Tsunade Can Hear My Inner Voice-Chapter 67: The New Generation of Ino-Shika-Chō

The morning sun rose high, casting its golden rays generously across the land.

Konoha, Training Ground No. 10.

Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino were currently staring at each other, clearly frustrated. A glance at the blazing sun overhead told them it was already ten in the morning. In other words, their new squad leader, Kamizuki Hikari, was two hours late.

"No way... Our new team leader is just as unreliable as Team 7's sensei!" As Sakura's best friend, Ino had heard plenty of complaints from her about Hatake Kakashi's habits.

She had thought she'd just ended up with some big-bearded guy at first, but the guy disappeared without a trace. Then they brought in a chunin—fine, his rank wasn't impressive—but now he was late too?

This was absolutely unacceptable.

"Just sit down. I think this might actually be a good thing. If our teacher this lax about time, he probably won't be strict with training either. That means we can slack off." Shikamaru flopped onto the ground, plucking a blade of foxtail grass and chewing on it lazily.

Chōji obediently sprawled out as well, leaving Ino standing alone, exasperated.

"Shikamaru, you're supposed to be the smart one! Don't you have a way to teach this guy a lesson?" Ino turned to him expectantly.

Among the three clans of the Ino-Shika-Chō formation, the Nara were known for their intelligence, and Shikamaru was no exception.

Seeing that Ino was on the verge of exploding, Shikamaru—who had originally just wanted to cruise through the morning—started thinking seriously.

"We've been waiting here for two hours. Any normal teacher would've shown up by now. From what I've heard, Hikari-senpai was pretty decent with last year's graduates. Which means..."

Pausing, Shikamaru sat up and scanned their surroundings. After confirming nothing was amiss, he suddenly called out, "Hikari-senpai, stop hiding! Come out already!"

"Come out? What are you talking about?" Ino blinked in confusion. "Hikari-senpai is just a chūnin. If he were here, we would've noticed by now!" As a clan heir, she had full confidence in her perception.

Then she saw Shikamaru and Chōji stiffen, their eyes locked on something—or someone—behind her.

Before she could turn, a hand landed on her head, ruffling her hair.

"As expected of Shikaku-dono's son. That brain of yours is no joke."

Kamizuki Hikari chuckled, releasing Ino and ignoring her furious glare.

"Alright, I'll give you a choice. Go home, complain to your dads, and ask the Hokage to assign you a new teacher. Honestly, I'm just a chūnin—teaching three clan heirs is a bit beyond me."

"Agree to my terms, and we'll part ways amicably. Sounds good, right?"

Shikamaru hesitated. Chōji, meanwhile, continued munching on snacks from his pouch. Ino's glare intensified, as if trying to bore holes into Hikari with sheer willpower.

The offer Hikari made was tempting to Shikamaru. A new teacher meant at least two days of slacking at home—what a dream.

But there was one thing he had to consider. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Kamizuki Hikari had been personally requested by his father, Nara Shikaku.

Even though his father hadn't said it outright, Shikamaru had a sharp enough mind to sense that there was more to Hikari than met the eye. If it was just about teaching the prestigious Ino-Shika-Chō, the village could've easily assigned a high-ranking jonin.

So why did his father go out of his way for a simple chunin like Hikari?

"Well? What's the decision, kids?" Hikari grinned brightly. He already had it all planned out—once they agreed, he'd find a nice shady spot and take a nap.

The weather was perfect for it.

"Do you two trust me?" Shikamaru asked Ino and Chōji.

He could make the call himself, but he wanted their opinions too.

"I trust you!" Ino replied immediately.

"Me too!" Chōji chimed in with his mouth full.

"Alright then."

Shikamaru stepped forward. "Please be our squad leader, Hikari-senpai."

Kamizuki Hikari was stunned—this kid wasn't playing by the script at all.

"Shikamaru, I'll give you one last chance. Go ask around about me—Kamizuki Hikari, Konoha's Ultimate Gatekeeper. My strength is just chūnin-level. Don't you think you're selling yourselves short?"

"For the sake of your growth, I think it's better we cut ties now. Don't you agree?"

Shikamaru bowed deeply. "Senpai, as shinobi, our first duty is to follow orders. You've been assigned as our team leader. A proper shinobi obeys."

You little brat... playing this kind of game with me?

Hikari reached out and ruffled Shikamaru's spiky hair, grinning at the boy's bewildered expression.

"Well, since you've made your choice, I won't hold back."

"Alright then. I'm kinda hungry. You three—deliver this box to Tenten, then bring me back an extra-large bowl of Ichiraku's special ramen. You've got half an hour. Fail, and there'll be punishment."

"And remember—this is a team assignment. No cheating with shadow clones; go there in person."

"Now go!"

Shikamaru, Ino, Chōji: This guy is a demon!

"Um... Hikari-senpai, where's the money?" Shikamaru asked cautiously.

Money?

At the word, Hikari's brows twitched. Then, he pulled out a mission scroll and handed it to Shikamaru.

"This is a D-rank—find the missing cat, Fat Tiger. Complete it, turn it in, then deliver the gift and buy me some yakiniku instead of ramen. Go on!"

Shikamaru: 'I shouldn't have opened my mouth.'

Now ramen had been upgraded to yakiniku—a huge price difference.

A D-rank mission's payout was barely enough for anything!

Despite the complaints swirling in his mind, Shikamaru still bowed politely. "Hikari-senpai, we'll be off."

"Go on, hurry back!" Hikari waved cheerfully. "If you're not here by noon, don't bother coming to me—just go straight to Tsunade-sama and ask for a new teacher!"

The moment those words left his mouth, Shikamaru grabbed Chōji and Ino by the hands and took off running.

-----

Read 40 advanced Chapters on my P@treon.

[email protected]/KakuzuTL