"Who is it?"
Sarutobi Karen Kaede's curiosity was completely piqued. She stared intently at Dan Katō, her eyes blinking, and silently wondered if Araki had other teachers besides Might Duy.
Tsunade.
Dan Katō suddenly uttered such a name, immediately causing Sarutobi Karen Kaede to widen her eyes in shock.
"Are you talking about Lady Tsunade?" Sarutobi Karen Kaede couldn't help but ask, "Is it the Lady Tsunade I understand?"
"It's her." Dan Katō in confirmation.
"My God!"
Sarutobi Karen Kaede jumped up from her chair. This was no small matter; for her, as the head of the teaching affairs office, to be unaware of it was blatant dereliction of duty.
Immediately afterwards.
She immediately realized what was happening.
He stared intently at Dan Katō.
His eyes flickered with doubt and confusion.
"You didn't come to ask me anything specifically, or to tell me about this, did you? Just tell me what you're thinking!"
Chapter 19 Dan Katō's Thoughts (Third update, please subscribe and vote)
Sarutobi Karen Kaede intently at Dan Katō, now certain of three things in her mind.
First, Araki's backing is very strong, even stronger than she imagined!
Secondly, Araki definitely concealed some of his achievements; the only question is how much.
Third, this simulated match seems to have caused quite a stir.
Sarutobi Karen Kaede was already thinking things through at this moment. After all, she needed to pay close attention to these matters. Many issues were not so easy to resolve, and a slight mishandling could have a significant impact on the Ninja Academy.
"I already stated my purpose when I came in!" Dan Katō smiled slightly and said, "I just want to ask Araki what exactly happened. We're old classmates, and you were there that day, so I want to find out more about the situation."
"That's all?" Sarutobi Karen Kaede, somewhat skeptical.
"That's all." Dan Katō nodded in confirmation.
"You've seen the outcome now. Araki defeated Might Duy's Maemoto Takashi. Further ahead, that's where Araki and Kushina fought..." Sarutobi Karen Kaede didn't hide anything and recounted the events of that day in detail, things that everyone already knew.
"I see." Dan Katō, now understanding more clearly and specifically.
"Are you really just asking around?" Sarutobi Karen Kaede asked, puzzled, as if she had overlooked something.
"Yes, that's all." Dan Katō continued nodding.
"Can I know why?" Sarutobi Karen Kaede asked, pursing her lips. She was still quite concerned about Araki, and since this matter involved Araki, she wanted to hear the details.
"Hmm... it's not that I can't tell you, but you have to keep it a secret," Dan Katō said with a smile.
"Yes, I'll definitely keep it a secret." Sarutobi Karen Kaede nodded.
"I haven't come looking for you," Dan Katō said again.
"I understand, I understand, we haven't seen each other since graduation," Sarutobi Karen Kaede said tactfully.
"Actually, I just wanted to see what Tsunade's disciple was like, and whether she had any other ulterior motives," Dan Katō frankly stated. "I met Tsunade at the Jonin meeting that time, and I felt that our ideals were quite compatible. I want to pursue her."
"Ah?!"
Sarutobi Karen Kaede seemed to have heard something incredibly shocking. Her lips twitched as she stared at Dan Katō, as if she were a Toad trying to eat a swan.
"You're going to pursue Lady Tsunade?"
"Really?"
"Wow... you're amazing!"
Sarutobi Karen Kaede said, deeply moved. She had many unspeakable thoughts in her heart, but she kept them all inside. She stared silently at her old classmate in front of her. His smile was still so bright, but he looked a little unfamiliar.
"Yes." Dan Katō nodded, then his smile faded, and he said, "I want to be Hokage!"
"Hiss..."
Sarutobi Karen Kaede immediately gasped, a multitude of thoughts swirling in her mind. She understood just how bold and powerful Dan Katō's decision at this moment truly was.
Keep it a secret!
Dan Katō uttered those words, turned to leave, and remained there until he disappeared from Sarutobi Karen Kaede's sight.
actually.
He came here for another reason.
I just want to see Araki.
However, after hearing Sarutobi Karen Kaede's words, she withdrew her thoughts and felt that there was no real need for it.
Dan Katō felt that this disciple was nothing special and would not become an obstacle for him. Of course, his obstacle did not refer to him as a rival in love, but rather as a stumbling block on the path to Hokage.
Sarutobi Karen Kaede stared blankly in the direction Dan Katō had left, then let out a long sigh, as if she no longer recognized him.
" Hokage..."
"That's really audacious!"
"No wonder he wanted to get close to Lady Tsunade..."
Sarutobi Karen Kaede was completely shocked. In her mind, men and women should be in a relationship based on mutual affection and love, using their feelings as a bond to overcome any obstacles in the way. She never imagined that someone could actually be with a woman for other purposes.
Thinking and thinking.
She got up and walked outside.
I'm going to go check on Araki's taking the test in the classroom.
Two hours later.
The students handed in their papers.
After the scroll was closed, a sense of relief appeared on everyone's face. Now that the exams were over, nothing else mattered; it was time to enjoy this rare holiday.
"Exam results will be posted on the bulletin board outside the school before the start of the semester. Everyone can check it there then."
After saying that, Ibuki-sensei immediately picked up the test paper and went outside, accompanied by Fujiwara-sensei.
After the two proctors left, cheers suddenly erupted in the classroom. Now they didn't have to worry about grades or attend classes anymore; they could play as much as they wanted.
" The Ninja Academy is so humane!"
Araki couldn't help but sigh; he had had this feeling before, but now it was even stronger.
Before time travel, after the final exams, there would be a holiday, but the results would be released quickly, along with a big list of achievements. In some cases, there would even be a parent-teacher conference, which would embarrass parents and give them a taste of the unpleasant feeling of sitting on pins and needles. Then, when they returned home, they would give their children special love.
The Ninja Academy, on the other hand, chose to let everyone have a good holiday.
Nobody knows how the results will be.
I'll feel bad after school starts.
Araki immediately stood up and quickly walked out of the classroom. He didn't choose to hand in his paper early, which was already a way of keeping a low profile. There was no need to wait here as usual until the other students had left.
Times change.
Araki used to do this because he didn't want to be too conspicuous and avoided interacting with people.
He was invisible back then.
But things are different now.
He had just clashed with Maemoto Takashi a week ago, and is currently in a period of heightened public attention.
During such times.
If you stay in the classroom for too long, someone might approach you and start a conversation, which could be difficult to handle.
Araki doesn't want to have too much interaction with people.
The best approach is to avoid seeing them altogether.
Otherwise, saying something like "no" would only make you an enemy.
"Shortage..."
Kushina watched Araki leave, pouted, and stomped her foot in frustration. She wanted to follow him, but he didn't give her the chance.
"Hateful!"
Kushina muttered a helpless complaint, but she wasn't as upset as usual. After all, the holiday was coming up, and Araki had promised to spend time with her, so there would be plenty of time.
Next, let's help Araki sell the Explosive Tag!
Kushina pondered to herself as she walked out of the classroom. Before she even left the Ninja Academy, she saw Uchiha Mikoto walking towards her with a smile.
" Kushina!"
Uchiha Mikoto kept waving at Kushina, bouncing around as she did so, looking quite lively.
" Mikoto?"
Kushina took a closer look, quickly walked over, took his arm, and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"
"I knew you had exams, so I came to see you especially," Mikoto said with a smile. "Where's your roommate?"
"I don't know, he probably slipped away." Kushina said irritably, still thinking about how Araki hadn't waited for her earlier.
"Let's go shopping!" Mikoto offered.
"Is there anything you want to buy again?" Kushina asked, puzzled. Hadn't they just gone shopping a couple of days ago? However, remembering the Explosive Tag at home, she immediately said, "Come back with me first. I need to sell the Explosive Tag. It's perfect that you're here; I'll have to ask you for help."
" Explosive Tag?" Mikoto was taken aback.
"Those blank talismans you helped me exchange last time, Araki has already made them all." Kushina didn't hide anything.
"???"
A whole bunch of question marks popped into Uchiha Mikoto's head as she stared blankly at Kushina, her eyes flashing with intense shock.
You mean to say...
" Araki put those blank symbols..."