Chapter 83: We’re Escorted by Sand Ninjas, but I’m More Worried About the Dude in Glasses

At the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village, several people were already gathered and ready to depart.

Might Guy stood tall at the front with Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee by his side. In total, four genin teams were assembled, most of them unfamiliar faces.

However, one group stood out instantly.

Among them was a bespectacled young man, Kabuto Yakushi, alongside his teammates: Yoroi Akado and Misumi Tsurugi.

Garou's gaze briefly lingered on Yoroi.

That guy possessed a secret technique capable of absorbing chakra through physical contact. If he could observe it closely or even replicate it someday…

But it wasn't likely. Kabuto's team usually found a way to eliminate themselves in the second round of the Chūnin Exams, only to show up again for the next. No doubt, part of Orochimaru's plans to infiltrate deeper each time.

Ironically, Orochimaru's network had significantly boosted the attendance rates for the Chūnin Exams.

Garou spun his pen lazily between his fingers, his expression calm. His eyes, however, subtly shifted away, just enough to not alert Kabuto.

Because while Garou was observing Kabuto, the silver-haired shinobi was also discreetly observing him.

Their gazes nearly clashed.

Kabuto's gaze was subtle, hidden behind the thick lenses and ever-polite demeanor. Without Garou's improved sensory perception, he might've missed it entirely.

But even having noticed it… what could he do?

After all, watching a fellow participant wasn't a crime.

'Tch. Slippery bastard,' Garou thought, before shifting his focus to the other teams.

"Garou! Over here! We're about to head out!"

That loud, brimming-with-energy voice could only belong to Rock Lee.

Garou walked forward to join Kakashi and the other jonin. After a quick round of greetings, he moved to stand beside Guy's team.

"Lee, you've bulked up," Garou said with a smile.

"To be acknowledged by you, it's the greatest honor!" Lee replied, tears of passion almost spilling from his eyes.

"…Right." Neji watched the exchange, expression deadpan, then turned to look elsewhere.

Though Lee's enthusiasm was sincere, Neji could tell Garou had changed since the last time they met. He was taller now, stronger in presence. His muscles may not have swelled dramatically, but to Neji's Byakugan, the density and control were leagues above before.

Only Lee could take that comment at face value.

Nearby, Tenten chatted with another teammate, while Kasumi remained silent as usual, preferring to stay quiet in group settings.

Even though Garou and Lee were assigned to different teams, they had kept in touch since their academy days. The village wasn't large, and they often crossed paths during training.

Once the jonin confirmed all participants and finalized the roster, Kakashi stepped forward.

"We're heading out."

"Yes, sir!" came the synchronized response.

In the next instant, all of them vanished from the village gate in a swift burst of movement.

The journey to the Land of Wind was long, even for shinobi. Despite their speed, it would take at least three to four days to reach the designated staging area.

Half a day into the journey...

Garou noticed that Kabuto had gradually slowed his pace. He could even hear faint, deliberate panting.

A few more miles passed before Kakashi called for a rest break. Garou leaned back against a tree trunk beside Tenten, while Kasumi perched on a branch overhead, scanning their surroundings vigilantly.

After a short while, Kabuto approached with a wide smile, adjusting his glasses as he spoke.

"Excuse me. You must be Garou Zenin, right? I'm Kabuto Yakushi, a huge admirer of yours."

He bowed politely.

Garou immediately moved to stop him. "Please, senpai, there's no need for that!"

"No, no. You probably don't realize how much your improved military ration pills have helped low-ranking shinobi like us," Kabuto continued enthusiastically.

"And on top of that, you've openly shared your techniques and knowledge with everyone…"

His words spilled out rapidly, as if he were meeting a celebrity he'd idolized for years.

Garou's face was a mix of embarrassment and humility, waving off the compliments as he awkwardly tried to deflect praise.

After a few moments, Kabuto nodded contentedly and returned to his group, looking thoroughly satisfied, like a devoted fan who had just fulfilled a lifelong dream.

From an acting standpoint, he was flawless. If this were a movie, he'd be winning awards.

If Garou hadn't known Kabuto's true identity, one of Orochimaru's most cunning spies, he might've genuinely believed the silver-haired boy was nothing more than a bookish, well-meaning genin.

"Garou," Tenten said thoughtfully, "so the improvements you made to the ration pills really are helping a lot of ninja…"

Her tone was more emotional than usual.

Tenten might also be a civilian, but her family ran a highly successful weapons business. When it came to wealth, her household was easily among the top in Konoha.

That alone spoke volumes, getting a share in Konoha's military supply meant her family wasn't ordinary by any measure.

But even then, she rarely thought about what life was like for an average genin.

Until Kabuto mentioned it.

Garou exhaled softly. "Most people in the world are ordinary. That's why I want to develop techniques that even ordinary shinobi can use."

"…Yeah."

Tenten nodded, her gaze naturally drifting toward the boy next to her.

She hadn't realized until now, his ambitions were this selfless, this grounded.

And they weren't the only ones who heard.

Though their voices were soft, the nearby jonin, Kakashi, Guy, and even Kabuto, picked up every word with their heightened hearing.

The two senior jonin exchanged glances and smiled subtly. They already had a sense of Garou's character. This just reaffirmed it.

Kabuto's reaction, on the other hand, was… peculiar.

Up until now, his understanding of Garou had been purely analytical, intelligence reports, medical records, training statistics.

This was only the second time he'd seen the boy in person. The first had been a fleeting moment at the hospital, unnoticed by Garou. Now, as he sat quietly by a tree, staring up at the leafy canopy above, Kabuto felt a strange emptiness settle in.

'What a fool.' Kabuto closed his eyes, lips tightening.

Such foolish idealism.

Garou noticed the shift in Kabuto's mood.

Though he couldn't guess the exact reason for the other's sullen energy, he knew better than to try deciphering Kabuto's thoughts.

After all, with someone like him…

It was best not to look too closely.

Garou spun his pen between his fingers, mind drifting.

The rest of the group rested peacefully. Kabuto, aside from that one short conversation, kept to himself for the remainder of the break.

After thirty minutes, the teams resumed travel.

Aside from a polite greeting, Kabuto made no further moves.

To everyone else, he was just a respectful, slightly bookish ninja. No one suspected a thing. He was a master manipulator.

If not for being under Orochimaru, he could've been one of Konoha's greatest assets. Garou chose to ignore him, continuing onward in silence.

By the end of the day, they had crossed into the Land of Rivers. Throughout the journey, Garou had been passively absorbing the natural energy of the environment, using it to refine his senses and deepen his connection with the terrain.

He also took notes of everything.

Like the Land of Rain, this land was caught in constant conflict, war-torn and chaotic.

But precisely because of that, it would make a suitable fallback location.

If things in Konoha ever went south…

Danzo hadn't acted yet, but of the two threats, Danzo and Orochimaru. Danzo was the more erratic and ruthless. He was capable of anything to reach his goals. If peace remained in Konoha, Garou would never want to leave. But if forced…

He would need an escape route.

The world outside the village was dangerous, especially with the Akatsuki and Obito on the prowl. Leaving the village would only raise his chances of being targeted.

So if it came to that, it would be a last resort.

Garou mulled over his options as they continued.

Gradually, he noticed the humidity in the air thinning out.

They were nearing the Land of Wind.

He extended his senses, and sure enough, detected faint ninja chakra signatures up ahead.

"We're almost at the Land of Wind," Kakashi said suddenly. "Everyone, stay alert."

Guy tilted his head in silent acknowledgment.

"Yes, sir!" the group responded.

Neji immediately activated his Byakugan, focusing his gaze toward the path ahead.

"There's a team patrolling up ahead," he reported. "But they don't appear hostile."

Kakashi exhaled quietly. "Good. If it's just one patrol unit, then it's likely a standard welcome party, not an ambush."

They picked up the pace.

Soon enough, they came face to face with the patrol unit, sent by the Kazekage himself to escort them.

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