"Ugh, it's the same boring work every day. I feel like I'm aging faster and faster."
In a hidden location on Konoha's outskirts, Lin was listlessly complaining to Kyosuke.
"Heh, yeah." As Kyosuke pondered the experimental data in his heart, he halfheartedly responded to her grumbling.
This sort of conversation had occurred countless times over the past few months. Kyosuke was already too lazy to pay her much attention; she would quiet down on her own after a while anyway.
"Oh, right, little Kyosuke, have you heard the recent rumors about the Chunin Exams?" Seeing his lack of interest, Lin could not help changing the subject.
After spending so much time together, the two had long become familiar with each other's backgrounds. Thus, in private, they no longer cared about Anbu rules and simply addressed one another by their real names.
Lin's real name was Saori Hyuga. Just as Kyosuke had suspected, she was a member of the Hyuga Branch Family.
Dissatisfied with her status within the clan, she had chosen to join Root—at least, that was the outward reason.
Her true goal had been to find a way within Root to break the Caged Bird Seal.
Clearly, she had failed.
That was why she now gave off the impression of someone who had simply given up.
Yet perhaps only Kyosuke knew that Saori had continued training diligently in private and had begun researching Sealing Techniques on her own.
And she had actually managed to uncover a few useful insights.
Though her achievements were still far from breaking the Curse Mark of the Caged Bird Seal, her mastery of Sealing Techniques was steadily improving.
"Hm? The Chunin Exams? Tell me more." Hearing that, Kyosuke could not help becoming a little interested.
"In half a month, Konoha will be joining with