Sushi Shop.
Atsui watched the sky darken. Dusk had fallen, and night was approaching.
It was nearly closing time, but his sister still hadn't returned.
"Don't worry. Samui is our best agent here. With her calm and composure, she can handle any situation."
Yasukawa Yukiya comforted him.
Hearing this, Atsui forced himself to calm down.
Yasukawa was right. If something had happened to his sister, they'd already have Konoha's forces at their door.
Atsui held back his anxiety and continued waiting.
Finally, just one minute before closing, Samui rushed back.
"What happened, Sis?"
Atsui's face lit up, but he noticed Samui clutching her clothes tightly—as if she was cold.
But it was already spring.
"It's nothing. Let's close up."
Samui said quickly and hurried to the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of running water came from inside—she was taking a shower.
Atsui stood there confused, unsure what had happened.
He decided to ask her when she came out.
He walked to the front and locked the door.
Their sushi shop wasn't small. The front building was the store; behind it was a smaller staff dormitory.
…
Time passed quietly.
In the blink of an eye, only a few days remained before the Chūnin Exams.
Raizen's team had completed multiple D-rank missions and even one C-rank—all successfully.
Yūhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma's fathers were both powerful shinobi—their children wouldn't be weak either.
"Here are the application forms. I've already recommended you three under my name, Mizunashi Yūki."
Mizunashi Yūki handed out three forms.
"Application forms…"
Raizen took his. It contained basic personal information and warnings about violations.
Any misconduct could invalidate their results. Severe cases could result in a lifetime ban from becoming chūnin.
"It's happening so fast."
Kurenai sighed, holding the white form in her small hands.
They were about to become chūnin already?
Genin were the most numerous rank. Chūnin were already elite—capable of leading small squads on missions.
"Thanks, Sensei Mizunashi!"
Sarutobi Asuma grinned and tucked away his form.
He still remembered his father's surprised expression when he said he wanted to take the Chūnin Exams.
He hadn't expected Asuma to be so eager.
"No problem."
Mizunashi Yūki said.
He glanced at Raizen.
Yesterday, the Hokage had suddenly summoned him, saying Asuma wanted to participate.
Mizunashi Yūki had immediately agreed, claiming Asuma's strength was sufficient.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have let this Uchiha pass so easily.
He hated and envied shinobi like the Uchiha clan the most—those who succeeded just because of their kekkei genkai.
Why?
Was it fair?
That's why Mizunashi Yūki had always been bitter. He tried his best to hide those feelings.
Raizen sensed Yūki's gaze.
Perhaps because he had lived two lives, Raizen's mental strength was far greater than most Uchiha.
His perception of stares was also sharp.
Raizen gave Yūki a faint glance.
He knew Yūki wanted to suppress him but couldn't act openly because of Sarutobi Asuma's presence.
That's why he had spoken to Asuma about the Chūnin Exams beforehand—to make sure the prince agreed.
With the Hokage's son leading the charge, Yūki wouldn't dare block this exam.
Sarutobi Asuma's father, the Third Hokage, was the best shield.
"Once the war starts, I'll find a way to deal with him."
Raizen thought to himself.
He wasn't the type to repay malice with kindness.
He believed in returning malice with malice.
After distributing the application forms, Mizunashi Yūki used Body Flicker to leave.
Raizen stared at the empty space ahead, then withdrew his gaze.
Body Flicker was a D-rank supplementary ninjutsu that used chakra to achieve high-speed movement. Consumption varied depending on distance and terrain.
Basically every jōnin knew it.
Even Naruto, after becoming Hokage, often used Body Flicker.
"The village seems to have a lot of outsiders lately."
Kurenai carefully folded her application form and tucked it away, striking up a conversation with Raizen.
"That's normal. There'll probably be even more coming soon."
Raizen replied.
Each team had to be three people. If every village sent one or two teams, the number of foreign shinobi would add up quickly.
Of course, trouble was inevitable.
In the original story, Naruto had nearly fought Kankurō and Temari when they first arrived.
During this period, the village's security level would rise significantly.
Raizen noticed many Uchiha Police Force members looking busier than usual.
He scanned the now even more crowded streets.
Vendors and shops were taking advantage of the influx to make a fortune.
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