Naruto's shadowed look went unnoticed by Iruka and the others.
"Dead last."
Sasuke glanced at him and curled his lip in disdain.
Still, caution flickered in Sasuke's eyes. He hadn't forgotten the Kyūbi's overwhelming power.
"Sasuke is a genius," Sakura said, pumping a small fist, backing him up.
Seeing this, Iruka smiled. After some time together, Sakura had slipped back into her old way with Naruto.
Iruka didn't know much about the Nine-Tails, and without the Third's order he couldn't tell them anything anyway.
But there were other things he could say.
"Speaking of geniuses—your teacher Kakashi is the real deal," Iruka said with a sigh.
"For real?" Sakura's eyes narrowed in doubt.
Not just Sakura—Sasuke and Naruto both looked skeptical.
Catching their disbelief, Iruka arched a brow. "Kakashi was the disciple of the Fourth Hokage, Minato."
He paused to watch their faces shift to surprise—then continued, a touch of pride in his eyes.
"You graduated at twelve. Do you know how old Kakashi was?"
"He graduated the Academy at five. A genin at five, a chūnin at six—and at your age…"
Iruka's expression turned solemn, voice respectful.
"He became a jōnin at just twelve."
He let it hang there, then cut a glance toward the now-stunned Sasuke. There was another genius in Konoha—but he was a taboo to speak of.
"A-amazing…"
Naruto stared for a long beat before breathing out the words.
"'Amazing' doesn't even cover it," he added, awed. Only "genius" fit Kakashi-sensei.
Sakura looked shaken, though a sliver of doubt nagged in her heart.
Someone that strong… yet he fainted after fighting Zabuza?
Sasuke was surprised, but he didn't question Iruka's words. Heat crept into his chest.
"Let's go. You still owe two D-rank missions," Iruka said with a grin.
"What, more missions?"
Naruto, fired up a moment ago by Kakashi's feats, wilted at once.
"Of course. You can enter the Chūnin Shiken (Chūnin Exams), but there are conditions—complete a quota of missions. You're two D-ranks short."
Iruka shrugged, helpless.
"Then let's go!" Naruto spun on his heel, determined.
Sakura and Sasuke didn't say much, but the look in their eyes matched as they headed for the mission desk.
Iruka's mouth quirked. Maybe letting them take the Exams had been the right call.
——
A fine rain fell, draping the little border town near Water Country in a thin mist.
Jingle—
Jingle—
With the drizzle and soft bell-chimes, two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds, straw hats low over their faces, stepped onto the main street.
"Looks like this rain isn't stopping soon."
The damp air made Itachi crease his brow.
"In that case, let's grab an inn and rest," Kisame said, glancing at him, easy as ever.
Rainy days were among Kisame's favorite battlefields.
Itachi nodded, and they headed for a small roadside shop.
Inside—more tavern than inn—Itachi scanned the room. Not many people.
Everyone wore a sheen of rain.
Travelers, like them.
They took a quiet corner. When they lifted their hats,
the forehead protectors showed a deep gouged slash.
Rogue shinobi.
"Pain's orders still aren't done. Konoha or Kiri—where first?" Kisame asked lazily, eyes on Itachi for the call.
Itachi went still for a moment. Then, softly: "Orochimaru's been moving a lot lately. I don't know what he's plotting."
"That guy, huh? Then let's swing by Konoha," Kisame muttered, frowning at the name.
"Mhm," Itachi said, and fell silent.
A moment later, under the shopkeeper's openly contemptuous look, two bowls of hot water landed on their table.
Itachi didn't mind. He lifted one and drank in small sips.
If Kisame's face weren't so vicious, the owner might've thrown them out already.
The rain kept falling.
Just then, both Itachi and Kisame frowned.
Itachi didn't move, sipping from the bowl.
Kisame turned his head toward a shadowed corner.
A small kid crouched there, peeking at them.
Kisame bared his teeth. The feral grin made the kid's head snap back out of sight.
Kisame looked away, about to say something—when the boy's head crept out again.
Kisame ignored him. After a while, the kid began to inch closer—carefully—toward their table.
When he was about a meter away,
both of them looked up at once.
Under their gaze, the kid flinched back a step.
"You got a death wish, brat?" Kisame asked, voice icy, expression cruel.
"Um… I…" The kid was white-knuckled and stammering.
"What's your name. Why are you here?" Itachi said, face calm, tone cool.
Compared to Kisame's menace, Itachi was downright approachable.
The boy eased a little at his look, twisted his hands in his shirt, and spoke, nervous.
"M-my name is… Ranmaru."
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