Kakashi scratched at his mask.
"Well..."
"Lord Third approved it. That's why they're allowed to be here."
That explained absolutely nothing.
Asuma stared at him for two seconds, then turned to glance at the two standing outside the crowd.
Neither looked like someone who could stand around in Konoha just because someone had "approved it."
Zabuza noticed the gaze lingering on him, lifted his eyelids, and shot a sidelong look back.
Asuma coughed and casually looked away.
He had known Kakashi for years. He knew all too well.
Once the man put on that dead-fish stare, even prying his mouth open wouldn't get another word out of him.
"...All right."
Asuma sighed, gave up asking, and turned to call out to his students.
"All right! Stop staring and get to work!"
"Awww..."
Ino drew out her protest as she reluctantly picked up her long tongs.
The sewer work wasn't difficult, but it certainly was filthy.
"Ughhh-that smell!" Naruto pinched his nose the moment he jumped down.
"Stop yelling and get to work!" Sakura urged him from behind.
Sakura had wanted Hayashi to rest on the bank, but he had shut her down with, "Moving around will help me recover faster."
So Team 7 lined up along the channel, each armed with a pair of long tongs.
Choji carefully set his bag of chips on the bank. Before leaving it, he stuffed another big handful into his mouth, then reluctantly jumped down.
Haku quietly followed just behind Hayashi.
Hayashi bent down to pick up a clump of rotten leaves, and Haku already had the garbage bag open beside his hand.
Hayashi straightened and looked at him.
"Haku really is such a good boy."
"So much better than that Zabuza fellow."
Haku paused.
"...Thank you, Lord Hayashi."
He lowered his head