Although he was the Kazekage's subordinate, Baki had survived this long... because he thought too much.
An Invitation from Sunagakure! The Embarrassing Moment of the Kazekage Family!
Gaara had picked a fight, only to be beaten up by Sasuke and Naruto. The matter came to an end when the Jonin Instructors from both sides appeared.
However.
As Gaara's group followed Teacher Maki toward the inn, Gaara turned back.
"During the exams, I'll have a proper fight with you."
"No problem!" Naruto flashed his snow-white teeth.
"...Hmph!" Sasuke, meanwhile, was as arrogant as ever.
"..." Temari and Kankuro.
Gaara walked ahead, while Temari and Kankuro glanced back at Kitahara Kaede before following their Jonin Instructor, Baki, away.
"You guys—" Kakashi rubbed his head as he watched the Sunagakure group leave.
"Teacher Kakashi, that little red-haired guy just now was really strong!" Naruto immediately cut him off.
"He looked about the same age as me, but his Taijutsu was really strong too."
"He could really take a beating!"
"He could take more punishment than Zabuza!"
"Was he using cheats or something?!"
Naruto chattered nonstop.
"..." Kakashi.
Although Naruto was the one saying it, Kakashi glanced toward Kitahara Kaede.
If anyone was using cheats, it should be you two.
The Shadow Clone Taijutsu training method Kitahara Kaede had suggested had caused Naruto and Sasuke's strength to soar.
You two already had the skills of Jonin, while what was Gaara?
He was the One-Tail Jinchuriki. His Taijutsu had been forged through countless escapes from death after the various assassination attempts by his trash father.
So...
You had only spent two weeks with Kitahara Kaede, yet you had instantly surpassed the insights and resolve Gaara had gained from escaping death dozens of times. You were the real ones using cheats, alright?!
Kakashi ranted wildly in his heart.
But the Observing Kitahara Kaede Small Group (^_-) had not opened today.
So he had no one to complain to with him.
Still, he said,
"I've already signed you up."
"However... I need to give you a warning," Kakashi said.
"Besides you, several other teams will also be taking the Chunin Ninja Exams."
"Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame."
"Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi."
"..." When Kakashi mentioned Hinata's name, his expression shifted slightly, and he paused.
Because.
Unlike Naruto and Sasuke.
Kakashi remembered that Kitahara Kaede had specifically activated the Mangekyo and used Tsukuyomi to improve Hinata's Taijutsu.
In other words, she had received special treatment.
Wait...
Kakashi suddenly felt that the memories that had been erased from his mind had something to do with the Mangekyo Tsukuyomi.
But for some reason, whenever he tried to recall those words, his mind deliberately skipped over it.
"..." It was a little strange.
Kakashi always felt that he had gone through something painful, and his body had instinctively made him forget it.
Although they had run into Gaara's group, it did not cause Team 7 any trouble.
Everyone continued doing what they needed to do.
Naruto and Sasuke had trained for several consecutive days, so they planned to rest for a day.
Kitahara Kaede, meanwhile, went to read the little yellow book Kakashi had brought over.
So... there was nothing for Kakashi to do here either.
Kakashi was about to head back when he suddenly stopped.
Because Kakashi had also realized... he had clearly accepted the task of helping Sasuke upgrade his tomoe and further improving Naruto...
Yet no one in the small group had urged him on.
That was really strange??
Night fell.
Kitahara Kaede closed Jiraiya's [Make-Out Tactics].
He was a little disappointed.
Because Jiraiya was probably not a virgin, so the books he wrote were not as erotic as the novels written by virgins.
They made him feel... not much at all.
Ding-dong—
The clock on the table swung to six o'clock.
Kitahara Kaede left his apartment.
Living alone, he could cook for himself, but with the Chunin Ninja Exams approaching, Kitahara Kaede felt it was better to eat out.
In terms of military strength, the Hidden Leaf Village was not particularly strong, but its commercial development was quite good.
Besides Ichiraku Ramen, which had both history and a solid reputation, there were also entire streets dedicated to dining and entertainment.
"One serving of barbecue for one."
Kitahara Kaede's diet was very balanced.
He had eaten plenty of vegetables yesterday, so naturally he needed to replenish his meat intake today.
"Oh... please wait a moment!"
But the waiter who had just left with the notepad for his order turned back around.
"Someone ordered sukiyaki for you."
"..." Kitahara Kaede.
Kitahara Kaede looked up, and two young people had followed behind the waiter.
A man and a woman.
Judging by their clothing, they did not wear specialized ninja outfits, so they should have been Genin.
But the forehead protectors they wore bore the symbol of Sunagakure.
And based on his extracted memories, he knew they were Temari and Kankuro, members of Gaara's Sunagakure group.
However, Kankuro did not have the red markings painted on his face, and he was not wearing that black outfit with a pair of ears. He only wore an ordinary shirt.
He looked completely ordinary, the sort of person one would not recognize in a crowd.
But his sister Temari was different.
After all, she was the village beauty of a whole village.
She certainly had the looks.
"Let me introduce myself," Temari said. "I'm Temari from Sunagakure."
"And this is my younger brother, Kankuro."
"I'm sorry about Gaara's rude behavior yesterday."
"Although Gaara is on the same team as us, there was nothing we could do to stop him."
"And then..." Temari paused before sitting down on her own. "Living with two genius teammates must be pretty tough, right?"
"..." Kitahara Kaede.
????
The geniuses Temari meant were Naruto and Sasuke... and being stuck between geniuses... was she saying... he was weak?
"..." Kitahara Kaede.
Seeing that Kitahara Kaede said nothing, Temari continued, "If being surrounded by geniuses on your team makes you feel uncomfortable."
"Have you considered... going to a special ninja village?" Temari blushed slightly as she took Kitahara Kaede's right hand.
Kankuro stood to the side like background scenery.
"If you're willing, Sunagakure is always open to talented people from all walks of life."
Temari said this with a faint blush on her face.
She probably was not very good at this kind of recruitment.
Beep!
And at that moment, the Observing Kitahara Kaede Small Group (^_-) activated.
The moment everyone entered the group, they saw... the beauty of a neighboring village holding Kitahara Kaede's hand.
Tobirama had just been about to say that Kitahara Kaede had incredible luck with women when he heard Temari's words.
Among them... Fourth Mizukage Rasa, who had been excluded from the group, also noticed his daughter and son.
Hashirama Senju: Am I seeing this right? People from Sunagakure actually think Kitahara Kaede is weak!
Minato Namikaze: Yeah.
Minato Namikaze: And they even want to pull him into Sunagakure! I'm shocked!
Unmarriageable Older Single Woman: I'm shocked too. They're actually about to put it into action!
Worst Kazekage—Rasa: What are you talking about? That's my son and daughter.
Tobirama Senju: So they're your children. No wonder.
Might Guy: +1
Honest Kisame: +1
Worst Kazekage—Rasa: Just say what you mean. I was muted a few days ago, so I couldn't see what happened here.
Might Guy: Pitiful.
Minato Namikaze: Pitiful +1
Brother of Hashirama Senju: Even I know Kitahara Kaede is a big shot. Yet your whole family thinks he's the weakest.
Brother of Hashirama Senju: Take a look at this group's name.
Brother of Hashirama Senju: Observing Kitahara Kaede Small Group. If he weren't a huge shot, why would we be observing him?
Worst Kazekage—Rasa: Huh?
Before you continue