"Gahahahaha!"
At dusk, a crow flew over Training Ground 1.
"Grrr..."
Naruto had been waiting for ages. He rubbed his stomach as it rumbled, then finally lost patience and sprang to his feet. "Why hasn't Kakashi-sensei shown up yet?"
"My stomach's already growling. You guys can wait if you want, but I'm going home!"
Naruto got up and looked around, but still couldn't see any sign of Kakashi. He dusted off his backside and started to leave. Sasuke didn't try to stop him either. He glanced sideways at Naruto and said softly, "It's probably for the best if you leave. Someone at your level would only hold us back in the test."
"You'll get eliminated in the end anyway. You might as well go home early. At least you'll make it back in time for dinner."
Sasuke Uchiha stretched, adjusted his position, and continued sitting on the ground. He showed no intention of getting up.
"Naruto, don't leave in such a hurry. We've already waited this long. It won't hurt to wait a little longer."
Unlike Sasuke, Karin spoke up to persuade him. She and Naruto were relatives, after all. She couldn't just watch him give up on Kakashi's test and leave. Karin had a feeling this was one of the tests Kakashi had planned for the three of them.
"Hmph. I don't think that guy's coming."
"I don't want to keep waiting around like an idiot!"
Naruto snorted, ignored Karin, and started walking away.
But he hadn't gone more than a few steps when he heard a faint sound behind him. Naruto turned around and saw a masked young man crouching on top of the training post Karin had been leaning against. His eyes crinkled with a smile. It was Kakashi Hatake, whom they'd met that afternoon.
"Yo!"
"Sorry,