Temporary Team-Up

Feng Ye chuckled to himself for a moment, then rose to his feet. "Alright, I'm heading out to buy some ingredients. Want to come along?"

"Sure, I need to buy some Ninja Tools anyway."

Rin clapped her hands in agreement.

Coming from a civilian family, although the Ninja Academy distributed some Ninja Tools, she still needed to buy more after becoming an official Genin.

Kurenai Yuhi, on the other hand, did not need to buy any Ninja Tools. Her father, Shinku Yuhi, was a Konoha Jonin, and their home was well stocked with Shuriken, kunai, and the like. Still, there was no way she could just watch Feng Ye and Rin go shopping together at a time like this.

"I have some things I want to buy too."

Seeing that Rin and Kurenai Yuhi both agreed, Feng Ye turned toward Kakashi, who was about to head back to his room. "Kakashi, come with us too."

Kakashi replied lazily, "I don't need anything."

Feng Ye lifted his chin. "That's exactly why I'm bringing you along. You can help carry things. We need to buy a lot of ingredients now."

The Ninja Academy had already graduated them, which meant the Third Shinobi War was drawing near.

Stockpiling supplies before prices soared was only natural. Besides, Feng Ye had always relied on Time Acceleration for training, so he consumed far more supplies than ordinary people.

"...Huh?"

Kakashi's expression collapsed.

He looked at Feng Ye as if asking, Where is your conscience?

Watching Kakashi's helpless yet compelled obedience to Feng Ye as his older brother, Rin pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Kurenai Yuhi beside her wore an equally amused expression.

Though Kakashi was only a year younger than Feng Ye, Feng Ye's body had developed faster because he trained with Time Acceleration. He now looked twelve or thirteen years old, standing more than half a head taller than Kakashi. It made Kakashi look as though he was regularly bullied.

"Alright, quit whining. Let's go."

Feng Ye patted Kakashi on the head and headed outside.

Kakashi did not dodge. He merely gave a lifeless look and followed after him as though all his dreams had died.

The group of four soon arrived on the street.

Feng Ye had another reason for bringing Kakashi along. Taking two girls out by himself would look a little strange, and if Kurenai Yuhi's father or Rin's father saw them, it might become troublesome. Though neither of them should be able to beat him anymore... this was not a matter of whether they could beat him or not.

With Kakashi there, the four of them looked perfectly normal. Even if they ran into someone along the way, they would at most receive a scrutinizing glance.

Before long.

Feng Ye purchased a batch of supplies, filling four bags. He and Kakashi carried two each. Rin and Kurenai Yuhi tried to help Feng Ye carry things, but he smilingly refused, making Kakashi want to complain again.

As the group continued down the street, a commotion ahead caught Feng Ye and the others' attention.

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry. I won't make any more mistakes. Please take me on this mission too..."

Might Duy stood before a Chunin with an exceedingly anxious expression. His words were filled with apology as he repeatedly begged the other man for forgiveness.

However, the Chunin frowned. "This isn't the first time. Your words have no credibility anymore. No matter what, we can't bring you along again."

"Please, don't say that."

Seeing that his pleas were useless, Might Duy bowed deeply to the man right there on the street. "I'll work harder than ever to complete it. Please trust me one more time."

A trace of helplessness flashed through the Chunin's eyes when he saw Might Duy kneeling and pleading, but after a brief hesitation, he still said, "Sorry. Go find someone else."

With that, he quickly left.

"Please don't do this. Give me one more chance..."

Might Duy reached out, trying to stop him, but the Chunin leaped away and swiftly vanished.

Feng Ye, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others happened to be passing by and witnessed the scene.

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Might Duy and hesitantly whispered, "Isn't he... Guy's father?"

Rin Nohara murmured, "Looks like he's run into trouble."

She could roughly tell that he had likely been kicked out of his team. But she could not think of any way to help him, especially since she was only a newly graduated Genin herself.

"..."

Kakashi looked at Might Duy. Guy's figure flashed through his mind, and he recalled how he himself had clashed with ninja teams many times. But his situation was not the same as Might Duy's.

What puzzled Kakashi was that Might Duy was merely a Genin, and an exceptionally clumsy one who caused trouble everywhere. Guy had entered the Ninja Academy as a reserve student, yet he challenged Kakashi every day with Kakashi as his goal, and Might Duy actually seemed to believe Guy could surpass him.

Kakashi really did not understand where that father and son got their confidence.

That said.

Guy's talent in Taijutsu was indeed astonishing. Among all the Genin Kakashi had fought, Guy felt like the strongest. Even if his talent for ninjutsu was poor, he should still have a chance of becoming a Chunin.

Just as Kakashi was thinking, Feng Ye suddenly walked toward Might Duy, drawing the attention of Kurenai Yuhi, Rin, and the others.

"Senior Duy, it seems you've run into some trouble..."

Feng Ye walked to Might Duy's side and spoke to him.

Might Duy had been staring in the direction the Chunin had left. Hearing Feng Ye, he turned around, quickly recognized him, and said, "It's you. In the blink of an eye, you seem to have grown much taller again. You're even taller than Guy now."

There was a hint of surprise in his voice, though his expression remained strained.

Prices were rising everywhere now. Without going out to take missions, it was nearly impossible to make a living. As a Genin, getting missions on his own was practically impossible, so being kicked out of his ninja team was undoubtedly a blow to him.

Thinking of this.

Might Duy sighed. "I made some mistakes before and was kicked out by the Chunin in the team. I came today hoping to beg him again, but I still couldn't earn his forgiveness. Sorry you had to see that."

Feng Ye looked at Might Duy and considered it briefly. "Senior Duy, do you need to form a ninja team? If so, I might be able to help."

Might Duy looked at Feng Ye in slight surprise. "You only just graduated, right? A four-man team led by a Jonin instructor probably wouldn't let someone like me join."

Feng Ye shook his head with a smile. "No, my situation is a little special. I don't have a team right now. If you don't mind, I can temporarily form a team with you."

He had received many key insights into the Eight Inner Gates from Might Duy and had successfully cultivated them, so he naturally could not ignore Might Duy's predicament. There was no way Might Duy could join Kakashi, Rin, or Kurenai Yuhi's teams, so Feng Ye could only form a team with him himself.

Of course.

Repaying Might Duy's kindness was one reason. Another was that taking missions with Might Duy would be more than safe enough. In some ways, it might even be safer than going out with Orochimaru.

Orochimaru had not yet reached the peak of his strength. If he faced the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist Village alone, escaping would be close to his limit. Killing four and severely wounding three was impossible.

But Might Duy could do it!

Might Duy's fully opened Eight Inner Gates might not have been as powerful as Guy's, but they would still absolutely surpass Kage-level. It could be said that if he went on missions with Might Duy, they would have a chance of surviving even if they encountered the Third Raikage or the Third Tsuchikage.

The odds of such a situation occurring were extremely low.

Under normal circumstances, if Might Duy opened the seventh gate, even if he did not reach Kage-level, he would at least possess Jonin-level strength. Combined with Feng Ye's own abilities, they would have more than enough power to handle ordinary situations.

As Feng Ye finished thinking.

Some nearby ninja revealed stunned expressions.

Someone was actually willing to voluntarily team up with Might Duy, the "Eternal Genin"?!