Chapter 64: Chapter 64
Sleeping in your own bed is one of life's greatest comforts. When you're nestled in its warmth, it becomes difficult to worry about anything too much. And if your surroundings are safe, then your bed is nothing short of magnificent. You can lie there, relax, and simply do nothing… that is, unless your conscience whispers that while you rest, your future opponents are training. Naturally, I couldn't allow myself to relax with such thoughts lingering in my mind.
Breakfast passed rather calmly for me. My parents weren't going to work today—they wanted to talk and ask how everything had gone.
"Well, tell us," my mother said as she finished preparing breakfast for my father, herself, and me. "How was your exam? Yesterday, you just washed up, grabbed a bite, and went straight to bed."
"Honestly, it went pretty well," I replied after a brief moment of thought. "Of course, there were some difficult and nerve-wracking moments, but I made it through—unlike some others."
"What, someone didn't make it?" my father asked, intrigued.
"There were fights between us genin during the exam," I answered without elaborating, letting him connect the dots himself.
"How many?" my father asked, tilting his head slightly.
"Oméda, who even asks something like that?" my mother interjected. "However many he killed, let that stay his business."
"But it's interesting," my father said. "Alright… you don't have to answer."
"Thanks," I nodded.
To be honest, I could have answered—I didn't see anything shameful in it. But if my mother didn't want to hear it, who was I to force her to listen?
"Then… does that mean you're already a chunin?" my father asked.
"Not yet," I shook my head. "There was a committee meeting yesterday to make the decision. I think I'll find out today."
"A-ah," my father dragged out. "I see… Do you think you'll get the new rank?"
"I think so," I replied.
"That's good," my father said with a smile. "Because I still haven't opened my little shop, even though everything is ready. Even the documents—just a few final signatures left."
"Are you going to bake pastries?" I asked.
"Of course, that's what I do best," my father shrugged.
Naturally, they couldn't resist asking for more details about my exam. I answered, though I left out some of the more terrifying and dangerous moments—no need to make them worry more than they already did. I didn't mention Shiko or Ayamana, and my parents didn't ask. At this point, they weren't particularly interested in girls. Not yet. But I had a feeling that might change in the future.
"So, what are your plans now?" my father asked.
"Hokage-sama promised me a personal trainer for six months as a reward for my performance in the final stage of the chunin exam," I explained. "But I don't know exactly how it will work. Maybe the trainer will want to leave the village to train me more effectively… It's hard to say."
"I see," my father nodded.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door—loud and firm, as if whoever was knocking didn't bother holding back their strength.
"That's probably for you, Suzuki," my mother said. "We're not expecting anyone at this hour."
"It's probably Captain Kiochi," I replied. "I'll go check."
I walked to the door and opened it. Sure enough, Captain Kiochi stood there with a pleased expression. He wore a crisp, brand-new uniform, and his hairstyle was slightly different.
"Good afternoon, Captain," I greeted him.
"Afternoon to you as well, Machine," he replied, using my nickname. "I hope you haven't made any plans for today?"
"Not yet, Kiochi-sensei," I said. "Do you have news?"
"Yes," he nodded. "You have five minutes to get dressed. You have a meeting with the Hokage."
"Haai," I nodded back and immediately headed inside. The captain remained outside, showing no intention of stepping in.
"Are you in a hurry?" my mother asked.
"Yeah, I have a meeting with the Hokage," I told her. "I'll probably be getting a promotion."
"Then you need to look presentable!" she said, jumping up from her chair. "One second! I bought you a new uniform."
She dashed off and returned moments later, holding a neatly hung uniform. Handing it to me, she beamed.
"Try it on!"
"Alright," I nodded and quickly changed.
The new uniform was a bit stiff and didn't fit particularly well, but it had patches for additional armor if needed. Overall, it wasn't bad—you could tell it was high quality—but it didn't quite suit me. It was fine for a meeting, but I wouldn't wear it on a mission. Not unless I had it altered to fix the flaws. But that was a problem for later.
"Thanks," I said, bouncing on my feet a few times. "It's not bad."
"Yeah," my mother said, eyeing me critically. "It'll need some adjustments. I can already see a few places where… well, it's not great."
"True," I shrugged. "But it's no big deal. Alright, I gotta go. Can't keep the Hokage waiting."
My mother just nodded, my father waved, and I headed outside to meet the captain. He was waiting on the roof. When he saw me, he jumped down, gave me a quick once-over, and said,
"Let's move."
We set off toward the Hokage's office. Other shinobi going about their business paid us no mind. We leaped across rooftops, occasionally dropping to the streets when certain areas weren't convenient to cross from above.
At the administration building, we had to descend and walk the rest of the way. For an ordinary shinobi, entering the Hokage's office without going through the main entrance was nearly impossible. Only a select few had the privilege of using the window—but as far as I'd seen, no one actually used that right. Or maybe I just hadn't noticed.
Inside, the administration building looked just as I remembered—hallways, simple decorations, and a constant flow of people. Ordinary citizens and shinobi alike moved with purpose, all engaged in something important for the village. Though, not necessarily something interesting.
The office we were heading to was on the third floor. This level was quieter—fewer people, but more authority. Here, shinobi who made crucial decisions affecting the entire village worked. The lower floors handled daily operations, the routine tasks that kept everything running. But on the third floor, larger, more significant projects were in motion.
I followed the captain into a spacious office. Inside, I recognized two familiar genin from the exam, along with three others I didn't know. They were probably here to receive field commissions as chunin, unlike us. Since they had already lined up, I had no choice but to join them.
"Is everyone here?" the Hokage asked. This time, his expression was kinder, more approachable. "Then let's begin."
Silence filled the room. Everyone waited, eager to hear what he would say next. It was interesting that the village leader himself was presiding over the chunin promotion ceremony. I could guess why, but I'd ask the captain later—he might have a more insightful answer.
"Today, we gather to welcome the next generation of our village's defenders into their new rank," the Hokage began. "Each of you has proven your worth—through hard work, talent, and knowledge. Some of you earned this rank by successfully passing the exam. Others proved themselves on missions."
He paused briefly, letting his words sink in. His last statement likely referred to the unfamiliar trio standing with us—or at least, that was my guess.
"That is why you are here today—to receive your official chunin patents," he continued with a smile. "When you leave this office, you will no longer be genin. You will be chunin, with greater responsibilities and greater opportunities. This is your final chance to refuse the rank. If anyone wishes to decline, I ask that you leave now."
The room fell silent again. A few seconds passed, but no one moved. I figured any shinobi who walked out now would likely never get another chance to become a chunin.
"And so, from this moment on, you are all officially chunin," the Hokage declared.
The Hokage took a step forward. Immediately, one of the unknown jonin stepped up. His face was concealed behind a ceramic mask adorned with strange patterns. The only visible feature was his eyes—though even those were difficult to make out unless you focused intently. He carried a large red cushion embroidered with the Konoha symbol at its center. Resting on it were silver pins, each topped with the village's emblem.
Since I was at the end of the line, I was the first to receive mine. The Hokage took two pins and affixed them to my new uniform. Then, he clenched his fists and struck them, driving them deeper—just enough for the tips to pierce my skin. Not too deep, but enough to feel it.
I remained silent, watching from the corner of my eye as the Hokage moved down the line, repeating the ritual for each genin. He pinned the badges onto their uniforms, then struck them just hard enough to press them deeper. No one spoke. No one dared to disrupt the ceremony.
Once he finished, the Hokage took a few steps back, then swiftly turned around and spoke:
"Congratulations, chunin! Continue to serve our village well. You are dismissed!"
Only then did the tension ease slightly. The captain approached me immediately and handed me a grayish folder. The others—now officially chunin—also received similar folders. I quickly opened mine to find documents confirming my new rank, along with a detailed record of all the missions I had completed as a genin. Overall, what could I say… It was interesting to see it all laid out like that.
The captain and I left the office almost immediately—there was no reason to linger. We walked through the hallways in silence until we stepped outside. The village looked exactly the same, yet for some reason, I felt different. I was still the same Suzuki, but at the same time, something had changed. It was an odd sensation, to be honest.
"Kiochi-sensei," I called out to him. "What about Shiko and Ayamana?"
"The committee decided they're not ready to become chunin yet," he answered calmly. "But they're no longer my responsibility."
"Oh?" I murmured in surprise. "Why's that?"
"They'll be assigned to new teams so they can prove themselves and possibly earn the chunin rank in the future."
"And what about you, sensei?" I asked.
"I'll be a regular shinobi for a while, then I'll take on another team," he answered almost immediately. It was clear he had already thought it through and knew exactly what he wanted to do next.
"By the way, sensei," I said. "Does the Hokage always handle promotions personally? Or is this unusual?"
"Of course not," he chuckled. "Only during peacetime. In wartime, battlefield commanders take care of it. In those times, it's crucial to get talented shinobi into responsible positions as quickly as possible. But don't worry… there won't be a war anytime soon, that's for sure. What you should focus on is becoming a jonin in the next six months."
"Yeah, I'll have to work hard," I nodded. "Do you know who my trainer will be?"
"I will," said a familiar voice.
Turning around, I saw Jiraiya approaching us, a few sticks of dango in his hand.
"It's been a while, Suzuki," he said.
"Jiraiya-san," I gave him a slight bow. "You'll be my trainer for the next six months?"
"I will," he confirmed with a nod.
"Well then, friends," Kiochi said. "I'll leave you two to talk—I've got things to take care of."
Subidzuma Kiochi vanished quickly, leaving me alone with the Sannin. Jiraiya wasted no time devouring his dango—he had already finished one skewer and was making quick work of the second. Not surprising, considering his size and the amount of energy he needed.
"So, here's the deal, chunin," he smirked. "I've taken on a mission for the next six months. You'll be accompanying me on my assignments throughout the Land of Fire and the buffer states. By the end of this, I'm going to make sure you reach jonin rank. You can count on it."
"Hai," I replied, swallowing hard as the reality sank in. Training under a Sannin wouldn't be easy. If I compared it to Might Guy's training… would it be harder or easier?
"Good," he nodded. "Then tomorrow at six in the morning, I'll be waiting for you at the Eastern Gate. Don't be late."
"Understood, Jiraiya-san," I said. "I'll be there at six."
"I'd suggest spending some time with your friends and comrades," Jiraiya added. "For the next six months, we won't be coming back to the village."
"Thanks for the warning," I nodded. "Is there anything else I need to do before tomorrow?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "I'm not your babysitter. Think and plan for yourself what you'll need."
"Got it," I exhaled. "Thanks anyway, Jiraiya-san."
He gave a casual wave before heading back into the Administration Building, leaving me alone on the street. Well, that was a short conversation. It didn't seem like he was particularly eager to train me. Not that I minded—whether he was enthusiastic or not, he was still far superior to most jonin, thanks to his experience and knowledge. That was all that mattered in the end.
Not wanting to stand around and attract unnecessary attention, I made my way home. First, I needed to gather my things and buy any supplies I was missing. After that, I should meet with Mebuki—I was sure she'd be happy to hear I had become a chunin.
When I got home, I noticed my mother was the only one there—my father had already gone out somewhere. She glanced at the pins on my uniform, and a broad, satisfied smile spread across her face.
"Congratulations, Suzuki!" she said joyfully. "You're a chunin now! We have to celebrate tonight!"
"I don't mind," I nodded. "But I need to prepare for my journey—I'll be gone for the next six months."
"Ohh," she dragged out. "And when exactly are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow at six in the morning," I told her. "My trainer will be waiting at the Eastern Gate, so I need to get everything ready and pack for the trip."
"Alright," she said without hesitation. "First, we need to do laundry. I'll handle that while you go buy whatever you need. When you get back, we'll pack everything and have a little celebration."
"Sounds good," I nodded. "I'll go check what I still need to buy."
I moved quickly, sorting through my belongings with practiced efficiency. To speed things up, I used Shadow Clones. They checked my gear and compiled a list of missing essentials. Dividing the workload this way made the process much faster.
Once the inventory check was done, I grabbed my money and headed to the market. I needed to buy a few supplies to be fully prepared for a long journey. At the same time, I knew I couldn't take everything with me—some items would be more useful than others.
To handle this, I created more clones, gave them money, and divided the shopping list into sections. With each clone handling a part of the list, I could take care of something more important—visiting Haruno Mebuki.
As my clones scattered to complete the errands, I made my way to Mebuki's house, hoping she would be home. If she wasn't, no big deal… but I was wrong. Haruno Mebuki was home.
Mebuki opened the door quickly, and the moment she saw me, a smile spread across her face.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting you…" she said.
"Of course, you weren't," I smirked, stepping inside. "How have you been?"
"I was just… waiting for you to come back," she said with a warm smile before leaning in and kissing me. It was long, soft, and incredibly sweet.
"So, should I congratulate you on your new rank?" she asked, still smiling.
"Yes," I replied. "I'm officially a chunin now."
"Ohoho," she teased. "Already such a grown-up boy… And what are your plans now?"
"That's exactly what I came to discuss," I said, stepping back slightly. "Tomorrow morning, I leave for six months of training with a Sannin."
"A Sannin?" she repeated, eyes widening in surprise. "Which one?"
"Jiraiya," I answered. "I performed well enough in the genin exams that the Hokage decided to assign me to him. He's going to push me to jōnin level within these six months."
"And you think you can manage that?" she asked, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers.
"Do you doubt me?" I countered.
"Not in the slightest," she said confidently. "But as your lover, I can't let you leave stressed."
Mebuki immediately pulled me toward the bedroom. Oh… how I'd been craving this kind of distraction. For a moment, she paused, then pushed me onto the bed. It smelled faintly of herbs.
"Suzuki, wait a few minutes. I need to touch up my makeup," Mebuki purred with a seductive smile, running her tongue over her enticing scarlet lips.
"Of course, take your time," I replied, settling comfortably on the bed and admiring her slender figure.
Five minutes later, as promised, she emerged from the bathroom. God… My heart skipped a beat. Mebuki looked breathtaking. Her thin silk negligee clung carelessly to her perfect curves, highlighting every delicate contour. Her crimson lips begged to be touched, to be tasted.
Playful sparks of desire danced in her eyes. Her gaze burned, promising a night of unearthly pleasure. I couldn't look away, devouring every inch of her exquisite body. A sweet ache pulsed low in my stomach, my blood boiling with mounting arousal. In that moment, I wanted only one thing—to claim this devastating beauty, to drown in her passionate embrace.
Mebuki approached slowly, her eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. Gracefully kneeling on the bed, she reached for me. Our lips met in a feverish, intoxicating kiss. I tasted her scarlet lipstick and inhaled the dizzying scent of her perfume.
Her soft hands began undressing me, caressing every newly exposed inch of skin. My arousal surged, threatening to overwhelm me, but I held back, determined to savor every second of this sweet torment.
Our tongues entwined in a passionate dance, hands roaming over heated bodies. I greedily gasped for air, inhaling the intoxicating scent of Mebuki's desire. The touch of her palms sent waves of searing heat through me. Her kisses trailed slowly downward until they reached my throbbing erection, which stood tall and eager for more. Oh, what's coming next… m-m-m, so gooood!
Mebuki gently kissed my shaft, then took me into her mouth. Oh! It had been so long since I'd felt this. Compared to Shiko and Ayamane… the elder Haruno was a hundred, if not a thousand times better. She began working her mouth with incredible skill, all while maintaining an irresistibly sexy demeanor. And she succeeded. This time, I had no desire to hold back.
"I'm going to cum!" I hissed.
In an instant, she took me deeper—not fully, but the effort was commendable. Then came the eruption. Of course, Mebuki tried to swallow it all, but as always, there was too much, and she managed only part of it. She looked up at me with eyes full of desire, then rose slightly, gripped my massive member with her hand, and guided it toward her hot, wet pussy. A second later, she lowered herself sharply, trying to take all of me. But, of course, she physically couldn't, no matter how hard she tried.
Mebuki's head tilted back slightly from the overwhelming pleasure of taking me inside her.
"Oh!" she moaned, beginning to move slowly. "Oh! Suzuki! Yes! Yes!"
"Do you like it?" I asked, playing with her breasts.
"Oh! Yes!" she moaned, then tried to take even more of me. Her pussy clenched tightly, as if unwilling to let go, then relaxed slightly. "Ahhh!"
It seemed Mebuki had reached her climax too. After that, she collapsed onto me like a limp doll. It seemed she was done…
But I wasn't finished yet. I flipped her over, spread her legs, and positioned myself comfortably. Then… came the penetration.