"Konoha really was getting livelier and livelier!" Inside a small shop steaming with heat beside a bustling street, Shin chuckled softly and glanced back.
Of course, he was not looking at the so-called street. At his current level, all of Konoha lay within the range of his perception. Even the world's origin could be revealed before his eyes, let alone those chakras with such distinct characteristics.
"Not bad. As expected of Konoha's number one restaurant." Shin smiled and offered his praise, making the girl in the white chef's uniform across from him suddenly blush.
The place he was in was Ichiraku Ramen, the restaurant with the highest appearance rate in the original work, renowned as Konoha's number one restaurant and active from the very first episode to the last.
"Thank you for coming! Please visit again!"
Amid the words of thanks, Shin left the shop. Looking up at the sunlight, he murmured, "If I calculated correctly, today should be the first round of the Chunin Exams. Forget it—such a boring exam isn't worth paying attention to. I might as well find somewhere to sleep. I just hope that Orochimaru bastard makes his move quickly."
"Itachi, what is it?" From a high place, Kisame asked his companion beside him. Their black cloaks patterned with red clouds were especially conspicuous, but they stood in a blind spot and had not drawn anyone's attention.
The Three Tomoe in Uchiha Itachi's eyes spun as he watched Shin's back vanish around the corner, an unprecedented gravity appearing on his face.
Why was it him? Why would he appear in Konoha at this point in time? What was his purpose?
A string of questions rose in his heart, but Itachi showed nothing on the surface. He simply said in a low voice, "Nothing. Let's go."