Tenten never found a solid excuse—Aya just ignored every dodge she tried.
They walked slow. Aya was still syncing with the weights. By the time they hit the market district, his gait was almost normal—just a little stiff.
Ichiraku's door. Orange jacket.
This world didn't trap people in the same outfit like the anime. Everyone rotated clothes… except Naruto. Poor? Or just orange-sexual? Sasuke too—always that ping-pong paddle on his back. Sakura: red/pink. Ino: purple. Hinata: grayscale.
"Yo, Naruto solo-dining? Big spender today." Aya slid onto the stool. Tenten took the next.
"Ah? Aya—"
"Boss—one of everything. Girlfriend's here—make it pretty."
"Girlfriend? First I've seen." Teuchi teased, already spinning dough.
"You treat everyone," Naruto spun. "Her too?"
"Yeah. Future fiancée."
Pinch. Tenten's nails dug in.
Aya hissed, turned. Tenten—head down, red, muttering.
"Jealous," Naruto sighed. "Sakura's on my team. Ignores me in training."
"Keep at it."
Naruto rambled—missions, "new jutsu" (all theory, zero success). Sealed chakra + Nine-Tails static = chaos.
Aya covered Naruto's tab too. Naruto presence = zero alone time with Tenten.
But post-dinner? Escort achieved.
Tenten's gate—bigger yard than his. Rich girl confirmed. She stopped at the entrance. He didn't push inside.
Days blurred. Every chance: Aya fed Tenten.
Hokage Office
Danzo loomed over Hiruzen. "Ayato—zero missions. Force him."
"Quiet kid = good kid." Hiruzen puffed. Why obsess over a nobody?
"Experiment needs fresh meat."
Silence. Puff. Decision.
"Bring him."
Training Ground
Aya vs. Neji—weights synced, even fight.
MASKED ROOT dropped between them. "Hokage summons Ayato." Gone.
"I don't even know the old man." Scratch head. Nod to Neji. Hokage Tower.
Knock.
"Enter."
"Hokage-sama."
"Mm." Cup down. Pipe up.
"No missions post-grad. Training alone won't grow you. Ninja need missions."
"Understood."
"Close with Might Guy's team?"
"Great vibe. Love it." Corporate Aya activated—mirror the boss.
"Mission desk has openings. Try a short-handed cell."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed." Pipe down. Tea up.
Aya bowed—chat = boot to missions—and left.
Mission Hall – Spacious, Tiered Counters
Sarutobi clan mid-ranks manned desks. Fast-track chunin, zero field ops.
"One-man?"
No forehead protector = civilian.
"Can I assign a ninja?"
"Yes—if they're free and their team agrees."
"Rates?"
"D-rank: 100k/month per genin. Full team: 500k. Chunin: more." Smile. "Solo hire = double."
"Long-term. One month. Yard cleanup. Small lot—lowest tier. One genin."
"200k. Name?"
"Ayato."
"We'll notify. Wait?"
Aya pulled protector from pouch. Dropped it ages ago. Picked up during yard sweep. Never know.
"Me."
Receptionist's warmth evaporated.
"50% cut to ninja."
"Fine. Scroll now."
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