Chapter 38

— Yes, Takagi-kun, what's the matter?

— Shenesu-sama asked me to deliver a message as soon as you returned, — the genin handed over a scroll.

— Thank you.

Taking the scroll, I immediately broke the Hokage's office seal and, while walking leisurely through the clan district towards home and nodding in response to the greetings from the few Nara I passed by, began to review its contents. So, "Ryo Nara, by the decision of the council…" blah blah blah, ah, here it is "we accept your application to be included in the team of genin escorts for the Chunin Exam in Sunagakure no Sato from the Nara clan…". Excellent!

Shenesu managed to get me assigned as an escort! Although only one person from our clan is going, it still allows us to send an observer. The exam starts in two weeks and we leave in six days, so I still have five days to prepare (to ensure that the candidates have at least a couple of days to rest after arrival) and finish up my tasks. I think I can manage.

After all, I'm not leaving the village for a year, just for a couple of weeks, followed by a one-month break before the start of the third stage, if I remember correctly. I have no idea how it will be arranged in Sunagakure, but then I'm eager to attend the first exam held in this world — a historic event that I will be present at. Plus, it's a chance to see familiar faces who should have been born by now, but not on the battlefield.

***

— What the hell! What is this, I ask you!? Just when our work was starting to stabilize, with only a few recovered injured being able to return to work and somewhat reduce the load on the others, I suddenly get THIS!

Shaking a crumpled scroll right in front of my face, the one-eyed Hyuga threw it forcefully into the trash can and continued to yell.

— What the hell is Sunagakure! Don't you have enough work here?! I'll make sure you stop screwing around! Sending an iryō-nin of your level when we're already short on qualified personnel? What kind of nonsense is this!

— Hishi-san… — I sighed tiredly, having to listen to the enraged old man's shouting for about fifteen minutes straight since I was summoned to the boss's office.

— Be quiet! I've heard everything you want to say! I'm not deaf yet! — the Hyuga waved me off.

— But…

— Yes, yes, I know perfectly well you're working for three, even four people, but you're getting your vacation, and I'll have to find an equal number of iryō-nin to fill the gap in the schedule, which has been approved for a couple of months in advance! And properly trained medics don't grow on trees, you know, as much as I'd like them to! And the Hokage won't provide funds for training in the coming years, so we have to manage on our own! And you, apparently, want to go sightseeing and visit new places!

The old man's voice dripped with sarcasm, and his activated Byakugan seemed capable of drilling a hole with its gaze.

— Hishi-san, do you expect me to work in the hospital all the time? — I sighed again, massaging my nose bridge. — Besides working as an iryō-nin, I have a ton of other responsibilities, including the seal shop, which actually brings in a much higher income!

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