But just then, Xia Le, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and slowly turned around.
"Before questioning your teacher, you should show at least a little respect."
"Kakashi!"
Xia Le wore a smile, and his voice carried a hint of laughter, yet that very expression sent a shudder through Kakashi.
"T-Teacher!"
Kakashi called out blankly.
Xia Le nodded, then turned and continued walking.
Only then did Kakashi realize that he had somehow broken out in a cold sweat.
And all of it had come from a single glance when Xia Le turned around.
For the rest of the walk, Kakashi was quiet and much more subdued.
He kept wondering why that one glance had made him feel the threat of death. Xia Le had clearly been smiling, and his words had contained no threat at all.
A short while later, Xia Le brought Kakashi to the training ground.
Seeing the flags bearing a fan emblem fluttering in the wind along its edges, along with the people training inside, Kakashi paused in surprise.
"This is a training ground the Uchiha Clan set up specifically for the Akatsuki Squad."
"Some of the clan's children come here to train as well."
Xia Le explained with a smile.
Kakashi stared blankly ahead.
Figures darted and shifted before him, clearly engaged in sparring. Two boys five or six years older than him were clashing rapidly.
A moment later, they broke apart and flicked their hands, sending kunai flying. The weapons collided with pinpoint accuracy, throwing off sparks.
"What sharp moves!"
Kakashi exclaimed in shock.
The fight involved nothing but hand-to-hand combat, without a trace of ninjutsu. Yet those crisp, efficient movements and agile reactions already far exceeded anything he had imagined.
"The Akatsuki Squad is an elite unit established with the approval of Konoha's leadership."