Visiting Rock Lee 2/2

In the hospital corridor.

The smell of disinfectant was overpowering. Aburame Shishin kept sneezing—or rather, the Kikaichū inside him were adapting to the smell of disinfectant.

After a while, Aburame Shishin had rubbed his nose red before the sneezing finally stopped.

Hayato asked curiously, "Doesn't the Aburame Clan have plenty of medical ninja? You're actually sensitive to the smell of disinfectant?"

The Aburame Clan produced versatile ninja, but its largest numbers were scouts and medical ninja, especially those skilled in detoxification.

Aburame Shishin curled his lip. "Your Hyuga Clan is supposed to be full of proper people too. Why don't you look in a mirror?"

Hayato froze. "Oh, taking shots at me? What's improper about me?"

Neji Hyuga sized Hayato up and cut in, "You do have a few proper parts."

The air suddenly fell silent...

Aburame Shishin covered his mouth, staring in disbelief. "Neji, you can actually make snarky remarks?"

Neji Hyuga remained expressionless. "One who stays near vermilion turns red; one who stays near ink turns black."

"Whoa! A group roast this time!"

Suddenly~~~

The door to the ward beside them opened, and a bearded middle-aged man with dark circles rivaling Gaara's said weakly, "Could you keep it down? This is a hospital."

All four hurriedly apologized.

Aburame Shishin complained quietly to Hayato, "It's all your fault."

"I wasn't the one shouting. Wait, shouldn't you be saying that to Neji?" Hayato refused to take the blame. Patting Shishin on the shoulder, he softly consoled him, "It's fine. No one remembers you anyway."

Aburame Shishin: "...Are you comforting me or putting me down?"

"Putting you down while comforting you, so you don't shut yourself off and I can keep putting you down."

"You're ruthless." Aburame Shishin gritted his teeth.

When they arrived outside Room 04, the door was closed.

Aburame Shishin said, "Rock Lee isn't still unconscious, is he?"

Hayato said, "How could he be? I kicked him in the kidney, not the head."

Aburame Shishin snarked, "You might as well have kicked him in the head."

Aburame Shishin gently cracked the door open and peeked inside, then quickly pulled back. Straightening up, he gave a cold laugh. "Heh. I smell rot—and the deep malice of this world."

Hayato curiously took a look too, then sighed. "They say fools have foolish luck. That must be Rock Lee, that idiot."

Inside the ward, Rock Lee was wrapped in bandages like a mummy.

Hayato found it strange—Had I hit him that hard?

Of course, that wasn't important.

What mattered was that Rock Lee lay in bed, with a pink-haired girl in a single ponytail beside him. She wore a white coat with the character for "medical" on the back. Judging by her silhouette, she was probably Morita Tomomi from last time.

Morita Tomomi held a lunchbox and was feeding Rock Lee.

"Ah, open up~~~"

"Ah~~~"

Chew, chew...

Hayato stared at Neji and her.

Neji said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Hayato said resentfully, "If you two start showing off like that in the future, I'll curse your son to turn out just like Shishin."

"What nonsense are you talking, Hayato!" Blushing, she said, "I prefer daughters."

Uh...

Were you embarrassed or not?

Covering her face, she ran off shyly.

Hayato said, "It's dangerous for a girl to be out alone in the dark. What if she runs into some pervert? Aren't you going after her?"

Neji stared at Hayato, clearly meaning: What dark? It isn't even nighttime yet. You really dare to lie with your eyes open. After hesitating for a moment, Neji ultimately ran after her.

Hayato felt something was off, because Shishin had neither retaliated nor made a snarky remark.

Meeting Hayato's gaze, Aburame Shishin smiled faintly and said, "Other Shore flowers bloom for a thousand years and fall for a thousand years; flowers and leaves never meet. Love is not bound by karma, and fate determines life and death. I feel that I have seen through the mortal world. No birth, no death, no suffering, no sorrow, no desire, no want. Amitabha, you bastard Hayato, why are you taking my wallet..."

"If you've seen through the mortal world, what do you need a wallet for? I'm just being helpful—I'll spend it for you. No need to thank me. Just give me a good guy card." Hayato tucked Aburame Shishin's wallet under his arm and took off running.

Aburame Shishin blanked out for a moment, then realized he was the only one left outside the ward.

"Weren't we here to visit Rock Lee? I'm the only one left. Should I go in?" Aburame Shishin muttered, "Forget it. If I can't hold myself back, Rock Lee's kidney will really be in danger."

Outside the hospital building.

She and Neji had not gone far. One in front and one behind, separated by a meter or two, they walked silently and slowly.

No matter how dense Neji was, he could sense her feelings. But at this time, Neji was consumed by his hatred for the Main Branch. When it came to other emotional ties—especially love—his fear outweighed his hopes.

He could not make a promise.

Nor could he give a response.

So Neji could only follow behind her quietly, not even daring to get too close.

Hayato's arrival broke that warm awkwardness.

Holding up the wallet, Hayato said, "Come on, Yoshimaru BBQ Restaurant. Eat whatever you want, my treat. Money's no object."

Showing off in front of a rich girl felt great!

What was the secret to gambling without losing money?

—Spend someone else's money!

What was the secret to treating people without feeling the pain?

—Spend someone else's money!

She suddenly said, "Hayato, your wallet is so pretty!" Women—even female ninja—had no resistance to pretty bags.

"Oh, really? I hadn't noticed." Her focus was unusual. Perhaps that applied to all women.

She snatched the wallet over. "What is it made of? It feels so soft and smooth."

"Uh..."

Aburame Shishin, who had caught up at some point, said gloomily, "Silk spun by a unique insect of the Aburame Clan, handwoven through hundreds of processes. It's fireproof, waterproof, and cut-resistant." He glanced at Hayato before continuing, "Just not theft-proof."

Hayato laughed. "What's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine. Why quibble over something so trivial? Ha, ha."

Holding the wallet, she blinked cutely. "Shishin~~~"

Aburame Shishin said helplessly, "There's an Aburame Clan crest in the wallet. Are you sure you want it?"

She opened the wallet and found the Aburame Clan's insect crest indeed engraved inside. She sighed in disappointment.

Aburame Shishin said, "Aburame Clan bags have always been limited in supply. Money alone isn't enough; you need status too. The orders are already booked through the middle of next year. But if you want one, I can help you cut in line."

Just when there seemed to be no path ahead, another village appeared beyond the riverbank.

"Really, Shishin? You're so nice!" she said in delight. She pulled out her wallet, revealing a thick stack of bills. "I'm treating today. No one is allowed to fight me for it." After saying that, she looked at Hayato.

Hayato said, "Uh...is that really okay?"

She waved a hand. "It's fine. Next time, when we go to the Hyuga Clan's restaurant, you can treat. Give me this one today."

The Hyuga Clan's restaurant served Zen-style kaiseki cuisine—exquisite but bland, with portions as tiny as cat droppings, and prices so outrageous they made people question life. Only an idiot would go there.

But since things had come to this, Hayato could only spread his hands to show that her money meant her call.

Looking at the colorful thick stack of bills in the wallet, Aburame Shishin swallowed. "Your wallet needs to be made bigger."

[PS] Thanks to the familiar faces "Trench Coat Joke" and "Bread and Salted Fish" for their recommendation votes.

Thanks to "hebeisue," "White Dove's Reverse Side," and "Book Friend 017170159045" for their recommendation votes.

The cold wind howled through the desolate valley, biting at exposed skin like a serrated blade. Lu Chen tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning white. He had been tracking the beast for three days, and the trail was finally growing warm.

I cannot afford to fail this time, he thought, his eyes scanning the jagged rocks ahead. If I return empty-handed, the village will not survive the winter.

A low growl vibrated through the ground, rattling the loose stones at his feet. From the shadows of a nearby cavern, two glowing amber eyes emerged, fixated on his throat. Lu Chen didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his blade singing as it cut through the frigid air.

[System Notification]
Target: Frost-Bound Stalker
Threat Level: Elite
Status: Enraged

"Die!" Lu Chen roared, channeling his internal energy into the steel. The impact sent a shockwave through the cavern, shattering the silence of the valley.

The next chapter's related content will be updated at dawn. The next main chapter will be at 8:00 tomorrow morning—a continuation of this goofy chapter, so stay tuned. I personally think it's pretty fun. If you like it, please recommend and bookmark it.