"Man, there are unexpectedly quite a few competitors."
A guy with white hair tied into an upright braid and fluffy bandages wrapped around his neck grinned, revealing a set of sharp teeth.
Beside him, a red-haired girl frowned and said softly:
"Be careful. These people... are all pretty strong!"
The two were none other than the team captains of Kirigakure's two squads: Hozuki Mangetsu and Mei Terumi.
Kakashi's gaze passed over the heads of the crowd before finally settling on Kirigakure's competitors.
Was this the Kirigakure team Uncle Ye Ning had specifically told him to keep an eye on?
Their strength seemed... truly formidable!
To be honest, the moment he saw Kirigakure's Forehead Protectors, Kakashi had felt an urge to draw his blade and kill them all.
If Uncle Ye Ning hadn't arrived in time back then, Rin would have died by his own hand!
If that had really happened, Kakashi felt he might never have touched a blade again for the rest of his life.
Noticing Kakashi's gaze, Mei Terumi paused for a moment, then the corners of her lips lifted slightly in a subtle smile.
Though she hadn't yet fully matured, Mei Terumi was already graceful and poised. Every movement exuded a womanly charm, and the slight curve of her lips formed a smile that was intensely alluring.
When Rin noticed Kakashi gazing at a strange woman—and one who was especially alluring at that—her expression immediately fell. She instinctively added Mei Terumi to her blacklist.
As for the team's final member...
Shika leaned against the desk in front of her, eyes half-closed as she dozed.
She had stayed up late messing around with Sasori the night before, then gotten up early that morning, leaving her with two thick dark circles under her eyes.
Right now, all she wanted