In the largest clearing of a forest one kilometer from the Hokage Rock Faces cliffs, where the trees were enormous but relatively sparse.
"What exactly is going on, Kakashi?"
Behind Kakashi, who seemed to be calculating the time by looking at the sun overhead, a somewhat aloof voice spoke with cool impatience.
"Exactly, Kakashi-sensei. You suddenly called us here. Is something important going on? If not, I still need to train."
Then came a rather carefree voice, bright and cheerful yet carrying a trace of impatience, as if its owner had something urgent to do.
"Hee!"
At the same time, there seemed to be the faint sound of a girl's delighted laughter.
"Well... don't be so impatient. You can train anytime, but it's rare for so many people to gather together. That's something rare in itself."
Hearing the impatient complaints behind him, Kakashi narrowed his only exposed right eye, then turned around and spoke in an especially lazy tone.
His words gave off an extremely perfunctory feeling.
And to the ears of the three teenagers behind him, they even seemed to contain an element of deception.
They absolutely did not believe that guy in front of them, especially with such a half-hearted attitude. Besides, no matter how rare this occasion was, none of the three had any interest in it.
For Second Pillar, what he needed at this stage was for Kakashi to train him. He needed greater power. During these Chunin Exams, he had seen far too many powerful people: Hada Ichiba, Gaara, Neji Hyuga. Even Naruto, the dead last, had caught up with him. To be honest, after witnessing Orochimaru's terror, Second Pillar was feeling somewhat anxious. He had realized his own weakness. Perhaps compared to the other people of his generation in the village, or even his