After the ANBU operatives disguised as customers left the store, Richard resumed developing his Rasengan variations.
Though the shop wasn't particularly spacious, he didn't need to test the power of his new jutsu inside, nor did he worry about accidents during the development process.
Time passed quickly. Soon, it was five in the afternoon.
Besides the ANBU operatives in disguise, the store hadn't received any other customers today. Richard didn't mind. He hadn't opened this shop expecting significant profit—it merely provided him with a legitimate identity in the village.
After closing for the day, he decided against returning to Ichiraku Ramen. Instead, he planned to sample other Konoha delicacies. After asking several passersby for recommendations, he decided on tempura and yakitori for dinner.
At nine that evening, Richard returned to the forest near the Uchiha compound to continue Sasuke's special training.
Despite completing D-rank and C-rank missions throughout the day, Sasuke showed little fatigue. Such missions required minimal exertion—unless they involved particularly unusual circumstances, these lower-ranked assignments remained simple.
From a certain perspective, these missions served primarily as training exercises for genin. If newly graduated genin were assigned B-rank or higher missions requiring combat against enemy shinobi, nine out of ten wouldn't return alive.
Just like the previous night, Richard conducted an hour of intensive training before concluding the session. However, instead of departing immediately, he approached Sasuke, who sat exhausted on the ground.
"Has Kakashi informed you about the Chūnin Exams yet?" Richard asked.
"Chūnin Exams?" Sasuke looked at him with confusion.
Though Sasuke hadn't verbally responded, his perplexed expression provided answer enough.
"I've received information that Konoha will soon host a new round of Chūnin Exams," Richard explained.
Although Sasuke and his teammates had only recently graduated, the Chūnin Exams were held biannually. With fortunate timing, one could remain a genin for only a brief period.
The Chūnin Exams hadn't existed since Konoha's founding but were established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Though ostensibly just a promotion examination for genin, the event often served as an opportunity for allied villages to assess each other's strength.
In addition to Konoha's genin, participants typically included shinobi from allied nations' hidden villages.
If Richard's memory served correctly, six villages would participate in the upcoming exams, with approximately 150 total candidates. Besides Konoha and Sunagakure, genin would arrive from Otogakure, Amegakure, Takigakure, and Kusagakure.
Despite six participating villages, as the host nation, Konoha's genin comprised more than half the total—over 80 participants.
The turnout wasn't particularly impressive. However, due to Orochimaru's planned assault on the village, only Shikamaru would ultimately achieve promotion to chūnin, making this examination historically significant for its meager advancement rate.
"Are you interested in the Chūnin Exams?" Sasuke asked, rising to his feet.
"Absolutely," Richard affirmed. "This examination involves multiple villages participating together."
Though already aware that unexpected events would disrupt the exams, Richard had no intention of warning Konoha. While he currently resided in the village, his allegiance lay elsewhere.
Additionally, compared to the Third Hokage's survival, he preferred that events follow their original course—with the Third Hokage falling to Orochimaru.
If nothing else, the Third Hokage's death would prompt Tsunade's return to serve as the Fifth Hokage. Compared to what he considered a lecherous old man, Richard preferred Konoha's leadership passing to a young, attractive blonde.
Granted, Tsunade wasn't particularly young. Nevertheless, she was significantly more pleasing to the eye than the Third Hokage.
Furthermore, Richard had repeatedly sensed someone monitoring him over the past several days. Initially, he suspected ANBU surveillance. But after employing his enhanced vision and hearing, he detected no ANBU presence.
Since it wasn't ANBU, only one possibility remained—the Third Hokage using the Telescope Technique to observe him.
To confirm this theory, the previous night when he felt watched again, Richard specifically directed his super vision toward the Hokage's office.
As suspected, the Third Hokage was indeed using the Telescope Technique to observe his training session with Sasuke.
Just thirty minutes ago, Richard experienced the same sensation and again confirmed his suspicion. The Third Hokage had employed the Telescope Technique once more, though only briefly this time—a few minutes at most.
After hearing Richard's response about the exams, Sasuke said, "Though you're not originally from the village, with your abilities, you could easily serve as an elite jōnin here. Have you never considered officially joining Konoha as a shinobi?"
Unlike Naruto, who persistently suspected Richard of being a foreign spy, Sasuke harbored no such suspicions. The reason was simple—Richard's behavior was far too conspicuous.
Though Richard hadn't done anything particularly remarkable, his actions were considerably more visible than those of a typical infiltrator.
Additionally, Sasuke felt certain that Kakashi must have reported everything from the Land of Waves mission. Consequently, the Third Hokage undoubtedly knew that Richard had prevented Kakashi from killing Zabuza.
Moreover, Richard's decision to approach and train him wasn't consistent with spy behavior. As Konoha's sole remaining Uchiha, anyone associating with Sasuke immediately attracted village scrutiny.
If Richard were truly a foreign agent, he would never have offered Sasuke special training.
"Become a Konoha shinobi?" Richard pondered. "I might consider it eventually, but at present, I have no such intention."
His response was deliberately measured. With his capabilities, he could easily join Konoha and achieve elite jōnin status. However, his mysterious origins meant that regardless of his contributions, village leadership would never fully trust him.
Superficially, Konoha appeared remarkably open-minded. In reality, the village prioritized bloodlines and master-disciple relationships.
The First and Second Hokage were brothers. The Third Hokage studied under the Second and belonged to the prominent Sarutobi clan. The Fourth Hokage, despite humble origins, trained under Jiraiya—effectively making him the Third Hokage's grand-disciple.
And in the future…
The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, was the First Hokage's granddaughter. Kakashi, the Sixth Hokage, studied under the Fourth. Naruto, the Seventh, was Kakashi's student and the Fourth Hokage's son.
Those who ascended to Hokage in Konoha invariably either came from prestigious families or maintained master-disciple relationships with previous Hokage.
Outsiders of unknown origin—even native Konoha citizens without connections to prestigious families or renowned mentors—could never realistically aspire to the position.
Of course, exceptions existed—if one possessed strength sufficient to overwhelm all opposition, background became irrelevant. With adequate power, nothing else mattered.
After hearing Richard's answer, Sasuke dropped the subject. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
"Go ahead," Richard nodded.
As Sasuke departed the forest, Richard activated his flight ability and soared toward his new residence.
Time progressed swiftly. A week passed before he realized it.
During this period, Richard maintained his routine—operating his shop by day and training Sasuke by night—without attracting undue attention.
Five days earlier, Konoha had officially announced the Chūnin Examination.
Though these exams occurred biannually, their specific timing varied.
With the announcement, the already vibrant village grew even livelier. Though only select genin would participate, for the village itself, the Chūnin Exam represented a significant event.
Each examination brought numerous visitors—not only locals from the Land of Fire but tourists from other nations as well.
Despite increased village activity, Richard's shop remained conspicuously empty. After the ANBU operatives' visit, he hadn't sold any additional kunai or Tanto.
Some potential customers did enter, but inevitably departed immediately upon seeing his prices.
Unfazed by the lack of sales, Richard further reduced his inventory, leaving only three standard vibranium kunai and one vibranium tantō in the display case. The remainder he stored away.
From a business perspective, the week had been a complete failure. From a shinobi perspective, however, his achievements were substantial.
Aside from Rasengan variants requiring Sage Chakra or Tailed Beast Chakra, he had mastered every other form—Wind Style Rasengan, Big Ball Rasengan, Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan, Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, and more.
Beyond perfectly integrating wind and lightning chakra into the Rasengan, he had successfully incorporated water, fire, and earth nature transformations as well.
His only disappointment was failing to develop additional transformative techniques like the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Nevertheless, he remained satisfied. Mastering nearly all Rasengan variations and integrating all five elemental chakra natures within a single week represented remarkable progress.
Developing S-rank techniques like the Rasenshuriken couldn't reasonably be accomplished in such a limited timeframe.
Inside his shop, Richard reclined in the chair behind the counter, contemplating whether to attempt stealing the Scroll of Sealing.
Though the manga confirms only five forbidden techniques recorded within—the Four Symbols Seal, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Impure World Reincarnation, the Eight Gates Formation, and the Mutual Explosion Tag—it stands to reason that a scroll as extensive and dangerous as the Scroll of Sealing harbored many more forbidden arts lost to time or concealed from public knowledge.
Richard didn't need these forbidden techniques to enhance his power. Still, the scroll intrigued him.
Additionally, he harbored strong interest in the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The problem was that he didn't know where the Flying Thunder God scrolls or information were stored.
He could only be certain that Konoha maintained records of the technique. As an S-rank space-time ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage Tobirama, and considering the Fourth Hokage Minato's legendary status achieved through its use, Konoha would surely preserve this knowledge carefully.
Unless Konoha's leadership collectively suffered from amnesia, they wouldn't allow such a valuable technique to be lost.
After consideration, Richard temporarily abandoned his plans to steal either the Scroll of Sealing or the Flying Thunder God information.
With the Chūnin Exam imminent, creating trouble seemed unwise. Significant disruption now might redirect the upcoming "plot" in unpredictable ways.
Though unconcerned about alternate storylines, if he intended to influence events, he would wait until after the Third Hokage's death. He had no desire to miss witnessing Orochimaru's notorious patricide.
At five o'clock, just as Richard prepared to close, three young shinobi wearing Otogakure forehead protectors entered his shop.
He recognized them immediately—Dosu, Kin, and Zaku, the Sound Village genin sent to participate in the Chūnin Exam.
Though Richard had never encountered them during his time in Otogakure, he knew them well enough.
Kin, with hair reaching her calves, specialized in senbon and bells as weapons.
Dosu, with bandages covering his head except for his left eye, wore a peculiar device on his right arm—a metal gauntlet with sound amplification capabilities that could paralyze an opponent's auditory system.
Zaku's arms had been surgically modified by Orochimaru, allowing him to release devastating air pressure waves—Decapitating Airwaves—powerful enough to shatter stone.
Orochimaru had carefully selected these three for the Chūnin Exam. Though stronger than average genin, each harbored notable character flaws.
Kin possessed a cold personality and easily grew jealous of those with better hair—like Sakura.
Dosu was combative and cunning.
Zaku shared Dosu's aggressive tendencies but added recklessness and arrogance to the mix.
In the manga, all three met unfortunate ends. Kin and Zaku were sacrificed by Orochimaru for the Impure World Reincarnation of the First and Second Hokage.
Dosu, tricked by Kabuto into confronting Gaara, was effortlessly killed. Though the first to die, Dosu was relatively fortunate compared to his teammates—at least he wasn't used as a living sacrifice.