As Long As I'm Not Embarrassed, The Embarrassment Is Others

At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight pierced through the mist and illuminated the quiet road, Hayato began his morning training. Sweat trickled down his determined face, each drop a testament to his relentless pursuit of taijutsu.

He finished his training just before noon.

He stepped into the bathroom, enjoying the comfort of a warm current enveloping his entire body.

Afterward, he stood by the window, holding a soft bath towel and gently drying his damp black hair. Water droplets shimmered in the sunlight like tiny stars.

Seeing Misaki busy in the kitchen, Hayato asked, "Mom, what are you making?"

"Oh, it's lunch for your outing," Misaki replied without looking up, her kitchen knife dancing a cheerful rhythm on the cutting board. "By the way, will you be back for dinner tonight?"

Recalling his promise to Kurenai yesterday, he remembered they had all agreed to have a picnic together that evening.

"I won't be back for dinner; we're planning to have a barbecue in the wild and enjoy what nature has to offer."

"A barbecue? Do you need to take any ingredients with you?" Misaki asked immediately.

"No, we'll just forage for what we need when we get there." Hayato draped the towel over his shoulder and turned toward the closet.

He began to pick out his clothes. He first put on a comfortable undershirt, then threw on a stylish black turtleneck sweater, looking both casual and energetic.

He didn't forget to bring his ninja pouch, which contained a few sharp Kunai and exquisite Shuriken, just in case—especially since they might come in handy for hunting.

Seeing this, Misaki said no more. She silently packed the carefully prepared bento into a box and handed it to Hayato, her eyes filled with concern.

"Make sure you stay safe, you hear?"

Hayato took it with a smile, his eyes sparkling with confidence. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm your son, what is there to worry about?"

Seeing his carefree attitude, Misaki pretended to be annoyed and tapped his forehead, though she couldn't hide a smile at the corner of her lips. "Regardless, it's always better to be careful."

"Alright, I'm off. Bye!" Hayato waved his hand and set off on his outing, carrying his mother's care and blessings with him.

Shortly after, Shota emerged from the bedroom, his face weary but unable to hide the joy of being home.

He asked about Hayato's whereabouts, and upon learning that Hayato had gone out with friends, he smiled and remarked, "Young people should have that kind of energy."

"So, Hayato won't be home at all today?" Shota asked as he approached Misaki.

"Yeah, he probably won't be back until tonight," Misaki replied casually.

Hearing this, Shota stepped up behind Misaki, wrapped his arms around her, and said with a grin, "It's rare to have the place to ourselves. Why don't we..."

Misaki's ears turned slightly red. She turned back to look at Shota, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Didn't you just get back from a mission? Besides, it's the middle of the day—this isn't really appropriate."

"I've already rested; I've got plenty of energy now."

On the other side, Hayato walked slowly toward the outskirts of the village, heading for the small stream to the west.

By the spring stream, the area was lush and full of life. Several familiar figures had already been waiting for some time. Ebisu, Izumo Kamizuki, and Genma were either standing or sitting, each immersed in the tranquility of the spring day.

"Am I late?" Hayato asked softly, his tone tinged with apology.

"No, we just arrived early," Ebisu replied with a smile after checking his watch, his eyes glinting with intelligence behind his sunglasses.

Just as Hayato was scanning the area for Kurenai, a crisp, melodious voice broke the silence.

"Hayato-kun!"

Kurenai, dressed in a crimson floral dress like the most brilliant flower of spring, trotted toward him, her face beaming with irrepressible joy.

"Hayato-kun, you really came! This is wonderful." Kurenai looked thrilled.

She had been looking forward to today's gathering since yesterday.

"Didn't I promise you I would?" Hayato ruffled Kurenai's hair affectionately. They shared a smile, and for a moment, it felt as if the whole world had stood still.

The other three present felt a bit like they were in the way.

Noticing their awkwardness, Hayato steered the conversation back.

"Is there anyone else who hasn't arrived?"

"Oh, Kakashi and the others aren't here yet," Kurenai said after looking around.

"I've been here for a while," a lazy voice drifted over from not far away.

The five of them looked toward the sound and saw Kakashi standing up from behind a large boulder.

"I got here too early and got bored, so I took a nap," Kakashi said, opening his mouth to let out a yawn.

"Well, you certainly arrived early," Hayato said with a laugh.

He then turned his questioning gaze back to Kurenai, the meaning clear: who else was missing?

Kurenai understood immediately. "Oh, right, there's also Guy, Obito, and Rin."

Upon learning the situation, Hayato nodded and began chatting casually with the others.

Not long after, the trio of Guy, Obito, and Rin arrived one after another. However, an uninvited guest had also tagged along.

"Asuma, why are you here too?" Kurenai asked, surprised, before glancing at Hayato.

She looked a bit anxious; she hadn't invited Asuma herself.

Ebisu stepped forward from the side, adjusted his sunglasses, and spoke calmly.

"I invited Asuma; we're all classmates, after all."

Asuma turned his head away with a haughty air, ignoring Kurenai and Hayato as he walked straight to Ebisu's side.

Seeing this, Kurenai didn't say anything more. She wasn't the only one who had organized this gathering, and it had been agreed from the start that everyone could invite their own companions.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let's get started." Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Obito stepped in to smooth things over.

Hayato didn't mind; the previous conflict between him and Asuma didn't amount to much.

He hadn't taken it to heart; at most, it was just a farce.

As long as Asuma didn't stir up any more trouble, he couldn't be bothered to hold a grudge.

"Fine, if that's the case, let's begin."

"Since we're having a picnic, let's talk about the ingredients," Rin suggested.

Obito leaned over and glanced at the clear stream, where many fish were swimming about.

"How about we go fishing? Is there anyone here who knows how to fish?"

After a long silence, Kakashi raised his hand. "I'm fine with fishing."

This surprised Hayato a little; he hadn't expected Kakashi to be so proactive. Then again, it made sense—later on, after experiencing so many hardships, Kakashi's heart would become somewhat closed off.

"I'm not good at fishing, but if it's just catching fish, I'm your man," Guy said, preparing to dive headfirst into the water to catch them by hand.

Hayato laughed and held him back. "Guy, today is for a spring outing, not wilderness survival. There's no need for that."

"I have a suggestion: let's divide the labor. We'll leave the fishing to Kakashi, and the rest of us can look for other ingredients and firewood for the fire. How does that sound?" Hayato looked at everyone after finishing his sentence.

Except for Asuma, who maintained an indifferent expression, everyone else nodded in agreement.

"I agree."

"I have no problem with that."

"Alright, let's decide on our tasks based on everyone's strengths." Hayato thought to himself that teamwork was also a part of training.

Kurenai watched Hayato from the side with admiration; at this moment, he looked incredibly dazzling in her eyes.