CHAPTER 130
A little over an hour later, inside the headquarters mess hall, more than thirty empty plates were stacked in front of Might Guy.
The towering pile almost blocked part of his face.
In front of Ebisu and Shiranui Genma, more than ten empty plates had also accumulated.
At that moment, Shikuro hurried back carrying another large tray.
Several steaming dishes were neatly arranged on it.
"Keep eating, keep eating! I brought back a lot more good food!"
Shikuro placed the tray on the table with an enthusiastic smile.
"Outpost No. 8 isn't like the main headquarters. Conditions over there are much tougher."
"You should all eat more."
"Especially you, Guy!"
"You've gotten thinner!"
Hearing Shikuro's completely genuine concern, Guy, Ebisu, and Genma all felt a little embarrassed.
Especially Ebisu and Genma.
The two exchanged glances.
Both of them could clearly read the same thought in each other's eyes.
He was just too enthusiastic!
Quite a few classmates had treated them to meals before.
Gekkō Hayate.
Yūgao Uzuki.
Anko Mitarashi.
But halfway through every meal, their expressions had gradually turned green.
Their eyes had been filled with despair that practically screamed,
"My wallet is finished..."
Shikuro Aburame, however, was completely different.
He was genuinely generous.
Plate after plate of grilled meat continued arriving as though they cost nothing.
Rice dumplings and rice balls unique to the Land of Rice Fields never stopped appearing.
Not only did his expression never change, he didn't complain once or show the slightest trace of heartache.
Instead, he simply kept bringing over more food while enthusiastically urging them to eat.
"What a great guy..."
Watching Shikuro busily running back and forth, Ebisu was so moved he almost teared up.
Why had he never realized before...
...that Shikuro Aburame valued friendship this much?
However, the more sincere Shikuro became, the more embarrassed the three of them felt about continuing to eat.
More importantly...
They were actually full.
Anything more would simply be forcing food down and wasting it.
Guy looked at the untouched dishes and then at Shikuro's eager face before helplessly shaking his head.
"That's enough, Shikuro."
"We're really full."
"Huh?"
"Already?"
Shikuro froze.
A troubled expression immediately appeared on his face.
"But..."
"I already asked the kitchen uncle to grill ten more servings of barbecue."
"They're already cooking."
After scratching his head for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"I've got it!"
"Then let's pack everything up!"
"I'll grab some more dango."
"You can take them back to Outpost No. 8 and eat them on the road or whenever you get hungry."
"That really isn't necessary..."
The corner of Guy's mouth twitched.
He truly hadn't expected Shikuro's hospitality to reach this level.
Unfortunately...
Shikuro clearly had no intention of giving them any opportunity to refuse.
Without another word, he turned around and hurried back toward the serving counter.
Watching him disappear into the distance, the playful feeling of having "found another unlucky classmate to pay for the meal" completely vanished from Ebisu and Genma's hearts.
Replacing it...
...was sincere gratitude.
"Shikuro Aburame really is someone who treasures friendship."
Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses and sincerely gave his evaluation.
Genma, biting the senbon in his mouth, silently nodded in agreement.
Approval was plainly visible in his eyes.
The three of them then stood up and began organizing the remaining untouched dishes on the table.
Just as they had nearly finished cleaning everything up...
Shikuro returned carrying two large packages.
Each bundle was tightly packed with easy-to-carry food.
Rice balls.
Dango.
Even grilled meat carefully wrapped in oil paper.
The packages had been tied together professionally with sturdy rope.
He had even thoughtfully made shoulder straps for them.
Once slung over the shoulder, they hardly interfered with movement at all.
Seeing that the two-hour period they had agreed upon with Shisui was nearly over...
Guy and the others slung the heavy "care packages" across their backs.
They prepared to leave the mess hall and head toward the eastern gate to rendezvous.
Just as they reached the entrance...
Shikuro suddenly stepped forward and lightly grabbed Guy's arm.
"Brother."
"Wait a moment."
"I have something to tell you alone."
Guy nodded toward Ebisu and Genma.
"You two wait for me outside."
The two nodded and headed toward the entrance.
Guy followed Shikuro to a quiet corner beside the mess hall.
After carefully checking their surroundings and confirming nobody was paying attention...
Shikuro reached into his sleeve and pulled out a stack of neatly folded manuscript paper.
"This is..."
Guy immediately guessed what it was.
Shikuro lowered his voice.
"Brother."
"These are some personal notes I've written recently."
"I originally planned to mail them to you."
"Since you're already here..."
"You can just take them back and read them whenever you have time."
Guy accepted them solemnly before carefully storing them inside his clothes.
Before he could thank him...
Shikuro once again reached into his sleeve.
This time...
He carefully produced a tiny black kikaichū beetle no larger than a fingernail.
He quietly placed it into Guy's palm.
Feeling the cool sensation, Guy opened his hand in surprise.
"What's this?"
Shikuro immediately leaned close and lowered his voice even further.
"This is the same type of kikaichū I placed on Asuma for obser... ahem..."
Realizing his slip of the tongue, he coughed awkwardly before correcting himself.
"It's a mutual sensing kikaichū."
"Sometimes teams become separated during missions."
"Within a certain range..."
"They can transmit simple Chakra fluctuations to each other."
"You can think of it as a basic communication and positioning method."
"Oh, right."
"I've also placed one on Kurenai."
His voice became even quieter.
"Keep it with you."
"If you get close enough during a mission..."
"It'll react slightly."
"So..."
"Pay attention."
Guy's eyes immediately brightened.
He hadn't expected the Aburame Clan to possess such a practical support technique.
Curious, he gently poked the tiny motionless kikaichū resting in his palm.
"What does it eat?"
"Is it difficult to keep alive?"
"No need to worry."
Shikuro smiled.
"It survives by absorbing tiny amounts of Chakra."
"Every few days, simply feed it a little Chakra through your fingertip."
"It doesn't need much."
"I understand."
Guy nodded.
He carefully stored the tiny kikaichū inside a hidden pocket where it wouldn't be crushed.
"Thanks, brother."
Guy firmly patted Shikuro's shoulder.
His voice was sincere.
"When this war ends and we return to Konoha..."
"I'll treat you to a huge feast."
"Ramen."
"Yakiniku."
"Dango."
"You choose."
Hearing Guy call him "brother" once again...
...and hearing that promise...
Shikuro immediately broke into a happy yet somewhat bashful smile.
He nodded vigorously.
"Yeah!"
"It's a promise!"
The two smiled at each other.
There was no need for any further words.
Everything had already been understood.
Together, they walked back toward the entrance of the mess hall where Ebisu and Genma were waiting.
Then the four of them headed toward the eastern gate of the headquarters.
There...
Uchiha Shisui had already been waiting for some time.
Seeing the three carrying the bulging care packages on their backs...
Shisui merely smiled gently.
He didn't ask a single question.
"Perfect timing."
"Let's head back."
"Alright!"
Without delaying further, the four of them presented their travel documents to the shinobi guarding the gate.
Then they began the journey back toward Outpost No. 8.
Behind them...
Shikuro Aburame continued waving until they disappeared into the distance.
A truly dependable brother.
Shikuro Aburame: "A five-star brother! Worth every bit of my silent support!"
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