"Kakashi-sensei."
Just as Hao Shuai was wondering where to find Sasuke, Sasuke's voice suddenly rang out. A moment later, he came around the corner in the distance. "What a surprise. You're actually not late."
"Speak of the devil, and he appears! What are the odds?" Hao Shuai couldn't help grumbling as Sasuke approached.
Unfortunately, Kakashi had no time to pay attention to Sasuke. Just as Sasuke had appeared, a trace of chakra had come from the dango shop.
Clearly, someone had used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
"You three go ahead. I'll catch up in a moment," Kakashi said suddenly, giving Hao Shuai and the others a meaningful look.
Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi understood the signal and nodded. Then they vanished in a blur. Hao Shuai, however, stayed right where he was.
"Kakashi-sensei, what happened?" Sasuke asked in confusion.
He wasn't stupid. If he still hadn't realized something was going on, he'd hardly deserve the reputation of a Uchiha prodigy.
At Sasuke's question, Kakashi first gave Hao Shuai a helpless glare, then answered vaguely, "Nothing. It's just something between a few jonin."
"I have something to take care of, so I'm leaving for now. Continue training according to the plan we discussed."
With that, Kakashi vanished before Sasuke could say anything.
Sasuke: "???"
Completely baffled, Sasuke turned to Hao Shuai, hoping he could explain.
"Want to see how elite jonin fight?" Hao Shuai asked, offering no explanation and instead tempting him with a knowing smile.
"Elite jonin? You mean Kakashi-sensei and the others ran into an enemy?!" Clever Sasuke immediately understood.
"Bingo! You got it!" Hao Shuai nodded in approval. "Want to go?"
"I'm in!" Sasuke, who was focused on getting stronger, wasn't about to miss a chance to watch powerful fighters battle.
"Then let's go!" Hao Shuai,