Watching Jiraiya mumble to himself, Nawaki tugged at Minato's sleeve, whispering, "Hey, Minato, do you think Jiraiya-sensei might be... you know... a little off?"
Nawaki pointed at his own temple, making a circular motion.
Minato rolled his eyes.
"Give me a break. Jiraiya-sensei's fine. It's just his bad habits acting up. Didn't Xin say that peeping is addictive?"
"Cough, cough!"
Whoa!
He thought he was ruthless, but Minato, you're even worse!
Nawaki's eyes widened in shock.
"Just don't mention that in front of Jiraiya-sensei, or he'll get mad," Minato quickly added, realizing he might've gone too far.
"Deal!" Nawaki grinned, before shoving a dirty sock in Minato's face. "You wash my socks, and I'll keep quiet."
Minato stared at the smelly sock for a few seconds, completely stunned.
"Are you serious?"
"If you don't, I'll tell Xin that you had a crush on Mikoto when we were in school. You wouldn't want that, right?"
"Mmpphh!"
Minato had been trying to tease Nawaki, but the young boy panicked and, in his haste, stuffed the sock into Minato's mouth.
Minato's eyes bulged in horror, his entire body shaking as his face turned red.
Oh no...
Realizing what he'd done, Nawaki tossed the sock aside and ran.
"Minato, I'm sorry! Don't-ah! That hurts! You jerk, don't hit me so hard!"
"You little brats."
Jiraiya glanced at the scene of Minato chasing after Nawaki but couldn't bring himself to care.
All he wanted now was to get back to the village, take a break, and do some things he'd been wanting to do.
...
Who's badmouthing me?
Rubbing his nose, Xin glanced up at the bright sun. The weather was perfect; there was no reason to feel chilly. Someone must be talking about him behind his back.
Shifting into a more comfortable position, Xin leaned back against the tree trunk and continued to relax.
"I can't take it anymore!" Uchiha Ryoji suddenly erupted.
He had been enduring this all morning, and now he was at his breaking point.
The three members of Xin's squad all looked pretty disheveled. Only Aida Sui seemed to be holding it together.
Ryoji and Hyuga Suzune, on the other hand, were desperate to drop the bamboo baskets they carried on their backs and stomp them into the ground, maybe even burn the stinking garbage inside.
Tossing his basket to the ground, Ryoji's forehead veins bulged as he shouted, "Captain, why are we doing this stupid mission? This trash stinks! I'd rather be digging ditches!"
He remembered vowing never to work in the fields again, yet here he was, after just one morning, regretting that decision.
Ryoji would rather be covered in mud than picking up garbage.