Camp Patrol Team

"If you want to beat me, then make a name for yourself! Let me see how much you've grown these past days!"

Tsunade's gaze was sharp as she stared intently at Yūske.

"Got it. Then I'll have to trouble you to keep showing me around here."

Seeing Tsunade say this, Yūske knew she had agreed. He resolved to make a name for himself.

Looking at Yūske's determined expression, Tsunade stopped dwelling on other matters. Since he needed help, she would lend him a hand wherever she could. With her around, she didn't believe anyone in the camp would dare bully him.

However, things developed far beyond her expectations...

Early the next morning, a well-rested Yūske was summoned to Hatake Mōsō's tent.

"What? The camp patrol team?"

Sure enough, Hatake Sakumo had still been influenced by Nara Shikamaru. In fact, he had received an order from the Third Hokage some time ago, telling him to properly train Yūske.

His original plan had been to assign Yūske to the Combat Unit, ready to launch attacks against Sunagakure at any time.

"Yūske, you've only just entered the war, so there are many things you aren't familiar with. For your safety, I can only have you join the patrol team for now. Once you've fully adapted to the battlefield, I'll make adjustments."

Hatake Sakumo sat in the seat of honor, speaking without even looking up. His hands never stopped working. As the commander of the Sunagakure front, he needed a great deal of time every day to arrange the battle situation.

"I'll arrange for someone to take you to meet up with your teammates. Hiko!"

A man in his twenties quickly entered and saluted Hatake Sakumo.

"Take Yūske down and have him join the Seventh Patrol Squad."

"Yes!" the ninja named Hiko answered respectfully.

"Lord Yūske, please come with me."

"I'll be going, then." Yūske helplessly accepted reality and decided to stay with the patrol squad for now.

Hatake Sakumo waved his hand without raising his head.

"Lord Yūske, Lord Sakumo has always had that sort of personality."

After leaving the tent, Hiko explained this to Yūske. Everyone in the camp now knew that Watanabe Yūske was the Third Hokage's disciple. He had captured Shūji alive and seriously injured Ebizo. Before even taking the battlefield, he had already established tremendous merits, and many people admired him.

Hiko led Yūske all the way to the outskirts of the camp, where the camp patrol teams gathered. Two men and one woman were already waiting there.

"Lord Yūske!" The three looked at Yūske in delighted surprise and saluted him in succession.

"Hiroya, Shiho, Maki, from today onward, Lord Yūske will be joining the Seventh Patrol Team."

Seeing that everyone was waiting for Yūske, Hiko announced Yūske's addition to the team. With his task complete, Hiko left first.

Yūske looked at the three of them. Well, the Hyuga Clan traits were obvious on one of them, but he couldn't tell anything about the other two.

"Hello, I'm Watanabe Yūske. From today on, I'll be joining the Seventh Patrol Team."

Seeing that the three were somewhat excited, Yūske introduced himself first to break the awkwardness.

"Lord Yūske, I'm Aburame Shiho!"

"I'm Hyuga Hiroya."

"I'm Shimura Maki."

After snapping out of it, the three quickly introduced themselves to Yūske as well.

The three were excited because Yūske joining them had greatly lowered their chances of dying on the battlefield.

Though they had gone to war and were already prepared to sacrifice themselves, who wouldn't want to live if they had the chance?

Who in the entire camp hadn't heard of Yūske's heroic feat of fighting two Elite Jonin alone, leaving one captured and the other injured? Coupled with their admiration for the strong, they were naturally thrilled to be assigned to the same team as Yūske.

"I only joined today, so I'm still not clear on what our specific duties are. Could you explain them to me? Also, since we're members of the same team, you can just call me Yūske."

"Understood, Lord Yūske." Yūske looked at the three helplessly, feeling as if he had said it for nothing.

"Lord Yūske, our camp has eight patrol squads in total. The Seventh and Eighth Squads are responsible for patrolling an area five thousand meters north of the camp. Once you've gotten used to things, we'll begin carrying out patrol duties."

Shimura Maki was the first to react and hurriedly explained it to Yūske.

"Fine, then. Let's set out."

"Yes!"

"Which one of you is the captain of this squad?" Yūske asked curiously.

"Of course it's you, Lord Yūske," the three answered in unison.

"Me...?" Was this being thrown into the deep end?

After following the three through their daily patrol and confirming that there were no abnormalities in the area, the four returned to the meeting point to rest.

"Lord Yūske, here are some rations." Aburame Shiho thoughtfully handed Yūske some food.

"Thank you, Shiho!"

Seeing that the three had each found a place to sit, the bored Yūske started chatting to pass the time.

"Maki, you're from the clan of the advisor, right?"

"Yes."

"..." And that killed the conversation?

"Hiroya, do you know Reon?"

"Yes. Reon is my cousin!" Hyuga Hiroya said proudly.

"But she's already become a Jonin. How are you still only a Chunin?" Yūske asked doubtfully.

"Chomp, chomp..." The sound of someone eating came from nearby.

After watching two conversation topics die, Yūske turned to Aburame Shiho.

"Shiho, don't members of the Aburame Clan all wear sunglasses and dress in thick clothing?"

"Not all of us. I just like dressing like this." Aburame Shiho was dressed in a cool summer outfit today.

"Then don't you keep your insects inside your body?" Yūske examined her and seemed not to find the little holes like the ones Aburame Shino had.

Aburame Shiho secretly glanced at Yūske's face. Seeing that he had been staring at her the whole time, she blushed and muttered.

"Pervert."