The day of the Chunin Exams was getting closer and closer.
On Konoha's streets, the number of patrol ninja had clearly increased.
The ninja school hadn't been quiet for days. The moment the bell rang, everyone started talking about the Chunin Exams.
"I heard there's someone from the Sand named Pakura who's super strong!"
"The third stage of the Chunin Exams is one-on-one combat."
"My brother said there are dozens of people taking the exam this time."
Obito stood on his chair, pumping his fist. "I'm going to take the Chunin Exams too someday, and I'm going to pass in one try!"
Guy immediately answered from below, "And then we'll burn our youth together!"
"Who wants to do it with you?!"
Shin-chan lay sprawled over his desk, listening to all the noise around him, and couldn't help yawning.
"So loud."
Uchiha Toru was reading, not even lifting his head. "The Chunin Exams only happen once every few years. Of course everyone wants to watch."
"What's so interesting about that?"
"Watching ninja fight each other." Uchiha Toru turned a page. "You don't like that?"
Shin-chan thought about it. "I like watching pretty big sisters fight."
"Can't you care about anything else?"
"Like what?"
"Like who's most likely to pass, or which village sent the strongest ninja."
"That stuff isn't good-looking."
Uchiha Toru took a deep breath and decided to stop discussing the topic.
When Shin-chan got home, it was already getting dark.
He pushed open the door, kicked off his shoes, and was about to run to the kitchen.
Then the doorbell rang.
Misae wiped her hands and went to answer it.
A woman in a kimono was standing outside, holding an elegant envelope in both hands.
"Mrs. Nohara, a small token from Her Highness."
Misae froze for a second, took it, and opened it.
Inside were three tickets. On them were the words VIP Seating.
Misae's mouth slowly opened. "This..."
"Her Highness invites Mr. Nohara, Mrs. Nohara, and young Master Shin-chan to attend the third stage of the Chunin Exams together." The woman bowed. "There will be staff there to receive you, so please don't hesitate."
Misae held the three tickets in shaking hands. "This... this is too..."
But the woman had already turned and left. A black carriage was waiting outside, the curtain lowered so no one could see inside.
Misae shut the door and walked into the living room with the tickets in hand, sounding dazed.
"Chunin Exam tickets. VIP seats."
Shin-chan leaned in for a look. "Oh."
"That's all? 'Oh'?" Misae stared at him. "These are VIP seats. Ordinary people can't buy these at all!"
"So how many boxes of chocolate sticks could they be traded for?"
"That is not the point!"
Misae carefully took out the tickets and turned them over under the light.
"Even the paper feels different," she muttered.
Around dinner time, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from the door.
Hiroshi came in, grinning so hard he couldn't hide it. "Guess what I bought today?"
Shin-chan didn't even look up. "Soy sauce?"
"No."
"Chocolate sticks?"
"Also no."
"Then what?"
Hiroshi pulled out an envelope and waved it around. "Chunin Exam tickets. Three seats together. This time our whole family can go watch."
He stopped there and waited for Misae and Shin-chan's reactions.
But both of them just went, "Oh."
Hiroshi's smile froze.
"What the heck?" He slapped the envelope down on the table. "What kind of reaction is that? These are Chunin Exam tickets! Tons of people want them and can't get them. Do you know how much trouble I went through?"
"Yeah, yeah." Misae brought the food out, sounding flat. "You worked hard."
"I said all that, and all I get is 'you worked hard'?"
"What else do you want?" Misae set the dishes down and wiped her hands. "Do you want me to kneel and thank you?"
"That's not what I mean." Hiroshi sat down, his voice getting smaller. "It's just... your reaction is way too flat. This is the Chunin Exams..."
Misae didn't answer. She walked over to the cabinet, opened a drawer, took out the three tickets, and placed them in front of him.
"Then look at these."
Hiroshi looked down, and his whole body froze.
"V-V-VIP seats?"
He shot his head up and looked at Misae. "Where did you get these?"
"That princess from before had someone deliver them."
Hiroshi looked down at the ordinary-seat tickets in his hand, then at the three gilded VIP tickets on the table, and said with obvious reluctance,
"Well, VIP seats aren't even that great. If you sit too close, you can't get a full view of the battlefield. Ordinary seats like mine are higher up, so you can see farther. You know how they say it—higher up, better overview."
"Is that so?" Misae gave him a sideways look.
"Of course." Hiroshi carefully put the regular tickets away. "And besides, the Chunin Exams aren't a play. You don't need to be that close. Ninja fights are all about tactics and strategy. It's clearer if you sit farther away."
Shin-chan was sprawled over the table. "Then Dad can go sit up high and watch the whole battlefield alone. Mom and I will sit in the VIP seats."
"Who said I'm going alone?" Hiroshi protested immediately. "We're a family. It doesn't matter where we sit. What matters is watching together."
"Then sit in the VIP seats," Shin-chan said.
Hiroshi opened his mouth, but couldn't come up with a rebuttal.
Misae sighed and pushed the VIP tickets toward him. "Take them and return the regular ones. Or give them away."
"Return them? No way." Hiroshi's eyes kept drifting toward the VIP tickets, though he was still trying to act tough. "I stood in line forever to get those."
"Then what exactly do you want?"
"I don't want anything." Hiroshi pushed the VIP tickets back again. "You two go sit in the VIP section. I'll sit in the regular seats. We're all watching the same Chunin Exams anyway, so it doesn't matter if we sit separately."
"Really?"
"Really." Hiroshi nodded, sounding almost tragic.
Shin-chan looked at him. "Dad, are you planning to sit in the regular seats and cry by yourself?"
"Who would cry?" Hiroshi slapped the table. "Eat, eat. The food's getting cold."
He picked up his bowl and shoveled in two mouthfuls of rice, then looked up at Misae again.
"Um... do VIP seats come with tea and snacks?"
"I don't know."
"They probably do." Hiroshi muttered to himself. "I mean, they're VIP seats. They can't just make people sit there with nothing."
He took another bite of rice. "I heard VIP seating even has a private lounge, so you don't have to squeeze in with other people."
Misae put her chopsticks down. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Hiroshi went quiet for three whole seconds.
"I think I'll go with you guys to the VIP section after all."
Misae snorted and gathered up the tickets. "Eat."
Shin-chan picked up a piece of fish. "Then what about the ticket Dad stood in line to buy?"
Hiroshi's face visibly twisted in pain. "I'll think of something."
"You could give it to the auntie next door," Misae said. "She helped us take in the blankets last time."
"That's a Chunin Exam ticket!" Hiroshi nearly dropped his bowl. "If I give it to her, she'll just sell it."
~~~
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