Chapter 198: That Cat Must Be Really Cute, Right?

As Soryu looked doubtful, Kawano suddenly said in surprise:

"Really? Sensei, this cat must be really cute, right?"

"???"

"???"

This time, not only was Soryu skeptical, but even Rika started to doubt Kawano's intelligence.

It was clearly a trick!

Kazuki didn't expect his "genius student" to be so honest, to the point that Kazuki almost felt guilty for fooling him.

But as long as he didn't admit it, he wasn't technically lying!

"Yes, absolutely. Very cute indeed." Kazuki smiled, humoring Kawano, then prepared to bring out the bells for the test when he noticed a breakfast bag not far away.

"Oh? Have you guys eaten breakfast?"

At Kazuki's question, Kawano looked to his left, pretending it had nothing to do with him. Rika also looked down, scuffing her feet against the ground.

Only Soryu, his face a little flushed, awkwardly chuckled and said, "I think it was left here by someone else."

"Is that so?" Kazuki looked at them with a fox-like expression, applying a subtle pressure that made the three tense up.

"So, who's going to confirm if Soryu's telling the truth? Rika?"

"I…" Rika was about to say something but noticed Himan signaling her frantically. Not wanting to betray her teammate but also hesitant to defy her sensei, she chose to stay silent.

Kazuki then looked to Kawano, "Kawano, do you know the answer?"

Kawano turned to Himan, then ignored his silent plea and said,

"Soryu lied. He ate the breakfast and even took Rika's and mine, but we didn't eat any of it!"

"Traitor! How could you betray your teammate, Kawano? So much for loyalty!" Soryu broke down and yelled.

"Hmph. You broke the training rules and then lied." Kawano remained calm, as if he'd done nothing wrong.

"You!"

"Enough!" Kazuki interrupted Soryu, who still wanted to argue.

"Originally, I was going to start the test right away, but since Soryu broke the rules, the test is postponed... until further notice!"

"As punishment, Soryu, you'll run a hundred laps around Training Ground Seven. After you're done, we'll proceed with the test."

"What? No way!" Soryu held his head, visibly distressed.

Kawano and Rika looked equally disheartened. They were already quite hungry, and delaying the test would leave them further from their optimal condition.

Even though they were disappointed, neither questioned Kazuki's decision. Kawano was a devoted follower of his sensei, and Rika… well, she was just too shy to say anything.

An hour passed as they sat on a large rock, watching Himan run by repeatedly.

"How many laps now?" Kazuki asked idly.

Rika counted on her fingers, but Kawano immediately replied, "Thirty-five."

"Still sixty-five more, huh?"

Kazuki ruffled his messy hair, muttering, "Doesn't he ever train? Only thirty-five laps in an hour? How did he even graduate from the Ninja Academy?"

"He was always at the bottom of the class, barely scraping by," Kawano explained.

"Pairing the weakest with a top student—like Sarutobi Hiruzen's teaching methods, huh?" Kazuki sighed, though he wouldn't go as far as to kick Himan off his team. Even the weakest students deserved a chance.

Two hours later…

"How many laps now?"

"Sixty."

"Only twenty laps this past hour? He's even slower now?"

"Sensei, I think he's reaching his limit."

Kazuki looked closely and saw Soryu barely moving, like a worm crawling forward. His body was clearly exhausted, but his will kept him going.

"At this rate, he won't finish by today. What a dilemma." Kazuki sighed, pulled out two lunchboxes, and handed them to Kawano and Rika.

"This is your lunch. I'll check back in two hours." And with that, he vanished.

Kawano and Rika exchanged a glance, staring at the food but not touching it.

"Sensei's gone. What should we do?" Rika asked, deferring to Kawano's decision.

Without answering, Kawano picked up a lunchbox and headed toward Soryu, who was struggling to continue.

"I won't… I won't give up!" Soryu muttered, pushing forward. "I'll pass this test and become a true ninja, so Grandma can be proud of me!"

Soryu, an orphan raised by Grandma, was driven by his desire to make her proud.

As Soryu continued to crawl forward, a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see Kawano.

"Are you here to laugh at me?" Soryu asked, annoyed.

"No, I'm not that petty." Kawano placed the lunchbox in front of Soryu. "Eat something. You'll run faster if you have some energy, and then we can get on with the test sooner."

Soryu's stomach growled as he looked at the food. Though he'd eaten everyone's breakfast earlier, it had been hours, and he was starving from all the running.

"But what about you? You didn't even have breakfast…"

"Hmph, don't worry about me. I'm a genius. I can handle skipping a meal or two. But you—if you don't eat, you'll just slow us down!"

Soryu pouted but didn't argue. He knew he wasn't as capable as Kawano.

"How about I eat half, and you have the other half?" Soryu suggested, only for Kawano to refuse. "No, I don't like sharing my food."

Rika then approached and offered, "Then, Kawano, you can have mine. I'll share with Soryu."

Kawano considered refusing, but knowing Rika's persistence, he finally agreed.

"Fine, I'll eat half, and you two can split the rest."

As he ate first, Kawano reassured himself that it didn't really count as sharing.

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg