While Uchiha Ran's pupils were still trembling in shock, Maeda had already begun explaining—quite enthusiastically—that the "scenic establishments" of the Yoshiwara District were a unique and highly popular feature of the Land of Fire. These places existed to provide premium services to weary travelers who had endured long, exhausting journeys.
Moreover, the variety of such establishments in Yoshiwara was astonishing. Every shop had its own distinct style, atmosphere, and list of services.
The Chijiya establishment standing before Ran was lavishly decorated, its architecture refined and unmistakably elegant. The exterior followed a traditional style—red lanterns swayed gently under the eaves, bamboo ornaments and braided ropes hanging neatly, giving the place an air that was both festive and intimate.
"Uh… this…" Ran hesitated. "Is this… really a proper place to eat? It feels kind of… embarrassing."
Despite his words, he was effortlessly dragged inside by Maeda.
The interior leaned heavily into classical aesthetics. Folding screens, sliding doors, and tatami mats filled the space, creating an atmosphere of refined antiquity—quiet, tasteful, and undeniably deliberate.
Seeing Ran's perfectly blank expression, Maeda burst out laughing.
"Don't worry, Ran-kun. This place can be very proper. I'm a regular here. You're still young—staying in Konoha all this time, you probably haven't been to a place like this before, right?"
"…Is this the kind of place I'm thinking it is?" Ran muttered. "I'm only thirteen. This really shouldn't be allowed."
"Relax, relax," Maeda waved his hand. "I know your age—you can't drink, and you definitely can't do anything serious. Don't worry. I'll just show you the hot springs, the tea rooms, the dining hall, and the kabuki theater."
As he spoke, he led Ran further inside.
The first room they passed was a tea chamber, meant for matcha and traditional tea ceremonies. Normally, guests would enjoy flower arrangement displays, wagashi sweets, and tea brewed by a tea master. But since it was already evening, the two didn't stop there.
Past the tea room was the high-end dining hall—Maeda's true destination tonight.
After they were seated, Maeda casually instructed the staff to send four attendants to serve them.
Foot massages.
Shoulder kneading.
Directly opposite the dining hall was a kabuki theater. On stage, a lively and dramatic performance unfolded—actors in elaborate costumes and vivid makeup moved with powerful, exaggerated gestures, completely capturing the audience's attention.
Watching Ran calmly enjoy his meal and the services, Maeda laughed heartily.
"Well? How does it feel, Ran-kun? It's a shame you're not of age yet—otherwise I could really show you the adult world. Hahahaha!"
"Maeda-san."
"Hm? What is it, Ran-kun?" Maeda replied casually—his hands, meanwhile, behaving with absolutely zero restraint.
"Maeda-san," one of the attendants protested softly, "please stop touching and eat your food."
Maeda ignored her completely.
Using this to test a Konoha ninja…
Ran straightened slightly, his expression filled with righteousness.
"Which Konoha ninja could possibly fail a test like this?"
Maeda blinked, chewing food that had just been fed to him.
"Huh? Ran-kun, what are you talking about? Is the service not good enough?"
"No," Ran replied solemnly. "What I mean is—this is genuinely amazing."
"…Hahahaha!" Maeda burst out laughing. "I knew you'd like it! Honestly, Konoha's places are far too crude. They can't compare to Yoshiwara at all."
After watching Ran eat seriously while receiving a massage, Maeda added,
"Once we're done eating, let's go to the hot springs. Chijiya has private baths—perfect for relaxing the body and mind."
Despite the establishment's less-than-innocent reputation, Ran and Maeda ended up enjoying a perfectly normal, thoroughly delicious meal, followed by a peaceful soak in the hot springs.
—
The next morning, 9:00 a.m.
Team Shinku had reassembled.
Yuhi Shinku, Inuzuka Tsubaki, and Domu Masano all asked Ran how the food Maeda treated him to had been the night before.
Ran calmly described fresh sashimi paired with dipping sauces and sticky sushi rice, springy noodles in rich pork-bone ramen broth, along with tempura, grilled meat, fried tofu, and assorted delicacies.
Seeing the obvious longing in Tsubaki's eyes, Ran smiled and said,
"To celebrate my first completed mission, Sensei—and Tsubaki, Masano—why don't we organize a team dinner once we're back in Konoha?"
"Agreed."
"Ran. You're the best."
Shinku looked at his enthusiastic students and nodded in approval.
Most ninja missions were, frankly, dull. B-rank and above were time-consuming, exhausting, and often involved confrontation with ninja from other villages. Because of that, some form of relaxation was necessary to deal with the psychological aftermath.
Seeing how united Team Shinku was, Shinku couldn't help but think of the task the Third Hokage had given him—to objectively evaluate Uchiha Ran.
Based on Ran's performance in this mission, as well as his conduct with others, Shinku had formed a clear judgment.
That night, while the three students slept by the campfire, Shinku took out a notebook and began writing his evaluation by the firelight.
—
Evaluation: Uchiha Ran
Unlike most members of the Uchiha clan, he shows no trace of arrogance. He displays genuine affection for the village and, through conversation, has expressed a desire to improve relations between his clan and Konoha.
His strength already surpasses that of most ninja. His self-created techniques fuse swordsmanship and genjutsu, making them extremely lethal on first encounter. It is difficult to imagine how poor his theoretical scores must be to have held him back. Against an unprepared opponent, even a chūnin could easily fall. With preparation, a ninja could avoid it.
His personality is unusual. He gets along with everyone, is always smiling, and maintains excellent relations with his teammates. Occasionally sharp-tongued, with a certain dark humor—but overall, his character is not bad. He is also capable of forming good relationships with civilians, making him suitable for further cultivation.
—
After finishing, Shinku felt confident this report would satisfy the Hokage.
Perhaps the Hokage had seen these very traits in Ran—that was why he intended to nurture him.
Suddenly, Shinku felt as though something was watching him.
A faint sense of dissonance crept over his senses.
He turned to look at the three sleeping students. There was no movement.
Frowning, he stood and began patrolling the perimeter.
"…Strange," he murmured. "That feeling is gone. There's no one around. And I'm not under genjutsu. So where did it come from?"
After a full circuit of the camp yielded nothing, Shinku could only suppress his doubts.
If one were to look back at the campfire—
They would see Uchiha Ran sleeping peacefully.
At the corner of his lips, a barely perceptible smile lingered.
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