"Here's what happened, Kakashi-sensei."
Hayashi blinked his tear-streaked eyes, keeping them fixed on Kakashi before him.
For a moment, only the rain could be heard in the alley. The ANBU maintained their cordon, and no one spoke first.
Kakashi turned his head away. He really couldn't bear to keep looking.
He knew that if he kept staring at Hayashi like this, he might actually believe that utterly ridiculous excuse of his.
An elite Jonin had run into a blade and died?
Even children at the Ninja Academy would raise their hands with questions if someone tried to fool them with that.
"Zabuza, what about you?"
With no other choice, Kakashi could only ask Zabuza.
Who would have thought that Zabuza would look as though he were enjoying the show too?
"I think the Dragon Princess is right."
"That idiot tried to ambush and kill the Dragon Princess's teacher. That's an indisputable fact."
"And he ran into my greatsword. That's also an indisputable fact."
With that, he threw back his head and laughed twice.
Then he raised his eyebrows at Hayashi.
Watching Zabuza clown around, Hayashi couldn't help smiling.
He hadn't expected Zabuza to have a comedian's side to him.
Standing nearby, Haku looked at Zabuza, then at Hayashi, before tactfully lowering his head and pretending to study the ground intently.
Helpless, Kakashi could only walk slowly forward and help Hayashi up.
"Gekko Hayate will be all right, Hayashi."
Kakashi looked at Hayashi, whom he was supporting. There wasn't a trace of combat on him anywhere.
It seemed Zabuza probably really had stepped in to help Gekko Hayate.
Perhaps it really had nothing to do with Hayashi at all.
At that thought, he crouched down and looked up into Hayashi's eyes.
"Hayashi, we're going to report to the Third now. If