After the preliminary qualification was confirmed, the genin who had advanced also dispersed. Akaseki specifically sought out Fugaku and invited the three of them to join them at the ramen shop.
Fugaku hesitated for a moment before smiling and politely declining. Yashiro, beside him, seemed about to remind Akaseki of something, but Fugaku cut him off and merely told Akaseki and his teammates to prepare well for the upcoming exams.
Watching the three clansmen leave, Akaseki felt that isolating themselves from the village like this was not quite right, but there was nothing more he could do at the moment.
At the ramen shop, the nine Konoha genin who had just passed the written test were having afternoon tea—
"Why are we having afternoon tea at a ramen shop?" Choza asked in puzzlement.
"No, no, no. You're the only one who has no right to ask that!" Akaseki stared speechlessly at the stack of ramen bowls in front of him.
It was only four o'clock, not yet dinner time, so everyone else had merely ordered some desserts.
Meanwhile, Minato, Shikaku, and Shibi were still analyzing the preliminary round—
"There were thirty genin teams that advanced in total. Fifteen were Konoha ninja, three each were from Kirigakure and Iwagakure, and the remaining nine teams came from nine different small hidden villages. In terms of elimination rates, ninety percent of those eliminated were Konoha ninja," Shikaku remarked.
"But those who remain are all elites. Let's prepare for tomorrow's practical exam!" Minato said.
Only Konoha allowed genin to sign up on their own. The other hidden villages had all selected elites to "showcase," so naturally their elimination rates were different.
Just then, they heard someone outside the ramen shop—
"When not on a mission, one must not eat at improper times. That is