"Hey, it's really fine. It's not embarrassing if you don't understand it right away. I'll teach you slowly..."
Shizune's gentle voice gradually faded until only silence remained.
"Teach me slowly? Teach what, exactly?"
Saitama's right hand lit up with a familiar green chakra glow—the same Healing Technique Shizune had just demonstrated. He smirked slightly, holding out his hand for her to see.
"What!? No way!"
Shizune rubbed her eyes in disbelief, staring at Saitama's hand.
"How is this possible?" she muttered, suddenly questioning her own skills. "Did he really master it just by watching me once?"
"There really are people who can copy jutsu at a glance?" She stared at his hand, visibly shaken.
"Haha, it's fine. Honestly, I have help," Saitama said modestly.
Shizune looked at him, confused, her doubt about her own talent still evident.
"What help?"
Saitama raised his fingers, pointing toward his eyes.
Shizune followed his gesture—and froze.
A pair of three-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly in his eyes.
"Sharingan...?"
She frowned. "I've heard of it, but I didn't realize it could do this."
"The three-tomoe Sharingan can copy ninjutsu," Saitama explained. "When you began forming hand signs, I used my Sharingan to memorize and replicate them."
He shrugged as if it were nothing.
"I guess that's my talent."
Shizune exhaled sharply, finally understanding. "Ahh, I see. I was about to believe you were some kind of natural genius."
"Hey, I am talented, okay?" Saitama protested with a smirk.
"Tch. That's not talent—that's your clan's bloodline limit. You're just lucky you were born an Uchiha," Shizune huffed, flicking her hair dismissively and shooting him a disdainful look.
"Okay, okay, but I still learned it in one try, didn't I?"
Saitama grinned, exaggerating the words 'one try' as he looked at her.
"Hmph!"
Shizune turned her head away, pretending to be annoyed.
"Anyway, no need to hand over scrolls. Let's practice a bit more, then rest. It's getting late."
Saitama casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders, speaking in a relaxed tone.
Given their growing camaraderie from repeated training sessions, this kind of physical contact had become common between them.
"Alright, just a little more, then I'll head back."
Shizune yawned. Her voice carried a trace of helplessness—she'd wanted to impress him by teaching him, but he had unintentionally stolen the spotlight.
"Get up and attack me again!"
Saitama gave her shoulder a light pat and walked a few steps back, gesturing for her to come at him.
"Hmph! I'm coming!"
Shizune charged forward, the frustration from earlier still lingering on her face.
"Ha!"
Her fist barely missed Saitama's cheek as he leaned to the side with a calm smile.
"A sneak attack? Tsk, bad habit!"
He spun a finger around his chest, striking a mockingly provocative pose that made her even more irritated.
"A win is a win—sneak attack or not!"
Shizune's usual calm was cracking. Though rarely one to speak rashly, Saitama's smug attitude was just too annoying right now.
"Hey!"
She kicked out suddenly, aiming low.
"Whoa! Okay, okay!"
Saitama grinned, dodging smoothly. He knew she was venting on purpose.
…
After some sparring, Saitama finally said goodbye and returned to his tent.
Unlike Shizune, who didn't have a mission at the moment, Saitama still had duties to attend to. He needed to keep his energy up.
"Phew."
After washing up, he changed clothes and flopped down on the bed, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Another skill mastered."
He raised both hands, palms glowing with the Healing Technique's green chakra aura.
"Sleep time. Can't die out here."
He rolled to his side and pulled the quilt around him. Nights here were cold, and the chill always crept in.
Since reporting back from the last mission, Saitama had been on standby. For now, he only participated in occasional patrols, usually out by morning and back by late afternoon.
From what he understood, Tsunade had dispatched multiple scout units along the coast, searching for hidden harbors. Konoha needed to be ready for full-scale war, and preliminary intel gathering was essential.
Even though the Sand shinobi's harbor construction had been discovered, they hadn't stopped. Tsunade hadn't ordered an attack yet—she was waiting for complete intel. If it turned out to be the only harbor, it might be tolerable. But if there were many, Konoha couldn't afford to stand idle.
---
The Next Day
"Captain, can we take a break? My stomach's growling!"
Uchiha Huo called out from behind Saitama.
They were patrolling a secure transport route behind Konoha, ensuring it remained safe for supply convoys.
"Fine, take a short break," Saitama said, leaping onto a tree branch and sitting down.
"This is so boring. When are we getting real missions again?"
Huo groaned, leaning against a tree root with a sigh.
"Shut it," his older brother, Uchiha Yan, snapped. "A ninja's job is to carry out orders. Stop whining."
"I know, but patrolling the same place every day sucks, right Captain?"
Huo tried to draw Saitama into the conversation, hoping he'd deflect his brother's scolding.
Saitama didn't answer. He simply stared at Huo with unreadable eyes, making the younger Uchiha shrink back slightly.
"Alright, alright…"
Huo trailed off, resting his chin on his hands.
"Five-minute break. Then we finish the route and return," Saitama announced, checking the sun's position.
"Sweet! Finally!"
Huo perked up at the thought of heading back. Yan, ever stoic, showed no reaction.
…
"Shff—!"
Their figures zipped through the forest canopy, darting from branch to branch.
Though this was Konoha's rear line, Saitama remained alert. Danger could come from anywhere.
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