Red Nara

Many of the gathered men and women didn't wear uniform vests, with a few exceptions, using everyday shinobi clothes, but even so it was noticeable that the average "age of the hospital" exceeded mine by a few years and the chakra reserves of the weakest corresponded to veteran chunin at least to the level of my neighbor, though there were only a few, including me and the Hokage's apprentice, whose snow-white hair was hard to miss.

- I have an idea, but it seems a little early for that," Hatake scratched his chin thoughtfully.

- It's not something urgent, like the start of a war," I said, looking around, "or they'd have invited a lot more people, not to mention the clan leaders, except for you, of course.

We arrived at the entrance to the tower, and once we were in the hall where missions were being handed out, we noticed a bored man standing nearby with a sign in his hands.

"Gathering on the second floor.

- The assembly hall, then," Sakumo nodded and headed for the stairs upstairs.

- I've never been there before," I said, "Isn't that where all the village councils meet?

- Yes," the jonin confirmed, sighing heavily and rubbing his face with his hand, "and be glad you don't have to go there on a regular basis - there's nothing more exhausting and stultifying than these meetings of old men.

- Shenesu-ji-san said he learned to sleep with his eyes open at those meetings," I grinned, shrugging, "poor Shikaku, he'll have to get into clan business with his father soon enough.

- Half the time you three are playing games under the table or dozing off, only waking up to vote," Hatake snorted enviously, "and the rest of us have to die of boredom within a couple or three hours.

- I shrugged, "I bet your neighbors are just as bored as you are.

- Huyga or Kurama? - The jonin raised an ironic eyebrow. - Uh-huh.

- Uh... Well, my condolences," I bowed my head, barely containing a chuckle.

I had to get caught between two arrogant snobs. The Kurama clan's head is the kind of snobbish snob who'd give the great clans a head start. I had met him once before, and there was no desire to do it again.

We went up to the second floor and entered a large semicircular hall, where there was only a small tribune in the far part, and the rest of the space was empty. In addition to us, there were already a dozen and a half jonins huddled here in interest groups, and more were constantly being pulled in. Nodding to a few acquaintances and buddies, Hatake and I stepped aside and leaned against the wall.

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