Naruto, Sasuke, Choji, Shikamaru, and Hinata formed a five-man team, discussing how they should deal with Shindai.
Of course, the task of figuring things out fell naturally on Shikamaru's shoulders.
Shikamaru reasoned, "Don't think I'm being negative, but honestly, we can't stand up to Brother Shindai. He's a Jonin, and a really strong one at that. We're just not strong enough to take him on. So... please listen to me and forget this idea."
Naruto snapped, "No way! This time, I'm doing it for sure—even if my mom tries to stop me, I'll still go through with it!"
Sasuke chimed in behind Naruto, "Right. That annoying guy will only grow increasingly worse if we don't teach him a lesson!"
Choji simply said, "I don't want Brother Shindai taking my snacks again!"
Hinata didn't say anything—she had been dragged into this unwillingly.
Shikamaru sighed deeply. Shindai really had earned everyone's anger. This was going to be troublesome.
After thinking for a moment, Shikamaru continued, "Like I said before, there's no way we alone can take down Brother Shindai. We need outside help—and someone who can truly counter him! Otherwise, even if we succeed, Brother Shindai will definitely retaliate against us afterwards. So..."
Naruto immediately understood whom Shikamaru meant by 'outside help', "Sister Pakura, Sister Hikaku, and my mom too!"
Shikamaru nodded, "Exactly. To succeed, we absolutely must have both Sister Pakura and Sister Hikaku involved. They'll be the ones to act while we stay out of it. As I just said, if we do it ourselves, Shindai Brother will retaliate, making everything pointless. Therefore, we also need to ensure Brother Shindai won't dare retaliate afterward."
"Now then, since you all insist on confronting Brother Shindai, Naruto, ask your mother about his other weaknesses. Once we gather all the intelligence, we can start planning our operation!"
Naruto agreed readily, "Sure thing!"
After school and dinner, once Shindai and the others had returned home, Naruto hurried to Kushina's room.
"Mom, there's something I want to ask you!"
Kushina Uzumaki replied in surprise, "Oh? Is it something you didn't understand at the Ninja Academy? That's unusual—you've been there four years and never asked me anything before. What is it?"
Naruto quickly answered, "No, no, it's just that I wanted to ask Mom… what are Brother Shindai's weaknesses?"
Kushina looked puzzled, "Brother Shindai's weaknesses? Why are you asking about that?"
Naruto let out a forced laugh, "Just curious! It's like Brother Shindai seems super strong, almost without any weaknesses, so I thought maybe Mom knows where his weakness lies."
Kushina Uzumaki thought for a moment before speaking, "Shindai's weaknesses… probably are Pakura and Hikaku. You should already know this too. He's completely under their control."
Naruto continued asking, "I know that already, but besides your Onee-chan Pakura and Hikaku-onee-san? Can you be more specific?"
"Otherwise, maybe Orochimaru-sama could do something. Shindai always messes around during experiments and has been repeatedly scolded by Orochimaru-sama."
"Orochimaru-sama…"
When Naruto visited the Scientific Research Division looking for Shindai, he saw Orochimaru a few times, but found him really creepy; better forget about asking Orochimaru for help.
"Mom, does Shindai-onii-san have anything he's afraid of? Not referring to any person specifically."
"Fearful? He gets socially awkward around strangers—he doesn't know what to do with himself in a crowd."
As Kushina spoke, she suddenly sighed.
Naruto asked, "Mom, why did you sigh all of a sudden?"
Kushina replied with frustration, "It's about Shindai again! He's already 24 this year. Your Onee-chan Pakura is 29, nearly turning 30. As for Hikaku, if you count all her years, she's mature enough too. It's time for them to settle down, yet Shindai hasn't made any move at all. I'm anxious on their behalf!"
Naruto asked puzzledly, "Eh? No move? What kind of move?"
"I mean becoming a couple like me and your dad. That idiot Shindai—Pakura and Hikaku have made things so obvious, yet he just keeps acting clueless and annoying them constantly! Worse yet, Shindai once actually thought Pakura and Hikaku had feelings for each other! If not for Pakura and Hikaku stopping me from doing it, I'd have dragged him over and beat the crap out of him!"
At this point, Kushina's hair started showing signs of ominously floating upwards.
Naruto had a deep fear of Kushina when her hair started floating ominously and hurried to calm her down, "Mom, calm down, please calm down!"
"Huff."
Kushina took a deep breath and regained her composure.
Suddenly an idea struck Naruto, "Mom, if Shindai-onii-san ends up together with Onee-chan Pakura and Hikaku-onee-san, then he won't bully me anymore, right?"
Kushina questioned confusedly, "Bully you? How could he possibly bully you? From young until now, haven't you always followed behind Shindai playing everywhere?"
Naruto complained with a resentful tone, "Sometimes Shindai-onii-san teases me! He does bad things but blames them on me. He's terrible!"
Kushina chuckled amusedly, "How is that bullying? But if Shindai finally settles down, maybe he'll mature. He's such an adult, yet still acts like a kid."
A brilliant idea flashed through Naruto's mind.
If Shindai grows up, he won't prank me anymore. So I've got to help him grow up—which means getting him to finally settle down!
This is Shindai's weakness!
The next day at the Ninja Academy.
"So you're saying," Naruto said, puffing out his chest proudly, "if we can get Shindai together with Sister Pakura and Sister Hikaku, then we won't have to worry about being toyed with by him anymore! See? I'm amazing for finding such a perfect weakness!"
"Tch! Idiot!" Sasuke spat.
"What did you say, Sasuke?" Naruto growled angrily, shoving his face right up to Sasuke's.
Sasuke turned his head away with a cold snort. "Do you even remember what our squad's name is?"
"Of course I do! It was my idea too—the Anti-Shindai Combat Squad!"
With disdain, Sasuke scoffed, "You're helping that guy get together with Sister Pakura and Sister Hikaku? This isn't a combat squad anymore—it's an Assistance Squad now!"
"Huh, you're right..." Naruto blinked in realization.
Hinata, who had originally been reluctant, immediately changed her mind upon hearing this would help Shindai. "I-I think it sounds good too. That way, we can kill two birds with one stone, right?"
Choji opened a bag of chips and munched while he spoke, "So does this mean we really are becoming the Assistance Squad now?"
Shikamaru felt like things had just become asking for trouble.
As for Sasuke? He was already regretting getting dragged into this!
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