Chapter 229: Team Ten, Farewell!
A month later, the fifteen Genin who had obtained Earth Scrolls participated in the Third Exam.
Ino, being a ninja with reconnaissance capabilities, was assigned to a temporarily formed team for patrol duty outside the village and didn't attend the competition in person.
Looking at the results, they weren't bad. Sakura was defeated by Tenten. Hinata, whose strength had increased significantly, defeated her Team Eight teammate, Kiba Inuzuka. Choji was no match for Rock Lee, getting subjected to a flurry of punches and kicks, resulting in an instant loss.
In the quarterfinals, Tenten and Hinata had a fierce battle. It was essentially Tenten fighting a female version of Neji. Facing Hinata, who had mastered the Gentle Fist Art: Rotation, Tenten's ninja tool throwing couldn't find an opening, and she was ultimately eliminated. In the finals, it was Hinata versus Rock Lee. Ultimately, Lee, having removed his weights, proved slightly more skilled and took the championship.
Might Guy ran around the arena carrying his beloved student, celebrating the victory.
All six participants performed well. After the Chunin Exams, they received their appointment letters promoting them to Chunin and were given their respective Chunin vests.
Inside a BBQ restaurant, the four sat in silence. Even Choji didn't glance at the grilled meat right in front of him. His lips were pursed. The usually optimistic Choji was experiencing an emotion called "separation" for the first time.
"Eat first! The BBQ here is really expensive, and it won't taste good if it gets cold. Choji, hurry, eat!" Asuma took the lead, and only then did the atmosphere among the group liven up.
Ino suggested they have some drinks. Shikamaru and Choji, being the more straightforward ones, hesitated for a moment before both nodding.
Having eaten and drunk their fill...
Asuma looked at Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji with considerable satisfaction. The three had successively been promoted to Chunin. According to the agreement between the Sarutobi clan and the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, he had completed his mission.
Shikamaru was properly wearing his Chunin vest. Ino was still in her familiar purple sleeveless vest and ninja pants. Choji had put on the Akimichi clan's armor, with the large character "Eat" on his chest remaining unchanged.
Asuma opened a box, then looked at them and said with a smile, "Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, congratulations. You are all Chunin now. Soon, you will be leading your own teams. Following tradition, these earrings are my gift to you. Don't forget the happy times we spent together as Team Ten."
He pushed the box towards the three. "These earrings are proof of your ability to stand on your own within your respective clans. Now, I hand them over to you."
The three removed their old earrings and put on the new ones. From this moment on, they were the sixteenth generation Ino–Shika–Cho, witnessed by the Sarutobi clan. Unless they did something truly astonishing, they would be the next heads of their three families – this was a family tradition.
Simultaneously, Team Ten had completed its historical mission. The team's designation still existed within Konoha Village's structure, but it would be difficult for them to operate together regularly anymore. The village wouldn't waste resources by having a Jonin lead three Chunin, treating them like children. Before, missions were assigned to Team Ten as a unit of four. From now on, missions would be assigned directly to them as individuals.
Asuma would return to the normal Jonin ranks to carry out Jonin-level missions, and the three of them would also emerge from the beginner phase, becoming core strengths of the village. The team structure would be much more flexible in the future. The three of them would still be a team in essence, but the village would arrange temporary teammates for them based on their individual abilities to carry out Chunin-level missions. A Chunin was like a brick; they went wherever they were needed – there was nothing more to say about that.
This situation wouldn't last too long either. As soon as Ino accumulated enough missions, she could be promoted to Jonin. Her personal combat record, recommendations from her ninja clan, and a sufficient number of missions were the three promotion conditions. For her, the first two were practically guaranteed. Someone with her combat power wouldn't be allowed to waste time on Chunin-level missions for long.
This wasn't a final parting; they would still see each other often in the future. The four simply enjoyed a large meal together, putting a definitive end to Team Ten's journey.
At the same time, Kurenai's Team Eight and Might Guy's Team Three were holding similar gatherings. The only exception was Team Seven, because Naruto was still a Genin...
Jiraiya didn't see this as a major problem. Team Seven's situation was fairly common. When one or two members of a team were promoted to Chunin, the remaining member faced immense pressure. Surely they could pass the exam in another half a year? No way. There won't be anyone who stays a Genin forever, right?
After the Chunin Exams, Ino quickly received another mission. She handed the flower shop work over to Rino Yamanaka and went to the Hokage Residence alone. Shikaku, who was assisting the Hokage with work, indicated for her to go wait in the room next door for a while; the Fifth Hokage still had official business to handle. As you could see from Tsunade in the original timeline, being Hokage was no ordinary busy job.
Ino had nothing else to do, so she wandered over to the room next door to wait. Upon entering, she found she wasn't the first one there; another young man was also waiting for a mission. Judging by his vest, he was a Chunin. Hearing her footsteps, he quickly turned around and greeted her very warmly.
"Ah?! You must be Miss Yamanaka, hello, hello! I'm Etsuri Ramen. I never expected to be assigned a mission with a genius ninja like you! Please... please, please take care of me!"
Etsuri Ramen bowed deeply. When he looked up again, Ino noticed he had mutton chops very similar to Asuma's. He looked to be in his early twenties.
Ino didn't know his background, so she replied politely, "Mr. Ramen, please just call me Ino. I also ask for your kind guidance."
He repeatedly waved his hand. "No, no, no! I saw that Chunin Exam back in August last year, and honestly, I was truly shaken. I'm no good; I'm not good at combat, really, I truly need your help!"
Not good at combat? Ino looked him up and down. Ruling out the possibility that he was pretending to be weak while secretly strong, his aura indeed seemed incapable; he was limp and weak.
As if worried she wouldn't believe him, Etsuri Ramen explained in a low voice, "I used to hold a civilian position. Being called for a mission this time... it's really..." He wanted to say the Fifth Hokage was messing things up, but towards the end of last year, Jiraiya had severely criticized all the supervisors in the village's logistics, procurement, and other departments. Even the supervisors were completely subdued; how could a small fry like him dare to refuse the Hokage's order? Are you Danzo? If you're told to come, you have to come! If you're told to go assassinate the Raikage, you still have to go! You say you can't win? Then you still have to try first!
Ino just smiled and didn't say anything. She felt a little strange. What kind of mission is it that they'd actually pair me with such a partner? Looking at this guy, he likely didn't have much combat ability. Could it be another fundraising type mission?
Shikaku suddenly entered the room. Etsuri Ramen jumped up like a spring. Shikaku indicated for him to remain seated, explaining that he wasn't there for a mission assignment regarding him. Shikaku held a report and asked Ino, "You and Shikamaru both mentioned a type of tram in your report on the Land of Snow. Now you want to develop this kind of tram in Konoha Village? And then make it accessible nationwide?"
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