Naruto's Exam

Chapter 2: Urban Practice and the Taste of Friendship

In the high-level meeting room of the Senju Group, General Manager Tobirama looked sternly at the shareholder representatives who were reluctant to leave. "We have internal investigation methods that are enough to reveal your memories, if necessary." He looked sharp.

"No, no need..."

After the crowd dispersed, Naruto excitedly gave Tobirama a thumbs up, "As expected of you, you are the deputy director of the Senju Group! By the way, you just said that Sasuke and I are very similar to your brothers--"

"Shut up!" Tobirama glared at him.

Naruto was stunned and the others were silent.

Obviously, Tobirama was embarrassed to mention the family's past. He sighed helplessly: "This incident was also caused by me. As for the problems in the video, you don't need to pay too much attention to them. Before you act, reflect on yourself more, pursue your inner truth, and don't act blindly."

Sasuke frowned: "Deputy Director, what do you know?"

Tobirama glanced at Sasuke and replied, "I know some of the things in the video, but it's not appropriate to tell you now. In comparison, it is more important to improve your strength to deal with possible future challenges."

"Let's not talk about that for now. Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto," Tobirama continued, "Do you want to be promoted in the company?"

“?!!!” The three of them were shocked at the same time.

"Of course!" the three said in unison.

Tobirama nodded with satisfaction: "That's settled then. Next, I will assign two to three mentors to each of you, including myself, and they will join the team to guide you in improving your professional skills, tactical strategies, psychological qualities, public relations skills and practical experience."

The second-generation deputy director's words stunned the three people. Each student can get one-on-one guidance from two or three instructors?

"Then, doesn't that mean even our direct superior, Minister Kakashi, will be involved?" Sasuke asked doubtfully.

"Yes, he played an important role in your growth. For example, you learned the 'Raikiri' under his guidance, and the later 'Qilin' was a further improvement on the lightning-style ninjutsu based on this." Tobirama replied.

Sasuke was silent for a moment, wondering to himself, "Kirin... is possessing that kind of destructive jutsu really my future? Even without relying on Orochimaru's mark?"

"Okay, don't think too much now." Tobirama signaled them, "Take a break first. It is expected that there will be a third department assessment after the joint meeting of the five major companies. During this period, you must improve your abilities! Disband!"

"Understood! Deputy Director/Deputy Director/Deputy Director's elder brother!" The three responded in unison.

Before nightfall, members of the seventh project team conducted a practical exercise at the company's training ground. During the break, Sasuke took out a beautifully packaged food.

"Take it..."

Naruto asked in confusion, "What is this?"

"Silly boy, of course it's food! My mom asked me to bring it to you..."

"Eh?! Is this the bento made by Aunt Kushina herself?!" Naruto's face was filled with joy and he quickly thanked her and opened the lunch box.

However, Naruto was a little dazed when he looked at the red bean soup in the box.

"The last one?" Sasuke and Sakura noticed Naruto's reaction. They knew that Naruto's favorite was red bean soup. They still remembered that after the mission, the three of them bought Konoha desserts together, but Naruto's red bean soup accidentally fell to the ground and spilled all over. He was so angry that he almost cried...

"Sasuke..." Naruto hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is this red bean soup really made by Aunt Kushina?"

"Who else?" Sasuke replied impatiently.

Naruto didn't say much, but silently shared the red bean soup brought by Sasuke with Sakura. He didn't tell Sasuke that he actually liked eating this red bean soup since he was a child, and his love for Ichiraku Ramen was almost the same. Six years later, he tasted it again, and the taste was still the same...

Perhaps, this is the familiar feeling of home deep in his memory.

At this time, behind Naruto, Minato smiled and recalled the scene when Kushina was afraid of bitterness but loved the red bean soup cooked by Mikoto...

After the training, the three of them were starving. Naruto vowed to eat three bowls of ramen in one go tonight, one bowl of pork bone, one bowl of soy sauce, and one bowl of barbecued pork...

Sakura looked at him worriedly, "Be careful not to throw up like you did last time in Wave Country, stupid Naruto!"

"Eh? Sakura, why are you so biased? I wasn't the only one who vomited that time, Sasuke was there too!" Naruto protested.

Sakura graciously admitted, "Sasuke, it's okay!"

"Huh?! Why is it okay?" Naruto asked angrily.

Sasuke teased him cheerfully: "No reason, because you are the last one~"

"What are you talking about?! Bastard Sasuke! When I learn the instant body-flickering technique and the Rasengan--"

"You better beat me in swordsmanship first, you loser~"

Naruto gnashed his teeth in anger, but Haruno Sakura felt that this way of getting along couldn't be better. The members of the seventh project team would always be united and would never repeat the tragic ending in the video again...

Outside Ichiraku Ramen Restaurant——

Sensei Iruka hasn't arrived yet, but Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino from Asuma's team are waiting for them.

As usual, Ino and Sakura were arguing over the spot to sit next to Sasuke, but Sasuke didn't care at all, while Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji complained about how complicated things were between girls.

Soon, a couple who had been dating since childhood, Hong and Asuma, walked slowly over, followed by Hinata, Kiba and Shino from the Hong team.

At this time, Iruka happened to meet Karin and the three brothers and sisters of the Sand Ninja. He warmly invited them to have a meal together and expressed his sincere gratitude to them for taking care of his students in normal times, especially for their deep friendship with Naruto.

Lin Ming, Ding Rui, Cheng Hao and Li Xuan were competing in the speed of eating ramen. This scene took place in Ichiraku Ramen, the most popular ramen restaurant in the bustling city. The eyes of Sakura, Igawa and others around them were full of surprise and curiosity, especially the youngest Hinata, who had unknowingly eaten only half of the fifth bowl of ramen.

Iruka, Jiraiya and the four novice instructors found a rare moment of leisure in this busy city life. They ordered a few beers and began to discuss some formal topics.

Jiraiya said, "According to the arrangement of the Second Hokage, I will focus on guiding Lin Ming's training, and the mission time of the Seventh Group may be greatly shortened."

Kakashi understood this and added: "As for Uchiha Sasuke, although I will participate in the guidance, I am not the one who is mainly responsible for his training. It seems that the second generation has chosen someone else."

Hong asked doubtfully, "Could it be Orochimaru? I saw in the video that Sasuke seemed to be learning from him."

Jiraiya shook his head: "I asked, it shouldn't be him..."

Who on earth would be chosen? This question made everyone ponder for a moment.

Kai was filled with emotion: "I didn't expect that Lin Ming and Sasuke would shoulder such an important mission, especially Lin Ming, who is completely invisible at this moment."

Kakashi picked up his glass and said calmly: "His potential may be the greatest among all of us. After all, he is the son of our teacher and Ms. Kushina. How can he be worse than others?"

Kai responded: "Oh? Don't underestimate the guy in our class--"

However, before Might Guy could finish his words, a sudden mysterious barrier descended, instantly dispelling everyone's drunkenness, and everyone became alert!

【question--】

[Question: Which restaurant is the most popular in the Fire City of Konoha? ]

【rule:】

【1. The answer method is quick response. 】

[2. No penalty for wrong answers——]

“Ichiraku Ramen!!”

“Hao Shang BBQ House QQQ!!!”

Before he finished speaking, Lin Ming and Ding Rui shouted out loudly almost at the same time. After shouting, the two glared at each other, as if they were ready to fight to the death to defend the honor of their beliefs.

……

-

Since the first respondent answered the question first, the question-answering robot's program paused for a moment, and then continued to announce:

【Reward: randomly selected. 】

Although the Konoha Genin present panicked for a moment, they heard that the rules seemed to be similar to the last quiz, and there was no penalty for wrong answers. After a few seconds, they saw that Lin Ming and Ding Rui were safe and sound, and they breathed a sigh of relief.

Shikamaru put his finger on his cheek and looked at Lin Ming and Ding Rui, and said teasingly: "I say, can't you two just listen to what I'm saying?"

Lin Ming answered with a righteous look on his face: "I will never give this question to anyone!"

Ding Rui also said firmly: "I think so too!"

Lin Ming stared at Ding Rui with eyes wide open!

Ding Rui glared back without showing any weakness!

Faced with the difficulties of life, Shikamaru sighed helplessly.

Lin Ming announced loudly: "The most delicious and popular restaurant in Konoha City is of course Ichiraku Ramen! Especially the Ichiraku Ramen that Iruka-sensei invited me to eat that time, it was the most delicious!"

Ding Rui retorted: "No! The best and most popular restaurant in Konoha City should be Hao Shang BBQ House! The most delicious one is the super deluxe barbecue set meal that Asuma teacher treated us to that time!"

Several Chunin instructors looked at Asuma sympathetically, their eyes revealing their concern for "How is your wallet?", but they almost said it out loud.

[Uzumaki Linming... answered correctly.]

"Yeah! Oh yeah!" Lin Ming immediately jumped onto a chair, put one leg on the table, crossed his hands in a victory gesture, and raised them above his head excitedly, "Thank you everyone! Yeah!"

Others said: "How stupid..."

"Idiot Lin Ming, get down here now!" Haruno Sakura raised her fist and threatened.

Gaara looked at Lin Ming and exclaimed: "Your luck is really unbelievable."

Karin, Hyuga Neji and others nodded in agreement.

Only Ding Rui focused his attention on why the most popular restaurant in Konoha City was not Hao Shang BBQ House!

"Why?! The answer is Ichiraku Ramen?!" Ding Rui's eyes seemed to be burning with fire, and he clenched his fists and questioned loudly: "I want to see the evidence! Why is Hao Shang BBQ House not the most popular restaurant in Konoha City!!"

【System reply: Understood. 】

"..."

Shikamaru said helplessly: "Looks like we're going to play the video footage again..."

But they really couldn't imagine what kind of information a ramen restaurant would have that was worth showing.

Only Lin Ming looked excited, while Iruka had a nostalgic expression.

Lin Ming waved his chopsticks excitedly and said, "Could it be that you want video footage of Ichiraku Ramen's development from its opening to the future?!"

Lin Ming gestured with his hands as he spoke: "When I become mayor, I will definitely expand Ichiraku Ramen into a city-wide chain! When the time comes, just wait and see, uncle!"

The owner of Ichiraku Ramen, who was always squinting, smiled and said, "Oh, young man, this is the barbecued pork made by the uncle himself. I'll fill it up for you!"

"Ah! As expected of an uncle!"

The current mayor, who was sitting next to Lin Ming, poked his cheek, looked at his son wolfing down the ramen, and said gently: "Naruto, eat more. You are so thin now, your mother and I will be worried."

[The video footage that originally only appeared in Konoha Ninja Academy and Death Forest now appears outside Ichiraku Ramen like a TV screen, and its size has obviously become smaller, about two meters wide and one meter high.