The two of them trained for the entire morning. Finally, when Nojuro Ryun felt utterly exhausted, Tenten declared the training over.
Watching Nojuro Ryun walk unsteadily, while she herself only had a light sweat on her forehead, Tenten said with a smile, "So, do you need me to help support you?"
Tenten originally thought Nojuro Ryun would refuse. Instead, Ryun said "Okay," and leaned towards her.
Startled, Tenten quickly supported Ryun's arm and waist with a slight cry. After Ryun steadied himself, she said, "Really, if you're this fatigued, you should say so earlier."
"Training needs a balance of work and rest. We'll reduce the amount a little tomorrow."
Ryun nodded. He also wanted to take this opportunity to gauge the limits of his current body.
Based on his past life's fitness theory and experience, only by pushing past limits and then allowing the body to recover and grow, in a continuous cycle, can physical fitness be enhanced most quickly.
If he were alone, he wouldn't dare train this intensely.
"Let's go then."
Tenten supported Ryun as they walked towards the Konoha main gate. With Tenten's current strength, carrying the additional weight of Ryun was naturally effortless.
That day she took Ryun to Konoha Hospital, she even used a princess-carry posture, which was much more strenuous than today.
However, feeling the intense heat emanating from Ryun's chest and abdomen against her shoulder, and listening to his slightly heavy breathing, Tenten also felt her body warming up.
Looking down from Ryun's angle, he could even see a hint of pink on Tenten's earlobes.
This made Ryun smile involuntarily.
At this moment, Tenten was only focused on looking at the path ahead, completely forgetting that she, having also sweated a lot, was quite unguarded from Ryun's perspective.
If Ryun weren't familiar with Tenten's personality, he might even think she was doing it on purpose.
As they neared the Konoha main gate, Ryun suddenly stopped walking, making Tenten look up in confusion.
Ryun gave a light cough, his gaze immediately shifting away.
But Tenten realized something. She looked down, then immediately pushed Ryun away, her cheeks turning as red as a tomato.
The two of them fell into silence. Ryun felt the timing was about right and said, "Um, let me treat you to a meal, as an apology."
Tenten's expression calmed down slightly. She glared fiercely at Ryun, having the thought of just leaving right then.
But in the end, looking at Ryun's apologetic smile, she couldn't bear to get angry with him and said, "I want a big meal."
"Okay, let's go eat barbecue."
"Really? Do you have enough money?"
Ryun's prompt agreement made Tenten hesitate.
Then Ryun explained, "It's that yakiniku restaurant where I worked before. I haven't been there since being discharged from the hospital. I want to see how it's doing now."
"After all, the proprietress gave me a job, even though I haven't even received my first month's wages yet. I still want to check if she is safe."
Tenten looked deeply at Ryun, admiring his sense of loyalty and gratitude.
But then she thought of herself. Wasn't Ryun also repaying her out of a sense of gratitude?
Thinking this, Tenten's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Could the relationship between her and Ryun be only about repaying kindness...
If it were ten minutes ago, this thought might have troubled her for days.
But recalling the awkward, almost hidden look in Ryun's eyes just moments ago, Tenten suddenly smiled shyly.
At least now she was certain that Ryun had also noticed her charm.
Besides, she still had a lot of room to grow. Maybe in the future she could be as capable and charming as Jonin Yūhi Kurenai.
"Then let's go, barbecue, barbecue."
Tenten happily led the way, which somewhat surprised Ryun.
He knew Tenten's personality and was sure she wouldn't stay angry, so he had taken this small step to bring them closer.
But he had also prepared himself for the need to apologize repeatedly to Tenten. How come she was already happy?
Maybe barbecue truly held an irresistible charm for a taijutsu specialist like Tenten?
Subsequently, the two entered Konoha and headed towards the yakiniku restaurant.
Along the way, Tenten explained various training precautions to Ryun, mainly focusing on preventing him from getting injured.
However, when they arrived at that yakiniku restaurant, they were taken aback.
Originally, the sign "Yakiniku Kazune" hung in front of the shop, but now that sign had been taken down and was casually discarded in the yard.
The restaurant also didn't seem to have anyone dining inside. Ryun and Tenten exchanged a look, both seeing seriousness in the other's eyes.
Tenten immediately stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Ryun, then walked into the yard and asked, "Is anyone here?"
"Hi, coming right away."
A middle-aged woman's voice responded. Then the proprietress appeared. It was indeed Kazune.
Seeing Tenten, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.
But seeing Ryun, her expression changed to one of fear.
Seeing this, Tenten quickly asked, "Proprietress, what happened? Are you not running the yakiniku restaurant anymore?"
The proprietress seemed afraid to make eye contact with Ryun. She kept bowing to Tenten and apologizing, saying, "I'm sorry, ninja-sama. The shop is not doing well and we've decided to close down. Could you please go eat somewhere else?"
Tenten turned to look at Ryun. This matter needed Ryun to handle it.
Ryun took a step forward. Seeing the proprietress's timid demeanor, he skipped pleasantries and went straight to the point, "This shop embodies your entire life's effort. If you close it down just like this, you won't even be able to pay off your debts, right?"
"What are you planning to do next? Sell the house and land?"
The proprietress's face turned pale, but she remained silent.
"I worked as a waiter here for a while. I know your cooking skills, Proprietress. It may not become a huge hit, but staying in business shouldn't be a problem."
"What made you decide to close down..."
Tenten pointed to her own forehead protector at this moment and said, "Don't worry, I can help you. If I can't, there's my teacher."
The proprietress thought of Might Guy, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes. Then she said timidly, "It was a Chunin-sama... I only know his surname is Shimura."
Tenten tilted her head, seemingly thinking about which ninja that could be.
Ryun, however, frowned... Could it be related to that guy?
Shimura Danzo naturally wasn't alone. He also had his own clan behind him.
However, Danzo's ambitions didn't lie in expanding his clan's power. So compared to Konoha's major clans like the Sarutobi, the Shimura clan's influence in Konoha was much smaller.
But anyone well-informed knew that in Konoha, you could accidentally offend the Hokage, but you absolutely must not offend the Darkness of Konoha.
Just as Ryun was considering whether to ask further, a deep voice sounded.
"Proprietress, I've come to patronize your business again."
"Same as before, put it on the account. I'll settle it all at the Shimura residence at the end of the month."
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