Gu Qi's Birthday

"Gu Qi, it's time to go back."

From noon until evening, Gu Qi had lost count of how many times he had been washed into the river by the current.

Even though his feet were using Chakra to cling to the rocks, the waterfall's current wasn't constant.

It would surge and then calm, forcing Gu Qi to adjust the amount of Chakra he was using from time to time.

After spending the afternoon, Gu Qi finally managed to stand steadily beneath the waterfall.

However, as Gu Qi calmed his mind, another problem arose.

The force of the water falling from above was not to be trifled with; it was no different from being hit by rocks.

Except, while the latter usually only hit one part of the body, the waterfall's water came down like a deluge, engulfing his entire being.

Gu Qi felt that if this continued, his Chakra cultivation might not succeed, but his ability to withstand attacks would definitely improve significantly.

"It hurts so much, I didn't expect the waterfall to be this powerful," Gu Qi grumbled as he put on his clothes.

Kakashi smiled, "This is the power of nature. So, when you encounter enemies, if you can borrow the power of nature, you might achieve unexpected results."

"Got it, got it!" Gu Qi replied weakly.

Seeing this, Kakashi didn't linger and said, "Let's go, I'm treating you to barbecue today."

"Whoa, since when are you so generous?" Gu Qi was a little surprised.

Kakashi patted Gu Qi's head, "Because today is our Gu Qi's birthday."

"Ah, that's right! I almost forgot." Gu Qi finally remembered that it was his birthday in this world.

However, Kakashi had always missed Gu Qi's birthday due to missions in the past, so he rarely thought about celebrating it.

It seemed this was the first time Kakashi was celebrating Gu Qi's birthday with him.

"Let's go, let's go, we'll pick up Rasu and the others. I'm going to eat until you go broke today," Gu Qi said excitedly.

"Don't worry, I've brought enough money today."

"Welcome, please come in and take a seat." Outside Konoha's Yakiniku Q, as soon as Gu Qi and the others arrived at the entrance, the proprietress greeted them with a smile.

"Proprietress, bring out the best ingredients," Gu Qi declared with great bravado.

Hearing Gu Qi's command, the proprietress's smile widened, "Certainly, esteemed guest. Please wait a moment, it will be here soon."

"I heard you did business with the Inuzuka Clan and made quite a profit?" Kakashi suddenly asked while they were eating.

Gu Qi, who was about to pick up a piece of meat, flinched in shock, "Damn it, are you spying on me?"

Kakashi scoffed, "Nonsense. The entire Konoha knows about it. Do I still need to spy on you?"

Clatter!

Hearing this news, Gu Qi dropped his chopsticks in shock.

"Huh? How could this happen? I was being so careful."

Gu Qi had wanted to keep a low profile, to avoid attracting the attention of "that guy," but he hadn't expected the matter to blow up so much.

Kakashi looked at Gu Qi as if he were an idiot, "Konoha is this small. Any news spreads immediately."

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't gone on missions and left me without any living expenses, how could I have been forced to 'sell myself' out of desperation!"

Gu Qi's words were so ambiguous that many customers looked their way.

"Ahem, didn't I leave you plenty of money before? Where did it go?" Kakashi asked, confused.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qi's eyes darted around, "Eating doesn't cost money? Buying things doesn't cost money? Conducting experiments doesn't cost money!"

In reality, Gu Qi's money had been embezzled by the system, but he couldn't say that.

"I really don't understand why your experiments require so much money. Oh well, I'll give you my entire share from now on."

"That wouldn't be right!" Gu Qi rubbed his hands together. Although he said it as if he were embarrassed, his expression was as happy as could be.

"Heh heh!" Kakashi understood his thoughts perfectly. Besides, this money originally belonged to Gu Qi.

Moreover, Gu Qi used this money for important matters, so Kakashi didn't need to control it too much.

"You can have the money, but you need to have a bottom line for your experiments," Kakashi said very seriously.

Conducting experiments was fine, even biological experiments. But if he were to learn from "that person" and experiment on living people, that would be a major issue.

"Don't worry, I'm a pure and kind person," Gu Qi said, opening his innocent, flawless eyes.

Kakashi clicked his tongue. Although Gu Qi had a bad temper, he was indeed kind-hearted. Yet, for some reason, Kakashi felt a strange sense of unease.

"Enough talk, let's eat, let's eat."

Putting aside that uneasy feeling, Kakashi waved his hand and, while Gu Qi wasn't paying attention, ate the meticulously grilled ingredients.

Seeing his carefully grilled food gone, Gu Qi roared, "Kakashi, you bastard."

"Tch, I'm the one treating, why can't I eat?" Kakashi said, while finishing another piece of meat.

"Ah~ Rasu, bite him."

"..." Rasu glanced at the fierce-looking Kakashi and quietly began eating the barbecue in its bowl.

"Welcome back."

"Damn it, it's my birthday, why did you eat all the good food?" Gu Qi said unhappily as they left the barbecue restaurant.

Thinking of the exquisite ingredients being eaten by Kakashi, Gu Qi felt a lump in his heart.

Kakashi, who had avenged himself on his last birthday, said indifferently, "We're family, what's the big deal! What's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine."

"I'll bite you!"

The two figures gradually moved away, unaware that a little girl on the street was silently watching them leave.

"I still haven't given him the gift..." The girl tightened the gift box in her hand and left with a dejected look.

"Kakashi Gu Qi, you little brat, just you wait."

It was noon again, and Anko, who had once again failed to intercept Gu Qi, shouted at Gu Qi as he ran away with the wind, her face contorted in frustration.

This was the tenth time. Every time Gu Qi managed to escape easily just as Anko was about to ambush him.

At first, Anko thought it was a coincidence, but after a while, if she still didn't realize she was being toyed with, she'd be an idiot.

"Haha, are you scared of me! Come on, hit me!"

Gu Qi turned his head and made a face at Anko, then quickly escaped after seeing her face steam up.

"Damn it, it looks like I need to find a way to deal with those three ninja dogs," Anko muttered, stroking her chin in thought.

Anko wasn't stupid; she naturally understood that Gu Qi had discovered her through his three ninja dogs.

But Anko found it strange. She had disguised herself so well, even using special techniques to mask her scent, yet she was still discovered.

Anko, who considered her disguise to be quite good, couldn't help but ponder the reason.

"Right, I guess I need to make a trip to the Inuzuka house," Anko suddenly thought of a recent rumor and clapped her hand.

Without further ado, Anko zipped out of the woods.

A long time later, at the Inuzuka Clan's residence.

"Who's there!"

Although an excellent veterinarian, Hana Inuzuka was a Chunin and also a member of the Inuzuka Clan.

Therefore, when she sensed some strange gaze, she immediately detected the other party.

Thump!

However, being more of a support staff, Hana Inuzuka was no match for a certain hot-tempered girl.

With one hand on the wall and the other pressing against Hana Inuzuka's chest, Anko's face was pressed close to hers, as if they could kiss at any moment.

"Anko? What do you want?" Seeing who it was, Hana Inuzuka's tense body relaxed.

Hana Inuzuka and Anko had graduated in the same year, and since both were hot-tempered, they were quite familiar with each other.

"Tell me, what deal did Kakashi Gu Qi make with your clan? Is it related to tracking?" Anko whispered in Hana Inuzuka's ear.

Hana Inuzuka's face flushed slightly. "So what if it is? Why are you asking about this out of the blue? Oh, is it because of that?"

Many people knew about the situation between Anko and Gu Qi, which was why Hana Inuzuka said that.

"That's right!" Anko didn't hide it.

Pushing her away, Hana Inuzuka said disdainfully, "How old are you and you're still arguing with a child! As for the deal, I don't want to hide it. It is indeed related to tracking."