You're Just a Lackey; So What If I Hit You?

Just as Shikaku was sweating coldly like an ant on a hot pan, panicking desperately.

Yoshino Nara approached with a large bag in each hand and a smile on her face.

Although she was smiling, she kept her head lowered and did not watch where she was going. She seemed preoccupied and failed to notice the three people by the roadside.

Inoichi Yamanaka waved to greet her.

"Yoshino, good morning."

"...Good morning."

Yoshino Nara reacted a beat late, turning to look at the three of them. She then saw Shikaku Nara kneeling on the ground, drenched in sweat, pale-faced, and gasping continuously.

She asked in confusion.

"Shikaku, what are you doing?"

Wanting to show off in front of Yoshino Nara, Shikaku Nara immediately braced himself against the wall and climbed to his feet.

"I want to train my stamina, so I'm doing weighted long-distance running."

"Is that so? Keep it up."

Yoshino Nara did not care much. After casually offering a word of encouragement, she turned and left.

Her reaction left Shikaku Nara deeply disappointed.

I trained so hard, but Yoshino doesn't even care?

She didn't even look at me again or say another word to me?

What was the point of all my hard training?

Shikaku Nara felt as though his desperate training just now had all been for nothing, and he was deeply miserable.

At the same time, he noticed that something was off about Yoshino Nara's behavior.

She was carrying two large bags in both hands, clearly not heading out to buy breakfast.

She was most likely going somewhere to visit someone.

And with the Three-Clan Joint Training about to begin, who could she possibly want to visit at a time like this?

Could it be that annoying dead last?

The thought made Shikaku Nara panic, and