Do You Know Him?

Kanami casually glanced up at him and said flatly, "No."

The Yuzuki sisters behind him looked at him with worried expressions.

Yuzuki even regretted coming to register for the Chunin Exams.

If it had not been for her, Kanami would not have injured Tai Yong, much less provoked the Konoha Military Police Force.

"Take him away."

Shunta Shimura ordered the sole remaining team member to restrain Kanami.

Just as the man nodded and stepped forward to seize Kanami—

Kanami used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared several meters away, leaving the man lunging at empty air.

Light shone in the eyes of the Yuzuki sisters.

They had just learned that Kanami was capable, but they had not expected him to be this capable.

That man was a Chunin, yet he had failed to see through Kanami's movement.

The Body Flicker Technique used chakra to move the user at high speed, creating an effect similar to instant teleportation.

Shunta Shimura narrowed his eyes slightly.

Though anyone could learn the Body Flicker Technique, seeing it mastered by a mere child was somewhat unbelievable.

At such a young age, he did not believe Kanami could have mastered it without a clan background or a teacher's guidance.

"Kid, what's your name? Where did you learn the Body Flicker Technique?"

Kanami flashed his white teeth in an innocent smile.

"If I tell you, will you cover for me?"

Shunta Shimura's brows drew together.

He did have such thoughts, but with the crowd not yet dispersed, that would be a direct slap in the face of the police force.

If Kanami dared to say that, his background might be even more extraordinary.

There were only a handful of people who could disregard the police force entirely.

Either the present-day Hyuga Clan, or a surviving remnant of the Senju.

He did not dare think any further.

Above them was the Sarutobi, the direct family of the Third Hokage.

"Ahem." He suddenly coughed lightly.

The Chunin man immediately understood his captain's meaning.

He wanted the crowd cleared out.

The man smiled at the onlookers and said:

"Everyone, please disperse. Leave the scene to the police force. If you want to register, come back tomorrow."

Although the crowd was dissatisfied, no one dared voice it.

The man who had been the first to point out Kanami was drenched in cold sweat and was the first to flee.

Since everyone present was an ordinary civilian, the area was quickly cleared.

Only Kanami's group of three and Shunta Shimura's group of two remained.

The man had lasted so long in the police force because he knew how to read the room.

He had noticed long ago that the two Yuzuki sisters were standing behind Kanami, so he never asked his captain whether they should be sent away as well.

At that moment, Fūka stared at Kanami's back with an uncertain expression.

Kanami's intervention on her behalf had moved her deeply, but now she realized he seemed to be someone with connections.

And that was precisely the sort of officials protecting officials that she hated most from the bottom of her heart.

The two of them had come for the Chunin Exams to change their fates. Ordinary Genin and ordinary villagers belonged to the same class.

As long as they became Chunin and put on that uniform, their lives would improve somewhat.

That made sense. How could someone without a background step in for burdens like us?

Perhaps, in his eyes, helping us out was merely a casual gesture.

Fūka could no longer maintain her strong expression, and her face crumpled miserably.

Yuzuki noticed the change in her expression. Though she knew it was not appropriate for them to whisper to each other at a time like this, she could not help asking quietly.

"Why do you look so awful?"

Fūka seemed to age several years in an instant and sighed. "Sis, I'm tired."

What had she even done to get tired?

Yuzuki wore a strange expression.

Kanami also noticed Fūka's expression, as though she had eaten shit.

He placed a hand on her head.

"You don't have a fever, do you?"

Fūka hurriedly backed away and covered her forehead.

"Hmph, don't touch me. Are you trying to take advantage of me?"

Kanami was instantly dumbfounded.

Had she not been calling him Brother Kanami just now? Why had she regressed to "hmph" again?

He leaned close to Yuzuki's ear and asked quietly.

"Did she hit her head when she was little?"

Yuzuki frowned and thought for a moment.

As her expression gradually relaxed, she nodded.

"Fūka really did hit her head when she was little."

Hmm, no wonder. That explained everything.

Fūka stamped her foot in anger. "Sis! Why are you taking his side?"

Unable to hold it in any longer, the man beside them asked Shunta Shimura, "Captain, are we just going to stand here and watch them chat?"

Shunta Shimura shot him a fierce glare.

Then he slowly leaned toward his ear and whispered, "Shut—up—!"

What did you think got me into this position?

It was these eyes that could see through the essence of things, and this nose with its sharp sense of smell!

Seeing how relaxed they remained before the police force, chatting as casually as if they were at home—

Only made Shunta Shimura more certain that his guess was correct!

There was a very good chance that Kanami's surname was Sarutobi!

What did Sarutobi mean? Everyone in Konoha knew.

He had originally planned to give Kanami a stern lecture to appease Takeshi if Kanami turned out to be from some other great clan.

But now, he had abandoned the idea of criticizing him. As long as Kanami did not criticize him, he would be completely satisfied.

The man beside him saw his captain straighten his back even further.

Startled, he hurriedly straightened his posture as well.

The last time the captain had stood this straight was during an occasion personally authorized by the Hokage.

Could it be that the captain had discovered the Hokage watching their bearing and appearance from the shadows?!

No wonder the captain had told him to keep quiet.

I'm so stupid! I had failed to understand the captain's concern for me!

In the next election for captain of the police force, I'll definitely vote for you again, Captain!

Kanami's group of three went from arguing to discussing team names, then to talking about where they should eat later.

"Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen. I haven't been there in ages."

"Hmph, I'll listen to my sister."

Yuzuki nodded.

"Okay. I haven't had ramen in a long time either."

After seeing that they both agreed, Kanami turned around.

Only then did he see that Shunta Shimura and the man were still there.

They were standing remarkably straight, even straighter than his posture whenever he had been punished to stand at attention in school.

Kanami was somewhat confused.

He glanced at the two of them and asked, "You're still here? Why are you standing like that?"

Had Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived?

No, that wasn't right. I hadn't sensed anyone else either.

Upon hearing that, Shunta Shimura's not-so-large brain raced at high speed.

What did he mean by that? Was he hinting at something?

After racking his brains for a moment, a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.

He was implying that the two of them were getting in the way of his time with the two girls. He was telling them to leave!

"We'll be leaving right away!"

Shunta Shimura nodded at Kanami, grabbed the man beside him, and instantly appeared outside the grounds before hurrying away.

Yuzuki rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

She looked at Kanami and asked timidly:

"...Do you know him?"