"Hey, you guys passed the test too?" Naruto broke the silence first, casually greeting the Sunagakure team. "You actually made it here on the first day. That's impressive."
Satsuki and Sakura were already used to Naruto's habit of treating everyone with courtesy and goodwill. They merely turned their eyes toward the three people at the door.
That guy...
Kankuro recognized that smiling face at a glance—the one he had seen not long ago. Along with his surprise came an intense wariness that instantly filled his heart.
This guy could have taken my life without any effort... and he looks about Gaara's age. Even though he was deeply wary, Kankuro stubbornly believed that Naruto could not possibly be stronger than his own monstrous little brother.
Gaara's lifeless eyes fixed on Naruto. That smile, far too glaring in his eyes, along with the inexplicable agitation and unease Naruto's presence stirred within him, made him intensely uncomfortable.
In the end, however, he said nothing. He merely swept his cold gaze over the three members of Team 7, then headed straight for a corner of the lounge. He sat down far away from them and closed his eyes.
Kankuro fell silent for a moment, seemingly choosing his words. In the end, he replied in a markedly restrained tone, completely unlike his previous arrogance. "No, compared to you... I was still a step behind."
After saying that, he exchanged a look with Temari. The two of them found seats near Gaara, though not directly beside him. Clearly, they still kept a certain distance from him.
This guy... his attitude has gotten a lot more polite.
Naruto was somewhat surprised by Kankuro's almost "humble" response. After all, Kankuro, who had long lived under the threat of death from his younger brother, had always looked down on