"How can you still laugh at a time like this!"
"Hayashi!"
Sakura's eyes were still a little red.
At some point, the other young ninja had gathered outside the circle of crouching medics.
As the medics examined him, Sakura knelt beside them and carefully studied Hayashi's bitten arm.
The ring of dark purple bite marks on the outside of his arm was exposed, and it hurt just to look at it.
"Exactly! You scared us half to death!"
Ino backed Sakura up while giving Hayashi a displeased look of her own.
She folded her arms, her voice sharper than usual.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were up there!"
"Hmph. Sooner or later, I'll kill that Byakugan brat."
Sasuke walked toward Hayashi, rubbing his wrist.
A ring of red marks from Enma's grip still circled it.
Naruto followed behind him, his gaze just as dangerous.
His fists were still clenched.
Presumably, after Naruto helped Sasuke get free, the two had slowly made their way over together.
"Come on, we're all Konoha ninja."
"Besides, wasn't Neji waiting for Hayashi with us at the start?"
Choji casually munched on potato chips, the bag crinkling in his hand.
Ignoring Shikamaru behind him, he spoke to Sasuke and Naruto.
Shikamaru clasped his hands behind his head and turned away, not bothering to comment on being ignored.
"That's true..."
"Well, just wait for him to come apologize to Hayashi. He probably just lost his head for a moment."
With that, Choji held a chip up to Hayashi's mouth.
It was the biggest one he had picked out of the bag.
"Have a bite. Something tasty will make it hurt less."
Watching Choji smooth things over for Neji in front of everyone, Hayashi couldn't help feeling touched.
He really is wiser than he looks...