Naruto raised his eyes and met those dead-fish eyes.
Only then did he drawl, "I like making friends. I hate solo activities!"
After saying that, Naruto glanced at Kakashi. Though his face remained calm when he said it, he was still upset inside. Ever since learning about Kakashi from his parents, he had carried an inexplicable hope.
He had hoped this man would step forward and tell him, Hey, I was actually always there.
Or perhaps, Hey, I came too late. Sorry.
That would definitely have made him happy, right?! Yes, very happy.
But five years had passed. Never mind the seven years before that, when Naruto had not even known Kakashi existed—but why had Kakashi never appeared in the five years after Naruto found out?
Naruto recalled the time they had gone to watch fireworks. He had seen Kakashi at the convenience store then too, but even though they had met, Kakashi had not stepped forward to say a single word.
That left Naruto with a measure of resentment.
Which was why he had taken a jab at Kakashi during his introduction.
Naruto's jab made Kakashi flush crimson. Wasn't that talk of solo activities aimed straight at him?
Kakashi's gaze fell on Icha Icha Paradise, and for the first time, it no longer seemed appealing.
Though there had been plenty of times when Kakashi had felt Icha Icha Paradise was no longer appealing after finishing his activities, he would pick it up again a day or two later and read it with delight.
Ah, it really was wonderful!
He secretly glanced at Naruto, but Naruto's face revealed nothing. That had probably been an unintentional remark, right? Thinking so, Kakashi quietly breathed a sigh of relief and said,
"Well, you've finished introducing yourselves. Now it's the teacher's turn..."
"My name