The next day.
Konoha Village.
Inside Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
A young boy sat in the ramen shop, slurping away with great enjoyment.
A young man with glasses sat next to him, picking up his noodles carefully with his chopsticks and chewing meticulously. After each bite, he would even wipe the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
This manner of eating undoubtedly seemed more refined than that of the boy next to him, which might lead those around them to find the boy's eating style a bit crude.
"How... gentle!"
A girl's eyes sparkled as she watched the young man eating gracefully.
The owner of Ichiraku Ramen was a middle-aged man, known throughout Konoha Village as either Uncle Teuchi or Boss Teuchi. The girl speaking was his only daughter, Ayame.
Teuchi seemed to find this a bit rude, gently patting the girl who was speaking: "Ayame, don't stare at the customers like that, you'll disturb them while they're eating ramen..."
"I know!"
Young Ayame pouted in displeasure and then sneaked a glance at the somewhat crude-eating boy: "He looks quite handsome, so why does he eat like a wolfing pig?"
"Because your ramen is so delicious!"
The boy sincerely praised: "Feels like I have energy after finishing a bowl of ramen, although it's probably because I didn't have breakfast!"
"Uh... thanks for the compliment."
Boss Teuchi could only thank the customer for the praise as usual.
"I've never seen you before!"
Ayame was curious about the boy, who seemed to be her age: "Are you a ninja from another village? Here for the Chunin Exams?"
"I'm a ninja from the village's Anbu."
The boy declared his identity without any reservation.
The boy seemed worried that Ayame wouldn't understand and earnestly explained: "Anbu, you know? It's the darkest department in the village! The kind that shows up at someone's house in the dead of night and wipes out the whole family!"
"..."
Ayame's eyes widened.
"..."
Boss Teuchi strained to keep his eyes open, surprised that after so many years in Konoha, he'd never heard such a strange description of the Anbu...
Boss Teuchi had a faint feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Just then, a white-haired Anbu ninja came over with his teammates and corrected him: "Hey, don't tarnish Anbu's reputation here, Akihara Kagura. I remember you're not even an Anbu ninja, are you?"
"Eh? I'm not an Anbu ninja?"
The boy, Akihara Kagura, looked up in surprise, recognizing a familiar face and smiling slyly: "Kakashi-senpai, are you saying that the Anbu training class isn't part of the Anbu operations?"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake was silent, unable to respond.
Although everyone regarded Root members as not being official Anbu ninjas, Root's formal name was Anbu Training Class, and technically, Root ninjas were indeed part of the Anbu system.
This little brat...
Seemed to be more polite than last time?
At least he was willing to address him as Senpai...
"Long time no see!"
The boy, Akihara Kagura, greeted Kakashi Hatake warmly, then turned his gaze to Tianzang next to him: "Yo, traitor, you're here too. Long time no see. Don't worry; Lord Danzo won't let me kill people randomly in the village. You're safe."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake retracted his previous judgment.
"..."
Tianzang hesitated, unsure whether to greet back.
"Sizzle... Sizzle..."
Kabuto Yakushi continued sitting at the table, eating ramen politely.
"Aren't you supposed to be taking the Chunin Exams today?"
Kakashi Hatake came over and asked curiously: "And you still have time to eat ramen here? The first written test should be starting soon, right?"
"No problem."
Akihara Kagura casually shrugged: "What's the difference between arriving early and late? I'm not going to know any of the answers on the test anyway."
"..."
Everyone present was silent.
Why are you so shameless to say it out loud!
"Um... about the Chunin Exams..."
Tianzang hesitated for a while before finally reminding: "If you're late, you might be disqualified..."
"Oh."
Akihara Kagura nodded knowingly, then turned his gaze towards Kabuto Yakushi, remaining calm: "Kabuto, didn't you hear him? Didn't have breakfast? Never eaten ramen? Forgot your wallet?"
"His personality... is a bit nasty!"
Young Ayame couldn't help but mutter a complaint, and when the boy's gaze slowly shifted towards her, she hurriedly lowered her head in fear: "I'm sorry!"
"It's okay."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and pointed to the empty bowl on his table: "So, as a sincere apology, can I get a free meal today? Otherwise, in a hurry to get to the exam, I might have to run a tab. Just send the bill to the Anbu..."
"..."
Young Ayame was dumbfounded.
"I'll pay."
Three voices spoke simultaneously.
One voice sounded a bit helpless, another somewhat apprehensive, and the last a bit indifferent.
Kakashi Hatake reached into his pocket, surprised to see Tianzang also reaching for his wallet, then glanced at Kabuto Yakushi, who was already paying.
"Looks like you're pretty popular..."
Young Ayame took the money, for once praising the boy.
"Maybe."
The boy, Akihara Kagura, seemed quite pleased with himself: "Actually, the three who are willing to pay for me are all people I want to kill..."
"..."
Everyone present was silent.
This kid sure knows how to offend people with his words!
"Hurry up and head to the exam!"
Kakashi Hatake furrowed his brows.
If it weren't for a previous case involving Tianzang, where Kakashi wanted to pull Akihara Kagura out of hellish Root Organization, he wouldn't want to bother with such an arrogant brat.
"Let's go."
Akihara Kagura waved to Kabuto Yakushi and glanced over at Kakashi and Tianzang: "Tsk, what a shame, you two were too slow paying. In the future, if you want to treat someone to a meal, make sure to pay quicker than your competitors..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake and Tianzang exchanged puzzled glances.
At that moment...
Even they didn't understand what this kid meant.
However, Kabuto Yakushi, who paid first, soon learned the benefit of treating Akihara Kagura to a meal by paying first.
"Kabuto, I will still kill you and Dean Nonou."
"But considering that you treated me to a bowl of ramen today, I can tell you something rather useful..."
Akihara Kagura's gaze shifted to the calmly composed Kabuto Yakushi, slowly continuing: "The Hidden Rock Village you're going to infiltrate, Dean Yakushi Nonou is also there..."