Chapter 88 (Patreon)

No one paid attention to Naruto's gaze.

- Idiot! – Sasuke grinned contemptuously.

At the same time, wariness appeared in the Uchiha’s gaze; he had not forgotten about that terrible chakra.

– Sasuke-kun is a real genius! – Sakura chimed in aside.

Iruka watched with a smile on his face as Naruto and Sakura gradually became their old selves.

He himself knew little about the Nine-Tails, and he did not dare raise this topic with the Genin without the permission of the Third Hokage.

But besides this there was another question.

“By the way, since we’re talking about geniuses, your sensei Kakashi is also a real genius,” Iruka sighed after Sakura’s words.

- Yes? – she frowned suspiciously.

And not only Sakura.

Naruto and Sasuke's reactions were much the same.

“In fact, your sensei Hatake Kakashi was a student of the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato...” Iruka explained under the equally suspicious glances of Team 7, and then, after waiting for their surprised expressions, he asked proudly. -You graduated from the shinobi academy when you were twelve years old, and do you know how old Kakashi was?

“He became a Genin at five and a Chuunin at six.” Well, at your age... - after these words, he paused again and respectfully continued. – He became a Jounin!

When the conversation turned to geniuses, the Chuunin involuntarily looked at the stunned Uchiha and thought about another unrivaled genius, whose name is now taboo for Konoha.

- Wow, cool! Naruto exclaimed after a moment of confusion.

A shinobi with such an impressive track record cannot be called anything other than a “genius.”

And although Sakura looked sincerely surprised, doubt still flashed in the depths of her soul and a logical question arose: then why did such a cool shinobi pass out after the battle with Zabuza?!

Sasuke was a little surprised. He had no questions about the veracity of the Chūnin's words, and an inner unrest arose unconsciously.

“Come on, we have two more Rank-D missions,” Iruka smiled.

- What, more missions? – Naruto instantly lost heart and made a sad face, only to perk up from the story of Kakashi’s epic progress.

- Well, how could it be otherwise? Participants in the Chuunin Exams are required to complete a number of missions, and you need two more Rank-D missions...” the teacher shrugged helplessly.

- Then let's go! – Uzumaki immediately turned around and said decisively!

Sasuke and Sakura remained silent, but with the same determined gait they followed him towards the mission assignment table.

Meanwhile, Iruka, watching them go, nodded with satisfaction and thought that participating in the Chuunin Exams was the right decision.

***

A rainy fog hung over the town.

It was a small town not far from the border of the Land of Water.

Ring...

Ring...

Soon there was a soft ringing of bells. And on the street in the rain two figures appeared in long black cloaks with red clouds and conical straw hats with bells.

“I don’t think the rain will stop anytime soon,” Itachi frowned, taking a breath of the damp air.

“Then let’s sit somewhere,” Kisame, who was walking side by side with the Uchiha, turned his head slightly and answered carefree.

In fact, Hoshigaki loved rainy days most of all, and in general felt more comfortable in a humid climate.

To which Itachi nodded.

After which they headed to the only tavern in the town.

Slowly walking inside, the Uchiha immediately assessed the situation. There were several of the same travelers sitting there, whose clothes were wet from the rain.

Then they leisurely sat down at the far table and, taking off their straw hats, revealed their foreheads with crossed out protectors.

Symbol of the renegades!

- Well, where are we going to go, to Konoha or Kiri? There was no specific order from Pain...” Kisame said lightly, but then looked at Itachi seriously, waiting to hear his opinion.

“Orochimaru hasn’t been sitting still lately, maybe he’s planning something,” the Uchiha answered slowly after a short silence.

“Well then, let’s go to Konoha,” Kisame bared his teeth at the mention of the Sannin.

“Go ahead,” Itachi nodded sparingly.

After some time, the owner of the tavern, measuring the apostates with a contemptuous look, put two glasses of warm water on the table for them.

Itachi indifferently took the glass and drank in small sips.

Judging by the behavior of the owner of the tavern, he probably would have asked the apostates to wrap up quickly, if not for the terrifying sight of Kisame.

And when it continued to rain outside.

The Akatsuki members furrowed their brows for no apparent reason.

And together, as if on command.

Itachi continued to drink water as if nothing had happened.

But then Kisame glanced at the corner of the tavern.

From there a child looked at them furtively.

And then the apostate suddenly grinned with all his pointed teeth, making a terrifying face, causing the poor child to jump in fear in place.

After that, Kisame turned away and was about to address Itachi, who was sitting opposite, when he again felt the gaze of that child on him.

Then the most dangerous renegade of Rank-S stopped paying attention to the child, but soon he himself carefully walked towards them. And when there was no more than a meter left to their table...

The apostates simultaneously raised their heads.

From their gaze the child staggered back in fear.

“Are you looking for death, little one?” – Kisame asked fiercely.

“Well... it’s... me...” the child mumbled nervously in response.

– What is your name and what is your purpose? – Itachi added coldly with a stone face.

But even so, the Uchiha’s face was quite conducive to communication, especially against the backdrop of Hoshigaki’s evil face.

“Ran... My name is Ranmaru...” then the frightened child calmed down a little and mumbled embarrassedly, fiddling with the edge of his clothes with his hands.