Chapter 94: The Gossip Squad
The morning sun, warm and gentle, cast an even glow over Konoha Village's bustling commercial street.
Shops lined both sides of the road, and the aroma of food mingled with the clamor of bargaining, creating a vibrant everyday scene.
Kakashi and Karin walked side by side in the crowd, their pace unhurried.
Kakashi maintained his characteristic lazy posture, but due to the mission, he wasn't reading a book.
Karin, on the other hand, was much quieter. She kept her head slightly bowed, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the shops and pedestrians on both sides, occasionally pausing briefly at a Ninja tool shop or a scroll stall.
As they passed a stall selling dango, Karin's steps imperceptibly faltered.
She didn't turn around, but subtly and naturally tilted her face slightly, using the corner of her eye to precisely glance at a street corner not far behind them.
Her voice was soft, with a hint of just the right amount of curiosity:
"Are those your friends?"
In the shadows of the street corner where her gaze fell, several figures suddenly recoiled like startled rabbits.
Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, Karin, with her keen observation skills, instantly noticed Guys team following her and Kakashi.
After all, Karin was a spy. Their supposedly concealed tracking had too many flaws in the eyes of a professional like Karin.
Kakashi nodded.
"Yes, it's my friend and his three students."
His tone was as natural as if he were commenting on the good weather, without any surprise or explanation.
Karin withdrew her gaze, looking back at Kakashi's profile, a faint, playful smile playing on her lips.
"They are very interesting."
She said, implying something.
In her opinion, the tracking skills of these four Ninja were too green, especially the boy in the green jumpsuit; his movements were so exaggerated it was hard to ignore.
This 'interesting' was more like an implicit assessment of their clumsy actions.
"Hehe."
Kakashi let out a short, emotionless chuckle as a response.
He didn't take Karin's bait, nor did he comment on Guy's actions.
Kakashi's heart was as calm as a deep pool.
He and Karin were not lovers, not even ordinary friends.
Karin, a spy from Sengoku Village in the Land of Keys, was her true identity.
If Inoichi hadn't seen Kakashi as a child while probing this spy's memories, Kakashi wouldn't have been out shopping with her.
As an Elite Jonin of Konoha, Kakashi's current mission was to keep a close eye on her, monitoring her every move without an inch of separation, preventing her from having any opportunity to steal Konoha's intelligence.
It would be an even greater gain if he found out what intelligence she had already stolen.
He just needed to maintain the status quo, quietly observe, and wait for Karin to potentially reveal her weaknesses under pressure or relaxation.
Having just returned from a C-rank mission that had taken a considerable amount of time, Asuma Sarutobi's team of four was visibly exhausted.
"Phew—! So tired!"
Akimichi Choji stretched with a big yawn, his round belly rumbling loudly in response.
His eyes lit up as he looked at his teammates and sensei, suggesting, "Let's go to Yakiniku Q for some grilled meat!"
"Alright."
Asuma smiled readily at the suggestion, reaching out to ruffle Choji's head.
Having just completed an outdoor mission, their tense nerves relaxed. Treating his hardworking students to a good BBQ meal seemed only natural to him.
Ino Yamanaka was also tired, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
She had been away from the Village on a mission for some time; she wondered if Naruto had returned from his mission yet.
Just as they were walking along the street towards the BBQ restaurant, they reached an intersection.
A familiar figure was walking across their path.
It was Kakashi Hatake, and... an unfamiliar woman with gentle, dark green long hair.
Kakashi-sensei is back in Konoha Village?
Ino's heart suddenly leaped with joy!
Kakashi is the supervising Jonin of Team 7, so his return must mean... Naruto has definitely finished his mission and is back too!
She almost immediately wanted to rush over to greet him and ask about Naruto.
But the next second, her attention was firmly drawn to the unfamiliar woman beside Kakashi.
Kakashi-sensei was still his usual lazy self, hands in his pockets, while the woman beside him walked with light steps. The two walked side by side, not too close, not too far, yet exuding an indescribable sense of... harmony?
Masaka!
Ino's gossip radar instantly blared its highest alert!
Who is that woman next to Kakashi-sensei?
Almost without needing any verbal communication, the four members of Asuma's team, as if they had practiced thousands of times, moved in perfect unison,
Asuma's eyes were filled with incredible surprise as he muttered under his breath, "Ah? This... Kakashi is... in love?"
This guy, who had been single for ages and was obsessed with inappropriate books, was actually out shopping with a woman?
This was even more shocking than Team 7 secretly completing an s-rank mission!
Ino pressed herself against the edge of the billboard, her heart pounding from discovering such 'earth-shattering gossip'.
She had to tell Naruto and Sakura about this quickly.
Shikamaru, on the other hand, had completely shed his earlier fatigue and usual lazy, troublesome demeanor.
Choji also temporarily forgot his hunger, trying to shrink his massive body, and whispered, "Kakashi-sensei actually..."
It wasn't until Kakashi and the mysterious woman turned at the intersection and disappeared from sight that the four members of Asuma's team cautiously poked their heads out from behind the billboard like moles, letting out long breaths.
However, as soon as they straightened up, before they could even exchange their shocked feelings, they heard a rustling sound from around the corner of another alley nearby.
The four instinctively turned to look—
At the alley entrance, four figures were stealthily sneaking out along the wall, led by Might Guy, wearing his iconic, blindingly bright green jumpsuit.
Behind him were Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten.
Guys team was clearly also tracking Kakashi, and having just lost their optimal observation spot due to the target turning a corner, they were trying to adjust their position.
Eight eyes met.
The air seemed to freeze for a second.
The new generation Ino–Shika–Chō trio wasn't very familiar with Neji, Lee, and Tenten, but they knew Might Guy well, as Guy had previously taught their practical combat classes.
Guy naturally recognized Asuma and his disciples too.
In that instant, surprise, embarrassment, understanding, and a sense of'so you're doing this too' unspoken camaraderie converged and clashed in the eyes of all eight people.
No verbal communication was needed at all.
In this lightning-fast exchange of glances, a silent consensus was instantly reached!
Asuma's lips curved into a playful 'I knew it' smile, and he slightly raised his chin towards Guy.
Guy immediately returned a bright, toothy 'Youth needs enthusiastic gossip' affirmative look, nodding vigorously!
The next moment, as if hearing an unspoken command, Asuma's team of four and Guys team of four, driven by the great goal of 'eating melons' (gossiping), swiftly and silently converged.
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