Go to the Yamanaka Clan

Before Menma's eyes, Kushina's figure gradually overlapped with that of his mother from his previous life. It was as if he could hear his mother's words from that life: "As long as you're willing to learn, your father and I will sell everything we have to put you through school!"

So Menma returned to his room, took out the Item-Sealing Scroll, and went to the living room.

Menma spread out the scroll, found the corresponding spot, formed a hand seal, and unsealed it!

With a bang, a small pile of cash appeared on the scroll. "Mom, this is the money I earned when I went to the Land of Waves. There's one million ryo in total. Take it and use it for the household."

Kushina was deeply moved by the sight and pulled Menma tightly into her arms.

With a solution to the hidden danger of the tailed beast chakra within his body, Menma finally let go of his worries. He hugged Kushina and savored this rare warmth.

Early the next morning, Kakashi and the others gathered at their usual meeting place.

First came the ever-popular division of the spoils. Excluding the one million ryo Kado had given Menma separately, Kakashi still had 200,000 ryo in mission payment and an additional one million ryo reward from Kado, for a total of 1.2 million ryo.

Since this mission had clearly exceeded the scope of an A-Rank Mission, the village had raised its rank to S-Rank.

Although there was no additional bonus, the village would no longer take a cut from the mission reward.

Thus, the four of them could split the 1.2 million ryo evenly! Each person received 300,000 ryo!

After dividing the spoils, Kakashi brought up two important matters. The first was that the annual Chunin Ninja Exams would arrive in a month.

What made this year's Chunin Ninja Exams different from previous years was that Konoha would no longer hold them alone, but jointly with the Sand Village!

Besides the two major nations, several smaller countries, including the Land of Rain, the Land of Fields, the Land of Waterfalls, and the Land of Grass, had also been invited to participate.

The scale was far greater than in any previous year.

Therefore, Konoha's higher-ups had issued a strict order: among all ninja eligible for promotion to Chunin, they were to select the very best and send the strongest Genin to participate. They had to demonstrate Konoha's superiority and style before the leaders of every nation!

As Konoha's strongest Genin team, Menma and the other two also had to take part in these exams!

As Kakashi explained, he took out several forms and handed them to the three of them. "Take these back and fill them out. One is the Chunin Ninja Exams registration form, and one is a parental acknowledgment form. Have your parents read them and sign them!

Oh, right, Menma. I left your registration form and acknowledgment form at the Yamanaka Clan's place. I've already spoken with Hiashi, so go get some psychological counseling first. After that, you can collect the forms!"

Menma froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly. It had already been several days. Kakashi, had he still not forgotten about this?

Still, he said nothing. It was only psychological counseling. Hiashi Yamanaka would not resort to interrogation methods, would he?!

After seeing that everyone had accepted their registration forms, Kakashi announced the second matter:

"There's one more thing. Because our mission in the Land of Waves was completed rather brilliantly last time, we've gained a certain amount of fame among the various countries. So an A-Rank Mission has specifically requested us!

The mission begins in ten days and should end within about half a month. It won't interfere with your Chunin Ninja Exams, so I accepted it.

There won't be any other mission requests these next few days. Rest up first, then work on improving your strength.

All right, that's it. If there are no questions, you're dismissed!

Oh, Menma, don't forget to visit the Yamanaka Clan!"

After parting with the others, Menma first went home for lunch. After studying introductory sealing techniques for a while, he saw that it was about time and headed for the Yamanaka Clan with heavy steps.

Honestly, Menma did not know where the Yamanaka Clan's compound was. He only knew that the Yamanaka Clan ran a flower shop on Konoha's commercial street, so he headed there.

Sure enough, the Yamanaka Clan's flower shop was open, and Menma's classmate, Ino Yamanaka, was helping out inside.

Menma arrived at the entrance and saw Ino helping a customer choose flowers. He did not interrupt her work, merely picking up a potted flower by the door and examining it.

After seeing the customer off, Ino noticed Menma at the entrance and greeted him with a smile. "Good afternoon, Menma. Are you here to buy flowers too?"

Menma turned to look at the smiling girl and was briefly dazed.

But he quickly came to his senses and silently shook his head. I'm nearly fifty when both lives are added together, yet I can still be so easily moved by a beautiful young girl.

Menma smiled. "Ah, good afternoon, Ino. It's like this—I need to speak with your father, Mr. Hiashi Yamanaka, about something. Kakashi-sensei said my Chunin Ninja Exams registration form is with him."

"Oh, I see. Then your timing is unfortunate. He should be working at the Intelligence Division right now and won't be back until after work this evening.

But it's nearly quitting time already. Why don't you wait here for a while?" Ino replied.

"Mm, would that disturb you, Ino?" Menma asked somewhat awkwardly.

Ino gave Menma a broad smile. "Not at all, Menma. Hardly anyone comes into the shop, so it can feel a little lonely!

You can keep me company and chat with me, too. Then I won't be bored!"

"In that case, I'll take you up on that." Menma stayed without further hesitation.

Ino was delighted and continued, "Speaking of which, aside from coming to get the registration form from my dad, you should have something else to do, right?"

"Yeah, isn't it because Kakashi-sensei likes to meddle..." Menma told Ino the entire cause of the matter. "...That's what happened. Kakashi-sensei wants me to get psychological counseling from Mr. Hiashi before I can take the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Ino, don't you think Kakashi-sensei is making too much of it?"

Ino tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Although I know Menma is a gentle and kind person, Kakashi-sensei must have his reasons for doing this!"

"Oh? Ino, you're so sly. You said something, but it feels like you didn't say anything at all," Menma teased.

"How could that be..." Ino retorted with a smile.

Time passed quickly amid their laughter and conversation. Before they knew it, evening had arrived. After Menma helped Ino tidy up the shop, he headed to the Yamanaka Clan's home with her.

"Thanks to you today, Menma. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken me to put away all the flowers in the shop." Ino smiled as she thanked him.

Menma waved it off. "Does Ino work like this every day?"

"Not usually. My mom normally manages the flower shop, but the Chunin Ninja Exams are coming soon. I heard that lots of ninja and merchants from other countries will be coming to Konoha this time, and there's a huge demand for flowers all over the village. My mom went to the Land of Flowers to purchase flowers these past few days, so I've been helping watch the shop."