Seeing Aburame Shibi approach, Hyuga Satoru let out a sigh of relief, smiling as he said to the two members of Might Duy's team, "Dai-senpai, since my teacher has already agreed, you two should join my squad."
Might Duy looked hesitantly at Tanai Ryosuke, who was on the verge of tears, wishing he could bury his head in his stomach.
Why are you looking at me? If they want you to go, then go! If Aburame Shibi ends up marking me, won't he just find a chance to off me along the road?
Seeing that Tanai Ryosuke offered no objection, Might Duy's nose suddenly soured, and in an instant, his eyes welled up with hot tears as he couldn't help stepping forward and pulling Hyuga Satoru into a tight hug.
"Wuwuwu, thank you so much... The blood of my youth is beginning to burn passionately once more!"
Hyuga Satoru instinctively shrank his body back to prevent Might Duy from shaking his tears onto his clothes.
This scene was also witnessed by Anko and Uchiha Rin, who were walking up from behind.
"Satoru... since when has he become so caring?"
Uchiha Rin wore a complicated expression. "It seems I usually underestimate this guy. Aside from having a massive appetite and being lazy, this guy is actually pretty sunny."
With his body forcibly locked in Might Duy's large arms, Hyuga Satoru felt as though he could barely breathe.
"Dai... Dai-senpai, please ease up a bit."
"Ah, I am so sorry, Satoru."
Might Duy hurriedly released Hyuga Satoru and stepped back with an apologetic expression.
Hyuga Satoru let out a sigh of relief, just intending to speak, when he saw Might Duy and Guy suddenly hugging one another and kneeling on the ground, weeping loudly.
"Guy, did you hear that? Someone actually took the initiative to invite us to join their squad!"
"Yes, Father, I'm so moved!"
"This is youth! Guy, let the fire of youth, which never extinguishes, burn once more!"
"Yes, Father!"
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. Uchiha Rin helplessly covered her face with her palm, sighing, "I take back what I just said. If Satoru lets these two freaks join the squad, won't something go wrong?"
"It should be fine, right..." Anko smiled with an awkward expression. "Although Guy's personality is a bit strange, he's still very reliable at critical moments."
Right at that moment, Inoyama Taro, the leader of the caravan, stammered out, "Um... can we set off now?"
In truth, he had already grown quite impatient just a moment ago, but upon seeing Jonin Ryosuke's reaction to the newly arrived Aburame Shibi, he was suddenly struck dumb.
This ninja named Aburame Shibi actually made Jonin Ryosuke treat him with such respect, and even a trace of fear-surely his strength and status must be extraordinary, right?
He must absolutely not offend him!
Therefore, he had forcibly made the entire caravan sit through the melodramatic performance put on by Duy and Guy.
"Yeah." Seeing everyone around him looking his way, Aburame Shibi nodded.
In the forests of the Land of Fire, a large caravan traveled along a path cleared through the woods.
Inside this caravan, however, two completely contrasting states suddenly manifested at this moment.
"Come, Shibi-大人, this is a watermelon produced in the Grass Country, especially sweet and fragrant. Please have a taste."
"Shibi-大人, this is braised beef, a specialty of the Land of Iron, and it is exceptionally delicious."
"Shibi-大人, this is..."
A group of people from the caravan were seen bustling around Aburame Shibi, ingratiatingly offering all sorts of rare delicacies, while over in Ryosuke Squad on the other side of the caravan, the situation was completely the opposite.
Biting into the dry, hard ration in his hand, Kento looked at the fine food surrounding Aburame Shibi until his eyes turned practically green.
"Those bastards from the caravan-back when that squad hadn't arrived yet, they kept sucking up to us in all sorts of ways, but now look at them, they've all run over there!"
"Kento, keep your voice down." Ryosuke shuddered, immediately rebuking him in a low voice. "If Aburame Shibi hears you, we're done for."
Hearing this, Kento shrank his neck back. "Ryosuke-大人, is that Aburame Shibi really that terrifying? You're a jonin too-how could you be so afraid of him?"
"It's not fear." Ryosuke glanced around, speaking in a low voice. "It's respect, respect for the strong. You're a chunin so you don't understand. Aburame Shibi has a massive reputation within the jonin circles."
"It's said that back in the ANBU, the missions he executed were nine-to-one deaths, carving out the moniker of the All-Round Ninja. He always operated solo, and no ninja has ever left a whole corpse under his hands."
"I truly never expected that he would actually come out to lead a team. Otherwise, I would absolutely never have offended him. Getting marked by him is definitely the most terrifying memory of one's life!"
Hearing Ryosuke's introduction of Aburame Shibi, Kento instantly shuddered and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
On the other side, Aburame Shibi frowned with annoyance, paying no heed to the group of flattering caravan members around him.
"Sugoi, no wonder even Jonin Ryosuke respects him so much. It seems things like this simply can't catch the eye of Shibi-大人."
"That's right, Shibi-大人 is so aloof. Is this a common trait among the strong?"
"The aura of Shibi-大人 commands such towering respect that it leaves the likes of us in endless admiration."
The caravan members instantly transformed into a bunch of bootlickers, surrounding Aburame Shibi with a flurry of rainbow-fart compliments that almost made Hyuga Satoru throw up.
Have any of you ever considered that there might be a possibility Teacher Shibi isn't paying attention to you because he has severe social anxiety, and goes numb whenever there are too many people around?
Hyuga Satoru knew all too well that behind the outwardly aloof and invincible facade, Aburame Shibi actually suffered from severe social anxiety; whenever people gathered, his brain short-circuited.
He knew very well that the inner monologue running through Aburame Shibi's mind right now must be: Why are you all surrounding me? Do I have acne on my face? Don't look at me, don't look at me... Ugh, hurry up and leave already!
Hyuga Satoru took a deep breath, a sharp glint bursting within his eyes. Therefore, let me-this model student who respects his teachers and reveres his elders-rescue my teacher from this sea of suffering!
If I don't enter hell, who will?
Hyuga Satoru instantly transformed into a social butterfly, rushing forward and snatching the watermelon handed over by a caravan member in one swift motion.
"Wow, is this the legendary giant watermelon produced in the Grass Country? So much juice indeed!"
"Oh, and this braised beef, a specialty of the Land of Iron-its aroma is actually this rich. It's not too much to let me have a taste, right?"
"And this one, hand it over!"
Caravan members: ???
When they finally snapped back to their senses and looked at Hyuga Satoru, who was hugging a piece of watermelon and devouring it wildly, traces of anger surfaced on their faces; yet since Aburame Shibi hadn't said anything, they didn't dare to speak up either.
"Hey, Rin, Anko, and Dai-senpai, come have a taste too. Eating watermelon is truly such a fine joy in life!"
With watermelon flesh smeared all around his mouth, Hyuga Satoru waved to the few people behind him.
Uchiha Rin and Anko were instantly dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open.
"Satoru... really is full of surprises."
"I just hope those people from the caravan won't get angry. The mission has only just begun, and it'll be troublesome if we stir up trouble." Uchiha Rin helplessly supported her forehead.
Unlike the reserve shown by Anko and Uchiha Rin, Might Duy and Guy didn't act like outsiders at all; they immediately darted over to Hyuga Satoru's side, grabbed a slice of watermelon, and began chowing down.
"So delicious!"
"I'm so moved! Satoru is actually sharing such precious delicacies with us; the fire of youth within my body is burning once more!"
Discarding the finished watermelon rind in his hands, the two of them, Duy and Guy, hugged each other and wept bitterly.
Seeing this scene, the members of Ryosuke Squad twitched their eyelids, feeling that the dry rations in their hands suddenly didn't smell appetizing anymore.
Before you continue