Sena started describing the story, but the kickback from the soldier pill hit me right then and there. It felt like all the exhaustion and sleep I had been holding back for days suddenly crashed down at once. The pills came back to collect their due. My eyes grew heavy, and I fell asleep almost instantly, unaware of what stories Sena was weaving.
When I woke up the next day, the sun was already high. I was wrapped tightly in blankets that I definitely didn't remember pulling over myself. They probably didn't want me catching a cold while I was out like a log.
I must have slept nearly twelve hours straight because my head was pounding like someone had dropped a rock on it. I sat up slowly, dizzy and unsteady, then dragged myself to the bathroom. After splashing cold water on my face and eating something simple, the headache finally started to fade.
"Damn, those pills are dangerous," I muttered. "I have to be careful and only use them when absolutely necessary. If the kickback ever hits during a mission, I'll be an easy target."
A small note on the table caught my eye. It said to meet Shisui at the flicker training ground. Since I still had some time, I took a quick shower, meditated until my thoughts felt aligned again, got dressed, and headed out.
When I arrived, Shisui, Kaen, and Sena were already there. I sighed, annoyed that almost everyone in Konoha seemed to enjoy showing up early. Out of pure stubbornness, I decided I would start cutting it even closer next time. Maybe then they would finally stop overachieving.
Kaen was standing near the edge of the field, frowning at the cracked ground and deep scorch marks left behind from old training sessions. Sena stood beside Shisui, smiling politely as they spoke.
The moment Kaen noticed me, his frown deepened. "Can you stop coming so late?"
I gave him a deadpan look. "I'm on time. You're just early."
"It's expected of a shinobi to arrive early," he said, crossing his arms. "It shows discipline."
Shisui raised a hand before I could reply. "Alright, calm down. First, I want to congratulate you all on a job well done. Because of our client, word of your performance reached the Fire Daimyo. He was impressed enough that he ordered an additional reward for our team. The noble was in a great mood, the trade agreement went smoothly, and both the village and the Land of Fire will benefit."
My imagination lit up immediately. I could almost see stacks of ryo shining in front of me, ready for me to dive into like a rich cartoon duck.
Shisui turned toward Sena. "Excellent work, Sena. Your understanding of the client and your ability to adjust to his personality were crucial. Thanks to that, our reputation has improved even further. Other teams will benefit from the goodwill you helped create. Your name is becoming well known."
Sena bowed slightly, her smile polite and practiced. "Thank you, sensei. I only did my duty."
Shisui nodded, clearly pleased. Whether he realized her expressions were rarely genuine didn't matter. She always delivered results, and that was enough for any leader.
Then he looked at Kaen. "You did well too. You stayed alert and guarded the noble carefully. Try to be more approachable with clients next time. A small greeting or compliment can help build trust."
Kaen's jaw tightened. "Sensei, why did you take Noa instead of me? Our side of the mission was boring. I hate sitting around doing nothing."
Shisui sighed. "If a mission ends without complications, that is a good thing. You will understand that better when you lead your own team. You have to choose the right person for the right role. I expected a strong enemy and needed someone who could defend the bait while drawing attention. Noa's fuinjutsu and chakra barriers made him the best fit. He is also a sensor, which is rare. You may have two sensors on your team, but that does not make them common."
Kaen grunted and looked away. I could see the gears turning in his head even if he refused to admit it.
Shisui then turned to me. "Noa, your fuinjutsu and sensing skills were invaluable during the mission. Given your progress, I will give you the same advice I gave Kaen. Understand your role and keep refining it."
I nodded. "Thank you, sensei. I will keep working hard."
Shisui smiled faintly. "All three of you share something every great shinobi needs. You are persistent. Talent helps, but it is your effort and consistency that make you stand out. Because of that, I believe all of you have bright futures as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf."
Sena gave her usual politician's smile. Kaen puffed out his chest with pride while glancing at her, and I simply smiled, satisfied that my work was being recognized.
He scratched his cheek thoughtfully before speaking. "In about five months, the Chunin Exams will be held in Sunagakure. Given your recent performance and the reputation you have built, I have submitted your names for it."
A spark lit up in Kaen's eyes. He nearly jumped with excitement. "Amazing, sensei. Our strength will finally be recognized."
Sena chuckled quietly, clearly amused by his reaction. I stayed silent as my thoughts turned over the reason behind it. It was most likely Hiruzen's plan. Promoting me to chunin early would make my rising strength easier to contain. Once I held the title, it would be harder for anyone to interfere, and he could easily move me under ANBU if he wanted me out of sight. Smart and cautious.
A small grin formed on my face. When I looked back, Sena was already watching me with a knowing smile, as if she had read every thought in my head. I felt a chill creep up my neck and turned toward Shisui instead. He was still smiling at Kaen's excitement, patient as always, until he lifted his hand to calm him.
"That means we will begin more intense training," he said. "You will also need to improve your teamwork, so there will be plenty of coordination drills."
Kaen's grin faltered as he imagined the pain those drills would bring.
Shisui continued speaking in his calm, steady tone. "We will take fewer missions during this period, but before the exams, we will complete a B-rank mission to test your coordination and real strength as a team."
Kaen's energy returned the moment he heard the word B-rank. His grin widened again, and his eyes gleamed with renewed determination. As Shisui went on, a faint unease settled in my chest. It was not fear, more like a quiet warning that something ahead would be difficult. I sighed and muttered to myself, "Probably just me worrying again." Sena's eyes flicked toward me, sharp and observant.
After a short pause, Shisui laid out our new routine. "Starting tomorrow, each of you will train at your assigned grounds every morning at six. I will work with you individually to strengthen your specialties and fix your weaknesses. After a break and lunch, you will all meet at the main field at two for teamwork exercises."
We all nodded with clear excitement. The idea of becoming chunin at our age felt unreal. It was a chance to join the small list of young prodigies who had achieved the same in Konoha's history.
On my way home, I took a short detour to the Nara compound to check on Shizuru. The guards told me she was out on a mission with her team. Since they were still handling D-rank missions, I assumed she would return soon. I left a short message for her with the guards and made my way back home.
Once there, I decided to cook a large meal. Genta always came over after his missions, starving as usual. Apparently, his father's cooking was terrible, though he would never say that to his face. I was saving that little detail for the perfect blackmail opportunity one day. The thought made me grin as I started preparing lunch.
Two hours later, Genta burst through the door. "Noa, you home?"
"Yeah. Sit down. Food's ready," I called back.
"You are the best," he said, already half running toward the table.
I carried out a steaming casserole, and the smell of melted cheese, tender meat, and soy filled the air. Genta's eyes widened. "Your cooking skills are getting dangerous."
"Shadow clones helped," I said. "Since my cooking skills improved gradually, the kickback from gaining their experience stays minimal."
He nodded but was too busy eating to care. The casserole was layered with peas, meat, and tomato paste, neatly arranged like a dish from a restaurant. Genta devoured it as if he had not eaten in days. I ate slowly, enjoying the calm air drifting through the open window as the sunset painted the sky.
After we finished, I brought out cream buns. Genta destroyed almost the entire plate before I could save a few for Sena and Shizuru. He tried to grab the last one, and I had to pull my hand back before he bit it.
About an hour later, Shizuru arrived. She stepped inside, sniffed the air, and smiled. "Noa, you cooked again, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Want some?" I asked.
"I already ate at home," she said, walking closer to the table. "You could have mentioned food in your message though. I would have come straight here."
Her tone was half teasing, half serious. The moment I handed her a cream bun, her expression softened. She took a bite, chewed, and nodded with satisfaction. "Alright, this makes up for it. Still warm too."
As she brushed crumbs from her hand, she looked at me. "While you were away on your mission, I kept studying jutsu creation and hand seal sequences. I even found some of the Second Hokage's old research notes in the library. Most of them are partial copies, but they talk about chakra flow models and how seals can be rearranged to change efficiency."
That caught my attention immediately. "So you actually got access to those?"
She shrugged. "Perks of being a Nara. I only had to promise I wouldn't try anything explosive inside the library."
I grinned. "Fair enough. So, ready to start?"
"Always," she said, her tone bright with curiosity.
Genta looked between us, completely lost. "What are you two even talking about?"
I could already feel the spark of excitement rising again. I turned to him with a wide grin and said, "My own jutsu."