Want to Eat Ramen Together? (Please Keep Reading)

"Best friend?"

Hearing those two words, Kakashi was completely dumbfounded.

Since when did Might Guy have something like a best friend?

A few seconds passed.

Only then did Kakashi come back to his senses. Frowning, he asked, "Who is this best friend of yours?"

Had that carefree idiot been tricked by someone?

"It's Chi-san!!" Might Guy declared loudly.

Chi-san?

Kakashi blinked before remembering that the Chi-san Might Guy spoke of was actually Uchiha Chi.

That oddball was Might Guy's best friend?

Though the two of them were both oddballs...

Just as Kakashi began analyzing what the two had in common besides both being oddballs...

"Chi-san is here!"

Might Guy excitedly got to his feet and waved hard into the distance. "Chi-san, over here!"

Following Might Guy's gaze, Kakashi caught sight of a figure at the end of the horizon beneath the setting sun, slowly walking toward them.

At the same time, the figure seemed to spot them as well and sped toward them with visibly increasing acceleration.

In less than a few breaths, the figure's features became clear. Beneath his messy black hair was a refined face—the newcomer was Uchiha Chi.

"Well? Have you finished your push-ups?"

As his gentle voice rang out, a chilly gust of wind swept over them. Uchiha Chi arrived before the two of them.

Looking at the smiling Uchiha youth before him, Kakashi unconsciously narrowed his dead-fish eyes.

"That speed just now... was fast."

"I finished them a minute ago!"

Might Guy raised his right thumb and proudly pointed it at himself. "Three hundred diamond push-ups were merely a warm-up for youth!"

"I knew you could do it, Guy-san." Uchiha Chi nodded and praised him with a smile. "You'll definitely become an outstanding Taijutsu ninja someday."

Might Guy's face filled with emotion. "Chi-san, you'll definitely become an incredible ninja too..."

As the two traded Guy-san and Chi-san back and forth...

Kakashi quietly searched through what he knew about Uchiha Chi.

Uchiha Chi, fourteen years old, had been his classmate before Kakashi graduated.

As for his impression of him... he had no impression.

The only thing he remembered was that the other's ninja talent had been fairly ordinary.

Perhaps among civilians, it would have ranked above average. But among the Uchiha of the same class, he was a strong contender with Uchiha Obito for first place.

From the bottom...

Kakashi clearly remembered that when his father, Hatake Sakumo, had seen Uchiha Chi back then, he had sighed and said something.

"The Uchiha name may bring this child considerable pressure."

His father had once been Konoha's White Fang, renowned throughout the Ninja World.

Those wise eyes could see through all falsehoods. Some even boasted that they could rival the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.

Exaggeration or not, his father really could tell at a glance how much potential someone possessed.

Just like the then-unremarkable Might Guy—his father had also given him a very high evaluation.

And after interacting with him half-skeptically, Kakashi had indeed discovered that this bowl-cut's Taijutsu was outrageously good.

From then on, Kakashi had never doubted his father's judgment again.

But...

Uchiha Chi's movement speed just now had shaken Kakashi somewhat.

No matter how he thought about it, that was not something a Genin could achieve...

Kakashi considered it carefully and realized that even as a Chunin, he would probably need to combine it with the Body Flicker Technique to achieve that result.

But hadn't his father said Uchiha Chi lacked talent?

Could it be that he had remembered wrong? It wasn't, "This surname will bring him pressure," but rather, "He will bring pressure to this surname"?

Just as Kakashi was feeling somewhat confused...

Uchiha Chi finished his conversation with Might Guy and turned to look at him.

"Chunin Kakashi, long time no see."

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Kakashi felt the other's eyes flicker.

As though he had spotted some rare resource...

"...Just call me Kakashi." Kakashi fell silent for a moment. "It hasn't been that long, has it?"

It had only been two or three days since they had run into each other at the ramen shop.

"Is that so? But it feels like it's been a long time to me." Uchiha Chi blinked and said with a soft laugh, "Are you training here?"

Kakashi shook his head.

He had just wanted to say that he was merely passing by when Might Guy had already raised his hand. "Kakashi wants to duel me!"

Uchiha Chi looked at Kakashi. "So that's how it is."

"..." The corner of Kakashi's mouth twitched beneath his mask.

Before he could explain anything, Might Guy continued on his own.

"But I'm going to eat ramen with Chi-san now."

Might Guy held his head, looking deeply troubled.

"I still have extra training with my dad tonight. It seems I don't have time..."

As for tomorrow, he had even less time then.

The Ninja Squad assignments would be made the day after tomorrow, and they would begin assembling once the assignments were announced.

At that point, everyone would follow their respective instructors for special squad-based training.

So tomorrow would be their last stretch of free time for the near future.

Might Guy had already agreed with Uchiha Chi that, before the assignment list came out, they would have a passionate, youthful ninja showdown.

"Ah." Uchiha Chi raised a finger. "I have an idea."

Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy looked over at the same time.

"What idea do you have, Chi-san?" Might Guy asked curiously.

Kakashi kept Both Hands in his pockets without speaking, but he silently waited for Uchiha Chi's answer as well.

"It's simple," Uchiha Chi said. "Why not have Kakashi train with us tomorrow too?"

Might Guy's eyes lit up. He clenched his left hand into a fist and slammed it into his right palm.

Smack!

"Right!" Might Guy said. "That way, not only Chi-san, but Kakashi can duel me too."

As he spoke, he solemnly patted Uchiha Chi's shoulder. "As expected of my best friend. Chi-san, you'll definitely become a tactical ninja someday!"

Uchiha Chi smiled noncommittally and turned to Kakashi. "We haven't asked the person involved what he thinks yet."

Hearing that, Might Guy turned his bowl-cut head and held out his hand to Kakashi.

"Let's train together, Kakashi!"

Feeling Might Guy's burning gaze...

Kakashi hesitated for a moment. In the end, he did not take his hand out of his pocket, merely saying in a calm tone,

"I don't mind. If you two don't mind, then I can come."

"Then it's settled," Uchiha Chi said. "We'll meet here tomorrow morning at eight."

With that, Uchiha Chi nodded to Kakashi and headed down the path leading to the shopping street.

"Wait for me, Chi-san!" Might Guy shouted as he followed after him.

Kakashi remained where he was, watching the two chatting, laughing figures from behind.

His eyelids lowered slightly, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Suddenly, Uchiha Chi stopped and looked back together with Might Guy.

"Hey! Kakashi, have you had dinner yet?" Might Guy shouted.

Kakashi silently shook his head.

"Do you want to go eat ramen?" Might Guy continued to shout.

"..."

Several seconds passed in silence.

As the slanting sun completely vanished beyond the horizon...

Kakashi stepped away from where he stood, his face expressionless.

"I was going to eat ramen anyway."

He spoke in an indifferent tone.