Kakashi Really Was a Bad Student!

The afternoon classes were just as boring as ever. Yuki Yuichi had guessed Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions, but Kakashi Hatake and the others hadn't.

Even Yuhi Kurenai had spent the whole afternoon nervously watching Umino Ikkaku, afraid he might call them out and reprimand them at any moment.

But they'd been worrying for nothing.

Umino Ikkaku never called them out, not even as the end of the school day approached.

"Yuichi, the teacher didn't criticize us after all," Yuhi Kurenai whispered, smiling bashfully.

"Hehe, let's hurry home later. If the teacher remembers, we'll be done for."

Yuhi Kurenai assumed Umino Ikkaku had forgotten. She cautiously poked Yuki Yuichi with her hand.

Umino Ikkaku had been lecturing at the front when his ears suddenly twitched. He'd heard what Yuhi Kurenai said, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

All right, I'll pretend I don't know about it, and you think I've forgotten?

Yuhi Kurenai's words left Yuki Yuichi at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Umino Ikkaku was a Chunin, after all. How could he forget something like that?

Thinking this, he patted Yuhi Kurenai on the head. "It's fine. The teacher isn't that petty."

After hearing Yuhi Kurenai, Umino Ikkaku focused all his attention on them. Hearing that, he nodded with satisfaction.

Before long, the school bell rang.

Umino Ikkaku didn't keep them late and dismissed the class right away.

But just as Yuki Yuichi and the others were about to climb out the window, Umino Ikkaku cleared his throat. "Yuki Yuichi, come with me!"

He had a very good impression of Yuki Yuichi.

Although he'd thought Yuichi was a troublemaker when they first met, he'd since realized that wasn't really the case.

Especially yesterday, when they'd both skipped class. Yuki Yuichi had been very apologetic afterward, which clearly showed he was a good kid.

He'd probably only skipped class today because Kakashi Hatake had talked him into it!

Thinking this, Umino Ikkaku glanced at Kakashi Hatake, then let out a heavy sigh.

Kakashi Hatake stared at him, utterly confused. What was the teacher doing?

Why was he sighing at me out of nowhere?

While he was still baffled, Yuki Yuichi passed him and couldn't help patting him on the shoulder. "Kakashi, don't be like that. The teacher's only doing it for your own good."

At that, Kakashi Hatake stared at him blankly, pointing at himself, then at Yuki Yuichi. "I... you... no... I..."

Kakashi Hatake was so tongue-tied that a thousand alpacas seemed to be stampeding through his mind.

Umino Ikkaku's opinion of Yuki Yuichi improved even further.

Just look at what a good kid he was.

He must have been led astray by delinquent Kakashi!

Umino Ikkaku thought this to himself. It wasn't just Yuki Yuichi—Yuhi Kurenai and Uchiha Obito had been led astray too.

Even Lord Hokage's child had turned out like this.

Thinking of that, Umino Ikkaku looked at Kakashi Hatake with some disapproval. Still, remembering that a teacher was responsible for guiding his students, he advised him earnestly, "Kakashi, you should learn from Yuichi and the others!"

Kakashi Hatake: "???"

While he stood there confused, Yuki Yuichi followed Umino Ikkaku away.

Yuhi Kurenai's worried voice reached his ears. "I hope Yuichi will be all right..."

"Don't worry, Kurenai." Uchiha Obito's carefree voice rang out. "That guy Yuichi isn't someone who'd get chewed out easily!"

Kakashi Hatake glanced over at him, then nodded.

Uchiha Obito could be a bit dense, but this time he'd accidentally guessed right.

Ikkaku-sensei had seemed perfectly friendly toward Yuki Yuichi just now.

Kakashi Hatake glanced at Uchiha Obito, then relaxed.

Sarutobi Asuma sat at his desk with his hands clasped behind his head. "Are we waiting here for him?"

Mitaraishi Anko was sitting in front of Sarutobi Asuma. Hearing them, she couldn't help asking curiously, "By the way, where did you guys go this morning?"

"Did you go get something tasty?!"

Her voice grew excited at the mention of tasty food.

Seeing her like that, Yuhi Kurenai smiled.

"You're Anko, right?"

"We went to train."

Yuhi Kurenai's answer dampened Mitaraishi Anko's enthusiasm. Compared to training, she preferred lying on her desk and zoning out to the sound of the teacher lecturing.

While the others chatted, Yuki Yuichi followed behind Umino Ikkaku, wondering what the teacher wanted with him.

He followed Umino Ikkaku to a quiet spot, where they stopped.

As Yuki Yuichi wondered what was going on, Umino Ikkaku turned to him with a smile.

"Yuichi, can you tell me where you went this morning?" Umino Ikkaku's reasoning was simple.

Lord Hokage had only told him to turn a blind eye, so there was no harm in asking, right?

Yuki Yuichi looked at him in surprise, then nodded. There was no reason he couldn't tell him.

"Yesterday, we ran into Big Brother Minato and Uncle Hokage."

"Surely you know about that, teacher?" Yuki Yuichi asked, looking at Umino Ikkaku.

He nodded. Yuki Yuichi had mentioned it during yesterday's Will of Fire class, so he knew about it.

Yuki Yuichi continued, "Yesterday, we went to the training ground above Kage Rock, and that's where we ran into Big Brother Minato."

"So today, Kakashi took us there to practice and train."

Umino Ikkaku nodded in understanding. Now he finally understood what they'd skipped class to do.

Skipping class wasn't right, but he understood that the lessons were incredibly dull for children who already knew everything being taught.

Since they hadn't gone wandering off to play, he could turn a blind eye.

Thinking this, Umino Ikkaku smiled and told Yuki Yuichi he could head home.

But as Yuki Yuichi turned to leave, Umino Ikkaku remembered why he'd called him over and spoke up at once.

"In that case, you can come to school in the morning, then skip class and go train."

"But you must come to class in the afternoon!"

Umino Ikkaku's tone left no room for argument. Yuki Yuichi nodded. He would've come in the afternoon even if the teacher hadn't said so.

There was no other reason. He couldn't go to school and then not show up.

Besides, the afternoon lesson was about the Will of Fire...

He was an inheritor of the Will of Fire, after all!

Of course he had to attend!

And he wouldn't just listen—he'd take notes too!

After Yuki Yuichi left, Umino Ikkaku sighed with feeling. "What a disciplined young man."

As he spoke, he suddenly realized something.

"Kakashi took them to the training ground again..."

Umino Ikkaku murmured, then his face flushed red. "I knew it was Kakashi!"

"Yuki Yuichi was such a good kid, and Kakashi has led him so far astray!"

Umino Ikkaku was furious. If Kakashi Hatake had been there, he would have given him a proper scolding.