Ch-161 Is he joining our team now?

The temporary shelter was spacious, easily large enough to accommodate everyone without the slightest discomfort.

"Whoa," Naruto said, wide-eyed. "That's such a useful jutsu! If I could learn it, we'd never have to sleep out in the open during missions again."

Kakashi, standing off to the side, shook his head slightly. "Even with all the training in the world, you won't be able to learn it. This jutsu is unique to Yamato. It's tied to his Wood Style—a technique only he can perform."

Naruto's face fell with visible disappointment, but he nodded.

Just then, Inoiki returned, emerging from the trees after being gone for nearly fifteen minutes. He carried several small animals in hand—freshly hunted prey.

"Time for dinner," he said cheerfully. "I'll cook something up for everyone."

Sai looked over, slightly concerned. "Isn't that risky? The smell from cooking might give away our position."

Inoiki smiled and shrugged. "You're not wrong. The scent could travel and alert nearby enemies. But before anyone gets close enough to pose a threat, I'll sense them. Don't forget—I'm a sensory-type ninja. And besides," he added with a grin, "I'm not a fan of dry rations. I usually cook my meals when I stop to rest on missions. I only go for dry food if I'm too tired or just not in the mood to cook."

Naruto chimed in, grinning. "Yeah, Inoiki's absolutely right. Let's have a real meal for once."

He turned to Sai with a frown. "Why are you even complaining?"

Sai, still wearing his polite, unreadable smile, replied calmly, "I was just voicing a concern. I didn't mean anything by it."

That was enough to spark a minor argument between the two. As usual, their bickering was more noise than substance. The rest of the team ignored it, used to their back-and-forth, as long as it didn't escalate into an actual fight.

Meanwhile, Inoiki focused on preparing the food, working efficiently as the fire crackled softly under the darkening sky.

Eventually, dinner was ready. The warm scent of cooked meat drifted through the air, and one by one, everyone took their share and sat down to eat.

When Naruto noticed Inoiki handing a portion to Sai, he scoffed. "Why are you giving him food? He didn't even want it."

Inoiki looked at Naruto, his tone calm but firm. "That's enough, Naruto. Let's just eat in peace. Sai's part of the team, whether you like it or not. Chill out, alright?"

Naruto crossed his arms and gave a short "Hmph," but didn't say anything more, honoring Inoiki's request.

Inoiki glanced at both Sai and Naruto. He couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of pity for Sai. After enduring the brutal training of Root, Sai had been conditioned to suppress all emotion. Yet despite that, there was still a trace of genuine feeling inside him—most evident in the bond he once shared with his brother. He simply didn't know how to express it anymore.

To Inoiki, the only person capable of drawing Sai out of that hollow state was Naruto. Whether it was luck, some innate charisma, or sheer force of will, Naruto had a way of reaching people—breaking down emotional walls without even trying. That's why Inoiki chose to support their connection. The closer they stayed, the better chance Sai had at rediscovering his humanity.

Though many things in this world were bound to change because of his presence—as a transmigrator—Inoiki didn't want to interfere with the things that had gone right in the original timeline. Sai's slow but meaningful transformation, his growing bonds with the team, and his journey toward reclaiming emotion were all worth preserving.

And that required Naruto.

With that in mind, Inoiki decided that tomorrow, he would fall back with Yamato in the support unit, allowing Sai to stay up front with Team Kakashi. Let the bonds form naturally. Some things were better left untouched.

After everyone had finished eating, Inoiki stood up and addressed the group.

"I've decided that tomorrow, I'll move with Yamato as part of the backup unit," he said. "By midday, we should reach the meeting point—the one arranged between Sasori and the spy he supposedly planted within Orochimaru's ranks."

He paused, glancing around at the team. "The reason I want to stay behind is simple: I have a strong feeling the spy has been compromised. We all know what kind of person Orochimaru is. Deceiving him isn't just difficult—it's borderline impossible. That's why I don't fully trust this setup. I doubt the spy is still loyal to Sasori. In fact, this could very well be a trap orchestrated by Orochimaru himself."

The fire crackled softly in the silence that followed.

"Hopefully, I'm wrong," Inoiki continued. "But if I'm not, then we need to be ready. If the enemy detects the entire team, including me, there's a good chance they'll flee. Not because they're cowards—Orochimaru isn't—but because even he wouldn't want to risk fighting all of us head-on."

He looked directly at Naruto and Kakashi. "But if they only see a standard squad up front, they might get overconfident. They might believe they can take you easily. And that's when I'll strike from the shadows. We'll use their arrogance against them. That's how we win—and capture the target."

Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing Inoiki's reasoning. Kakashi followed up with a calm but serious tone. "Inoiki is absolutely right. I'm well aware of Orochimaru's capabilities. If this is a trap and Orochimaru spots Inoiki with us, there's a high chance he'll retreat before we even get the chance to engage."

Sai looked over. "So, I'll be moving to the forward team?"

Inoiki gave a slight nod. "Yes, isn't that obvious? You'll be part of Team Kakashi now."

Naruto frowned, visibly annoyed. "Tch. Why does he have to be part of our team now?"

His complaint was met with silence. No one bothered to argue—they had made their decision, and Naruto's resistance didn't change the plan.

After that, everyone settled in for the night. Not everyone slept at once—Sai volunteered to take the first watch, standing outside the temporary shelter with silent vigilance. They rotated guard duty throughout the night, keeping a steady watch to ensure their safety.

By early morning, they were on the move again, following the plan laid out the night before.

Team Kakashi—composed of Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto, and Sai—took the lead, advancing through the forest with precision. Roughly 60 to 70 meters behind them, Yamato and Inoiki followed at a calculated distance, serving as the backup unit.

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