Shihui Aburame took a bath, then returned to his room to rest.
He had no trouble sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, so he slept well.
Early the next morning, a knock sounded at the door.
Shihui Aburame got dressed and opened it.
"Shiki, I've put your toiletries in the bathroom,"
Shizune reminded him. "Come to the living room for breakfast after you wash up."
"Thank you, Shizune."
Shihui Aburame nodded.
He went downstairs and happened to run into Tsunade.
She was walking out while fastening her black sash.
Shihui Aburame caught a momentary glimpse of rounded curves.
"Kid, what are you doing here?"
Tsunade tugged the sash with both hands, drawing her clothes tight and instantly accentuating her figure.
The inward curve was her slender waist; the outward curves strained against her top.
"I didn't go home last night,"
Shihui Aburame explained.
"Oh, I see."
Tsunade yawned, not giving it much thought.
Shihui Aburame entered the bathroom.
Two toothbrushes and cups sat on the counter by the faucet.
Shizune had obviously prepared them.
Tsunade picked up a toothbrush and began washing up.
Watching the earnest Shihui Aburame in the mirror, she suddenly fell into a daze.
The last boy to wash up alongside her had been her younger brother, Nawaki.
"I'm done, Teacher."
Shihui Aburame put down his toothbrush and cup and washed his face.
Tsunade came back to herself and watched him leave.
Shizune was already sitting at the dining table.
Shihui Aburame sat beside her, leaving the seat at the head of the table for Tsunade.
"I haven't been back to Konoha in so long. Milk's gotten quite a bit more expensive."
Shizune picked up the milk and poured him a glass.
Neither she nor Tsunade really needed milk; she had bought it mainly for him.
He was young and still growing.
A line involuntarily popped into Shihui Aburame's mind.
How is it expensive? It's been this price for years.
In his previous life, Li Jiaqi's sayings had brainwashed him for a while, practically engraving themselves into his DNA.
"Today's Friday."
Shizune looked at him expectantly and asked, "What are your plans for Saturday and Sunday?"
"Learning Medical Ninjutsu."
Shihui Aburame paused, then said, "But I need to go out on Sunday afternoon."
He meant the fishing contest he had arranged with Naruto Uzumaki.
A man's dignity was at stake. He had to go.
"All right, then."
Shizune smiled. "I'll make sure to take good care of you when the time comes."
Tell me more about that care.
Shihui Aburame was about to speak when he saw Tsunade approach.
But for some reason, she seemed a little different.
"Eat."
Tsunade picked up her chopsticks and spoke in a flat tone.
Shizune glanced at her and noticed something was wrong too, but she did not dare ask.
After breakfast, Shihui Aburame took his schoolbag and headed to the Ninja Academy.
The morning consisted of theory lessons, as dull as ever.
It was only in the afternoon that his interest stirred.
There was another practical combat class.
Once Umino Iruka finished teaching, it was time for the tense, exciting duels.
Sasuke Uchiha raised his hand, but he was a step too late again.
"Teacher!"
Naruto Uzumaki declared enthusiastically, "I want to challenge Shihui Aburame!"
"???"
Question marks instantly appeared on Sasuke Uchiha's face, and he nearly lost his composure.
Are you serious?
He had already observed all his classmates.
Naruto Uzumaki had the worst fundamentals.
Weak backhand, sloppy forehand, loose footwork, sluggish reactions-not a single movement was decent.
And he wanted to compete against Shihui Aburame?
The corner of Umino Iruka's mouth twitched.
This had left him completely stumped.
For a moment, he did not even know whether he should agree.
Naruto Uzumaki looked at Shihui Aburame, his eyes full of anticipation.
His intentions were actually very simple: he just wanted to play with his good friend.
"I'll spar with Naruto first," Shihui Aburame said quietly as he stood and passed Sasuke Uchiha.
He had already agreed earlier, and he would not break his word.
Besides, he still had achievements to complete.
Reassured somewhat by his words, Sasuke Uchiha nodded coolly.
This would also let him see whether Naruto Uzumaki could force Shihui Aburame to reveal any new tricks.
Though the chances were slim.
"Shiki, watch out!"
Naruto Uzumaki charged straight at him, his right hand clenched into a fist as he threw a punch.
His movements were broad and sweeping, leaving openings all over his body.
Shihui Aburame raised his elbow to block the punch.
Decent strength.
He was slightly surprised, but on second thought, it was only natural.
Naruto Uzumaki might have been among the handful of ninja with the strongest bodies.
That was thanks to his Uzumaki Clan bloodline and Kurama, the Tailed Beast inside him.
But Shihui Aburame did not use his Gu.
He even reined in the strength of the automatically active White Boar Gu and Black Boar Gu.
"Again!"
Naruto Uzumaki excitedly spun around and kicked.
Shihui Aburame kicked as well.
Though he moved later, his kick landed first, striking Naruto's ankle.
Naruto Uzumaki lost his balance and fell straight onto his backside.
Undiscouraged, he climbed back up and charged at Shihui Aburame again, and the two tangled in combat.
Umino Iruka shook his head.
He could tell that calling this "going easy" would be an understatement. Shihui Aburame was holding back completely, merely playing along with Naruto Uzumaki.
Sasuke Uchiha smiled confidently.
He felt that Shihui Aburame was not as formidable as he had imagined.
Just as I thought.
Ninja from small clans are nothing to fear.
At that moment, he became certain of victory.
Naruto Uzumaki fell once again.
Just as he was about to stand, a hand appeared before him.
"Let's call today a draw. We'll fight again another day,"
Shihui Aburame said with a faint smile.
Naruto Uzumaki stared blankly at him.
Of course he knew he was no match for Shihui Aburame.
He just did not know why his eyes felt a little swollen.
Shihui Aburame must have hit them.
"I'll let you off for now, then!"
Naruto Uzumaki took his hand and stood up, speaking with a radiant smile.
Watching him limp away, Shihui Aburame could not help wondering, No achievement?
Just then, Sasuke Uchiha walked up to him.
His expression was cold, his tone certain. "You're going to lose!"
Shihui Aburame instinctively glanced at the sky.
It really was a sunny day.
But against Sasuke Uchiha, he would not hold back.
Otherwise, he would have no way to trigger his achievement.
The two faced each other for battle and formed hand seals.
Their watching classmates buzzed with discussion.
Sasuke Uchiha and Shihui Aburame were both prominent figures in their class.
Because they were handsome.
"Go, Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura Haruno waved her fist, acting as his cheerleader.
"Shiki-kun will win!"
Not to be outdone, Ino Yamanaka planted her hands on her hips, tossed her blond ponytail, and locked eyes with Sakura Haruno, sparks flying between them.
"Women are terrifying."
Shikamaru Nara sat slumped on the ground and shuddered.
Hinata Hyuga tightly gripped the hem of her clothes.
She wanted to support Shihui Aburame openly, just like Ino Yamanaka.
But she did not dare, and could only look on enviously.
"Shikamaru, who do you think will win?"
Kiba Inuzuka asked expectantly.
"No idea."
Shikamaru Nara could not be bothered to think.
"It'll definitely... hiss... be... hiss... Shiki!"
Naruto Uzumaki grimaced in pain.
Although Shihui Aburame had held back, Naruto had pushed himself too hard.
"Shino, can your brother win?"
Kiba Inuzuka turned to the composed Shino Aburame and asked, "That's an invincible Uchiha he's facing."
The Uchiha Clan had a legendary reputation for being invincible in one-on-one combat on the battlefield.