"See you tomorrow, Shiki-kun."
Ino Yamanaka reluctantly waved goodbye to Shihui Aburame.
But Sakura Haruno soon dragged her away.
Sasuke Uchiha had been the first to leave.
She did not want to watch Ino Yamanaka and Shihui Aburame being all lovey-dovey. It practically filled her eyes with lemons of jealousy.
Nothing special!
Seeing this, Shikamaru Nara smiled faintly and left with Choji Akimichi.
The lively grilled fish feast came to an end, leaving only Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga.
Shino Aburame had not waited for Shihui Aburame either, since Shihui was going to Tsunade's house.
"Naruto, aren't you leaving?"
Shihui Aburame was a little puzzled.
Judging by his usual behavior, Naruto should have left with Kiba Inuzuka and the others long ago.
"I wanted to ask you a few questions."
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head sheepishly.
Although he usually liked to talk big, that was all just his way of attracting friends.
He knew where his own abilities stood.
Today, he had once again seen Shihui Aburame easily defeat Sasuke Uchiha, who was hailed as a genius, and the idea had come to him.
"Sure."
Shihui Aburame nodded.
"Thanks, Shiki!"
Naruto Uzumaki immediately broke into a smile.
"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame took out a storage scroll and said, "I'll walk you home."
Hinata Hyuga nodded.
Holding the storage scroll, she followed behind Shihui Aburame without a word.
She never found a chance to chat along the way.
Because Naruto Uzumaki kept talking.
From raiding birds' nests in trees to catching fish in streams, he went through every little thing.
When they reached the Hyuga Clan's compound, Shihui Aburame stopped.
"Goodbye, Hinata!"
Naruto Uzumaki waved with a smile.
He had been so happy today that he was still buzzing with excitement.
"S-see you tomorrow."
Hinata Hyuga looked toward Shihui Aburame.
She turned and entered the courtyard.
Back in her room, she let out a breath.
It was a bit of a shame I barely got to talk to Shiki-kun today.
Hinata Hyuga looked at the storage scroll in her hands.
She fed chakra into it.
The next second, a large pile of food popped out.
Although she had expected it, Hinata Hyuga's little face still flushed slightly.
"Naruto, what did you want to ask?"
Shihui Aburame looked at a utility pole in the distance, feeling as though a figure might suddenly appear there.
"The Three Basic Techniques!"
Naruto Uzumaki answered without hesitation.
"The Three Basic Techniques are the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique, and the Clone Technique."
Shihui Aburame explained his understanding as he walked.
Fifteen minutes later, they reached Hokage Rock.
"Did you understand?"
Shihui Aburame asked casually.
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head.
He felt as though knowledge had flowed right through his brain.
My head's so itchy.
"Maybe taijutsu would suit you better."
Shihui Aburame had a flash of inspiration.
Actually, come to think of it.
Naruto Uzumaki was highly suited to taijutsu.
Leaving aside the fact that nine-tails chakra currently prevented him from using ninjutsu properly.
With his terrifying constitution, extraordinary recovery, and powerful combat instincts, he practically had a body born for taijutsu.
"Taijutsu?"
Remembering Friday's practical combat class, Naruto Uzumaki asked, "The kind of taijutsu that knocked Sasuke out with one punch? I want to learn!"
Sasuke was furious!
"I'm not particularly good at taijutsu."
Shihui Aburame could not help laughing. "But I can help you find a teacher."
He had Ninja Academy classes during the day and Medical Ninjutsu practice at night, so he had no time to teach Naruto Uzumaki.
As for the teacher, it would naturally be Might Guy.
Gasp!
Shihui Aburame suddenly sucked in a cold breath.
The following scene appeared in his mind.
"Sasuke, this is youth!"
Naruto Uzumaki's hair stood on end like a Saiyan's. "Granny Li knocks on the door-open!"
Sasuke Uchiha: Fuck you, give me my money back!
"Huh?"
Naruto Uzumaki looked skeptical.
What do you mean, you're not particularly good at taijutsu?
"Wait for me after school tomorrow."
Shihui Aburame did not explain further.
After saying goodbye to Naruto Uzumaki, he returned to Tsunade's residence.
"Shiki." Shizune poked her head out. "Welcome home."
"Where's my teacher?"
Shihui Aburame took off his shoes and entered the living room.
"She's waiting for you in her room."
Shizune answered.
Shihui Aburame walked up to Tsunade's room and knocked.
The door soon opened.
"You've been drinking again, Teacher."
Shihui Aburame caught a familiar scent of alcohol. It was the nectar wine he had given her.
Shizune had not mentioned it just now, so most likely Tsunade had been unable to resist sneaking a drink.
"Drinking can get in the way of things."
Shihui Aburame urged her, "And it's bad for your health."
"Brat."
Tsunade gave a soft snort, pointed at her forehead, and asked, "Do you know what this is?"
"What?"
Shihui Aburame asked, looking at her pretty diamond-shaped mark.
"The Yin Seal."
Lifting her chin slightly, Tsunade said smugly, "With it, my bodily functions stay at their peak, anytime and anywhere."
Judging by what it had shown in the original story, that really was true.
A thought suddenly occurred to Shihui Aburame.
Everywhere?
"Brat."
Tsunade crouched down and asked, "When did you get back?"
"Just now."
Shihui Aburame looked away.
That posture made her figure particularly pronounced.
"Oh, so you get shy, too."
Tsunade thrust out her chest, her face full of amusement.
"I'm going to practice."
Shihui Aburame found the sight almost blinding.
Who turned on the headlights?
So cute.
His reaction made Tsunade smile and reach out to ruffle his hair.
"..."
Shihui Aburame turned and left.
Tsunade laughed even more happily.
Shizune instinctively glanced at her and froze.
It had been a long time since she had seen Tsunade laugh like that.
The Sarutobi Clan.
A knock sounded at the door.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rose and opened it.
A young man stood outside.
Although he wore an Anbu mask, his white hair had already given him away.
"Kakashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "Come in and sit down."
Kakashi Hatake nodded.
"Kakashi, take off your mask."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke as he sat on the sofa.
"Anbu ninja never remove their masks."
Kakashi Hatake's dead-fish eyes showed no flicker of emotion, as still as stagnant water.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile stiffened slightly before he took a deep drag on his pipe.
This child still can't move on.
It really was too much to ask of him.
His father had died, his teacher had died, and his teammates had died. He had lost his loved ones forever, with nothing but ruin wherever he looked.
"Tell me about Naruto's day."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of smoke and asked.
"Yes, sir."
Kakashi Hatake delivered his report without expression.
From the fishing competition to Shihui Aburame's spar with Sasuke Uchiha, and finally Naruto Uzumaki asking for guidance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his white beard, deep in thought.
Shihui Aburame was even more outstanding than he had imagined, already showing faint signs of a leader's bearing.
Of course, the present was the present and the future was the future. There was no telling.
"Kakashi, what do you think?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe as he asked.
Kakashi Hatake shook his head. "I have no opinion."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell somewhat silent.
He frowned slightly and asked, "If I asked you to become Naruto's team leader, would you be willing?"
Kakashi Hatake's heart trembled slightly as he thought of his own teacher, Minato Namikaze.
And Naruto Uzumaki was his biological son.
"I'll leave it to your arrangements, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi Hatake replied.
So that means he isn't opposed?
Hiruzen Sarutobi saw a glimmer of hope.
Kakashi Hatake was exceptionally talented and came from an impeccable background. He did not want to see him remain crushed by his setbacks.
(End of chapter)