Tenten was very curious about this, "What's wrong with Shino? He seemed very hurried."
Xia Mu smiled, "He's craving my cooking and is in a hurry to go home and pick out his favorite vegetables. Oh, right, the Aburame Clan is also good at growing vegetables because they raise insects. Shino is the clan head's son, and the vegetables at his house grow really well."
Shino is the clan head's son?
Tenten was even more surprised, not expecting Xia Mu to be friends with the child of the Aburame clan head.
His connections didn't seem like those of an ordinary person!
Seeing the girl spacing out, Xia Mu directly took her hand and walked forward, "Alright, stop spacing out. Let's go to the market to buy groceries, especially some winter melon. Shino loves winter melon the most."
Tenten looked at her small hand being held, felt the warmth of Xia Mu's palm, and subconsciously squeezed back.
A smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of her mouth, which she didn't even notice herself.
The two walked hand in hand through the market, but because they had a lot of vegetables to buy, they had to let go. The moment they let go, both felt a little reluctant, and when they looked at each other subconsciously, they couldn't help but blush.
Seeing this, the uncles and aunties buying groceries nearby all had knowing smiles on their faces.
Ah, this budding romance!
Xia Mu seemed immersed in it, completely unaware that Ino Yamanaka, who was delivering flowers for her shop, was watching from behind, her eyes full of gossip.
"Is that Xia Mu? This guy actually has a girlfriend?"
Although Xia Mu wasn't particularly handsome and his performance in class wasn't outstanding, the students in his class were deeply impressed by him because of his fight with Sasuke before.
Ino was a look-addict and also liked Sasuke, so she was naturally very curious about Xia Mu, who had beaten Sasuke.
Now seeing Xia Mu holding hands with a cute girl, it would be strange if she wasn't gossiping.
"Big news! I have to share this with my friends!"
Thus, without Xia Mu knowing, the news that he had a girlfriend spread among the girls in his class.
Meanwhile, Xia Mu and Tenten were carrying the groceries they had just bought back home. As soon as they arrived, they saw Shino waiting at the courtyard gate with two baskets of fresh vegetables. Even with his sunglasses on, his expectant expression was very obvious.
Xia Mu was speechless, "Shino, you're setting up a stall at my place again."
Shino said matter-of-factly, "There are too many vegetables at home to eat, so my dad told me to bring more over."
"Yes, yes, please thank your dad for me."
Xia Mu opened the courtyard gate, led the two inside, and then began to give orders without ceremony, "Tenten, help wash the vegetables. Shino, go peel the winter melon. Today I'll make you winter melon and ribs soup. After you're done, come help kill the chicken. I'll go start cooking the rice."
When Shino heard winter melon and ribs soup, although he hadn't tasted it yet, he knew it would be delicious, so he immediately started working.
Tenten, meanwhile, was fetching water to wash vegetables and curiously looking around the courtyard.
"Is this Xia Mu's house? Apart from being a bit quiet nearby, it's not bad. Especially the courtyard, it's full of life. I wonder if Xia Mu gets lonely living by himself."
Tenten didn't even realize that she was actively trying to understand Xia Mu's life.
He even subconsciously imagined what his future life here would be like, and couldn't help but smile.
Cooking didn't take long. The dishes fresh out of the pot were quickly served. Shino couldn't wait to pick up the winter melon and ribs soup to enjoy, with a look of intoxication.
Tenten tasted Xia Mu's cooking for the first time and was pleasantly surprised.
"Xia Mu, your cooking is so good!" Tenten praised.
"As long as you like it. You'll have good food from now on," Xia Mu replied.
"Good food from now on..."
Tenten's face immediately turned red. She felt that Xia Mu said this on purpose, hinting at a confession, but it wasn't obvious. Yet, she still felt that every dish was sweet, even though no sugar should have been added.
After the meal, it was getting late.
Shino was very sensible. After saying goodbye, he flashed and disappeared.
Xia Mu also seized the opportunity and directly pulled Tenten, "It's getting dark, I'll walk you home."
Tenten blushed again, but didn't refuse. The two walked slowly hand in hand, like they were taking a walk after eating, or like they were on a date. This feeling of being more than friends but not yet lovers was wonderful and joyful.
It was just a pity that they were both too young, otherwise their relationship should have progressed further.
After sending Tenten home, it was completely dark. Xia Mu walked quickly on the road, occasionally hearing faint footsteps, which were likely Ambu Ninja passing by.
Xia Mu didn't think much of it. After all, based on his usual performance, he shouldn't be targeted by Danzo.
Unless there were intruders from outside the Village. If he encountered them, he could only consider himself unlucky.
However, Xia Mu's current strength was not low. Even though he had learned very little and his self-created techniques had not been tested in actual combat, his physical strength was strong and he had a lot of Chakra. As long as he didn't encounter a Jonin, he shouldn't be in mortal danger.
Fortunately, Xia Mu returned home without any incident.
It was just that on the way, he kept feeling eyes on him, and the gaze was not friendly and not hidden, as if doubting whether a little kid running around outside late at night could be a spy.
Konoha Village, seemingly peaceful, was actually chaotic.
Before the Uchiha clan massacre, Danzo's Root dared to run rampant in the Village. Although Root was disbanded after the Uchiha clan massacre, the Village, lacking the vigilance of the Uchiha, was like a sieve, with spies entering the Village as if returning to their own homes. Especially after the Third Hokage's death, the Village Tsunade took over was already a sieve. Any nobody could cause chaos in the Village.
Tsk tsk, it's really unbearable to watch!
Of course, while Xia Mu complained, he was still cautious.
He also needed to tell Tenten and Shino that his future girlfriend and good friend couldn't get into trouble.
"As expected, without strength, you'll be anxious. I'd better hurry up and cultivate to become stronger as soon as possible."
Xia Mu decisively entered the gravity training room and used his will to adjust the gravity to three times. In an instant, it felt as if pressure filled his entire body, and even his blood was flowing downwards.
Although he hadn't been training in this training room for long, he had already adapted to double gravity.
Now that it was increased to three times gravity, he could still bear it, but he had to worry about whether he could grow taller in the future, as he was still too young.
Xia Mu then took out two scrolls.
One was the C-rank Ninjutsu, Water Release: Water Torrent, which he exchanged for the Transformation Technique: Paper Charade with Shino.
The Aburame Clan was good at controlling insects, but their Taijutsu was not very good. Paper Charade was very practical for Shino. Once he was close to an enemy, he could completely use Paper Charade to dodge attacks, prevent himself from being injured, and also hold on until his insects counterattacked or his companions rescued him.
The other was the Shadow Clone Technique, which he borrowed from Shino because he had a special idea he wanted to try. He would share the research results with Shino as compensation later.
Although Xia Mu considered Shino a good friend, he wouldn't take advantage of his good friend.
Borrow and return, so you can borrow again next time.