"The noodles are coming!"
As the group continued chatting, five steaming bowls of ramen were carried in by Ayame, her hands expertly balancing the trays.
At that moment, everyone—Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Carl, and even Tenzō—tacitly paused, their chopsticks untouched. Their eyes, though pretending to be distracted, subtly shifted toward Kakashi.
It was clear what they were all waiting for: the moment Kakashi Hatake would finally remove his infamous mask. The long-standing curiosity lingered in the air like steam from the ramen bowls.
Carl, too, couldn't deny his interest. Rumor had it that Kakashi had developed the habit of wearing a mask because of a beauty mole near the corner of his lips, something his father, the legendary White Fang, used to tease him about during childhood. Whether it was fact or myth, Carl wanted to see it with his own eyes.
Kakashi, being as perceptive as ever, noticed their glances immediately.
"Why aren't you all eating?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Oh! Yes, right!" the group scrambled to act casual, quickly picking up their chopsticks and pretending to dive into their noodles. But none of them actually ate—their gazes remained fixed on Kakashi.
Kakashi slowly lifted his own chopsticks. Then, leaning over his bowl, he made the familiar motion—hand reaching for the mask, as if ready to pull it down.
Carl noticed Naruto's eyes widen slightly, and even Sasuke's usual indifference cracked as he leaned in ever so subtly. Sakura's breathing quickened, and even her chopsticks trembled slightly. All three were completely transfixed, holding their breath.
But just as Kakashi appeared about to unveil his face, he paused. His eyes flicked as though remembering something. With an almost theatrical air, he let his chopsticks fall lightly onto the counter and reached into his flak vest.
He pulled out three folded papers and laid them on the table in front of his students.
"Oh, almost forgot—I've submitted your names for the Chūnin Exams," he said with feigned casualness. "Of course, participation is not mandatory. These are the application forms. If you're willing to take the risk, sign here."
He tapped the papers.
"Six days from now, at 3 p.m., head to Classroom 301 at the Academy. And let me be absolutely clear—the Chūnin Selection Exam is brutal. Every year, people die. Don't take this lightly. Think it through before deciding."
The three Genin froze, momentarily stunned by the abrupt shift. Then came the flood of excitement.
"Seriously? We're taking the Chūnin Exams?!" Naruto practically leapt from his seat, eyes wide with anticipation.
But as Kakashi's warning sank in, a quiet intensity settled over the table. Each of the three reached for their form, reading it carefully. They were visibly contemplative, as if already imagining the battles that awaited.
Carl, meanwhile, watched as Kakashi subtly lowered his mask. Without drawing attention, he leaned over and devoured the entire bowl of ramen in less than five seconds—chopsticks flying, lips a blur. Then, with the same swift elegance, he wiped his mouth and replaced the mask.
Carl blinked. He'd seen it—Kakashi's entire face, even the beauty mole near his lip. And surprisingly, the mole didn't detract from his appearance at all.
"Kakashi really is handsome," Carl thought to himself, amused. "The only flaw might be his perpetually tired eyes."
By the time Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke looked up from their papers, Kakashi had finished eating and sat there with his usual blank expression.
"You... you ate already?!" Naruto stammered.
"What's wrong with you three?" Kakashi tilted his head innocently.
"Nothing..." they all muttered, frustration evident.
Their rare chance to glimpse Kakashi's true face had vanished in the blink of an eye.
Carl chuckled softly at their disappointment. Even Tenzō, seated nearby, looked mildly envious, though he said nothing.
Once lunch was over, the group accompanied Carl for a leisurely stroll around Konoha. On the surface, it seemed like a casual outing, but Carl had a purpose. Beneath his calm demeanor, he was conducting a detailed survey of the village's layout.
Over the following days, Carl repeated this routine—spending his days walking through the village with Tenzō and resting at night. What looked like simple sightseeing was, in fact, strategic reconnaissance. Carl was committing every alley, barrier, and landmark to memory.
Konoha was nestled under a towering cliff, its perimeter fortified by immense wooden walls. The village had four major gates—north, south, east, and west—but only the southern gate was regularly open. The rest remained sealed unless necessary. A sophisticated barrier surrounded the village; any unauthorized intrusion would be detected by the barrier team in an instant.
The village itself was divided by a river, said to be the symbolic line once separating the Senju and Uchiha clans. It was along this riverbank that Hashirama and Madara had once met and forged their childhood friendship.
The southwestern quarter housed the Hyūga compound and the remnants of the Uchiha clan's old territory. Not far from there, along the main road, was the district once inhabited by the Senju clan, now a neighborhood of civilian homes.
Shops lined many of the roads—Tenten's ninja tool shop, the Yamanaka flower shop, the Ganrigan bookstore, and more.
The southeast was mostly residential, though it featured the large Konoha Ninja Single Apartment complex, which housed many unattached shinobi.
North of the river was the commercial and administrative heart of the village. Here stood the Ninja Academy, the Sarutobi estate, the districts belonging to the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans, hot spring streets, restaurants, the hospital, the Konoha news department, and the mighty Hokage Tower. The Konoha Security Force headquarters was also located there.
Carl's current residence—a spacious villa—had once belonged to the Sarutobi family. It was a strategic and symbolic location, not just comfortable.
Above the Hokage Monument, the land opened into Konoha's many training grounds. Carl suspected the Root division's base might be hidden somewhere in that vast region.
That suspicion was confirmed when, near the east side of Training Ground No. 4, Carl encountered a familiar, unsettling figure—Danzō Shimura, flanked by two Root members, heading toward the Hokage Tower.
Danzō noticed Carl immediately and halted, giving a respectful nod.
"Your Highness," Danzō said in a surprisingly polite tone.
While Konoha was not directly under the rule of the Land of Fire's Daimyō, much of its financial support still came from the Fire Nation. Danzō, despite his disdain for nobility, played the political game well when it suited him—especially with the Third Hokage nearing the end of his term.
He understood that should Hiruzen Sarutobi die without naming a successor, the nobles of the Fire Nation could have influence over the appointment of the next Hokage. For now, it paid to keep up appearances.
"You must be Lord Danzō," Carl replied smoothly. "My uncle has spoken highly of you. He said you're the most decisive and capable leader in Konoha next to the Hokage."
Carl gave a practiced smile.
"Now that I've met you in person, I can see the truth in his words. The Land of Fire is fortunate to have men like you and the Hokage guarding its future."
Danzō's only response was a calculated smile—one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Both knew better than to trust each other, but they both returned the smile anyway, already preparing for the games to come.