Red sand dust

"There's nothing wrong with having fair-weather friends..."

Nara Shikamaru teased him half-jokingly, but Nara Shikaku didn't take it to heart.

"You don't understand adult matters..."

The closer the friends are, the more careful they are in dealing with each other. Otherwise, the seemingly indestructible friendship will become a shackles that bind each other.

Nara Shikaku sighed and rubbed Nara Shikamaru's hair:

"You, Ino, and Choji have successfully passed the test. Do you still have any dissatisfaction?"

"Something feels wrong, but I can't tell what it is specifically..."

"Are you unable to tell, or are you unwilling to admit it?"

Nara Shikaku is the squad leader of the jounin class in Konoha Village. His status is higher than that of the new generation jounin like Hatake Kakashi and Metkai. Only the Hokage and a few advisors can make him worry about it.

What hasn’t the well-informed Nara Shikaku seen? How could Nara Shikamaru hide his little thoughts?

"Admit it? You want to say that I don't want to face reality..."

"Look! I haven't said anything yet, so you're just asking for it! I'm not too worried about your clever mind, but being smart doesn't mean wisdom..."

Nara Shikamaru raised his eyebrows:

"You mean, I'm just a clever fool?"

"You idiot who is trying to be clever? You probably don't think much of children whose brains are not as good as yours. That's why you make such thoughtless remarks.

During the written examination, you were forced into a corner by those genin candidates who were not as smart as you. You had to rely on Ibiki's charity to barely pass. So you were very unwilling and felt that your self-esteem was hurt? "

"I don't……"

Nara Shikamaru was still quibbling, but Nara Shikaku continued as if he hadn't heard:

"Because of incompetence, I am angry and then feel pain..."

"do not talk!"

Nara Shikamaru loudly stopped his father's merciless words,

"Please, stop talking!"

"Do you think I've gone too far?"

Nara Shikaku stood up;

"It's good to have confidence in your own intelligence, but don't overestimate the value of a good mind. Otherwise, how could there be such a thing as being as wise as a fool? My proud son, think about it!"

After saying that, Nara Shikaku turned and left, leaving Nara Shikamaru alone to admire the moon.

"He is really an irresponsible father. He left before he finished speaking. Do you have such confidence in me? You think I can understand even if you don't explain it clearly..."

Nara Shikamaru smiled bitterly and took out a kunai from his ninja bag.

"Am I also your 'proud son'? I feel ashamed of myself when I look like this!"

…

It's late at night, and many people who have been busy all day have fallen asleep.

Daimaru, who had been a little wild during the day, was still writing something under the dim incandescent light of the hotel.

While he was busy writing, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Daimaru put down the paintbrush in his hand, tidied up the messy desktop a little, and then went to open the door.

Outside the door, stood Kankuro wearing thin clothes.

After taking off his iconic puppet costume and washing off the paint on his face, Kankuro looked like just an ordinary fat boy.

"It's so late, what's wrong?"

It had been several years since Daimaru had seen the naked Kankuro. If he hadn't still vaguely looked like a child, he would have almost not recognized him.

"I couldn't sleep. I saw the light in your room was still on, so I came over to take a look."

"You have insomnia at a young age. Is it too exciting for me to borrow your book? My brother-in-law is really guilty..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Why haven't you rested yet and are you still worried about what happened during the day?"

"That's not true. I'm just preparing for tomorrow's exam..."

It's not Daimaru's habit to brood over things that have passed.

"Come in, the door is not the place to talk!"

The hotel that Konoha Village arranged for Suna Ninja was relatively simple. Except for beds, desks, low stools, dining tables and other ordinary furniture, there was nothing else, and there was no atmosphere at all.

Kankuro found a random place to sit down and looked at Daimaru's desk.

"Are you really busy? I thought you were making excuses..."

"Excuses? Why do you think that?"

Daimaru poured himself a glass of cold water and took a big sip to moisten his dry throat.

"I stayed up most of the night, making love with girls or something..."

"My brother-in-law is here to catch an adulterer and stand up for my sister?"

"Don't open your mouth about brother-in-law, brother-in-law, etc. I'm just curious and came over to take a look!"

"curious?"

Daimaru rolled his eyes, stared at Kankuro who was a little uncomfortable, and asked with a smile,

"You haven't said why you couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and you still have the energy to chat with me?"

"What kind of look is that? I didn't do anything shameful, so don't make random assumptions!"

"I understand, I won't inquire about personal privacy."

Daimaru's curiosity is not that serious, and there is no need to break the casserole and ask if Kankuro has something on his mind.

"When you say that, doesn't it make me more suspicious?"

Kankuro said helplessly,

"Talking to you always feels a little difficult..."

"It's because your social skills are not good!"

"Maybe!"

Kankuro was noncommittal;

"By the way, is Qian okay? It doesn't look good..."

The affected Yamanaka and Ino reacted so violently, and it was impossible for Qian who was hit from the front to be okay. Fortunately, the illusion he cast was relatively familiar and easy to dispel.

"I've had it checked by the medical ninja from Konoha Village. It's nothing serious. You'll be fine after a night's rest."

"That's good! Since there's no problem, what are you busy with now?"

"It's not a big deal, just be prepared."

"I always feel a little suspicious."

Kankuro looked at the messy pieces of paper around the desk, the dirty ink, the half-used sandpaper, and some wood chips.

"It's not like you're making a puppet. You're not going to make a fuss in tomorrow's exam again, are you?"

"Stop guessing, I'm not stupid, how can I dare to cause trouble?"

After the written test, Daimaru was scolded by Nefeng again.

Although he could easily pass the test, he still insisted on meddling in his own business, and almost caused Gaara, Kankuro and Temari's team to be eliminated. If it hadn't been for delaying the time by adapting to the situation at the last moment, the worst thing did not happen, and Nekaze hacked Daimaru to death. I have all my thoughts.

Of course, Nekaze and Maki did not doubt Daimaru's motives for helping Kankuro. They did not think that Daimaru knew the importance of Gaara, Kankuro and Temari participating in this joint chunin exam. They only thought that he took the risk to please Temari. .

"Anyway, thank you for what happened this afternoon. Otherwise, I would be in big trouble."

"Don't take it to heart, I'm not here for you. If Temari is eliminated, you won't be able to see me show off my power in the next Chuunin exam..."