Invitation

The Chunin Ninja Exams are drawing ever closer.

There are noticeably more Ninja patrolling the streets of Konoha.

The Ninja Academy has been anything but quiet these past few days; as soon as the bell rings, everyone is discussing the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"I've heard there's a guy in Sunagakure named Pakura who's incredibly powerful!"

"The third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams is a one-on-one duel."

My brother said there were dozens of people taking the exam this time.

Obito stood on the chair, waving his fist. "I'm going to take the Chunin Ninja Exams someday, and I'm going to pass them on my first try!"

Kai chimed in from below, "Then we'll burn with youthful energy together!"

"Who wants to be with you?!"

Shin-chan lay on the table, listening to the noise around him, and couldn't help but yawn.

"It's so noisy."

Uchiha Toru was reading a book and didn't even look up. "The Chunin Ninja Exams are only held once every few years, everyone wants to see them."

"What's so interesting about this?"

"Watch the Ninja duels." Uchiha Toru turned a page. "Don't you like watching?"

Shin-chan thought for a moment and said, "I like watching Pretty Big Sister compete."

"Can't you Xin Dian else?"

What are you concerned about?

"For example, who is most likely to pass the exam, and which village has the strongest Ninja?"

"Those aren't good-looking either."

Uchiha Toru a deep breath and decided to give up discussing this issue with him.

When Shin-chan got home, it was already dark.

He pushed open the door, kicked off his shoes, and was about to run to the kitchen.

The doorbell rang.

Miya wiped her hands and went to open the door.

A woman in a kimono stood outside the door, holding a delicate envelope in both hands, which she handed to Miya.

"Lady Nohara, this is a small token of Her Highness the Princess's appreciation."

Miya paused for a moment, then took it and opened it.

There were three tickets inside, with the words "VIP Seating" printed on them.

Miya's mouth opened slightly. "This..."

"Her Highness the Princess cordially invites Mr. Nohara, his wife, and Shin-chan master Shin-chan to watch the third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams." The woman bowed. "There will be someone to assist you; please don't stand on ceremony."

Miya held the three tickets, her hands trembling. "This... this is too..."

The woman had already turned and left. A black carriage was parked at the door, its curtain drawn, obscuring the view inside.

Miya closed the door, took the ticket, and walked into the Living Room, her tone somewhat unsteady. "Tickets for the Chunin Ninja Exams, VIP seats."

Shin-chan leaned over for a look and said, "Oh."

"Oh?" Miya's eyes widened. "This is a VIP seat; ordinary people can't buy tickets here!"

"Can I exchange that for a few boxes of Chocolate Stick?"

"It's not about the Chocolate Stick!" Miya carefully took out the ticket and examined it closely under the light.

"This paper feels different," she muttered.

It was almost dinnertime when I heard the sound of keys turning at the door.

Hiroshi pushed open the door, his smile impossible to hide, "Guess what I bought today?"

Shin-chan- chan didn't even look up. "Soy sauce?"

"No."

"Chocolate Stick?"

"No, not at all."

What is that?

Hiroshi pulled out an envelope and waved it in his hand. "Tickets for the Chunin Ninja Exams, three consecutive numbers. Our whole family will go together."

After saying that, he waited to see Miya and Shin-chan's reactions.

Both of them simply responded with an "oh".

Hiroshi's smile froze.

"What's this?" He slammed the ticket on the table. "What kind of reaction is this? This is a ticket for the Chunin Ninja Exams! So many people want to buy it but can't, do you know how much effort I put in?"

"Okay, okay." Miya brought out the dishes, her tone flat. "Thank you for your hard work."

"After all that, all I can say is 'Thank you for your hard work'?"

"What else?" Miya put the dishes on the table and wiped her hands. "You want me to kneel down and thank you?"

"That's not what I meant." Hiroshi sat down, his voice lowering. "I just felt your reactions were too subdued. This is the Chunin Ninja Exams..."

Miya didn't say anything, turned around and walked to the cabinet, opened the drawer, took out the three tickets, walked back and placed them in front of Hiroshi.

"Take a look at this."

Hiroshi looked down and froze.

"VIP seats...?"

He suddenly looked up at Miya: "Where did you get this?"

"It was sent by someone from that princess."

Hiroshi looked down at the ordinary seat ticket in his hand, then at the three gold-embossed VIP tickets on the table, and said with a hint of resentment.

"Actually, the VIP seats aren't that great. Being too close makes it hard to see the whole situation. Our regular seats are higher up, so we can see further. As the saying goes, 'From a higher vantage point, you can see the whole picture.'"

"Really?" Miya glanced at him sideways.

"Of course." Hiroshi carefully put away his ticket for the general admission seat. "Besides, the Chunin Ninja Exams aren't like watching a play. Why would you need to be so close? Battles between Ninja are all about tactics and strategy. You can see things much better from a distance."

Shin-chan lay on the table. "Then Dad, you go up to the higher floor to see the whole view, Mom and I will sit in the VIP seats."

"Who said I was going alone?" Hiroshi exclaimed anxiously. "We're a family. Where we sit doesn't matter; what matters is that we all watch together."

"Then let's sit in the VIP section," Shin-chan said.

Hiroshi opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a rebuttal.

Miya sighed and pushed the VIP ticket in front of him, "Take this and return the regular seat ticket, or give it away."

"Refund what?!" Hiroshi's eyes kept glancing at the VIP tickets, but he remained stubborn. "I queued for ages to get them."

So what exactly do you want?

"I didn't mean anything by it." Hiroshi pushed the VIP tickets back. "You guys go sit in the VIP seats, I'll go to the regular seats. We're all Chunin Ninja Exams anyway, so it doesn't matter if we sit separately."

"Real?"

"Really." Hiroshi nodded, his tone tinged with a sense of tragic solemnity.

Shin-chan glanced at him. "Dad, you're not planning to go to the communal seating area and cry by yourself, are you?"

"Who's going to cry?" Hiroshi slammed his hand on the table. "Eat, eat! The food's getting cold."

He picked up his bowl, ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, and couldn't help but look up at Miya.

"Um... is tea and snacks served in the VIP section?"

"Have no idea."

"Probably," Hiroshi muttered to himself. "After all, it's a VIP section; we can't just let them sit there and watch."

He shoveled down a couple more mouthfuls of rice. "I heard the VIP section has a private lounge, so you don't have to squeeze in with other people."

Miya put down her chopsticks. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Hiroshi remained silent for three seconds.

"I'll go with you to the VIP section."

Miya snorted and put the ticket away, "Let's eat."

Shin-chan picked up a piece of fish and asked, "What about the ticket Dad bought in line?"

Hiroshi's expression visibly showed pain. "Let me think of something else."

"We can give it to the lady next door," Miya said. "She helped us collect our blankets last time."

"That's a ticket to the Chunin Ninja Exams!" Hiroshi nearly dropped his bowl. "If I give it to that old lady, she'll just sell it."