The sunlight was a little blinding at Konoha's entrance.
Goten stood before the gates, still cursing.
"How dare she threaten my wagyu and ramen budget!"
"That's where I draw the line!"
Sakura stood to one side, her cheeks flushing as she listened.
Watching Goten's overbearing, fiercely protective manner, she actually felt an unusual sense of reliance on him well up inside her.
Shikamaru scratched his pineapple-shaped hair and heaved a long sigh.
"All right, all right, enough messing around."
"The pursuit squad is officially moving out!"
"The members are Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, Choji, Neji, and Goten."
The squad quickly plunged into the dense forest.
The shadows of trees raced backward on either side.
Up ahead, Shikamaru rapidly formed hand seals as he gave orders.
"Everyone, stay in formation!"
"Kiba and Akamaru, scout ahead using your sense of smell."
"Neji, use your Byakugan to monitor chakra movements around us."
"Choji, stay in the middle, ready to provide support."
"Naruto, bring up the rear."
The formation was tightly organized.
In the middle of the squad, however, the scene took a sudden turn.
Goten lay comfortably on Neji's back.
He held a seafood rice ball bigger than his face, eating until grease covered his mouth.
Veins throbbed on Neji's forehead.
He gritted his teeth as he leaped forward, all while having to keep the little tyrant on his back balanced.
Just a few minutes earlier, he had tried to refuse to serve as a mount.
But the brat had merely glared at him, and an overwhelming, terrifying pressure had made his legs go weak.
Remembering that even Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, had been trampled under this brat's feet like a dog.
Neji could only swallow all his humiliation.
He forced himself to carry this glutton as they traveled.
Chewing his rice ball,