In Konoha, My Attributes Double Every Day!

"And you call that keeping watch? The person's gone, what the hell were you watching for?"

Hankuang's angry shout jolted Rin and Kakashi awake.

Obito looked aggrieved but had no grounds to argue.

He clearly remembered that when he took over the shift, Minako was still on the oxcart.

But he'd been so tired just before dawn that he'd sneaked a little nap.

Who could have guessed that Minako would be gone as soon as dawn broke?

"Split up and search!"

The four of them ran in four directions, beginning the hunt.

In the woods.

Hankuang didn't think he'd find Minako.

Because his direction was wrong.

He guessed Minako was most likely to the east, since east was the direction toward the Land of Hot Water.

But Hankuang was searching north.

Pushing aside a thick clump of grass, Hankuang froze.

At the same time.

Minako, crouching behind the grass, also froze.

Well.

If Hankuang wasn't mistaken, Minako seemed to be... taking a dump?

"Do you need some paper?"

Chapter 11 — Hankuang: I'm providing close personal protection to the employer. Is there a problem?

This search for Minako turned out to be a false alarm.

Soon.

The team set off again.

"How strange."

Walking behind the oxcart, Hankuang stared at Minako's back, his expression thoughtful.

This woman was abnormal.

"If she were a normal woman, encountering that kind of awkward situation at dawn, she'd at least let out a scream."

"But this woman just froze for a moment."

"Her mental fortitude far exceeds ordinary people, even surpassing many shinobi."

That was Hankuang's latest assessment of Minako.

Next.

He reorganized all the suspicious points about this woman.

"First, anyone who can run a bathhouse in Konoha must be a smooth talker. But she's barely spoken a word on the road."

"Second, her expression. Even Rin could see she's worried, which suggests she's concerned about her situation?"

"Her mental fortitude is strong, meaning she's endured a lot of hardship."

"But why doesn't she hide that expression?"

As Hankuang thought deeper, he was surprised to find more and more suspicious points emerging.

If Minako was truly worried about her safety, why issue a B-rank mission? Why not just go for an A-rank?

That way, a jonin team would take over directly.

After all, someone who could open a bathhouse in Konoha definitely wasn't short on money.

For an entire morning, Hankuang was locked in a mental storm.

Even during the brief noon break, he still had no clear leads.

In the afternoon.

The team passed a small stream, and Minako finally spoke up.

"I'd like to wash up here."

As the employer, her reasonable request was granted.

All the boys of Team 9 moved far away, leaving only Nohara Rin.

Under a large tree.

Kakashi and Obito appeared together, finding Hankuang.

"I noticed you were thinking this morning. Found anything?" Kakashi stared at Hankuang, asking.

From the moment they set out that morning, Kakashi had noticed something off about Hankuang.

To be precise, this was the first time he'd seen Hankuang actually thinking.

"What could I possibly have found?"

Glancing at the other, Hankuang shook his head.

"Then what were you thinking about this morning?"

"None of your damn business!"

Kakashi: "???"

Wait, had Hankuang just cursed at him?

How dare he!

"You're the team leader, yet you keep asking me all day, like I'm the one in charge."

Complaining without any goodwill, Hankuang plucked a blade of grass and stuck it in his mouth.

"Well said, I've been sick of him for ages." Obito chimed in, siding with his good buddy.

Aren't you supposed to be a genius, Kakashi?

Can't you figure it out yourself?

Why keep asking us Dead Lasts?

"Different circles, don't force it in! Hehe~~" Obito sat down beside Hankuang, dropping that classic line.

That phrase, he'd learned it from Hankuang.

Watching Kakashi slink off in defeat, Obito felt a sour-sweet satisfaction in his chest.

When it came to roasting people, you had to hand it to his buddy Hankuang—he could shut Kakashi up cold.

Because of yet another conflict, Team 9 spent the entire afternoon in dead silence.

Until evening.

The daily mission summary time had come again.

Kakashi once again spread out the map and marked their position.

"At our current pace, we'll enter the Land of Hot Water in three more days."

"Given today's overcast weather, I predict rain tomorrow. So we might have to rest in place."

"Tonight, everyone needs to set up the campsite."

After Kakashi finished, Hankuang shot him a surprised glance.

So the guy actually had some skills after all.

By usual routine, it was the teammates' turn to speak next.

Too bad Kakashi exercised his captain's privilege and skipped that step entirely.

"See that? He's pissed, won't even let us talk." Obito started with his sarcastic tone.

"Why is Kakashi angry?" Rin asked, full of confusion.

"Because Hankuang roasted him during the day, haha~~"

For Obito so blatantly sabotaging team relations, Hankuang made a mental note in his little book.

Just you wait.

Watch me stir things up between you next time.

After a simple dinner, the team set up the campsite, building a crude awning.

Then, Hankuang's task arrived.