In a certain mountain valley in the Shinobi world, a wisp of white smoke floated above the forest, constantly shifting its position as time passed.
Gurgle, gurgle...
On a cart made of Wood Style, a bright red crab sat "happily." Its former master, Otsutsuki Toneri, served as its chauffeur. Such treatment was unprecedented for it.
All this was thanks to Lin Yu's recognition of its talent!
"Mmm! The taste is so delicious!"
Toneri held a giant crab leg, taller than himself. The snow-white crab meat, paired with Lin Yu's secret sauce, filled Toneri with anticipation for his future life.
He wondered if Lin Yu, the boss of the organization, would provide meals. If so, it would be perfect!
"How is it? Tastes good, right?"
"It's simply a delicacy of unparalleled taste!"
Lin Yu, holding a colossal crab claw, ate heartily of the hard-won ingredients. He lamented how many years such a large crab must have lived.
Mmm! So tender and fresh!
"Boss, are we going to the organization now?" Toneri asked while eating crab meat.
Lin Yu's eyes darted around. "Yes, first I'll take you to town to buy some clothes and daily necessities."
"But I have many things in my castle..."
Lin Yu interrupted Toneri, saying sternly, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Your clothes aren't suitable for the Shinobi world; people will say you have bad taste!"
"Is that so?" Toneri found sense in his words and continued to bury his head in gnawing the crab meat.
The figures of the two gradually receded. Birds occasionally took flight among the trees. Spring had arrived...
"By the way, Toneri, since you've joined the organization, you must remember one thing: all members must be self-reliant!"
"No problem!" Toneri was very confident about this. With pure Otsutsuki blood flowing through him, wouldn't it be easy to support himself!
"I mean, you need to pay for the clothes we buy later yourself!"
Toneri: ...
Toneri couldn't help but glance back at the moon passage. He suddenly felt a pang of regret. Could this be a road of no return?
...
In the afternoon, in a valley near the Land of Wind, a magnificent fortress stood, starkly out of place with its surroundings.
"Time to eat, time to eat!"
At this moment, the spacious dining hall was filled with most of the members of the Eternal Organization, but their faces lacked the joy of mealtime.
Bang!
Samui, wearing an apron, placed a large pot of rice heavily on the dining table. Her rather delicate face showed a deep expression of mockery.
A bunch of paupers who wouldn't even contribute money to buy ingredients!
The Hozuki brothers sighed and were the first to pick up their bowls to serve rice. Then, with another sigh, they quietly ate a small portion of pickles.
To build a luxurious swimming pool, they were willing to eat plain rice but not waste a single cent!
Among those present, only Pakura and Kimimaro ate their plain rice with pickles calmly. The former comforted herself by saying she was on a diet, while the latter believed that food was merely for sustenance and had no impact on improving strength.
卷 (Konjiki) had woken up and learned the reason for Pakura's eagerness for revenge. Konjiki understood why Pakura was so driven to avenge herself; anyone in her shoes would not forgive.
It was precisely because of this that Konjiki felt useless, unable to help her master in any way, and was now freeloading meals here.
Looking at the pickles and plain rice on the table, Konjiki's gaze towards Pakura became even more sympathetic.
Her master must have had a very difficult time over the years, eating even worse than she did.
Gaara sat at his seat, quietly eating with his head bowed, daring not to make the slightest movement. This was because beside him was a strange man who kept scrutinizing him.
Orochimaru!
Apart from Mei Terumi, all members who resided permanently at the base were present.
"I say, not a single one of you is investing any money for groceries?"
Samui watched everyone eating with what seemed like great enjoyment, her high chest heaving. What kind of bizarre organization had she joined?
Everyone remained silent. They didn't even receive a salary, and they expected them to buy groceries?
Impossible!
Suddenly, as if sensing a fragrance, Suigetsu Hozuki stepped onto his chair and sniffed the air repeatedly.
"So fragrant, so fragrant! It smells like crab meat!"
"Sister Samui, did you steam a big crab?"
Samui hit Suigetsu with her spatula and said with her hands on her hips, "You stingy people still want to eat big crabs? Dream on!"
"Suigetsu, have you gone crazy from hunger?" Mangetsu Hozuki looked at his brother with concern, feeling a little resentful that perhaps he was being too thrifty. Suigetsu was still in his growth stage and should be eating better.
"I really smell it!"
Orochimaru seemed to have guessed something. He wiped his mouth and chuckled before leaving the dining hall. He still had many experiments to research.
"Everyone's here?"
Lin Yu arrived at the dining hall with a somewhat excited Toneri. He looked at Gaara with slight surprise, then patted Toneri's back and said,
"Quick, boldly pursue your love!"
Toneri hesitated for a moment, then walked towards the trio of Kimimaro with his hands behind his back.
"My name is Otsutsuki Toneri. Can you be my male companions?"
The moment he said this, everyone present was stunned. Even Lin Yu was surprised. Damn, Toneri's appetite was quite large!
Could he be planning to take them all?
Pakura and Samui both rolled their eyes at Lin Yu. As expected, bad men brought back unruly people, but this one seemed too abnormal.
If outsiders were this astonished, how much more so the three directly targeted?
Even Kimimaro, with his normally unfazed demeanor, was shocked by Toneri's words. Had this guy lost his mind?
You? Male companions?
What was all this about!
Kimimaro forced himself to remain calm and continued eating, his hand holding the bowl trembling slightly. Suigetsu, on the other hand, had already burrowed into Mangetsu Hozuki's arms, his eyes filled with terror.
Only Gaara looked at Toneri blankly and asked curiously, "Male companion, does that mean friend?"
Toneri had learned a lot from Lin Yu on the way. Love needed to start from friendship, then above friendship, before lovers, and finally...
"Yes!"
Toneri elegantly extended his left hand towards Gaara and said softly, "May I know your name?"
Gaara happily replied, "My name is Gaara, nice to meet you!"
For Gaara, who had been lonely since childhood, this was incredibly special. In his entire life, Toneri was the first person to actively initiate friendship with him, and he was overjoyed!
The two only shook hands briefly before separating. Toneri saw Gaara eating plain white rice and couldn't help but frown.
"Why are you only eating plain rice?"
Gaara lowered his head. He truly had no money in his pocket; he was the poorest in the organization.
Toneri saw through Gaara's thoughts. He generously took out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to him, then declared to everyone, "From now on, I, Toneri, will cover all your meals!"
Where did Toneri get the money? Of course, when buying clothes, he had mortgaged one of the side halls of his castle to Lin Yu, though how much Lin Yu had deducted was known only to him.
"He's a rich man!"
Suigetsu Hozuki shed tears of joy. Finally, they would have good days ahead!
Lin Yu, watching from the side as Toneri showered Gaara with riches, felt a sense of a domineering CEO.
This Toneri fellow, could he really be planning to start a harem?