Hinata's face turned bright red.
"I-I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei… Naruto-kun kept telling me I could eat as much as I wanted, so…"
Naruto burst into laughter.
"Kakashi-sensei, Hinata was already being considerate!"
"If she had really let herself go, she could've eaten at least three times more!"
Kakashi stared at the empty bowls stacked on the table, his visible eye twitching.
"You really can't judge a book by its cover…"
He glanced at Hinata again, then at the mountain of dishes.
"However…"
His gaze shifted.
"Sasuke. Even you ate six bowls."
Sasuke calmly wiped his mouth.
"I'm increasing my strength as efficiently as possible. Food becomes nutrients. Nutrients become energy. Energy becomes power."
Kakashi: "..."
Naruto leaned back smugly.
"See? We're being responsible shinobi!"
Kakashi sighed in defeat.
"Anyway… paying for my students' meals is technically part of my job as your teacher."
He walked to the counter and painfully paid the bill, which was far larger than he had anticipated.
As they stepped out of Ichiraku Ramen, Kakashi stopped and turned toward the three of them.
"Now that you've been promoted to Chunin, you can theoretically operate independently. You may even lead teams on missions."
All three straightened instinctively.
"However," Kakashi continued, his tone growing more serious, "leadership requires experience. It isn't something that happens overnight."
He glanced toward the Hokage Building.
"With Konoha's current situation, manpower is limited. You must be prepared to take on greater responsibilities at any time."
"And most likely… I won't always be at your side anymore."
The words lingered heavily.
Becoming Chunin was not merely recognition of strength. It marked the beginning of real responsibility.
"Naruto."
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei!"
"You understand what that means?"
Naruto grinned confidently.
"Of course! I'll do an amazing job!"
Sasuke gave a quiet nod.
Hinata clasped her hands together gently.
"We won't let you down."
Kakashi's eye curved into a smile.
"I believe you."
"Now then, I have a Hokage meeting to attend. You three should collect your Chunin uniforms and official equipment."
"Good luck."
He waved lazily before disappearing in a swirl of leaves.
The Hokage Building
Naruto and the others headed toward the administrative hall.
Near the mission assignment room was the department responsible for Chunin affairs.
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Iruka-sensei!"
Iruka turned around, smiling warmly.
"Naruto… it's been a while."
"When was the last time we met?"
"During the Forest of Death," Iruka replied. "Although you were unconscious by then."
Naruto scratched his head.
"Really? I don't remember!"
Then he puffed out his chest proudly.
"But Iruka-sensei, I'm a Chunin now!"
"I know," Iruka said softly.
Beside him stood Gekko Hayate and Shiranui Genma.
"We're short-staffed, so I've been helping here."
He looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.
"You three performed exceptionally well. As your former Academy teacher, I'm proud of you… and honored."
Hinata bowed politely.
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei."
Sasuke nodded once.
Iruka handed them neatly folded uniforms.
"These are your Chunin uniforms. New headbands, leg wraps, ninja tool kits."
He paused and carefully lifted a sealed document.
"And most importantly, your official appointment letters—signed personally by Hokage-sama."
"Take good care of them."
Naruto immediately began changing right there in the hallway.
Iruka pressed his palm to his forehead.
"Naruto, you don't have to change right this second…"
Naruto struck a pose.
"Well? Am I handsome?"
Hinata's face flushed again.
"Y-Yes… you look very handsome, Naruto-kun…"
Sasuke folded his arms.
"Tch."
At that moment, three familiar figures entered.
"Oh! It's you guys!"
Naruto waved enthusiastically.
"Shikamaru! I didn't expect you to become a Chunin too!"
Shikamaru scratched his ear lazily.
"This wasn't exactly my idea. It sounds troublesome."
Choji laughed heartily.
"You're getting promoted and still complaining?"
Ino crossed her arms confidently.
"Exactly! Team 7 is amazing though. All three of you becoming Chunin at once? That's rare."
Hinata smiled shyly.
"Ino, you did really well too…"
Ino waved it off.
"I still have a long way to go."
Soon after, another trio entered—Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Sakura Haruno.
Naruto grinned.
"Hey, Shino! I can't believe someone with zero presence like you got promoted!"
Shino's glasses glinted ominously.
"Naruto… when exactly have I lacked presence?"
Kiba clapped Shino's shoulder.
"Honestly? Sometimes even on the same team I forget you're there."
Laughter filled the hall.
Shino sighed in quiet resignation.
Iruka watched them, his heart swelling with complicated emotions.
Only a year ago, they had been noisy Academy students.
Now, they stood as capable shinobi.
Especially Naruto.
Iruka's mind flashed back to the lonely boy who once struggled to perform the simplest techniques.
Seeing him here—confident, surrounded by friends—filled Iruka with immense pride.
"You've all done very well," Iruka said quietly.
"Watching you grow like this… it means more than you know."
"Iruka-sensei!"
They spoke almost in unison.
Iruka blinked rapidly to hide the moisture forming in his eyes.
"Alright. Go ahead and collect the rest of your equipment."
Suddenly, raised voices echoed from deeper within the Hokage Building.
Naruto tilted his head.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Iruka sighed.
"That's not something you need to concern yourselves with."
"But… things will be resolved soon."
Inside the Hokage's Office
Danzo Shimura stood stiffly across from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He once again brought up Hiruzen's previous misjudgments.
Hiruzen did not deny them.
The alliance with Sunagakure had been restored.
The Chunin Exams incident was handled.
Village reconstruction progressed steadily.
Although Orochimaru remained at large, immediate crises had been addressed.
As promised, Hiruzen had prioritized urgent matters.
Now Danzo was pressing him to step down.
"I will not go back on my word," Hiruzen said firmly.
"Most pressing matters are resolved. I am prepared to relinquish the position."
Danzo's single visible eye sharpened.
"Then appoint me."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
"No."
"I've already discussed this with Jiraiya. He will locate Tsunade and convince her to return."
Danzo's tone grew colder.
"And if she refuses?"
"Will Konoha remain leaderless indefinitely?"
Hiruzen answered steadily.
"Until then, I will continue serving as Hokage."
"But not forever."
"I've given Jiraiya a deadline."
"One month."
Danzo fell silent.
"One month," he repeated.
"If Jiraiya brings Tsunade back within that time, I'll have nothing further to say."
"But if he fails…"
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"I will not stand by while the village drifts toward danger."
"You understand me, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen nodded calmly.
"Then we shall wait and see."
The meeting ended in tense silence.
Outside the Meeting Room
Kakashi was about to leave when a familiar voice called out.
"Yo, Kakashi."
He turned.
"Jiraiya-sama?"
Jiraiya grinned and slung an arm over Kakashi's shoulder.
"I need to borrow someone."
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly.
"Naruto?"
"As expected of you."
"You want to take Naruto with you to find Lady Tsunade?"
"Of course, I have no objection," Kakashi continued. "But how would Naruto help?"
Jiraiya fell quiet for a moment.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Because Tsunade won't return for politics."
"She won't return for duty."
"But…"
He looked toward the hallway where Naruto and the others were laughing.
"She might return for hope."
Kakashi understood.
Naruto's stubborn optimism.
His refusal to give up.
His resemblance to someone Tsunade had once loved and lost.
"You believe Naruto can move her heart," Kakashi said quietly.
Jiraiya nodded.
"Exactly."
He straightened up.
"So? May I take him?"
Kakashi smiled faintly.
"If Naruto agrees, I won't stop him."
Jiraiya laughed.
"Good."
As he walked down the corridor, his expression grew more thoughtful.
The future of Konoha stood at a crossroads.
A new Hokage had to rise.
And perhaps…
The path forward would begin with a single, loud, orange-clad ninja who never stopped rolling toward his dream.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)