When Hoshi received her vest and the document confirming her promotion to chunin, she was disappointed for a moment - the reward for her successful performance on the exam was boring as hell. Just show up at the Hokage Tower clerk's office, get what you want from the clerk, and you're free to go. But her disappointment was quickly replaced by joy when she was hugged by a friend who had also been promoted, and her sensei gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
- Congratulations, you've worked very hard to be able to wear the chunin vest," smiled a handsome red-haired boy dressed in traditional Nara clan robes, "and as is customary, this is something to celebrate! My treat.
- Yes!" Hoshi couldn't help herself, remembering the sumptuous table Ryo had set up on the first day of the team's acceptance.
- The office is already booked and is waiting for you," Sensei winked and waved for the students to follow him, leaving with a wide stride.
The girls rushed after him, following at his side.
- I had imagined this to be more pompous for the examiners," Asani murmured, glancing at her mentor.
- Oh, you bet, Namikaze and Uzumaki will get their patents and vests from the Hokage," he grinned, 'but the geninis who screwed him over with their victory,' he waved his hand lightly, "will be satisfied with a regular clerk, especially since Sarutobi has enough problems to indulge the whims of the new jounin without important backgrounds and clan support.
Sighing, Asani nodded understandingly, glancing over at Hoshi, but didn't pursue the topic further.
One of the fat man's restaurants was almost in the center of the village, not far from the tower, so after a couple minutes of leisurely hopping across the rooftops, the trio was there. A waitress immediately jumped up to them and led them to a separate office without any further instructions - Nara was well known here and the staff had been warned in advance.
At the wide table, the kunoichi grabbed the menu and didn't hesitate to order whatever they wanted, knowing full well that Ryo wasn't a cheapskate and wouldn't give a damn. The friends could pay for the feast now, but the mentor had been paying for everything since the beginning of the team and this was the last feast. The girl took a solid order from the dear visitors and ran off, and Hoshi didn't fail to strike up a conversation about the future.
- Sensei, you won't be leading us now? - She asked sadly.
- Now you have two candidates for the role of leader in your team, you can either scatter or continue to carry out missions together, - shook his head guy, - let the past time was not bad, but training takes too much time, which I could spend more useful for myself, - directly answered the wards, without softening the truth.
- But sensei, you won't disappear completely, will you? - Asani asked quietly.
Yes and Hoshi wanted to ask a similar question, but was too timid to do so. Ahead was an independent life and missions without a reliable indestructible wall behind her back in the form of a mentor, who, if anything, will save, pull out, cure. Even the thought of parting with his childhood idol and the object of his first crush was depressing.
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