Chapter 77
"No, I just got up to use the bathroom and noticed you were gone. Then I heard some noises."
Xiahu Early Spring let out an awkward laugh, scratching his cheek and still half-asleep.
"Were you a ninja once?" Saitama asked curiously. He had sensed the chakra within Xiahu the first time they met.
"Eh?" Xiahu gave a bitter smile, and a distant look clouded his eyes as memories surfaced.
"I never had the talent to become a ninja. Even though I yearned for that life—like tens of thousands of others—I ultimately failed. I’m just an ordinary military general," Xiahu admitted.
"Still," he continued, "while I didn’t have the chakra control or aptitude to be a shinobi, my abilities as a warrior were decent."
Saitama remained silent for a moment, then said, "Go get some rest. I’ll keep watch."
He wasn’t in the mood for a long conversation. He was just a temporary escort; once this mission ended, their paths would likely never cross again. The shinobi world was different. Even the wealthy couldn’t easily get close to it.
"Alright, I’m still a bit sleepy."
Xiahu got up and looked like he was going to pat Saitama on the shoulder but stopped mid-motion under the boy’s gaze. Smiling sheepishly, he withdrew his hand, clearly embarrassed.
"Hmph."