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When Shinichi emerged from the Hokage's office, Hirito, Minato, and Nonō noticed a distinct change in his demeanor. His sharp aura was like a blade freshly unsheathed.
"Shinichi-sensei…" Hirito started, but his words trailed off as he struggled to articulate what he was feeling.
Though they'd been on missions, the concept of a battlefield was still unfamiliar and intimidating.
Sensing their hesitation, Shinichi clapped his hands with his usual easygoing attitude. "Enough of that," he said, smiling. "Let's celebrate your promotion to Chūnin. Let's go and have a good meal."
Nonō brightened up at the suggestion. "How about we take a photo first to mark the occasion?"
"Great idea! Let's go to the photo studio," Minato agreed.
Hirito nodded, smiling. They had taken a photo together when they first became Genin, so it felt fitting to take another one now that they'd become Chūnin.
With that in mind, Hirito, Minato, and Nonō quickly unwrapped their Chūnin vests from their packaging and put them on.
At the Photo Studio
As Hirito adjusted his vest in front of the mirror, he muttered, "The color and style really don't match anything."
Minato, running a hand through his hair, chuckled. "I think it looks great!"
"Both of you, hurry up!" Nonō called, urging them to join her in front of the camera.
They arranged themselves as directed by the photographer, with Nonō in the center. Minato stood to her right with his hands behind his back, while Hirito, arms folded across his chest, took the left. Watanabe Shinichi stood slightly behind, his head held high with a calm gaze.
The photographer adjusted the lighting and angle before signaling to them. "Alright, look over here! I'm counting down… Three… Two… One… Big smiles, everyone!"
Click!
After taking several photos, they picked the best one, and the photographer developed it on the spot.
"Alright, now that we've got our photo, how about that meal?" Shinichi suggested.
"Sure! Let's go big and have a barbecue!" Minato said eagerly.
"Barbecue again?" Hirito sighed.
"What would you rather have, then?" Minato asked, a little deflated.
"Well… Didn't Mr. Takeuchi mention a few other dishes?" Hirito mused.
"Right, because we can totally afford all that without ending up washing dishes!" Nonō teased, and they all laughed.
As they headed to the barbecue restaurant, Hirito spotted a familiar group of faces approaching—Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka.
When Shikaku noticed Hirito, Minato, and Nonō in their Chūnin vests, he paused, looking surprised.
"Hirito? Did you all just make Chūnin?" Shikaku asked, his eyebrows raised.
"Yep!" Hirito replied with a smirk. "Long time no see, senior."
He put extra emphasis on the word "senior."
Shikaku made a small, disgruntled sound, tilting his head. Hirito was now not only taller but also higher in rank. Although Shikaku was known for avoiding the spotlight, seeing Hirito—who was a year younger—advance so quickly gave him a twinge of discomfort. Not jealousy exactly, but more like realizing your younger sibling was overtaking you in a race you didn't even realize you were running.
"But you just graduated… what, three months ago?" Choza said, counting on his fingers as he crunched on a bag of chips. "Three months to Chūnin? That's insane!"
"Not just one of you, but three?" Inoichi added, his gaze moving from Hirito to Minato and then Nonō, clearly impressed. "You guys were just talking about early graduation, and now you're already Chūnin?"
Hirito grinned, shrugging modestly. "Yeah, it was a lot of work, but we managed."
He quickly changed the subject, asking, "Are you three on a mission?"
Shikaku sighed, scratching his head. "Yeah. There aren't enough shinobi in the village, so we're getting all the mid- and lower-level missions thrown our way…"
Hirito gave a playful sigh. "What a shame! We were just about to celebrate our promotion with a feast. I was going to invite you all, but I guess duty calls."
As he mentioned "feast," Choza's chewing slowed, his attention immediately piqued.
Shikaku and Inoichi exchanged exasperated looks, each grabbing one of Choza's arms to lead him away before he could get distracted.
Once the trio was out of earshot, Minato gave Hirito a disapproving look. "Was it really necessary to tease them like that?"
Hirito chuckled. "Just a harmless joke. Besides, I could switch targets… like the person you bought a certain gift for recently."
"Ha!~" Minato quickly clapped his hands over Hirito's mouth, his face bright red. "Come on! Let's go eat; we're all hungry!"
He dashed ahead, calling back, "I'm ordering first!"
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen was in a meeting with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
"Hiruzen, how's the situation on the front lines? Can we sustain the current level of manpower?" Homura asked, his tone serious.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, then replied, "Danzo and the others are managing well. We currently have the advantage. However, there's strong opposition from the Land of Rain. According to reports, Hanzo has openly attacked shinobi from all three major nations."
"What's Hanzo's game?" Utatane Koharu's voice was cold. "The Land of Rain has limited resources. Who does he think he is, declaring himself a 'demigod'? Does he think he's on par with Lord Hashirama?"
"Perhaps he's signaling a claim to power," Homura speculated. "He might see this war as an opportunity to elevate the Land of Rain as a sixth major nation."
"That's a dangerous ambition…" Hiruzen said, frowning. "The balance of power among the Five Great Nations was established by our predecessors and has maintained relative peace for decades. If Hanzo is truly aiming for such a drastic shift, the war could spiral into uncharted chaos."
Homura's gaze hardened. "Then should we send additional forces from the village? I've heard that there are a few young talents with Chūnin-level strength."
Hiruzen's expression shifted, his tone firm. "Homura, don't even suggest that."
The room fell silent as Hiruzen's presence seemed to grow heavier, almost oppressive.
"Sending our youngest into the teeth of the front lines… No. Not until it's absolutely necessary," Hiruzen said, his voice steady but resolute. He would not risk Konoha's next generation unless there was no other option.
At the Barbecue Restaurant
Back with Hirito, Minato, Nonō, and Shinichi, the mood was light as they devoured plate after plate of grilled meat. They laughed and reminisced about missions, sharing small moments they'd experienced in their three months as Genin.
"Here's to Shinichi-sensei!" Hirito said, raising his glass of tea. "For all the training, the bounty missions, and, of course, his wallet."
"Hey!" Shinichi protested, though he looked pleased. "I can't have you three thinking I'm made of money."
Minato grinned. "Come on, sensei, what's a little extra spending? Consider it an investment in Konoha's future Chūnin!"
They all laughed, clinking their glasses together in a toast.
Once they'd finished, Shinichi walked them back toward the village center, where they'd soon part ways. The walk was filled with laughter, but as they reached the familiar roads leading to their separate homes, a quiet settled among them.
Nonō, trying to hold back tears, looked at Shinichi and said, "Thank you for everything, Shinichi-sensei."
Shinichi smiled, a mixture of pride and melancholy in his expression. "I didn't do anything you all couldn't handle. Just promise me that you'll keep working hard and protecting each other."
Minato nodded earnestly. "We will, sensei. We'll make you proud."
Finally, Hirito gave a respectful bow. "Shinichi-sensei, thank you."
With a final wave, Shinichi turned and walked away, his figure gradually blending into the shadows of the village. The three Chūnin stood in silence for a moment, reflecting on their time together and the journey that lay ahead.
(End of the Chapter).
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