August 1st, morning, Konoha Arena, waiting room.
Akaseki arrived fairly late. The final exam was about to begin—
Since it was an open waiting room rather than private rooms, Akaseki spotted Minato at once. After all, Minato's hairstyle had changed. What had once been merely a wild mop of blond hair now looked more like a hedgehog's, with two locks left hanging down beside his temples beneath his Konoha forehead protector.
He was no longer wearing a white hoodie, either. Instead, he had on a white shirt beneath a coat that had something of a cape-like feel to it.
"Ah—Minato, don't tell me you got that new hairstyle to impress girls?" Akaseki deliberately teased.
"Not exactly—" Minato scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"You say that as though Minato didn't already get plenty of girls' attention before changing his hairstyle." Ranwu's voice came from behind Akaseki.
Akaseki turned around—
Akaseki:—
Ranwu had changed her look too. Her little braid, which had previously tied back only a few loose strands at the back of her head, had become a high ponytail. Her outfit was also sharper and more capable-looking than usual.
Fine, fine. So the two of you changed skins without telling me, huh?
Good thing—
I changed too!
Shinnosuke Sarutobi, who had long been holding himself back, finally got the chance to complain. "Akaseki, why did you come wearing a chunin flak jacket?"
"? It's not like only chunin are allowed to wear one, right?" Akaseki said matter-of-factly.
"That's true, but—" Shinnosuke's mouth twitched.
"Doesn't this make it look like your reigning champion is determined to win? Hahaha—" Akaseki burst into laughter.
Everyone:—
"Anyway—not surprising for August, but it's really hot today." As he spoke, Akaseki picked up the Uchiha Gunbai on his back, which stood taller than he did, and awkwardly