It was because of that chase between Kakashi and me!
Even though we were only fooling around, we had circled the entire camp. And to shake off Kakashi, I had kept heading for concealed places—places suitable for hiding.
Those places were precisely the best spots for spies to hide and observe the camp.
Although I had not meant anything by it, it must have looked exactly like the two of us were using our chase as cover, putting on what seemed to be a playful act but was actually a patrol and inspection. That would absolutely make them wary or suspicious.
Kumogakure's spies must have stayed put because of that!
I was too careless! Too reckless! Too thoughtless! As Hirohiko looked at him with mild surprise, these thoughts repeatedly flashed through Chiba's mind, filling him with extreme regret.
Chiba... was blaming himself that much? Watching Chiba, Hirohiko slowly lowered the rice he had been about to put into his mouth, his brow faintly furrowing.
Although Chiba still looked as though he never let his emotions show, as his close friend, Hirohiko could see every subtle change in Chiba's expression. Just as Chiba understood him, he understood Chiba as well. Chiba was definitely regretting this now—regretting it deeply.
Now...
What should he say?
How could he make Chiba feel better? After realizing Chiba's regret, those thoughts began turning over in his mind.
"Then... is the impact serious?"
But after thinking for a long time, he still could not come up with anything to comfort Chiba. Though he had thought hard about it, even racking his brains, comforting others was the thing he was worst at. In the end, he could only ask about Chiba's current situation.
After all, when Chiba had told him about it that day, he had said that