Tsume Inuzuka had barely left before the boys and girls deflated like punctured balloons and began complaining all at once.
"She scared me to death! Tsume's louder than the ninja dog I keep at home!"
A female ninja with a ponytail patted her chest.
With a senbon between his lips, Genma Shiranui looked Yūto over.
"Yūto, I heard you killed their commander on the Kumogakure front?"
"And rescued the Chinoike Clan in the Land of Lightning?"
Yūto was a little surprised. These kids were certainly well informed; they even knew what had happened on the Kumogakure front.
He nodded. "Yeah, that did happen."
"It really was you!"
Genma abruptly spat out his senbon, and the dozen or so youngsters behind him instantly erupted, crowding around Yūto in a flurry.
"I heard you took on three Kumogakure jonin all by yourself!"
Jostled from side to side, Yūto was about to explain when he suddenly felt someone tugging at his clothes.
Ebisu sidled over furtively. "Um, Yūto..."
He lowered his voice. "Did you really write Icha Icha Paradise?"
"Uh, yes."
"Yes!" Ebisu suddenly jumped three feet into the air, startling everyone around him.
He waved his arms excitedly and pulled out a little notebook.
"I knew it was you! Can I have your autograph? The descriptions of the daughter's studies in the latest volume were absolutely incredible!"
Yūto helplessly covered his face. Would it really be all right for this pervy kid to grow up into an elite teacher?
"Quiet, everyone!" Genma suddenly turned serious. "Captain Yūto, what's our next mission?"
That question stumped Yūto.
Tsume Inuzuka had only dragged him over yesterday to do the grunt work. How would he know what their next mission was?
Yūto looked bewildered. "How would I know? Tsume only shoved me into the Main Force