Unexpected Teammates

Ichiraku Ramen!

The small shop stands on a dark street corner; ordinary and unremarkable are perhaps the best words to describe Ichiraku Ramen.

This is an ordinary ramen shop with no special features or particularly memorable flavors, but it seems to possess a magical power. Many of the most famous Shinobi World, both present and future, have eaten here. This shop has witnessed much of Konoha's history and the changes in the ninja world.

The small shop only had four seats. When Yemo and his group arrived, it was past lunchtime, and the shop was empty. The four seats were just enough for the four of them.

The four of them ordered five bowls of ramen. Although Ichiraku Ramen's portions were quite generous, given Chōza's appetite, he would probably need two bowls to fill his stomach.

The steaming hot ramen was served quickly, and the aroma of pork bones and char siu wafted over, making the Yemo even more irresistible to Ye Mo, who was starving.

While eating ramen, Shikaku suddenly asked, "Yemo, I heard you're taking the Chunin Ninja Exams like us!"

"Yes, I did have that idea. When I went to register, they said it was only possible to register in small teams. I thought I wouldn't be able to participate in this Chunin Ninja Exams, but the Lord Hokage agreed," Yemo said, without stopping eating the ramen in his bowl.

The white bone broth was incredibly flavorful, along with the tender char siu and the chewy noodles. Ichiraku Ramen was the best ramen Yemo had ever eaten, and of course, it was the only ramen Yemo had ever tried.

Yemo naturally wouldn't reveal the agreement he made with the Third.

While chewing on a chicken leg, Chōza asked, "So you'll be participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams as a single person?"

Shrugging, Yemo said with a puzzled look, "I don't know either. The Third should have a solution, perhaps the same one you mentioned."

"I think it's impossible," Inoichi said, shaking his chopsticks in disagreement. "This Chunin Ninja Exams isn't like the usual ones. It's proposed and organized by the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and ninjas from other villages will also participate. Even the Lord Hokage wouldn't break the rules."

Upon hearing Inoichi's speculation, Yemo paused for a moment, then continued eating carelessly. Why bother with all that? The Third would figure out a solution anyway; he only needed to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"You don't need to guess anymore, I already have definite news," Shikaku said mysteriously.

Upon hearing this, Yemo and the other two became interested, put down their chopsticks, and eagerly asked, "Tell us quickly, tell us, Shikaku, what definite information have you obtained?"

Since it concerned himself, Yemo wouldn't have bothered to think about it if there was no news, but now that there was news, Yemo naturally became concerned.

Under the questioning of the three, Shikaku put down his chopsticks, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and whispered, "I overheard this from my dad. I accidentally heard that the Third is planning to have Yemo team up with Hizashi Hyuga and Hyuga Hiashi to participate in this Chunin Ninja Exams."

Upon hearing this, Chōza and Inoichi were both surprised, but Yemo was the most surprised. It was expected that the Third would let him join a team, after all, this Chunin Ninja Exams was a joint effort of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, not just Konoha's decision.

However, teaming up with Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga was something Yemo had never considered. The Hyuga Clan was a Konoha clan in Konoha, and the only clan that could be compared with the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan.

Born into the main branch of the Main Family Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga were also renowned geniuses in Konoha, collectively known as the Hyuga's Twin Geniuses.

(Before Naruto, the timeline in Hokage was quite chaotic. I'm assuming the Konoha 12 are all around the same age, and their fathers should be around the same age as well. Since Shikaku is still Genin here, and Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga also around the same age, I should clarify that the protagonist is a few years younger than Shikaku.)

Yemo was completely taken Shikaku when he heard the news that the Third had found him a team, specifically with Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

Seeing that Yemo suddenly stopped speaking, Shikaku turned her head to look at Yemo and smiled slightly, "What's wrong? Are you surprised?"

"I was indeed surprised," Yemo nodded directly, not trying to hide anything, and said, "I didn't expect the Third Hokage to assign me these two teammates."

Chōza set down his chopsticks and said, "You're quite lucky. At least the Lord Hokage didn't assign you a few ordinary Genin, but he did team you up with Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga."

Yemo completely agreed with what Chōza said. Assigning an ordinary Genin to him would not only be of no help, but would probably be a burden. The Third hoped that he could win the championship, suppress the momentum of the other four great ninja villages, and let the major powers see that Konoha's genius was stronger than that of the other ninja villages.

At this moment, Shikaku turned his head, his intelligent gaze fixed on Yemo, and asked, "Yemo, did you make some kind of agreement with the Lord Third?"

Upon hearing this, Yemo was taken aback, feeling quite puzzled. Why would Shikaku ask such a question? Did he know some special information?

It's not impossible. Shikaku's father was the Hokage, and it's normal for him to know some confidential matters as he assisted the Hokage in his work.

"How did you know?" Yemo asked curiously. "Did your father tell you too?"

"No, that's not it," Shikaku shook his head and said, "This is just my guess."

"You guessed?"

"Is it hard to guess? The Third clearly knew that you couldn't participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, yet he still agreed and even arranged for you to have Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga as teammates. If you didn't have an agreement with the Third, why would Third do this?"

Under Yemo's surprised gaze, Shikaku continued, "If I'm not mistaken, your agreement with the Third is about the Chunin Ninja Exams. The Third probably wants you to win, right?"

"Holy crap, you even guessed that?" Yemo looked at Shikaku as if she were a monster.

This guy is too smart. Just by being able to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams, and having Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, he was able to guess his promise with the Third, and even the content of the promise.

"Is that hard to guess?" Shikaku's tone revealed a hint of arrogance, but his intelligence gave him the right to be arrogant.

"This Chunin Ninja Exams is different from previous ones. With the Five Great Shinobi Villages and other participating villages, there are as many as four or five hundred ninjas participating. It may seem like Chunin tournament, but it is actually a covert and invisible battle between several great ninja villages. The winning village will gain fame and a series of intangible benefits, while the losing village will be trampled underfoot by the victor. As the host village, Konoha cannot afford to lose."

After a pause, Shikaku looked at Yemo and said calmly, "Among the current Konoha Genin, you, Yemo Uzumaki, have the strongest talent and the greatest strength. Although you weren't the youngest genin to become Genin Konoha, you were the youngest to kill Jonin. Since the Lord Third wants to win the Chunin Ninja Exams, he definitely won't prevent you from participating. Don't you agree, Yemo?"

The air seemed to freeze instantly, and the three of them, including Shikaku, all turned their gazes to Yemo, creating a moment of profound silence.

Yemo was most afraid of the sudden silence. He raised his hand, thought for a moment, and said, "No... don't look at me like that, I'll feel shy. Okay, the truth is pretty much what Shikaku guessed."

Time passed slowly, and the group ate their ramen for over an hour until Teuchi Yemo and the others finally left.