped princess or repel an invading enemy army?"
Minato smiled, shook his head, and said, "Such tasks aren't ones you can take on, and besides, Kakashi's body hasn't recovered yet. How could a mission be assigned to you?"
Although treated by Tsunade, Kakashi and Might Guy were discharged on the fourth day, but their bodies hadn't fully recovered and needed more rest.
Kakashi looked at Obito speechlessly, feeling that ninja novels were misleading. Where are all these kidnapped princesses coming from?
"Then what is it?" Obito asked, somewhat disappointed. He thought he had impressed Sarutobi Hiruzen with his performance in the Chunin Examination.
"You'll find out when you get there." Minato replied with a mysterious smile, not directly telling Obito and the others.
Kakashi, observing Minato's expression, had a good guess of their purpose—it was likely for promotion to Chunin.
With this realization, Kakashi's expression became subtle—he wondered if he should accept if the village gave him another Chunin Waistcoat.
Kakashi thought that he might as well accept it if they really gave it to him, after all, he did get first place, and waistcoats are consumables.
On the way to the Hokage Building, Obito and his friends encountered some familiar faces from the Chunin Examination.
"Yo, Kakashi, how's your recovery going?" Might Guy smiled, with his two shining white teeth gleaming under the sun.
"We just got discharged yesterday, how good can it be?" Kakashi replied speechlessly.
"Hahaha!" Might Guy didn't feel embarrassed and laughed loudly.
"Of course, because I'm eagerly anticipating our next battle as best friends!" Might Guy said, eyes sparkling, looking at Kakashi.