I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

With the initial introductions out of the way, Wu was given the unique opportunity to witness Saizo's forging process. Customers were typically forbidden from entering his smithy, but Saizo had been in the process of instructing Tenten on the basics of Blacksmithing. She had a passion for the art, so while he hadn't planned for her to follow in his footsteps, Saizo couldn't refuse his daughter's desire to learn. Compared to her father, Tenten's craftmanship could only be described as terrible. However, considering she was only nine years old, turning ten in a few months, that wasn't particularly surprising. Saizo had developed his craft over twenty-seven years, so the dango-haired girl still had a ways to go and much to learn. Fortunately, her ability to use Chakra gave her quite the advantage as, despite her young age, she had no problems handling a hammer or working the forge's bellows. She even considered them a form of training, the 'correct' mentality, from Wu's perspective. The only problem with Tenten's passion for forging, weapons, and Shinobi tool production, at least according to her parents, was that she prioritized it over things like making friends. She had brought over others before Wu, but they couldn't appreciate Tenten's passions nor her desires to become as powerful as her two role models, Senju Tsunade and her mother, Liling. Most children were content with playing around and enjoying their youths, so outliers like Tenten ultimately found themselves ostracized or forced to compromise just to fit in. Instead of giving in to peer pressure, Tenten chose the 'correct' path by focusing even more on her passions. She did start to look down on some of the other children, especially girls her age, but, unlike Tenten's parents, Wu didn't see any issues with this. In his mind, the exceptionally should not be shackled by the mediocre, so if Tenten's classmates weren't willing to make an effort, they 'deserved' her derision. While Wu didn't express his opinions aloud, it was clear to both Liling and Saizo that there was a bit of chemistry between him and their daughter. Perhaps it was not in the romantic sense, but it was apparent to them that Wu appreciated their daughter's efforts. Thus, when it came time for Wu's scheduled departure, the duo insisted he stay for lunch, accompanied by the promised ice cream. As fate would have it, Wu really liked ice cream. ... .. . With nothing else planned for the day, Wu meandered through the streets of Konoha, memorizing the layout of the buildings and taking note of their inhabitants as he made his way back to the Sarutobi Estate. Though it had been a few months since his arrival in Konoha, Wu still didn't understand the purpose of gathering together so many people in one place. The average person was weak and lacked the will to improve themselves, so it seemed like a tremendous waste of resources to gather them together in the name of 'prosperity.' How could a society be viewed as 'prosperous' if the majority of its members leeched off the efforts of a few, extraordinary people? What was the point of anything if the mundane continued to propagate in peace while the competent succumbed to the burden of their 'expectations' and 'responsibilities?' Recalling the nightmare he had a few days prior, Wu wondered if he, too, would one day find himself shackled by mediocrity. The girls around him were trying to improve, but Wu could easily imagine them squandering it all the moment they achieved their initial goal. The truly exceptional did not need a penultimate goal to aspire toward. They improved themselves because self-mastery was the most worthwhile of all pursuits, vesting the pursuant with infinite opportunities for further growth... Interrupting Wu's contemplative reverie, the former noticed an elderly woman carrying a wicker basket filled with fruits and vegetables, a kind smile on her face. Wu generally wouldn't bat an eye at someone clearly in the twilight years of their life, but this granny stood out like a sore thumb due to the form of another person overlapping her. To the people around her, she appeared like any other old lady, but in the eyes of Wu, she was a young woman doing her best to blend in. Having witnessed an identical phenomenon when Kurenai attempted to surprise him with the Transformation Jutsu, a technique that allowed the user to transform into people, animals, and even inanimate objects, Wu immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He was fairly used to seeing older women pretending to be young, but this was the first time he was witnessing a young woman pretending to be decrepitly old... Though a Shinobi in his position might have tried to detain the woman for questioning, Wu simply observed her for a few seconds before returning to his musings. He was technically a resident of Konoha, but ousting spies was the duty of Konoha's Detection Division and Barrier Team. There was a good chance both groups were monitoring the woman, so apprehending her risked jeopardizing an ongoing investigation... ... .. . Seeing Wu briefly observing their target before going about his business, a man wearing a cat-like mask and a beige cloak muttered, "He really is a perceptive boy, isn't he?" Responding to the man's words, another, wearing a dog mask, nodded his head and mused, "It's almost uncanny. The real question is, why didn't he make a scene? He clearly noticed our target..." Shaking his head, the man wearing a cat mask replied, "Who knows? Just include it in the report to Lord Hokage. If he deems it worth looking into, the teams observing that boy will take action." Offering a curt nod, the man wearing a dog mask abruptly vanished from his position. He hadn't explicitly been given an order, but matters related to the security of Konoha were to be reported upon as soon as possible... ... .. . As Wu neared his destination, the region of Konoha where most of the wealthier clans were located, he was stopped by the appearance of a familiar girl with short, platinum blonde hair, teal eyes, and a naturally haughty expression. He immediately recognized the girl as Ino. What surprised him was the fact she was wearing a muted green tank top that exposed her abdomen, form-fitting white shorts, leggings, and a pair of high-quality Shinobi sandals. A stark contrast to her usual, excessively girly attire. Failing to notice Wu's presence, as she had grown complacent after several hours of waiting, Ino was equally oblivious to the fact that her quarry had immediately turned around and made a detour. Wu could guess what she wanted based on her outfit, and he had absolutely no intention of wasting the remainder of his weekend pandering to some wannabe princess. After entering the Sarutobi Estate from the back entrance, typically reserved for servants and branch members of the Sarutobi Clan, Wu immediately made his way over to his usual training area. Because of his arrangements with Naruto, Kiba, Choji, and even Shikamaru, this was the last weekend he had to himself for the foreseeable future. Thus, even if it was for a day and a half, Wu intended to make the most of his remaining time alone... ... .. . With the weekend passing in the blink of an eye, Wu found his path to school blocked by the same blonde he had avoided two days prior. Wu had actually anticipated this, but Ino's outfit, once again, caught him off guard, as she was now wearing a red t-shirt under a white tank top, dark blue shorts, purple leggings, and a completely different pair of expensive sandals. It gave her a somewhat boyish appearance, but it also exhibited at least a budding desire to 'get serious.' Without beating around the bush, Ino, standing with her arms crossed and a clearly annoyed expression on her face, asked, "Where were you on Saturday? I waited for six hours outside the Hokage's mansion, and you never showed up. Didn't you say you were free in the afternoon?" Instead of refuting Ino's words or making excuses, Wu nodded his head, admitting, "I was. However, I don't recall making arrangements with you, so why did you wait for six hours?" "You...!" Raising her right fist, Ino 'really' wanted to punch Wu but ultimately reined in her anger. It was easier for her Ego to assume Wu simply hadn't known she was waiting than to accept that he might have avoided her, so, after a moment of silence, she revealed, "My Tou-san finally gave his permission. I wanted to surprise you last Saturday, but I guess you'll have to wait until this afternoon to see what I'm capable of." Adopting a faint smile, Wu replied, "So it would appear..." before quickly adding, "Nice outfit, by the way. It's a marked improvement over those dresses and skirts you wore previously." Though she had secretly been expecting one, Ino was slightly surprised by Wu's abrupt compliment. If she was being completely honest, she felt a little insecure wearing such 'casual' clothing, but, after a lot of thinking, she realized that the opinion of her 'friends' didn't matter nearly as much as she pretended they did. Only nine graduates per year were permitted to become fully-fledged Genin out of the gate, so, with several other heirs and heiresses in her class, it wasn't difficult to guess which nine would be chosen. If not for her inordinate effort, even Sakura would be passed over for someone like Kaia... Upon realizing that her 'friends' would no longer remain as such once she graduated, Ino began looking even further into her future. The traditions of their Clans dictated that she would inevitably be teamed up with Choji and Shikamaru, forming the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho Formation. Hinata, Shino, and Kiba were virtually guaranteed to form another team, so, by process of elimination, the final squad would consist of Wu, Sasuke, and Sakura. Kaia might replace the latter, but Ino doubted it as Kaia was the next in line to oversee the Inuzuka Clan's kennels. Not wanting to lose out to Sakura, of all people, Ino's teal eyes exuded an intensity that hadn't been present previously as she smiled in response to Wu's compliment. The latter immediately noticed this, his smile becoming marginally more sincere as he mused, "It appears your outfit isn't the only thing that's changed..." Though she felt gratified by Wu's remark, Ino snorted in response, retorting, "Why do you know?" before turning around as if she was going to walk away. Instead, she waited for a few moments before looking back and asking, "Why are you just standing there? We're going to be late if you don't get your act together." Resisting the urge to take off running, leaving the temperamental blonde in his dust, Wu just smiled before falling into step with the beaming brat. She seemed pleased by the fact he was listening to her, but the truth of the matter was that Wu simply couldn't be bothered to antagonize her... ... .. . (A/N: Since a lot of people have been asking, I've decided to explain my thoughts on the matter. You see, not even I know who will be in the harem, as I never limit my stories to what I 'want' or 'expect' to happen. Most of my stories focus on the characters, the world around them, and how their actions shape the plot. In other words, Wu could end up with just about any heroine, as, if you haven't noticed, he doesn't really care about any of them. He isn't aiming for anyone, so the only way someone can end up in his harem is if they actively pursue him or if they are placed there due to developments within the plot. It's that simple.)

After making a show of cutting ties with the posse she had formed over her past two years at the Academy, Ino made herself at home with Wu's group. Sakura was also present, so each of the seats at their lunch table was now filled: Wu, Kaia, and Naruto on one side and Sakura, Hinata, and Ino on the other. Though Naruto felt a little uncomfortable being surrounded by so many girls, he was content so long as he and Sakura were sitting at the same table. As for Wu, he couldn't care either way, so even when Ino acted as though she was now the group's leader, he just shut off his brain and let her prattle on, only speaking when prompted to do so. Despite her bravado, Wu could tell that Ino was forcing herself. Cutting ties with people she had known even before the Academy wasn't as easy as she made it appear. She was secretly afraid that she would be kicked out of Wu's group and find herself without any friends, so she was doing her best to maintain a confident front. Fortunately for Ino, Wu didn't care if she was the biggest bitch in the world or even more bashful than Hinata. So long as she made an effort, he would at least tolerate her existence. After all, if she aggravated the others enough, there was a chance their training group could dissolve on its own. He would still be stuck with Kaia, but she was fairly easy to get along with as she, more or less, obeyed him without question. With school ending without any other notable incidents, Wu returned to the Sarutobi Estate with Kaia, Sakura, Hinata, and Ino. The latter took the lead, never shutting up for more than a few seconds at a time, but it didn't really matter as their destination was the same... ... .. . "Is this seriously all you do? Standing like you're about to poop while practicing Chakra control...?" After seeing what Wu had Sakura, Hinata, and Kaia doing, Ino couldn't help feeling like she had made a grave mistake. She had expected Wu to have a secret training regiment developed by the Third Hokage. Standing atop a log and squatting down until their legs gave out just seemed like a convenient excuse for Wu to touch their bodies. Maintaining a blameless expression, Wu calmly explained, "Strengthening the body and improving your Chakra Control is the foundation atop which all other techniques are derived. Chakra is the aggregation of a person's physical, spiritual, and mental energies, so what could possibly be better than training that promotes all three?" Furrowing her brows, Ino muttered, "You say that...but how does letting you stare up at our butts help promote anything? Like, I get what you're saying, but this just seems so...suspicious..." Shaking his head, Wu flatly replied, "Then just don't get up on the log. I already showed you the Tree-Sticking Exercise and explained the idea of spreading your Chakra through the ground. If you want to sit on the side and stick leaves to the soles of your feet, be my guest. However, before you complete this training, you simply aren't prepared for anything more advanced." Perking up slightly, Ino remarked, "So there is more to it. Tell me, what comes after we master sticking to things? You should have at least one or two super-secret Ninjutsu, right?" "..." Though he was tempted to tell Ino to leave, the truth of the matter was that Wu had, in fact, prepared a technique for the girls to use. Watching Hinata perform the Gentle Fist had given him all kinds of ideas, so instead of answering her with words, Wu extended his hand, surprising Ino as the air around her seemed to 'harden.' While keeping the visibly trembling girl firmly in place, Wu's expression and tone flattened as he explained, "Chakra can flow through virtually any medium, be it the ground beneath your feet, the water in a lake, or the air around you. Once you master diffusion and hardening, the only thing that can limit you are your reserves and Chakra Control." As the technique he was performing was incredibly taxing on his reserves, Wu released the teary-eyed Ino from his grasp, preempting her outburst by pointing out, "If your body was stronger, you could have easily broken free from such a technique. Do you think your tears will stop your enemies from killing you?" Though she was briefly cowed by Wu's words, Ino's jaw began to visibly quiver, eventually culminating in her shouting, "You're a real jerk...!" before storming off toward the nearby treeline. She needed to vent her emotions, and she didn't want Sakura, or anyone else, to see her crying. Exhibiting no remorse for his actions, Wu turned to the stunned Sakura and Hinata, asking, "What? It's infinitely better she hears these things from me than someone who genuinely wishes her harm. The duties and responsibilities of a Shinobi include hunting people down and killing. Our enemies will not show us mercy, so lessons like this are a kindness that won't be afforded to you in the real world. Remember that." Turning away from the duo, Wu forced his expression to soften as he said, "Come, Kaia. Let us continue where we left off on Friday." Completely unaffected by Wu's apparent cruelty, Kaia smiled broadly and replied, "Yes, Aniki~!" in a spirited tone. As Kiba had demonstrated during Wu's first day, the Inuzuka Clan could be fairly cruel to one another. They lived a rigidly hierarchal lifestyle, so Kaia didn't even question the method Wu used to 'discipline' his packmates... ... .. . After calming to the point her tears were no longer flowing freely, Ino stared off into space with a listless look on her face. The technique Wu had used against her made it impossible for her to breathe, so she was suffocating for the duration of his explanation. She 'knew' Wu wouldn't kill her, but that didn't make the situation any less frightening... Having been spying on Ino with her Byakugan, Hinata waited until the former had calmed down a bit before approaching her hiding place, her voice soft, gentle, and caring as she asked, "Are you okay, Ino-chan...?" Taking a moment to wipe away the remnants of her tears, Ino forced herself to smile as she replied, "Yeah, I'm okay. It'll take a lot more than that to break my spirit. I'm just pretending to be upset to make Wu-kun feel sorry for what he did." Blinking in surprise, Hinata briefly considered pointing out that Wu didn't appear to feel even remotely guilty for his actions. Instead, she sat down next to Ino, an awkward silence lingering between them before she softly whispered, "I don't think Wu-kun is a bad person...he just..views things differently than the rest of us..." Rolling her eyes, Ino hugged her knees and replied, "You don't need to make excuses for him, Hinata-chan. Wu-kun 'is' a jerk. He's just a jerk for the right reasons. I know he was trying to scare me so I would take the training seriously, but that doesn't make him any less of a jerk..." Unable, or, more accurately, unwilling to argue with Ino, Hinata just gave a faint smile. She knew that Wu was only being a 'jerk' because of the way Ino was behaving. Wu was very patient and understanding if you worked hard or seriously asked for his advice. He would even explain things more than once if you didn't understand his initial explanation, so it didn't feel fair to regard him as a jerk. He was just...earnest... Feeling awkward due to Hinata's silence, Ino bounced to her feet, her smile regaining a bit of its confidence as she said, "We should probably get back. I'm tempted to get Wu-kun into trouble with the Hokage, but I don't want him to kick me out of the training sessions just yet. Until I can catch him in that same technique, I'm not going anywhere." Extending her hand to Hinata, Ino's smile cramped when the former didn't immediately accept her assistance. Instead, the pearl-eyed heiress just stared at her outstretched hand for several seconds, seemingly oblivious to Ino's good intentions... ... .. . Though things were noticeably awkward for the first few days, Ino never complained a second time about the 'efficacy' of Wu's training. She would sometimes get frustrated, but that was mainly due to her 'need' to be the best in the group. Sakura's impressive and improving Chaka Control gave her a massive advantage when it came to sticking to the log. Ino refused to play second fiddle to a girl that had required her rescuing several times in the past, so she was at her wit's end trying to catch up. Fortunately, instead of interfering with the group's progress, Ino's fiercely competitive nature spurred the others to train harder. Friendly competition was a powerful motivator, so Sakura and Ino were improving rapidly while Hinata continued at a slower but steady pace. Her goal was different from the two rivals, so she didn't feel as much pressure to improve. As for Kaia, well, she was just having fun... ... .. . "Wait, are we really going to train? I thought that was just an excuse we gave our parents so we could hang out together?" Having never witnessed how serious Wu was about his training, Kiba was surprised when the former dragged him, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji out to his usual spot before asking them to demonstrate their regular routines. Narrowing his eyes slightly, Wu replied, "We're supposed to be preparing ourselves for a career as Shinobi. The Academy already consumes a lot of our time, so we must train hard when the opportunity presents itself. Don't you want to get stronger...?" Scratching the back of his head, Kiba replied, "I mean, yeah? Of course, I want to get stronger. But I already do a bunch of training back at the Clan Compound. At least give me my weekends off..." "..." Shifting his attention from Kiba, Wu passed his gaze over Naruto, Choji, and Shikamaru, his expression and tone hardening as he asked, "Do the three of you feel the same way...?" Smiling awkwardly, Naruto replied, "Come on, Wu. We can still train while having fun. No need to be all serious." Though it was only noticed by Shikamaru, Wu's right eye twitched when he heard Naruto's words. Ever since Naruto had learned about his mother and began receiving a bigger allowance, he no longer exhibited the same sense of 'urgency.' He still tried his best to prove himself at the Academy, often challenging Sasuke to spars, but that was primarily to try and show off in front of Sakura... Surprising the group of boys, Wu reached up to massage his forehead and eyes, muttering, "I need a minute to process this..." Then, without waiting for the group's response, he abruptly sat down, continuing to conceal his eyes as he fought hard to suppress his rage... Feeling awkward and concerned for his friend, Naruto tentatively inquired, "Hey, are you okay? Wu...?" Before Naruto could make the grave mistake of shaking Wu's shoulder, Shikamaru placed his hand on the former's shoulder, shaking his head as he softly yet firmly asserted, "Just leave him be, Naruto. When people say they need time to process, you give it to them. Come on, let's go sit in the shade." "But..." Shaking his head a second time, Shikamaru pulled Naruto along, Choji and Kiba following soon after. His father had advised him to keep an eye on Wu since the latter first appeared at the Academy, so Shikamaru could tell when the usually affable boy was genuinely angry. Thus, while the others were more than a little confused, he made a mental note to never intrude upon Wu's training unless he was serious about joining in... ... .. .

Though Hiruzen periodically checked in on Wu using his Crystal Ball, an Artifact that allowed him to view anything within the confines of Konoha's barrier, most of the information he had on the boy came from the team of Anbu he had assigned to observe him. There were still a lot of unknowns surrounding Wu's origin, capabilities, and, most importantly, his bloodline, so Hiruzen had teams monitoring the boy 24/7. Reading the report detailing Wu's interaction with Tenten and the fact Ino had also approached him for training, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Hiruzen's eyes. Wu was an exceptionally astute boy, and though he made an effort to befriend each of his classmates, it was evident he recognized whose friendship mattered the most. "What do you think, Shikaku? I know I've asked you many times before, but I'm interested to hear your opinion about these recent developments." Sitting across from Hiruzen, silently observing the Shogi board between them, was a scar-faced man with sharp, intelligent eyes, black hair, and a neatly manicured goatee. He looked a bit like a rogue, but his unwavering gaze alluded to his fierce intellect. Without removing his eyes from the board, Shikaku replied, "He has the potential, that's for sure. His intellect is unmistakable, and he's exhibited an almost intrinsic ability to influence others. With careful grooming, he could easily be a candidate for the position and title of Hokage. The only problem is..." Completing Shikaku's sentence, Hiruzen mused, "He lacks ambition...most of his efforts are to ensure he won't have responsibility thrust upon him..." Nodding his head, Shikaku mused, "He reminds me of my son. Both have incredible potential, but they would rather do their own thing. Wu-kun is a bit better, as he at least attempts to fit in, but I can see him just 'giving up' if things become too stressful. Right now, he's just being prudent because he feels he hasn't fully integrated into our society." Returning a nod of his own, Hiruzen took a moment to move one of his pieces before replying, "Then it appears we're in agreement...in order to tie Wu to the village, we need to give him a 'reason' to stay, something to motivate him. Any thoughts...?" Moving one of his pieces, Shikaku's expression became serious as he suggested, "I would recommend the girl from the Inuzuka Clan, but she doesn't appear to have a lot of 'value' in Wu-kun's mind. The heiress of the Hyuga Clan would have been a good option, but her infatuation with Naruto-kun complicates things. She 'does' have a younger sister, but the Elders and Lord Hiashi are currently evaluating her as a substitute for her sister..." Continuing the line of discussion, Hiruzen added, "There is also the matter of her age...four years isn't a considerable gap, but Wu-kun's growth has been exponential thus far. By the time young Hanabi comes of age, it may be too late. If Wu-kun believes he can excel outside of the village, he will venture beyond. I'm certain of it." Nodding his head, Shikaku appended, "I get the same impression." before asking, "The problem is, even Ino-chan&mdash;I mean, even the heiress of the Yamanaka Clan has someone she likes. Inoichi-san also dotes on her, so I can't imagine him agreeing to an arranged marriage..." Exhaling a sigh, Hiruzen muttered, "Then it really does just come down to those two, doesn't it? The Hyuga Clan is the only Clan whose values have yet to catch up with the times. If it's to strengthen themselves financially or politically, they will readily approve of such an arrangement..." Asking the obvious question, Shikaku inquired, "And what of the girl from the Inuzuka Clan? I'm not sure she comprehends her own emotions, but she is clearly attached to Wu-kun. If we're aiming to tie him to the village, it might be good to cover every base..." Though he agreed with what Shikaku was suggesting, Hiruzen shook his head, stating, "While that is certainly an option, there is a chance it would have the opposite of the intended effect. Wu-kun exudes a strong, underlying desire for autonomy. If we force him into a corner, he might run away." Exhaling a sigh of his own, Shikaku muttered, "How troublesome...and to think we're discussing an eight-year-old kid..." Adopting a faint smile, Hiruzen mused, "Wu isn't just any child. According to the Grand Elder of the Monkey Clan, Venerable Yama, his fate is tied to the Shinobi World as a whole. Seeing his progress thus far, there is a very real possibility that Wu will become the next God of Shinobi." Exhaling a markedly more exasperated sigh, Shikaku remained silent for several seconds before meeting Hiruzen's gaze and saying, "If he really is going to be the next God of Shinobi, we should slowly begin preparations for war. The other villages will not be able to remain silent once his power begins to blossom..." As much as he hated to admit it, Hiruzen knew Shikaku was correct. The Land of Fire had been at peace for too long, and the surrounding nations had taken notice. The Land of Wind had even started sending requests to Konoha for aid, so tensions with Suuna were on the rise. The only reason a conflict hadn't already started was because their Jinchuriki should only be around 6-10 years old. Reaching up to massage his forehead, Hiruzen groaned, "I'm getting too old for this..." Adding insult to injury, Shikaku unabashedly placed Hiruzen into Tsumi, the Shogi version of checkmate. Then, even though he doubted things would go smoothly, he rose to his feet and said, "I'll talk to Inoichi and see if he can't talk some sense into his daughter. As for the matter of your age...well, there's always Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya-san. I can't imagine either volunteering for the position, but it's worth reaching out to them to touch base. And, who knows? Maybe our little monkey friend has a thing for older women. The Senju Clan could certainly use a successor..." Recovering from his loss, Hiruzen gained a sly smile as he replied, "I'll reach out to them and see what I can do. Just don't let Tsunade catch you making suggestions like that. I know you want to retire, but I'd rather not have to find a replacement for my Jonin Commander during the build-up to a war..." Returning a smile of his own, Shikaku replied, "Obviously...I don't have a death wish." Then, as he was technically off the clock, he gave a parting wave to Hiruzen before leaving the elderly man to ruminate over the Shogi board... ... .. . With Ino's father refusing to let her spend the afternoon at a boy's house, even if said boy lived with the Hokage, Wu's week passed largely without incident. Hinata and Sakura were making steady progress in their training, and while Kaia had yet to master sticking to the log, she had some minor success emulating Wu's weight training. He had her start off with a mere 10kg on each limb, and after discussing it with Hiruzen, he had a weighted vest made to order for her tiny frame. Though it was strictly to help with her training, Kaia treated the 40kg vest as if it were a treasure Wu had fought through hell to acquire, specifically for her. She wore it everywhere she went, and while Wu considered this a good thing, it became an issue when Kaia collapsed from heat stroke. She had a habit of wearing baggy clothes, so the additional weight pushed the 21kg girl over the edge. Fortunately, while his name came up in the conversation, Wu wasn't held accountable for Kaia's collapse. She had willfully worn the vest and even received permission from her parents to do so. As a result, Wu managed to evade responsibility while Kaia was forced to choose between her vest and her baggy clothes. She unhesitantly chose the former, so while she still had a boyish appearance, Kaia began showing up to class in lighter, marginally more feminine clothes. Irrespective of the incident's outcome, Wu was just happy to reach the weekend. Having his afternoons occupied by a group of girls was a lot more stressful than he expected, so, while he wasn't particularly looking forward to meeting up with Tenten, he was eager to see if her father was even half the Blacksmith she purported him to be... Upon reaching his destination, a decently sized shop near the outskirts of the village, Wu's first impression was that Tenten's story had, at the very least, some merit to it. Land within Konoha was costly, so unless you were a member of the founding clans or possessed outstanding skills, leasing a large plot was impossible. Interrupting Wu's thoughts, Tenten emerged from the interior of the shop wearing a red, sleeveless qipao, maroon pants, and boots that appeared to have a metal cap covering the toe. There were smudges of black soot on her face and clothes, but she had a vibrant smile as she shouted, "Wu-kun, you actually came! Come on in! My parents can't wait to meet you~!" Adopting an amiable but significantly less enthusiastic smile, Wu replied, "I'm also looking forward to meeting them." before allowing himself to be dragged into the storefront. Unlike Sakura, Tenten was more than happy to bring a boy into her home, exclaiming, "Kaa-chan! Tou-san! Wu-kun's here~!" the moment they entered the shop. Exhibiting a remarkable resemblance to her daughter, Tenten's mom was a fairly attractive woman with almond-shaped eyes, delicate brows, and brown hair fastened into a neat bun. She wore a salmon-pink qipao that gave her an air of elegance, and, despite her thin arms and gentle smile, Wu felt the hair on his neck stand on end when their eyes met. Noticing Wu's body tense, Tenten's mother covered her mouth, stifling an amused chuckle before narrowing her eyes and saying, "It's nice to meet you, Wu-chan. As you no doubt have guessed, I'm Tenten's mother, Liling. I appreciate your coming by to visit our shop. I almost couldn't believe my ears when Tenten informed us she had invited a boy over." While still holding onto Wu's hand, Tenten puffed out her chest, saying, "I told you he was real. Now you owe us both an ice cream, Kaa-chan." Cupping her cheek, Liling smiled affectionately at her daughter's antics. However, before she could head off to the kitchen to get the two children some ice cream, her husband entered from the back room with a 'fierce' look on his rugged, fire-hardened face. Standing at 190cm tall and possessing a physique sculpted over two decades of forging, Tenten's father was a mountain of a man compared to the average person. His wild brown hair and piercing brown eyes gave him the same kind of untamed aura that Wu possessed. Despite this, the latter was certain he could take the man in a fight. After all, his Chakra reserves were even weaker than most Academy students. Fortunately for Tenten's father, his comparably dainty-looking wife was more than intimidating enough for the both of them. The notion that she could maintain her smile even while covered in the blood of her enemies was firmly imprinted into Wu's mind. Backed by his wife's aura, Tenten's father crossed his muscular arms, his voice deep and gruff as he narrowed his eyes and remarked, "So you're the boy my daughter's been chattering about all week..." Exhibiting none of the fear he was secretly enduring, Wu adopted a smile and replied, "If I had to guess, there's a fair chance that's the case. It's nice to meet you, Sir." Expecting the man to continue trying to intimidate him, Wu was surprised when Tenten's father suddenly beamed, a hearty chuckle emanating from his throat. Then, as if the atmosphere had suddenly changed, he wiped a tear from his eye and whispered, "My little girl is growing up..." Before Wu could recover from his shock, the atmosphere within the shop changed a third time, a massive grin developing across the man's face as he shouted, "Welcome to the Higurashi Weapon Shop! As Tenten's first male friend, you can rely on me, Higurashi Saizo, for all your weapon and maintenance needs...!" ... .. .

Chapter 17: A Change in Values