CH_76

Ever since the Third Great Ninja War had largely come to an end, both chūnin and genin—especially those who had significant roles in the original plot—had gradually started congregating together.

Even at the dango shop…

『What kind of 「fateful arrangement」 is this?』

People like Gan Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo had come back from the battlefield and were already hanging out with the elite jōnin who'd have heavy roles in the future, laughing and chatting over dango.

『Forget it—I'm not going to force my way into that circle.』

First of all, Tōji just wasn't a social person.

Second, those big shots were all inheritors of the "Will of Fire"…

If he stuck with them, they'd have plot armor and enough strength to protect themselves… Asuma vs. Hidan was an exception, because the plot demanded it…

Later on, if they ever had to charge into battle, Tōji wouldn't be able to escape under their "supervision."

So Tōji figured—until he was strong enough, he needed to keep his distance from those hardcore "Will of Fire" fanatics.

If it hadn't been for the "Mizuame Release" idea, Tōji wouldn't have had much contact even with his classmates Izumo and Kotetsu.

After learning that developing original jutsu or new chakra transformations required "visualization," Tōji stopped rushing to experiment.

『There's a saying: haste makes waste. And another: deep accumulation leads to great release. Just keep building up your foundation for now, and when inspiration strikes, you can think further. Look at Izumo—didn't his idea come naturally when the inspiration hit?』

He knew—you couldn't just see someone else doing something and blindly try it yourself. Izumo's inspiration was always Izumo's, even if he ate more mizuame himself…

Tōji wasn't particularly worried about the Chūnin Exams. Even when his parents brought it up at the dinner table, he just smiled and brushed it off.

『Worrying is useless—the written exam isn't even a normal test!』

It wasn't until the day before the exam, after lunch, that Neru finally brought Tōji the scroll for the 【One-Thread Lamp Formation】.

But Tōji didn't pay it much mind—he just put the scroll away.

"Will this delay your learning of it?" Neru asked, more as a formality.

Tōji got the feeling that even if he said "yes, very much so," Neru wouldn't feel the least bit bad about it.

"No. Even if you'd brought it a day or two earlier, I wouldn't be in a rush to learn it." Tōji didn't want to drag out the conversation with her.

He didn't want to burn himself out alongside the "Will of Fire" types. And he didn't want to play mind games with those who'd been brainwashed by Konoha for years yet still lacked that same will.

Neru was definitely a difficult person. At just eleven, she already knew how to protect herself at all costs—her depth of scheming surpassed most people's.

"Tomorrow's the exam. You're probably not training anymore today anyway—want to take a walk?" To Tōji's great surprise, Neru was actually inviting him out for a chat—or maybe… a heart-to-heart?

Tōji's mind raced. "What's she playing at… we've been probing and wary of each other for so long… though we have worked together, too."

"Sure—hold on a sec. Let me put this scroll away." Tōji waved the scroll he'd just received.

"Mm." Neru remained as cool as ever, as if it wasn't her who'd just invited him out.

Tōji went inside, put away the 【One-Thread Lamp Formation】 scroll, and closed the window he'd left slightly open before stepping back out.

"Didn't know you had the habit of closing doors and windows before leaving." Neru actually made a rare joke at his expense.

"Well—it's spring. You never know when it might suddenly rain." Tōji walked ahead of her, pointing left and right with his index finger. "So—which way?"

"Let's go to the river." Neru probably meant that river.

___________________________________________________

I'm back. Anyone still out there?