The day's classes ended.
Sasuke Uchiha turned back and glanced at Shihui Aburame.
Surrounded by Ino Yamanaka, Hinata Hyuga, and the others, Shihui looked like the center of their world.
After witnessing Shihui Aburame's true strength, Sasuke understood the gap between them.
Unless he could awaken his Sharingan.
But that would not be possible anytime soon.
What occupied his thoughts now was how to ask Shihui Aburame for guidance.
He simply could not bring himself to ask.
Sasuke Uchiha suddenly thought of his gentle mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
Last time, it was her help that had persuaded Shihui Aburame to spar with him.
But sparring was different from asking for instruction.
Sasuke Uchiha left the classroom deep in thought.
He ran home as fast as he could.
"Mom! Help me!"
Sasuke Uchiha shouted the moment he entered.
"Slow down."
Uchiha Mikoto said somewhat helplessly, "You'll fall."
"Um..."
Sasuke Uchiha stopped in front of her, but for a moment, he did not know what to say.
"Is it about Shiki?"
Uchiha Mikoto reached out and stroked his head.
Sasuke Uchiha immediately nodded vigorously.
His mother really did understand him.
"Tell me more."
Uchiha Mikoto asked gently, "Did you two have a disagreement?"
She could hardly be blamed for thinking that. Both her sons were rather aloof.
"No."
Sasuke Uchiha hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "I want to ask him to teach me taijutsu."
Uchiha Mikoto could not help laughing.
So it was the same problem.
He really did care about saving face.
"Tomorrow is Saturday."
Tilting her head, Uchiha Mikoto asked, "How about coming with me to visit Lady Tsunade?"
Besides resolving Sasuke Uchiha's problem, she could also build a closer relationship with Tsunade.
At present, relations between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha's leadership were not particularly harmonious.
Although Tsunade no longer involved herself in village affairs, her words still carried weight.
Uchiha Mikoto wanted to help ease the pressure on Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi in her own way.
"Thanks, Mom!"
Sasuke Uchiha immediately broke into a smile.
"You and Itachi are both such good sons. Doing this little bit is nothing."
Uchiha Mikoto spoke with feeling.
The happiest thing in her life was having two wonderful sons.
The Ninja Academy.
Sasuke Uchiha's departure did not draw much attention.
Only Sakura Haruno chased after him, but she failed to catch up.
"Everyone!"
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly grew excited.
"Naruto, what's up with you?"
Kiba Inuzuka asked with a puzzled expression.
"I want to introduce everyone to my taijutsu teacher."
Naruto Uzumaki proudly tugged at his green jumpsuit and said, "He's the one who gave me these clothes!"
"Taijutsu teacher?"
Shikamaru Nara was a little surprised.
Who would dare become Naruto's taijutsu teacher without Lord Hokage's permission?
"Uncle Guy!"
Naruto Uzumaki chuckled and said, "Jealous? If you beg me, I can get him to give each of you a set."
"No, no."
Ino Yamanaka crossed her arms as she spoke.
Too ugly. Absolutely not.
She dared not imagine how horrifying she would look in that outfit.
The others hurriedly shook their heads too.
Naruto Uzumaki could not help feeling a little dejected, but hope quickly flared again as he looked at Shihui Aburame.
He was the one who had guided him to Uncle Guy, allowing him to discover the fiery passion of youth.
He would definitely understand!
"Let's go."
Shihui Aburame rose with a calm expression and said, "Don't keep Uncle Guy waiting too long."
"That's right."
Shikamaru Nara immediately guessed what he was thinking and hurriedly agreed.
With that interruption, Naruto Uzumaki forgot all about what had just happened.
At the school gates.
Might Guy was doing push-ups in a one-handed handstand, rising and lowering himself.
Everyone except Shihui Aburame stared wide-eyed.
How the hell were they supposed to learn that?
They seriously doubted whether Naruto Uzumaki was actually learning it.
"Uncle Guy!" Naruto Uzumaki waved and shouted.
Might Guy sprang into the air, then landed steadily.
He glanced over the lively children and could not help recalling his own days at the Ninja Academy.
Ah, the spirit of youth.
With tears in his eyes, Might Guy gave a thumbs-up and said, "Naruto! Today, we'll run a hundred laps around Konoha!"
Naruto Uzumaki sprinted off, calling, "See you all next week!"
Everyone watched the two figures recede, speechless for a moment.
"Suddenly, Naruto seems pretty amazing."
Kiba Inuzuka's mouth twitched as he said, "Even I have to admit I'm no match."
"I don't know what to say."
For the first time, Shikamaru Nara felt that his intelligence was inadequate.
Just then, a commotion came from the distance.
"Stop!"
"Don't run!"
"Pay us back!"
A blond old woman raced past them with astonishing speed.
Three young men followed behind her, panting, their faces already deathly pale from running.
"So fast."
Ino Yamanaka spoke in a daze.
This old woman was even faster than Uncle Guy had been.
It was practically a medical miracle.
Shihui Aburame sighed.
That was Tsunade.
The scene was simply too familiar.
"I'll head off first."
Shihui Aburame glanced at Hinata Hyuga and Ino Yamanaka, then turned and left.
He could not lose sight of the bigger picture over something minor.
"Teacher."
Shihui Aburame reached a narrow alley, but he did not see Tsunade, so he simply called out.
"Kid, you've got a good eye."
Tsunade's voice came from above his head.
Shihui Aburame looked up and saw those long, fair legs.
In the sunlight, their rosy fairness stood out even more.
Especially those rounded toes, which looked like grapes.
"How much money do you owe?"
Shihui Aburame could not help asking.
"No idea."
Tsunade said indifferently, "Maybe a few hundred million. Maybe more."
There was so much that she had never counted.
At home, she had a suitcase full of IOUs.
"..."
Shihui Aburame was instantly speechless.
"What?"
Tsunade jumped down, her whole body bouncing, and asked with a smile, "Want to pay your teacher's debts?"
"No."
Shihui Aburame answered without hesitation.
Where would he get a few hundred million?
A few hundred million lives, perhaps.
The smile on Tsunade's face instantly froze.
She had gotten her hopes up for nothing.
Although she had not expected him to repay her debts, his flat refusal still annoyed her.
"I'm very angry right now."
Tsunade clenched her fist as she spoke.
"Want a popsicle?"
Shihui Aburame asked casually.
"I'm not a child."
Tsunade laughed outright and asked, "You're the one who wants one, aren't you?"
"No."
Shihui Aburame shook his head as he spoke.
"Stop pretending you're a grown-up."
Tsunade bent down, took his hand, and said, "Your teacher will take you to buy one."
"Do you have money?"
Shihui Aburame asked seriously, "I don't want people chasing after me."
"You brat!"
In her anger, Tsunade punched the wall.
There was a boom.
The wall collapsed, throwing up clouds of dust.
Tsunade's expression shifted slightly. Reacting swiftly, she scooped up Shihui Aburame and leaped away.
What kind of charging foul was that, carrying the ball into someone?
After Shihui Aburame was put down, that was his only thought.
(End of chapter)