"Yo, Kakashi! Lucky running into you here. My students and I agreed to have a proper training session tonight. What do you say? You could join us..."
Guy's familiar booming voice rang in Kakashi's ears again, and he couldn't help sighing inwardly—
I can't even eat dinner in peace.
"Give me a break today."
Kakashi's complaint sounded utterly drained.
Ignoring the disgruntled looks from the izakaya's other customers, an excited Guy assumed his old friend was brushing him off as usual and prepared to talk him around.
But once he sat down, he noticed that Kakashi wasn't wearing his usual Ninja gear. He was in casual clothes, wasn't eating with his dominant hand, and had bandages showing over his right shoulder.
"You're injured?"
Guy looked astonished. "Did you go on a mission today? Weren't you supposed to be with your subordinates... Was it Naruto Uzumaki?"
Seeing Guy's incredulous expression, along with the realization that seemed to be dawning on him, Kakashi nodded helplessly.
"Exactly what you're thinking."
"No way!"
Guy's voice suddenly rose an octave, drawing the surrounding customers' eyes back to them.
"Don't disturb everyone. They're eating."
"You... You were holding back, right?" Guy hurriedly lowered his voice.
"I even used the Eight Gates."
"..."
A deathly silence fell between them, broken only by Kakashi tapping the table.
After all, before Guy sat down beside him, he had already finished eating and was about to leave.
Whether deliberately or otherwise, though, nobody had managed to see Kakashi's uncovered face, even while he ate.
Normally, Guy would have been scheming to arrange another fated contest with his old friend. Right now, however, what Kakashi had told him stunned Might Guy so much that he nearly forgot his scheduled training with Rock Lee.
"So Naruto-kun's strength has already reached Jonin level,