Chapter 189
Ebisu’s thoughts became clearer and clearer, and his heart surged with excitement.
He almost couldn’t stop himself from shouting.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he glanced at Guy and Genma beside him.
Both of them remained calm, as though there was nothing in the exchange catalogue that particularly interested them.
Ebisu no longer hesitated.
Pointing at the catalogue, he spoke decisively to the registration Chunin.
“I’ve made my decision.”
“I want one Fire Sealing Method study scroll.”
“Use all of my remaining war merit to exchange for low-grade blank sealing scrolls.”
The registration Chunin looked at him in surprise before asking for confirmation.
“All of it?”
“Are you certain?”
“Low-grade sealing scrolls have limited capacity and can only store techniques up to C-rank.”
“I’m sure.”
Ebisu answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Very well.”
The Chunin nodded and quickly recorded the transaction.
“One Fire Sealing Method study scroll, 200 war merit.”
“Twenty-five low-grade blank sealing scrolls, 250 war merit.”
“Total expenditure, 450 war merit.”
“Please confirm.”
“I confirm.”
Ebisu’s voice wasn’t loud.
Yet it carried a confidence he had never possessed before.
He had finally found the road that belonged to him.
Perhaps it wouldn’t allow him to charge head-on against powerful enemies like Guy.
But it would allow him to contribute on the battlefield in his own way.
Using preparation.
Using technique.
Using quantity.
To compensate for the gap in talent and Chakra reserves.
Guy looked at Ebisu curiously.
Genma did the same.
However, compared to Guy’s curiosity, Genma’s expression held a hint of understanding.
The corner of his mouth curled upward around the senbon between his lips.
“So…”
“So that’s what this guy has been thinking.”
Guy didn’t dwell on it.
Looking at Ebisu, he smiled.
“So you’ve decided to specialize in Fuinjutsu?”
Ebisu nodded firmly.
His expression had never been more serious.
Seeing that, Guy nodded before turning toward the registration Chunin.
“For my exchange…”
“I’ll take one Lion Closure Roar.”
“And one Rope Binding Seal study scroll.”
“The Rope Binding Seal?”
Ebisu froze.
Then realization immediately dawned on him.
Guy…
Was exchanging it for him.
His nose instantly became sore, and his eyes behind the sunglasses grew hot.
“Guy…”
“You don’t have to.”
“My own war merit is already enough…”
Guy waved his hand, cutting him off before he could continue.
“If you’ve decided to walk the path of Fuinjutsu…”
“Then the Rope Binding Seal is something you absolutely have to learn.”
“It’s an excellent binding technique.”
“When combined with high-quality bandages and steel wire…”
“It can produce restraint effects comparable to many B-rank sealing techniques.”
“You have to master it.”
Ebisu wanted to protest again.
But Guy simply grinned and patted him on the shoulder.
“Besides…”
“Once you’ve mastered Fuinjutsu…”
“You’ll be the one recharging my Lion Closure Roar in the future.”
“I’ll be relying on you from now on.”
Ebisu fell silent.
His nose stung even more.
Behind his sunglasses, his eyes had already become slightly moist.
Just then…
Genma, who had remained quiet the entire time, finally spoke.
His voice remained calm.
“One Water Sealing Method study scroll.”
“Five intermediate blank sealing scrolls.”
“One roll each of high-quality bandages and steel wire.”
“And two hundred sheets of high-quality Chakra-sensitive paper.”
Ebisu froze once more.
He slowly turned toward Genma.
His mouth hung open in astonishment.
Genma bit down on his senbon.
For once, a visible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Turning his face away, he deliberately spoke in an indifferent tone.
“What are you staring at?”
“I just don’t want you dragging the team down.”
Ebisu’s heartfelt emotions instantly deflated.
He puffed out his chest and immediately returned to his usual arrogant demeanor.
“As if!”
“I’m going to become an Elite Jonin someday!”
“How could I possibly drag either of you down?”
With a proud snort, he raised his chin forty-five degrees toward the sky.
Looking as though he were the coolest person in the world.
Yet…
Behind those sunglasses, his eyes were already glistening.
The reason he kept looking upward wasn’t to appear cool.
It was because he didn’t want anyone to see the tears welling in his eyes.
Watching from behind, Rin couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing softly.
Her eyes overflowed with warmth and envy.
“Guy-kun and the others…”
“They really do share an incredible bond.”
She then glanced toward Kakashi, who silently watched everything unfold.
Then at Obito, who was still muttering exaggerated complaints under his breath.
The smile on her face became even gentler.
“Fortunately…”
“Our team is just as close.”
…
While they were talking, the registration Chunin had already finished preparing their exchanges.
First, he carefully removed a small white metal sphere from an elegant wooden box.
The surface was engraved with vivid lion-head patterns.
He handed it to Guy.
Then he placed another scroll onto the counter.
“Lion Closure Roar.”
“600 war merit.”
“Rope Binding Seal study scroll.”
“120 war merit.”
“Total expenditure…”
“720 war merit.”
“You have 68 points remaining.”
“Would you like to exchange anything else?”
The registration Chunin lightly tapped the ledger before looking toward Guy.
Guy didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he turned toward Genma.
“Is there anything else you still need?”
Genma immediately understood what Guy meant.
Smiling softly, he shook his head.
“I already have everything I need.”
Guy thought quietly for a moment.
Then he turned back toward the Chunin.
“Use another ten war merit to exchange for one hundred sheets of Chakra-sensitive paper.”
“As for the remaining fifty-eight points…”
“Exchange them into money.”
“Please also send five hundred thousand ryō to the Konoha Orphanage.”
“The recipient is Director Yakushi Nono.”
The registration Chunin paused.
Even the hand holding his brush stopped moving.
After a brief silence, he nodded.
His tone had unconsciously softened.
“Understood.”
“Five hundred thousand ryō.”
“Konoha Orphanage.”
“Recipient, Director Yakushi Nono.”
“Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
Guy nodded.
Behind him…
Obito, who had been grumbling nonstop about the three of them being rich, suddenly became silent.
The envy and jealousy on his face slowly disappeared.
Replacing them was a complicated expression.
He subconsciously glanced toward Ebisu and Genma.
Neither of them looked surprised.
It was obvious…
This wasn’t the first time Guy had done something like this.
Obito clicked his tongue softly before turning his head away.
He didn’t say another word.
Kakashi’s expression also became complicated.
He genuinely hadn’t expected…
That Guy had quietly been doing things like this all along.
Rin looked at Guy with unconcealed admiration.
“Guy-kun really is as kind as ever.”
This was exactly the Guy she knew.
Outwardly, he looked like a Taijutsu fanatic.
Yet inside…
He was more considerate and loyal than almost anyone else.
The registration Chunin quietly continued processing the paperwork.
He carefully recorded every detail of Guy’s request.
Afterward, he counted out one hundred sheets of brand-new Chakra-sensitive paper and handed them over.
Then he completed the remittance paperwork.
He filled in the amount, destination, and recipient before stamping everything with the official seal of the Land of Grass outpost.
Once Guy’s transaction was complete…
The Chunin turned toward Genma.
Several items were neatly placed on the counter.
“These are your exchanges.”
“One Water Sealing Method study scroll.”
“200 war merit.”
“Five intermediate blank sealing scrolls.”
“Forty war merit each.”
“Total, 200 war merit.”
“One roll each of high-quality bandages and steel wire.”
“Twenty war merit.”
“Two hundred sheets of high-quality Chakra-sensitive paper.”
“Twenty war merit.”
“Total expenditure…”
“440 war merit.”
The registration Chunin finished reading the list.
High-quality Chakra-sensitive paper was primarily used to practice inscribing the Flying Thunder God Formula.
Together with the additional one hundred sheets Guy had purchased…
Genma now possessed a total of three hundred sheets.
If used carefully…
It would be enough for quite some time.
In less than an hour…
The combined total of 1,678 war merit points belonging to Guy, Ebisu, and Genma…
Had been completely spent.
Not a single point remained.
Kakashi quietly looked at the three of them.
More specifically…
At Guy.
No…
Not just Guy.
Ebisu.
Genma.
All three of them.
At that moment…
He suddenly understood something.
He finally understood why the three of them had grown so quickly.
Not just Guy.
All of them.
Ebisu and Genma themselves might not have realized it.
But Kakashi…
As an outsider…
Had seen everything clearly during their spar with Minato Namikaze.
Ebisu and Genma had improved tremendously.
Far more than they themselves realized.
Facing the flawless teamwork between those two…
Even Kakashi knew he would find them extremely troublesome opponents.
Even the stubborn Obito had privately admitted…
That he couldn’t defeat the two of them working together.
Not even after awakening his Sharingan.
Such rapid growth…
Wasn’t simply the result of talent.
Nor luck.
It was built upon complete trust.
The kind of trust where one could confidently leave their back exposed to a teammate.
The kind of teamwork forged through countless life-and-death battles.
Until they had become almost a single unit.
Furthermore…
Every resource they obtained was invested exactly where it was needed most.
Each of them had found their own path.
Yet they supported each other’s choices without hesitation.
They had become a true team.
Supporting one another.
Advancing together.
After the three finished putting away all of their exchanged supplies…
Kakashi suddenly stepped forward.
He reached out and lightly patted Guy on the shoulder.
“Guy.”
“Come outside with me for a moment.”
“I have something I want to tell you.”
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