Kakashi's Miserable Day

Once all the apples in the orchard had been picked, Sasuke was doing fine, though he looked a little disheveled and dirty.

Naruto, however, was so exhausted that he lay on the ground with his eyes rolled back and his tongue hanging out, almost too tired even to breathe.

Hinata stood up, dusted off her backside, packed away the tea set and kettle, then followed Kakashi over to Naruto and Sasuke.

She glanced at Naruto.

Hmm... Naruto actually hadn't died from exhaustion yet. The Nine-Tails' vitality really was incredible!

But there was no rush. They had plenty of time to have fun.

At least until Naruto became the Seventh Hokage, Hinata would have plenty of chances to deal with him.

Even if Naruto became Hokage, Hinata would probably become a Hokage Advisor by then. She could still go pick fights with him now and then and make his life difficult.

It was fine. They had a whole lifetime ahead of them. I refuse to believe I can't torment you to death.

For teaching Konohamaru bad habits, and for letting Konohamaru seduce my little sister.

Just wait for death!

Kakashi put Icha Icha Paradise into his ninja tool pouch and said with satisfaction, "You all completed the mission very well. Next, we need to deliver these apples to the fruit farmer's house, so keep it up!"

"Phew! Phew!" Naruto gasped heavily and said weakly, "Ka... Kakashi-sensei, can... can we rest for a while?"

Kakashi grinned shamelessly. "All right, all right! You look like you've exhausted yourselves, so we'll wait a bit before delivering them."

Hinata bent down to look at Naruto and gave him a sweet smile. "Naruto, you've worked really hard. I'll teach you a little training trick now!"

"Watch carefully!"

With that, Hinata found an apple tree, stepped onto its trunk, and walked up it one step at a time until she was hanging upside down from a branch.

Without particularly avoiding Sasuke, Hinata explained loudly, "Tree climbing is the first step in training chakra control. Once you complete tree-climbing training, you'll greatly improve your control over chakra."

"The greatest benefit of improving chakra control is that you won't waste unnecessary chakra when using ninjutsu, and you'll be able to activate techniques faster!"

Naruto pushed himself up into a sitting position, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Hinata. He raised a hand and asked with a serious expression, "Um... Hinata, what's chadora?"

Hinata rolled her eyes at Naruto and ignored him, continuing her explanation. "The key to tree climbing is to gather chakra in the soles of your feet and create an attractive force to grip the trunk. This is actually very simple. Since trees don't move, you only need to stabilize your chakra to succeed."

"Hey! Hey!" Unhappy at being ignored by his students, Kakashi waved a hand. "This training is quite useful. I was planning to teach it to you later, but since Hinata has already brought it up, you can practice during breaks between missions!"

Sasuke's eyes shifted slightly. Since both Hinata and Kakashi considered this training important, it was worth trying.

Naruto was even more excited. He sprinted toward an apple tree and stepped onto its trunk, leaving a shallow dent an inch deep. His balance immediately gave out, and he fell face-first onto the ground.

Kakashi said helplessly, "Don't practice here. These are fruit trees someone worked hard to grow."

Hinata glanced at Naruto and suddenly said, "When practicing tree climbing, you must find a taller tree. It would be best to practice on a cliff."

I hope you fall to your death!

Still, the Nine-Tails' recovery ability was truly amazing. Naruto had regained his strength so quickly.

After delivering several dozen baskets of apples to the fruit farmer's home, Kakashi went back to turn in the mission. Before leaving, Hinata suddenly said, "Teacher Kakashi, thank you for treating us yesterday. Naruto, Sasuke, and I celebrated at the BBQ Restaurant yesterday. We put the bill on your tab, so remember to go pay it!"

Kakashi's foot slipped, and he nearly fell over.

What?

I treated you to barbecue yesterday?

Kakashi thought carefully about it, and it did seem like that had happened.

But Kakashi had assumed that since he ran away, Hinata and the other two would not go eat.

Who would have thought that not only had the three of them eaten barbecue, they had even put it on credit with the owner and made Kakashi pay the bill afterward...

Kakashi was on the verge of tears. I didn't even get a single bite!

Forget it. I didn't eat any barbecue, and it was Hinata and the other two who put it on credit. What did it have to do with me?

Thinking this, Kakashi ran into Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi, who were turning in a mission, as well as Might Guy's team, who had come to pick up a mission, at the mission assignment office.

The moment Might Guy saw Kakashi, he bared his teeth and gave him a thumbs-up. "Yo! Kakashi, just as expected of my lifelong rival. You even put the barbecue celebration with your students on credit. Why didn't I think of that trick?"

Kakashi: "..."

"Guy! Don't learn from Kakashi!" Kurenai Yuhi warned Might Guy, then glanced at Kakashi and asked quietly, "You aren't really planning not to pay, are you?"

Asuma smiled. "Kakashi probably wanted his students to pay the bill, but who would've thought they'd put it on credit? Kakashi, you miscalculated!"

Kakashi wanted to cry but had no tears. How had everyone found out after only one day?

Were they waiting here for me on purpose?

This definitely wasn't a chance encounter!

An innocent, well-behaved smiling face immediately surfaced in Kakashi's mind... then grew darker and darker, its smile becoming increasingly strange and sinister.

Just moments ago, Kakashi had been marveling at how wonderful it was to have a female subordinate at his side. But now... Kakashi decided to accept his fate!

He had no choice but to pay. If this spread through Konoha's entire Jonin circle, he really would be too ashamed to show his face in Konoha.

Kakashi thought back carefully. Today... he didn't seem to have agreed to treat them to a meal, did he?

Phew! He had escaped disaster.

After turning in the mission, Kakashi walked gloomily to the BBQ Restaurant, intending to settle yesterday's bill.

Just after paying the owner for yesterday's meal, a nightmare-like voice rang out beside Kakashi.

Hinata's voice was actually very sweet and soft.

"Teacher Kakashi, we've been waiting for you for ages. Come eat with us! We're planning to train after we finish eating, and we're waiting for you to give us some guidance!"

Kakashi turned his head mechanically. Sure enough, Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke were eating barbecue, and they had nearly finished already.

Hinata's voice was sweet, but it was also loud.

With that shout from Hinata, every customer in the BBQ Restaurant turned their eyes toward Kakashi.

Kakashi wanted to leave immediately, but if he did, the whole of Konoha would probably soon be saying: Konoha's Elite Jonin Kakashi was putting on airs and refused to eat with his Genin students.

Kakashi helplessly walked over and sat at Hinata's table. It seemed as if his soul had already left his body, and his entire figure was shrouded in a dark aura.

Kakashi kept questioning himself inwardly. Had it really been right to let Hinata and the other two pass the test yesterday?

Can I make that choice again?

Where on earth can I buy regret medicine?