Chapter 10: Chaotic Team 9, Jōnin-level Speed!

The speed of the cart was slow, roughly equivalent to walking speed.

Since their departure from Konoha, Team 9 had dispersed around the cart in a square formation, protecting Meinari in the center.

Of course, this formation was not fixed.

Just like now, one corner of the formation had been missing for a while.

"Meinari-san, I can see that you're troubled. Is there something you haven't told us?" Rin attempted to communicate with Meinari.

"Meinari-san?" Rin tried to get her attention, but Meinari remained silent.

Their first attempt at gathering information had failed.

At noon, during their short break, Team 9 gathered together to eat.

"Rin, continue trying to communicate with Meinari in the afternoon."

"Don't ask directly, start with other topics first," Hanako casually suggested.

"Alright," Rin nodded.

"Should I give it a try?" Obito said with a mouthful of dumplings.

No one paid him any attention.

After a simple lunch, the team resumed their journey.

During this time, Rin made another attempt to communicate with Meinari, but it was still unsuccessful.

Meinari on the cart seemed to have no intention of speaking at all, just staring blankly at the passing trees.

Night fell.

By the campfire.

The four members of Team 9 gathered together.

This was their daily briefing.

Kakashi began by spreading out a map and marking a red dot on the route.

"At our current speed, it will take us five days to leave the Land of Fire and enter the Land of Hot Springs."

After all, the speed of the cart was what it was, and there was no way to make it faster.

Rin was the next to speak.

"Although Meinari remained silent in the afternoon, I can tell that she is hiding something from us." Rin spoke solemnly, sensing that something was off about Meinari.

Hanako had guessed this from the start, otherwise he wouldn't have asked Rin to gather information.

Next, it was Obito's turn to speak.

"I have nothing to say. By the way, Hanako, can you lend me two shuriken? I forgot to bring mine."

Obito rummaged through his ninja tools pouch, shocking everyone with his words.

"I didn't bring shuriken either," Hanako deadpanned.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"You didn't bring any either?" Obito couldn't believe it.

"What's the point of me bringing shuriken?" Hanako retorted.

"Uh..."

Obito scratched his head, realizing that Hanako had a point.

Seeing Hanako and Obito successfully derailing the mission briefing, Kakashi was disappointed.

This must be a world where the tail always wags the dog.

"Alright, tonight we'll split into two teams for guard duty. Kakashi and Rin will guard tonight, and Hanako and Obito tomorrow night."

As the temporary team leader, Kakashi assigned the night guard duty teams.

However, his assignment was bound to be challenged.

"Why do you and Rin get to be on the same team? I disagree!" Obito shouted out.

His voice was so loud that even Meinari on the cart turned to look.

"Well, how do you suggest we divide the teams?" Kakashi stared at Obito, his voice heavy.

"Of course, it should be me and Rin on the same team," Obito raised his head proudly.

"Heh..." Kakashi sneered.

You and Rin on the same team?

Are you going for guard duty?

"We're teammates, so don't argue," Rin quietly tried to persuade them.

Unfortunately, it was in vain.

Kakashi and Obito locked eyes, glaring at each other.

It seemed like they were about to fight.

In desperation, Rin turned to Hanako for help.

To her surprise, she found that Hanako was also locked in a stare-down.

"Hey, Hanako! They're about to fight, and you're still staring at Meinari?" Rin tugged at Hanako's clothes, feeling exhausted.

"Oh? It would be great if they fought!" Hanako continued to gaze at Meinari on the cart, without looking away.

He was actually hoping for a fight between Kakashi and Obito.

And it would be even better if Obito got injured.

That way, he could return to the village with Obito, making it a reasonable decision.

Unfortunately, after all the shouting, neither of them made a move.

"Obito, you're useless. If I were you, I would have given him a good beating!" Afterward, Hanako patted his good friend's shoulder, consoling him with great solemnity.

"But what if Kakashi fights back?" Obito rolled his eyes.

"Then give him another good beating!" Hanako replied.

"But I can't beat him."

In the end, after a vote from Team 9, Kakashi was forced to change the team assignments.

As a result, Kakashi and Obito were in one team, while Hanako and Rin were in the other.

According to Obito, if he couldn't have Rin, then Kakashi couldn't have her either.

The next day.

The weather was overcast with a gentle breeze.

Stretching lazily, Hanako first glanced at his attribute panel.

Name: Hanako

Age: 12

Strength: 13

Constitution: 36 [Chūnin level]

Agility: 88 (44 * 2) [Jōnin level]

Spirit: 20

Chakra Level: 157

Skills: None

Ninjutsu: None

Overall Strength Evaluation: Trainee Genin

"My speed has doubled to Jōnin level?"

Seeing his agility attribute doubled, Hanako was in a great mood.

He had been worried about his safety, but now it wasn't a problem anymore.

With his Jōnin-level speed, he would be the first in the team to escape. Even Kakashi couldn't match his speed.

"I was just thinking of calling you."

Obito jumped down from a tree, yawning.

He had been on guard duty during the second half of the night and was a bit sleepy.

"Where's Meinari?" Hanako looked at the empty cart and turned to ask.

"Huh? I didn't notice," Obito rubbed his eyes, looking confused.

Indeed, where did she go?

"You were supposed to be on guard? She's gone, and you call that being on guard?"

Hanako's angry scolding woke up Rin and Kakashi.

Obito looked aggrieved, but he had no reason to argue back.

He distinctly remembered that Meinari was on the cart when he took over guard duty.

But he was so tired before dawn that he secretly took a short nap.

Who could have imagined that as soon as it got light, Meinari would disappear?

"Split up and search!"

The four of them headed in four different directions, starting the search.

In the forest.

Hanako didn't think he would find Meinari.

Because he was heading in the wrong direction.

He guessed that Meinari was most likely in the east, as that was the direction to the Land of Hot Springs.

But Hanako was searching in the north.

Pushing aside a cluster of dense bushes, Hanako was stunned.

At the same time, Meinari, squatting behind the bushes, was also stunned.

Hmm.

If Hanako hadn't mistaken it, Meinari seemed to be... pooping?

"Do you need some toilet paper?"