After parting ways with his teammates outside Ichiraku, Hikaru walked through the village streets toward home, a small smile still lingering on his face from their first meal together. Despite the exhaustion from the test, he couldn't help but smile as he thought about how Team 8 had finally come together in those crucial final moments.
As he made his way through the market district, the foreign ninja he'd noticed earlier during their walk to Ichiraku were still everywhere. The Sunagakure team near the food stalls, the Amegakure group by the weapons shop, and Kusagakure ninja near the academy building—all reminders of the major event taking place in their village.
"Multiple villages sending teams to Konoha," Hikaru observed quietly, his mind working through the implications. "This many foreign ninjas... the Chūnin Exams must be in full swing.
He wasn't sure about the exact timing or how often these exams were held, but his previous life's knowledge told him that these were major events, bringing together promising genin from across the elemental nations to compete for promotion to the next rank.
Watching the foreign teams navigate the village, Hikaru's steps slowed as he watched them, his hands unconsciously clenching at his sides. These ninja were likely much more experienced than newly formed teams like his own.
Hikaru remembered Hideaki-sensei's words at the ramen stand about needing months of preparation before they'd be ready for something this intense.
"Good thing sensei already made it clear we won't be participating," he mused, watching the experienced-looking foreign genin. "We just formed our team today—we're definitely not ready for this level of competition."
As he walked toward his neighborhood, Hikaru noticed something that hadn't been there during their earlier trip to Ichiraku—increased ANBU activity on rooftops and additional security checkpoints. The village was clearly responding to the influx of foreign ninja with heightened security measures.
"I need to train harder," he decided, quickening his pace toward home.
After taking one last look at the bustling village activity, Hikaru made his way home. The foreign ninja served as a reminder that the ninja world was competitive, filled with talented individuals who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate threats.
Walking through the front door of his home, Hikaru removed his sandals at the entrance, his brow furrowed as he replayed what he'd seen in the village.
"I'm home!" he called out.
"Welcome back, Hikaru-kun!" Ayako's voice came from the main room, followed by the sound of papers shuffling. "How did your test go?"
"We passed," Hikaru replied, making his way toward the voices. "I'll tell you about it in a minute, but—"
He stopped in the doorway, taking in the scene before him. Ayako and Kenji were seated at the low table, surrounded by what appeared to be architectural sketches, budget calculations, and location maps. Their heads were bent close together as they examined a particular document, and Hikaru noticed how Kenji's hand rested near Ayako's on the table—not quite touching, but close enough to suggest an intimacy that made Hikaru scratch his head awkwardly.
"Oh, Hikaru-kun!" Kenji looked up with a warm smile, though his cheeks carried a slight flush. "Congratulations on passing your test. Ayako-chan was just telling me how worried she was about you."
"I wasn't worried," Ayako protested, though he could see her shoulders relax when she heard the news. "I knew you'd do fine. But come, sit with us. Kenji-kun and I have been discussing the restaurant plans."
Hikaru settled onto a cushion across from them, noting how they both shifted slightly apart when he joined them. The romantic tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a kunai, though both kept redirecting their attention back to the papers whenever their eyes met.
"We've been looking at potential locations," Ayako explained, spreading out a hand-drawn map of the market district. "Kenji-kun's tea business has been doing well at his current stall, and we know from the Spring Festival that combining it with my barbecue and dumpling shop creates something really special."
"The festival proved that customers love the combination," Kenji added, his enthusiasm clear despite the way he kept glancing at Ayako and adjusting his papers unnecessarily. "People kept coming back specifically for the dumpling and tea pairings, and many asked when we'd have a permanent location."
Hikaru studied the maps and budget sheets with interest. "This looks promising," he said carefully, "but have you considered how to handle revenue sharing?"
Both adults looked at him with surprise. "What do you mean?" Ayako asked.
"Well," Hikaru said, his hands scratching his chin as he organized his thoughts, "you're essentially combining two separate businesses into one. How do you split profits? What if the dumplings are more popular than the tea, or the barbecue sides? It's better to agree on these things now, when you're both excited about the partnership, rather than trying to figure it out later if problems arise."
Kenji's eyebrows rose with interest. "That's... actually a good idea, Hikaru-kun. You're right—we should establish clear expectations about revenue sharing from the beginning."
Ayako and Kenji exchanged a meaningful glance that carried more than just business consideration. "He's right," Ayako said quietly. "We should have a clear agreement about how profits are divided."
"I appreciate the advice," Kenji said, and Hikaru could tell he understood that the guidance applied to more than just their business relationship. "It shows wisdom beyond your years."
"There's one more thing," Hikaru added, pointing to a spot on the map. "Have you considered this area near Ramen Ichiraku? It's a bit off the main market street, but it's in a stable neighborhood with good traffic."
"That area?" Ayako frowned slightly. "It's a little out of the way from the main market crowds."
"That's exactly why it might be perfect," Hikaru explained, though he couldn't tell them his real reasoning—that the area around Ichiraku would be one of the few places to survive Pain's assault on the village in the future. "Sometimes being slightly removed from the busiest areas means lower rent and more loyal customers. Plus, Teuchi-san's ramen shop has been successful there for years. That proves the location can support food businesses."
Kenji nodded thoughtfully. "The rent would definitely be more affordable there. And you're right about Ichiraku's success—that shop always has customers."
"We could look at spaces in that area," Ayako agreed. "It would give us more room to work with on our budget too."
As they continued discussing details, Hikaru watched the easy way Ayako and Kenji worked together, their hands occasionally brushing as they reached for the same document, their voices growing softer when they spoke directly to each other.
"Have you set a timeline for opening?" Hikaru asked.
"We're hoping for next month," Kenji replied. "That gives us time to find the right space, get everything set up, and plan our menu properly."
"And time to work out those revenue sharing details you mentioned," Ayako added with a small smile directed at her brother.
"Speaking of which," Kenji said, beginning to gather the papers, "I should head home and start drafting some of those agreements. Thank you for the advice, Hikaru-kun. It really was helpful."
"Before you go," Ayako said, rising to her feet, "would you like to stay for dinner? I was planning to make curry, and there's plenty."
The invitation hung in the air between them, carrying weight beyond simple hospitality. Kenji's face lit up with pleasure before uncertainty flickered across his features.
"I'd like that very much," he said finally. "If you're sure it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all," Ayako replied, her cheeks pink with happiness.
Dinner was a comfortable affair, filled with easy conversation about the restaurant plans and Hikaru's team test experiences. He told them about Nobue's arrogance, Hana's enthusiasm, and how they'd eventually learned to work together under Hideaki-sensei's guidance.
We even celebrated afterward with ramen at Ichiraku—our first meal together as an official team," Hikaru added with a small smile. "Hideaki-sensei treated us, and it felt... good. Like we really are a team now."
"It sounds like you found good teammates," Kenji observed. "Working well with others is one of the most important skills a shinobi can learn."
"Or anyone in business," Ayako added meaningfully, glancing at Kenji with a soft expression.
After Kenji left with promises to return tomorrow with contract drafts, Hikaru helped Ayako clean up the dinner dishes. The familiar rhythm of washing and drying dishes helped ease the lingering tension from the morning's test.
"Kenji-san seems really dedicated to this business idea," Hikaru commented carefully as he dried a bowl.
"Yes, he is," Ayako replied, though her tone suggested she was thinking about more than just business. "He's very... dependable."
Hikaru decided not to push the topic further. His sister would figure out her feelings in her own time, and Kenji seemed like a good man who would wait patiently for her.
Once the kitchen was clean, Hikaru headed to the small training area in the backyard that his father had built. The good meal and several hours of rest had done wonders for his chakra reserves, and he felt ready for some light training practice.
The area was complete with wooden practice posts and a weapon rack, though it was too small for proper throwing practice. Tonight, however, it would be perfect for his water balloon training.
Setting up near the wooden practice posts, Hikaru began the familiar routine of chakra manipulation. His father's training area felt peaceful in the evening light, surrounded by the small garden where their mother used to grow cooking herbs.
The first balloon took only a few minutes to pop—a significant improvement from his earlier attempts that had required several minutes of concentration.
Pop! The second balloon burst even faster.
His chakra control had definitely improved since his last practice session. The rotation technique was becoming more natural, requiring less conscious effort to maintain the spinning motion that would eventually form the core of the Rasengan.
Pop! Pop! Two more balloons exploded in quick succession.
"Better," he murmured to himself, setting up another balloon. The steady progress was encouraging, even if he was still far from mastering the technique completely.
As he continued practicing, Hikaru reflected on the day's events. Team 8 was officially formed, Ayako and Kenji were moving forward with their restaurant plans, and his own training was showing measurable improvement. Everything seemed to be falling into place.
Pop! The final balloon exploded in his hands, completing his training session for the evening.
"Alright, the rotation is getting much more consistent," Hikaru said to himself, examining the balloon fragments. "I think I'm ready to move on to the second phase soon."
He picked up another balloon and spun the chakra effortlessly, watching it burst almost immediately. "Water balloons are just about rotation and movement, but the rubber ball phase will test whether I can actually apply force while maintaining the spinning chakra."
Setting down the remaining balloons, Hikaru stretched his arms above his head with satisfaction. "At least I'm getting closer to mastering one of the most legendary techniques in shinobi history."