"Is that so?"
It was the morning of the second day, and also the morning of the tenth day of staying at camp. Standing atop the camp's tall log wall, Kakashi watched the children scatter and skillfully carry out their tasks. He glanced at Chiba, who had suddenly spoken, and replied in a tone that carried a trace of accustomed resignation.
"Yeah, I don't know when I'll be able to get back. Today's celebration for the end of staying at camp—no, the celebration for the successful conclusion of the exercise—might have to be left to you. Is that alright?"
Chiba did not turn around. He merely continued.
"Mm... There probably won't be any problem. Recently, some of the students have already caught on. They've realized you're just a figurehead and accepted that fact. I think it'll be fine."
Kakashi blinked and answered rather casually.
This guy...
At those words, Chiba's mouth twitched slightly.
He's definitely mocking me! No!
He's simply dissatisfied with me. There's absolutely no way the students have caught on! he practically shouted inwardly.
"As long as there's no problem, then I'll be setting off."
Still, he was in the wrong after all. Kakashi's overt and subtle teasing went in one ear and out the other. If he really tried to argue about it, he would have nothing to say.
Ever since the camp stay began, aside from the three days of torrential rain and the first day after it, he had not attended a single activity involving the Ninja Engineering Corps. Every day had begun with Kakashi saying something like, "The Hokage Assistant still has many matters to handle, so I'll be in charge here..."
In the end, there had even been a ceremony along the lines of "all command authority shall be entrusted to Kakashi."
Regarding