Mount Myōboku.
"Eat more, little Ren!"
Shima Sage placed a plate of freshly fried, crispy silkworm pupae in front of Ren, speaking with a warm expression.
"Yes, thank you, Shima Sage."
Ren picked up a skewer of cicada pupae, speaking somewhat reservedly.
Although the two Sages didn't blame him, he had still made a mistake, so it was better to maintain a proper attitude.
"Don't worry about it, little Ren."
Fukasaku Sage saw Ren's expression and knew what he was thinking, reaching out to pat his back, chuckling softly.
"It was just a small accident. Gamabunta and the others often get minor injuries during their spars. Besides, haven't they all been healed by you?"
"I say, you brat, your attack couldn't even harm a single hair on this old man. If you want to hurt this old man, go train for a few more years!"
Gamabunta, who was beside them, put down his ramen bowl, swallowed the food in his mouth, then looked at Ren and taunted loudly.
"Yes, yes, yes, you're the best, the number one expert of Mount Myōboku."
Ren looked at his mostly torn clothes and the bandages wrapped around his waist and abdomen, a helpless expression appearing on his face.
Where would a toad have hair? If this guy hadn't run so fast earlier, and if he had gotten just a little closer, the Toad Three Brothers would have become the Toad Two Brothers.
However, this also allowed Ren to relax his hanging heart. After all, getting into a conflict with the toads over such a small matter was truly not worth it. This outcome was the best.
After a hearty meal, Ren got up to take his leave. After all, it was already getting dark, and if he didn't return soon, the curfew would begin.
"Goodbye, little Ren."
Shima and Fukasaku Sages stood on the giant rock, waving at Ren, while Gamabunta and the others had already gone back to rest. After all, it had been a tiring day, quite torturous for the toads.
"Alright, goodbye, Fukasaku Sage, Shima Sage."
Ren responded with a smile, holding a package woven from large green leaves in his arms. Inside were the roasted silkworm pupae that the two Sages had packed for Ren.
It was good for him to take them back to improve his meals. After all, truthfully, the food at Konoha Camp wasn't much better than Soldier Ration Pills. Bringing some meat back meant he wouldn't have to worry for at least the next two days.
As Fukasaku Sage activated his hand seals, the familiar spatial fluctuations reappeared around Ren.
He subconsciously hugged the silkworm pupae in his arms tightly, closing his eyes. A sensation of weightlessness came over him, and when he opened his eyes again, he was back inside Minato's command tent.
At this moment, Minato and Fugaku were sitting on opposite sides of the conference table, discussing something. Noticing the sudden burst of white smoke and Ren emerging from it, they both turned their gaze towards him.
"Big Brother Minato, Uncle Fugaku, I'm back."
Ren walked to the conference table, placed the cicada pupae on the table, and smiled at the two.
"Hmm, it seems your matter is settled."
Minato nodded, then shifted his gaze to the green leaf package he had placed on the table, a look of confusion appearing on his face.
"This is..."
"Oh, that's right!"
Only then did Ren remember, and he quickly pushed the silkworm pupae towards them and opened it, smiling.
"These are snacks the two Sages gave me. Uncle Fugaku and Big Brother Minato should try some too."
"Hmm?"
Hearing Ren say this, both of them were a little curious and instinctively leaned closer. But very quickly, both their expressions changed.
"This is..."
Fugaku looked at the dozens of golden-crispy roasted silkworm pupae in front of him and was instantly stunned. Minato, on the other hand, tentatively asked,
"Roasted silkworm pupae?"
"Yes, yes, the camp food is good, but I'm a bit tired of it, so I brought some silkworm pupae to improve the meals for the next two days."
Ren explained while picking up two skewers of silkworm pupae and handing them to the two, chuckling softly.
"They taste especially good, try them."
"Uh..."
Looking at the approaching silkworm pupae, both felt a chill. After taking them, they placed them back down.
"Um...we just ate, we're already very full, aren't we, Senior Fugaku?"
Minato chuckled dryly, pointing to the empty lunchbox beside them while signaling with his eyes to Fugaku across from him. Receiving the signal, Fugaku also quickly chimed in,
"Yes, we've already eaten. Next time."
"Alright then."
Seeing that neither of them ate, Ren didn't insist. He picked up a skewer himself and started eating, which made the two feel quite unaccustomed.
"By the way, Big Brother Minato, has there been any letter from the Village?"
After Ren quickly finished a skewer of silkworm pupae, he wrapped them up again with the green leaves. Anyway, no one was competing with him, so he'd save them to eat slowly.
"Yes, there has."
Minato raised an eyebrow, rummaged through the pile of documents nearby for a moment, then pulled out a scroll, chuckling softly at Ren.
"How about it, did I pass my assessment mission!"
Ren's eyes immediately lit up, and he pounced in front of Minato, asking expectantly.
"See for yourself."
A smile appeared on Minato's face, and he then handed over the scroll.
Ren took it, feeling it sink in his hand. After weighing it, he immediately opened the scroll, and a large character "Seal" was clearly visible on it.
"Big Brother Minato, you got the wrong one, isn't this a storage scroll?"
Ren looked up, asking Minato with confusion.
"I didn't get the wrong one, it's this one. Just open it and see."
After Minato finished speaking, he exchanged a smile with Fugaku beside him. The confused Ren then spread the scroll on the table and began to form hand seals.
"Release!"
With a low shout, familiar white smoke burst from the scroll. Ren waved away the smoke, looked at the items in front of him for a moment, then reacted, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"This is!"
"How about it, are you satisfied?"
Minato came closer, looking at Ren and chuckling softly.
"I couldn't be more satisfied."
Ren caressed the items, his excitement evident on his face.
Two sets of Konoha Jonin uniforms, a small black notebook, and a black standard long sword. Although there were few items, Ren understood that he had succeeded!
After being a Special Jonin for so long, he could finally remove that word in front.
"Try them on. If they don't fit, I'll send them back to the Village and have your Aunt Mikoto help make adjustments."
Fugaku crossed his arms, looking at Ren, who picked up the vest in front of him, and nodded with a smile.
"Alright!"
Ren nodded, then picked up the vest and put it on. After a busy period, Ren, wearing his new uniform, was freshly 'unveiled'.
"Good, it looks like it fits well, and you look very spirited."
"Then there's no need to change it."
Minato and Fugaku both examined him from top to bottom for a long time and agreed. Ren also walked around and didn't find any uncomfortable spots.
It seemed that the Village had put thought into the uniforms.