Chapter 6: Death Assessment?
After the three of them introduced themselves, Kinoto smiled and said, "Alright, that's it for today. We will gather here tomorrow morning, and I will take you to pick up your first mission."
Without giving them a chance to respond, Kinoto disappeared, leaving the group bewildered.
Yamada Shu and Moto Takko exchanged confused looks, unsure of what just happened.
Adrian shook his head with a sigh. "Looks like our teacher is pretty unreliable," he remarked.
"Yamada, Moto, I'll see you both tomorrow," Adrian added as he prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to walk away, Yamada stopped him. "Adrian, wait a second! Today is our graduation day, and it's our first day as a team. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
Before Adrian could reply, Moto Takko enthusiastically chimed in, "Yeah, let's go eat some barbecue! My treat!"
"Adrian, we haven't had the chance to get to know each other well," Moto said, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she looked at him. It was difficult for Adrian to refuse.
"Alright, I'll take you up on that offer, Moto," Adrian replied, feeling a little embarrassed.
Yamada Shu grinned and added, "Don't feel bad, Adrian. Moto's father is a famous rich guy in Konoha. Her monthly allowance is equivalent to the reward for a B-rank mission!"
"Shu, say that again, and I'll make you pay for your own meal," Moto retorted, clearly annoyed by the mention of her wealth.
"Alright, I won't say anything else!" Yamada laughed.
Adrian, however, was a bit surprised by Moto's background. He had suspected that she came from a well-off family, but he hadn't expected her to be that wealthy.
A B-rank mission reward ranged from 80,000 to 200,000 ryo. Even at the lower end, Moto's allowance would be enough to buy more than a thousand bowls of ramen, while Adrian's monthly living expenses were only 5,000 ryo. The gap between their lifestyles was staggering.
Adrian chuckled inwardly. "The difference between the rich and the poor is truly immense."
Since Moto was offering to pay, Adrian saw no reason to refuse. "Alright, let's go," he said with a smile.
They headed to one of the most famous barbecue restaurants in Konoha, a popular spot where ninjas often gathered. As soon as they entered, Adrian heard a voice calling out to him.
"Adrian, over here!" It was Ino.
Adrian glanced at Moto to see what she thought. Moto smiled and said, "It looks like you and Ino are already good friends."
Adrian, unfazed, replied, "We just met today."
Not fully grasping Moto's intentions, Adrian brushed off the comment, but Yamada sensed the tension. "Is Moto jealous?" he wondered.
Though Moto seemed calm, Yamada knew her well enough to sense something brewing. Her smile had a touch of hidden emotion, and while she didn't show it outright, her tone carried an undertone of competition.
They made their way to Ino's table, where she sat with Shikamaru, Choji, and their instructor, Asuma. Moto quickly positioned herself between Adrian and Ino, smiling warmly. "Ino, I didn't expect to see you here."
Ino smiled back, though she couldn't shake the feeling that Moto was acting differently than usual. The two had always been on good terms, with Moto being one of the few girls in their class not obsessed with Sasuke. They even shared a common background of being from prestigious families, so there was never any rivalry between them. But today, something felt off.
Meanwhile, Yamada and Shikamaru were quietly observing the situation, with Yamada bracing himself for potential tension.
Adrian took a seat next to Yamada, and Shikamaru introduced him to their instructor. "Adrian, this is our instructor, Sarutobi Asuma."
Yamada Shu, Moto Takko, and Adrian quickly stood up to greet him. "Asuma-sensei."
The three knew well who Asuma was. Aside from being the son of the Third Hokage, he was also an elite jounin, someone to be respected.
"Please, there's no need for that. Sit down," Asuma waved them off with a relaxed smile.
Once they sat, Asuma teased his students. "You see how polite these new genin are? You guys should learn from them."
His team barely reacted, accustomed to his laid-back attitude. Coming from the prestigious Ino-Shika-Cho trio, they were not fazed by rank.
Ino, however, was focused on Adrian. "Adrian, why are you done so early? Didn't your teacher give you an assessment?"
Ino's curiosity prompted everyone else to look at Adrian, waiting for his response. They all knew that even though they had graduated and officially become genin, they still had to pass an assessment given by their jounin instructors. Failing that assessment could mean being sent back to the academy.
Adrian shrugged. "Our teacher's assessment was simple, so we finished quickly."
Before he could elaborate, Yamada cut in, "That's not true! Our teacher's assessment was terrifying! I thought Moto was going to pass out!"
The memory of Kinoto's test still sent shivers down Yamada's spine.
His words piqued Shikamaru's interest, and even Asuma frowned slightly. "Who's your instructor?" Asuma asked, his curiosity evident.
"His name is Kinoto," Yamada replied.
Asuma furrowed his brows. He couldn't recall any jounin in Konoha by that name. "Kinoto? Why don't I remember a ninja by that name?"