The Third Hokage's Summons

Yemo, clinging to the edge of the platform with his hands and feet on tiptoe, looked utterly bewildered. Since when could Genin not participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams? Even if they couldn't, why could all the other Genin but he couldn't?

The female ninja shook her head and explained, "It really won't work. There are clear rules for this Chunin Ninja Exams: you have to be in a team to participate. One person can't participate Chunin Ninja Exams; it has to be a three-person team!"

"Beautiful lady, you're not kidding me, are you?" Yemo asked, his face full of disbelief.

Although he had never participated in the Chunin Ninja Exams, he had never heard that the Chunin Ninja Exams required a three-person team to participate.

The female ninja smiled and replied, "I'm not lying to you. This is a mandatory requirement added to this year 'Chunin Ninja Exams. I can't do anything about it. If you don't believe me, ask the people around you; they all know."

There was no need to ask; since they said so, it must be true. However, this was the first time he had heard that the Chunin Exams required teams to participate. Whether it was the conversations of the ninjas around him or the words of the beautiful woman in front of him, this year's Chunin Ninja Exams seemed unusual.

But Yemo signed up for the Chunin Ninja Exams because he wanted to become Chunin. If that's the case, then I'm not exempt from participating in this Chunin Ninja Exams. And if this rule continues, doesn't it mean I'll have to join a team to participate in Chunin Ninja Exams?

Yemo looked annoyed. Why was there this rule when it came to him participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams? Wasn't this just bullying him?

Just then, Yemo heard a whoosh beside his ear, and a dark shadow appeared behind Yemo. Almost without thinking, he instinctively threw a punch behind him while turning around to look back.

Realizing they were in Konoha and the person behind him wasn't an enemy, Yemo quickly withdrew his hand. His fist was only a few centimeters away from the person behind him; if Yemo hadn't stopped in time, the punch would have landed on the other person's face.

Yemo looked closely and was immediately stunned, exclaiming, "Kakashi!"

Before he could even react, Kakashi, his face dark with anger, grabbed Yemo 'Yemo shoulder and dragged him out of the registration hall.

"Hey, Kakashi, what are you doing!"

Unfortunately, Kakashi didn't respond to Yemo's words at all, but just pulled Yemo along. Helpless, Yemo had no choice but to follow him, wanting to see what Kakashi was up to.

Kakashi led Yemo to the second floor. Compared to the first floor, there were not many people on the second floor. Only some ninjas walked by, but they were all carrying large stacks of documents and walking hurriedly. No one cared why Yemo and Kakashi were there.

Once on the second floor, Kakashi released Yemo. Yemo twisted his shoulder, which was a little sore from Kakashi's grip, and frowned, asking, "Kakashi, what are you doing? I'm registering for the Chunin Ninja Exams."

"According to the latest regulations, individuals cannot participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams without a team," Kakashi said calmly as he turned around.

"I understand," Yemo nodded. Mentioning this, Yemo complained, quite annoyed, "Do you think the Konoha High Command are deliberately trying to mess with me? I want to participate in this year's Chunin Ninja Exams, and this is the rule they came up with."

As he spoke, Yemo suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, you haven't answered my question yet. What are you going to do by pulling me out of the registration hall? And a Chunin like you shouldn't be showing up in the registration hall, right?"

As Yemo spoke, he raised his chin and looked Kakashi up and down. He felt that Kakashi's timing was too strange, as if he had been in the hall the whole time.

Kakashi glanced at Yemo, then looked down at the crowded hall below and said, "This is my new mission: to maintain order in the hall."

"No way," Yemo said in surprise, somewhat disbelievingly, "We just got back yesterday, and you're already taking on a mission today."

"I was bored. I had nothing to do at home, so I came out to take on a mission to kill time," Kakashi replied casually.

Wait a minute, Yemo suddenly realized something. Since this guy was maintaining order in the hall, that meant that Kakashi had noticed him the moment he entered the hall and had been watching him the whole time, without him even saying hello.

If Yemo hadn't known that Kakashi 'Kakashi obsessive understanding of missions stemmed from the impact of his father's death, he probably wouldn't have become close to Kakashi.

Stepping forward, Yemo leaned against the railing and asked, "Then why did you suddenly pull me out here?"

"I received a message from the Lord Hokage. He said he wants to meet with you," Kakashi said, turning to look at Yemo.

Upon hearing that the Third wanted to see him, Yemo was taken aback, pointed to himself, and said in a daze, "You said the Lord Hokage wants to see me."

Kakashi nodded slightly. He was also puzzled as to why the Lord Hokage would suddenly meet with Yemo. However, this question only flashed through his mind for a moment. The Lord Hokage must have had a purpose in meeting with Yemo.

Yemo thought to himself that he hadn't done anything recently. He had just returned to the village after completing a mission yesterday. The Third must be looking for him because of the Uzumaki Clan.

When he returned to the village last night, it was Minato and Kosuke who reported on the matter. He and Kakashi didn't go, so they didn't know what Minato and Kosuke reported to the Third. Perhaps the Third guessed something; Yemo thought it wasn't impossible.

If that's the case, then I need to prepare myself properly, so as not to reveal too much information when answering the Third's questions.

Filled with doubt, Yemo followed Kakashi toward the Hokage 'Hokage office, which was on the top floor, the fourth floor. Every now and then, one or two ninjas carrying documents would walk past in the long corridor. No one was talking; they were all walking hurriedly. They were carrying documents that the Hokage had processed and needed to be distributed as soon as possible, so the corridor was very quiet, with only the constant echoing of footsteps.

Kakashi led Yemo to the door and left. Yemo had said he came alone, as he knew where the Hokage's office was. But Kakashi said the Hokage's orders were for him to take Yemo there, so he had to lead the way. He said it was his mission, so what could Yemo say?

It's just a bit poignant; Sakumo Hatake's suicide had such a profound impact on Kakashi that he became so meticulous and strictly followed Kakashi when carrying out missions.

Standing at the office door, Yemo hesitated for a moment before knocking. The voice of the Third Hokage immediately came from inside the room.

Come in!

With a click, Yemo gently pushed open the door, stepped inside, glanced at the Third who was still dealing with matters, and then casually closed the door behind him.

Looking up, the Third saw Yemo and pointed to the sofa beside him, "You sit down over there and wait for me to finish processing this document."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

He agreed, but Yemo didn't move. He felt it was best to stand quietly to the side, while his mind raced, trying to figure out what questions the Third would ask and how he should answer them.

Yemo didn't have to wait long; in just a few minutes, the Third finished processing the documents. He looked up at Yemo, who was still standing there, and paused for a moment. Seeing that Yemo seemed distracted, he closed the completed documents and asked, "You've been looking distracted since you came in. What are you thinking about?"

Upon hearing the Third Hokage's question, Yemo paused for a moment, then quickly replied, "I was just thinking about Ninjutsu I'm currently practicing!"

The Third Hokage said, "I recently heard from Orochimaru that your talent is even stronger than he expected. You learned the A-rank Multiple Shadow Clone Technique in just one afternoon, and you also mastered the A-rank Lightning Release Ninjutsu, Senbon Explosion. That's a very difficult Ninjutsu, and I heard you mastered it in just two days."

After saying that, the Third Hokage smiled slightly, happy to see another genius emerge in Konoha.