The next day, at Team 7's training ground.
Hayashi got up bright and early.
His Tachi was back at his waist, his Ninja Tool Pouch fastened, his Forehead Protector straight. Nothing was missing.
After spending so long recovering, his bones were practically rusting. Today, he finally returned to the training ground fully armed.
He rolled his shoulders as he walked in, thinking he would be the first to arrive.
But when he looked up-
Naruto was already standing in the middle of the field, hands on his hips.
"Hayashi!!"
Naruto spotted him first and started waving from far away.
"How come you're so early today?!"
Sasuke lifted his eyes beneath the tree. Seeing who it was, he finally smiled.
"I thought you'd be late with Kakashi-sensei again today."
"Hehe." Hayashi scratched the back of his head. "Got lucky today. The blankets didn't seal me away."
"The blanket seal?" Naruto came closer. "What kind of seal is that?! Is it powerful?!"
"It means I couldn't get out of bed."
"Oh! I get caught in that seal all the time too!"
"..."
Hayashi couldn't be bothered to answer that. He looked around.
"Hey, where are Zabuza and Haku?"
"They went to catch Kakashi-sensei."
Sakura sat on a wooden post, swinging her legs in boredom.
"Naruto got tired of waiting and asked Haku to find him. Haku agreed right away, so Zabuza clicked his tongue and followed him."
"Oh, I see."
Hayashi nodded, found a clean spot to sit, and laid his Tachi across his lap.
With his sword on his back, Sasuke strolled over and stopped beside him.
"Hayashi."
"Hm?"
"What do you think..." Sasuke looked down at him. "Kakashi-sensei is going to tell us today?"
Hayashi hummed thoughtfully.
Kakashi had asked him about it outright yesterday. What else could it be?