Naruto: The Scientific Ninja

Tadada!

A group of Konoha ninja stepped onto the river's surface and quickly gathered at the scene.

Seeing them approach, Ye finally realized his childish behavior, so he quickly let go of Sasuke and regained his distant appearance to save face, immediately becoming a completely different person. If it weren't for the embarrassment revealed in his eyes behind the cat mask, Sasuke would have thought it was all an illusion.

Sasuke observed the scene and discovered that, in addition to Akimichi Torifune's mobile patrol team, Kagejirō had also returned with the support. It was obvious that he had run into the patrol team while escaping. Compared to the danger of delivering the intelligence alone, Kagejirō obviously felt it would be safer to follow his older cousin, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

When Sasuke saw the five approaching people, especially Shinnosuke, he felt a pang of bitter envy. The luck of some people... While he was cannon fodder, the Hokage's son went to the front lines protected by the elite jōnin Torifune, and his temporary teammates were Hoshikō Maru, the "Eternal Genin," and Aburame Shibi, the young patriarch of the Aburame clan. With that terrifying lineup, they could be said to be invincible below the Kage level.

"Good kid, you did a good job," said Torifune.

He held the spiky-haired jōnin in one hand and patted Sasuke's shoulder with the other. As the captain of the mobile patrol, all the squads in the area were nominally his subordinates, and he was very satisfied with Sasuke. Thanks to Shibi's parasite insects, he already understood the general situation. Sasuke's amazing performance, his combat power close to a jōnin's, and above all, his unwavering Will of Fire, had impressed him. Such talent was a waste on an outer patrol; he had to recruit him.

"Thank you for your timely support, Lord Torifune. Otherwise, we would have been annihilated," Sasuke replied, expressing his gratitude with high praise.

Torifune laughed heartily, convinced that this subordinate was a good man, capable of handling the situation.

"Senpai, you are also very powerful," said Shinnosuke, the Hokage's son, with admiration. "You were able to resist for so long against a Suna pursuit team and defeat so many."

Sasuke observed the boy. It was clear that Hiruzen had protected and educated his son well. He was not corrupt, nor did he have the arrogance of many heirs of great clans. Despite the Third Hokage's future failings, his family education was impeccable.

"Wherever Konoha's leaves dance, the fire will also endure," Sasuke said, giving Shinnosuke a "Nice Guy Pose" gesture. "You are the hope of Konoha. I believe that when you grow up, you will be more powerful than us old-timers!"

"Yes!" Shinnosuke nodded vigorously, visibly inspired by the Will of Fire.

"Hmph!" A cold snort was heard. It came from Kagejirō. He looked at Sasuke with disdain and whispered sarcastically, "You're just a cannon fodder chūnin with maxed-out potential. Of course, we'll be better than you in the future."

"Huh? Kagejirō," Sasuke said loudly, feigning confusion. "I thought we asked you to cover our retreat and deliver the information first. Why have you returned?"

His question was a timely reminder to everyone present that someone had fled, but now, inconsistently, had returned without having completed his mission.

"Kagejirō, do you still have the information? You didn't lose it, did you?" Sasuke continued as he approached, looking as if he wanted to check the scroll.

"Don't come near!" Kagejirō shouted, backing away in fear. "Get away from me, you idiot! Do you want to blow us all up?"

He pointed at the exploding tags still covering Sasuke's body, his eyes full of fear. He wasn't afraid of Sasuke, but of an accidental explosion.

"Ah?" Sasuke stopped, feigning a sudden realization. "My apologies. With the whole business of dying with the enemy, I had completely forgotten I was still wearing them. How careless of me. I'll take them off right away."

With his sincere apology, he reminded everyone of his determination to sacrifice himself, and his display of the Will of Fire became unquestionable. At the same time, it made them understand that he was a ruthless man, capable of strapping explosives all over his body.

"Senpai, I'll help you take them off," Shinnosuke offered, running toward him without fear.

"No, no, I'll do it myself," Sasuke said hastily, moving away from the Prince of Konoha. It was a great sin to put the Hokage's son in even the slightest danger.

He quickly removed all the exploding tags and stored them away.

"Hmph. Why didn't you just blow up," Kagejirō cursed under his breath, but all the ninja present, with their sensitive hearing, heard him.

Shinnosuke immediately became angry. He glared at his cousin and scolded him, "Kagejirō, you've gone too far. Apologize, quickly."