"Holy auntie!" Ebara groaned, exhausted, as he got home.
"Son, everything okay?" his mother asked, worried.
His rushed return earlier (Chapter 32) had her on edge.
"All good. Just a misunderstanding, cleared up," Ebara said with a smile.
His father nodded. "Good. If there's trouble, come home. Dad's got you!"
Ebara was touched. "Dad, I trashed a hot spring inn today. Might owe ten or twenty thousand. Can you—"
"Get lost!" his father barked.
Nara Household
"You're back?" Shikaku's mom helped his father, Shikayoshi Nara, out of his coat.
"Yup," Shikayoshi sighed.
Since the lab incident (Chapter 33), he'd been working nonstop.
Only after Kurokawa's capture (Chapter 39) could he return.
"Let's eat if you're fine," Shikaku's mom said, beaming. "Shikaku and I waited."
Every late-night mission left her anxious. His return meant safety, for now.
"Shikaku didn't eat either? You didn't have to wait," Shikayoshi said.
"Teacher always says a family should be together," Shikaku said, emerging from his room.
"Ebara?" Shikayoshi's eyes flickered.
"Yup."
"No one else at ninja school says such weird stuff," Shikaku grumbled.
"Show some respect to Teacher Ebara," Shikayoshi said, tapping Shikaku's head with chopsticks.
"Ow!" Shikaku rubbed his head, confused.
"Thanks to Ebara, we solved this mess. Without him, the village would've been on lockdown who-knows-how-long," Shikayoshi said.
The Third didn't gag them—his tone even suggested spreading the word.
So Shikayoshi didn't hold back.
"What could he do? Perform 'three mouths, one pig'?" Shikaku scoffed.
"An enemy infiltrated the village. Ebara took him out," Shikayoshi said, still in disbelief.
When he learned Ebara was Shikaku's teacher, he'd been worried.
Shikaku's stories of Ebara's odd teaching methods—unorthodox but thoughtful—eased his mind.
A genin teacher was fine if they taught well.
But Ebara defeating two chunin (Chapter 32) and a jonin (Chapter 39)? Unbelievable.
If Kurokawa's body wasn't right there, he'd never buy it.
Shikaku, though, would rather die than believe it.
"How'd he do it? Embarrass the guy to death? Crack a joke so cold it froze him?" Shikaku asked, head full of question marks.
Shikayoshi's face twisted oddly. "Not quite, but close. The enemy died from a fart."
Yamanaka Household
"Teacher Ebara killed a jonin with a fart?!" Inoichi gaped.
His father, Yamanaka Nozomi, gave a wry smile. "Hard to believe, but it's true."
It took Inoichi a while to process.
"That's so Ebara!" he said.
His mother nodded. "Looks like this Ebara's got skills. Inoichi, learn well and bring back some tricks."
Akimichi Household
"Son, what do you think of your teacher, Ebara?" Choza's father, Akimichi Dingding, asked.
Choza thought for a moment. "Aside from being a bit narcissistic, shameless, vile, perverted, sleazy, sneaky, despicable, filthy, and worse than a beast… oh, and weak? No issues."
Dingding: "????"
You listed a dozen insults and call that no issues?
"Son, your teacher's not weak," Dingding said seriously.
Choza blinked, then nodded. "True. He's got killer spit accuracy. When he fought Teacher Shimura, he hit his face every time."
Dingding: …
"Son, ever consider he's playing pig to eat tiger?"
Choza shook his head firmly. "No way in hell!"
Overnight, Ebara's fart-killing-jonin tale spread through the village.
Morning came, and as Ebara strolled to the ninja school, people stared at his backside.
Some avoided walking behind him, fearing a deadly fart.
Others might've been embarrassed.
Not Ebara. He hummed cheerfully:
"Your idol's smile's got nothing on yours."
"August noon's sun can't outshine you…"
He swaggered into the classroom, where the kids were chattering like monkeys.
They fell silent the moment he entered.
Ebara grinned, striking a pose he thought was dashing. "That's right, the hero who saved the village is none other than your…"
"Charming, talented, suave, brilliant, refined, witty, unmatched… Teacher Ebara!"
Silence.
Then the room erupted in laughter.
"Told ya! I knew his first line would be that! Those betting on his second line lose!"
"I underestimated his shamelessness. Thought he'd at least say, 'Good morning, class!'"
"Too naive! Would Ebara pass up a chance to brag?"
"He never disappoints in disappointing us."
"No way anyone thought he wouldn't show off, right? Right?"
"Good thing I bet he'd call himself charming and talented."
"Bet? He says that every time! My ears are calloused."
"If he had any shame, he wouldn't be this shameless."
Ebara's face darkened on the podium.
He thought the kids were debating if his fart-kill was real.
Nope—they were betting on whether his first words would be self-praise.
He rolled his eyes at the smug kids who guessed right.
"These brats, always up to no good. Where'd they learn this?"