Kurama Fangyun's face darkened at once. She snapped coldly, "Show some respect. They're my friends!"
At Kurama Fangyun's words, they immediately shut their mouths. It seemed she still carried considerable authority in their eyes. That was no easy feat for a woman. Being a leader in the first place required a powerful presence and firm methods, much less leading a band of desperadoes like this.
If someone like the Hokage failed in politics, at most they would lose their reputation. Their life would not necessarily be at stake. Even if they died, they would probably die under some grand pretext. But someone like Kurama Fangyun might have her throat slit by one of her subordinates in the middle of the night without ever knowing how she died.
"Alright, young man. The people here have all had a rough time outside, so don't take it too personally," Kurama Fangyun said with a faint smile. She looked somewhat different from when they had first met.
As she spoke, Kurama Fangyun wanted everyone to rest directly in her tent. Li, however, shook his head and signaled Itachi to set up their tent in an open patch of the camp. A few words from Kurama Fangyun were not enough to make him one of her own people.
Kurama Fangyun paused, then burst into laughter. She understood Li's thoughts and said nothing more, merely ordering her subordinates to behave themselves and not provoke him.
After setting up the tent, Li and the others went inside to rest.
"Teacher, these people don't seem very friendly toward us," Itachi said as he watched the ninjas cast cold looks in their direction.
"That's perfectly normal." Li smiled. "In any group, newcomers generally aren't trusted. People would rather trust companions they've fought alongside through life and death than someone