Kakashi slept like the dead.
He remained unconscious for a full day and night before finally coming around from his severe chakra depletion.
As soon as he opened his eyes, a rich, fruity fragrance drifted into his nose.
"Cough, cough... What smells so good?"
Kakashi sat up weakly and rubbed his aching head.
He looked around and found himself lying in a guest room on the second floor of Tazuna's house.
On the bedside table sat a colorful platter of peeled fruit.
"Kakashi-sensei! You're awake!"
Naruto ran in with a steaming bowl of porridge, a goofy grin on his face.
Kakashi looked at Naruto, then out the window.
Outside, the backyard that should have been barren ground had become a lush orchard.
"How... how long was I asleep?" Kakashi's voice was a little hoarse.
"A whole day and night!" Naruto handed him the porridge. "Drink up, Sensei! Tsunami made this with the spirit rice Big Bro grew. It's delicious!"
Spirit rice?
Kakashi accepted the bowl. His eye twitched hard as he looked at the translucent grains of rice, brimming with vitality.
There was no need to ask. This was another one of that little monster's creations.
"What about Zabuza? Has he shown up again?" Kakashi took a sip of porridge and felt considerably warmer.
"Nope. Everything's been quiet these past two days."
Kakashi nodded and began calmly analyzing their earlier battle.
"There was something wrong with that hunter-nin..."
He set down the bowl, his gaze sharpening.
"When hunter-nin dispose of a rogue ninja's body, their first priority is to cut off the head and take it back to the village for the bounty. They must also immediately burn or dissolve the body on-site to prevent information from leaking."
"But that fellow chose to carry Zabuza's heavy 'corpse' away intact."
"And