At the school gates, Gekko Hayate spotted him right away, raised a hand in greeting, and smiled at him.
Uzumaki Hayashi quickened his pace to join him, marveling inwardly as he walked.
Wow, wasn't this a bit too flashy?
Yesterday, this guy had been dressed in full ANBU gear. Today, he'd actually shown up wearing a Jonin vest.
Was he afraid people wouldn't know he was a Jonin?
No wonder everyone at the gates was gossiping. If he were a bystander, he would have had a few things to say too.
"Hayate-sensei!"
Once he reached him, he called out with a cheerful smile.
"So, are we going to the training ground?"
Seeing how well-behaved the boy looked, Gekko Hayate couldn't help smiling.
"Not the training ground." He shook his head. "My place."
"I have a small dojo at home. It's enough for sword practice."
Then, as though something had suddenly occurred to him, he hurriedly waved a hand and added,
"Oh, someone else is home today too, so-you don't have to be scared."
Uzumaki Hayashi: "..."
Scared? What would he be scared of?
Then it clicked. Seriously? Hayate was treating him like a little kid who'd worry about that.
But he was a grown man at heart. Why would that scare him?
"I don't mind." Uzumaki Hayashi spread his hands, casually handing out a nice-guy verdict. "Besides, Hayate-sensei, you're a good person, so it's fine."
Gekko Hayate: "..."
Why did that sound so strange?
But looking at that sweet, smiling face, he couldn't put his finger on what was odd about it. He could only respond with a chuckle and lead the boy home.
Behind them, the gossip at the Ninja Academy gates didn't stop.
"See? He's definitely an inner-circle kid. A Jonin even picks him up from school in person."
"Exactly. Didn't that one guy supposedly offend him and get expelled that very day?"
The murmuring voices drifted far on the wind.
At the very back of the crowd, two furtive figures were lurking.
Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had secretly followed that redhead all the way down.
Why were they hiding?
They didn't know. They were just curious.
Especially Sasuke Uchiha-that boy hadn't appeared at the training ground even once these past few days.
Before, he'd been able to catch him there every few days. Now the training ground was deserted, without so much as a strand of red hair in sight.
Had something happened?
The two had crept all the way to the school gates, only to watch him leave with a Jonin.
"That's so nice..."
Naruto Uzumaki clung to the edge of the wall, his eyes following the redhead, envy written all over his face.
"Someone finally came to take Hayashi home."
"Idiot."
Beside him, Sasuke Uchiha snorted.
"Didn't you hear? He called that man sensei. They're going back to train."
Just then, the gossip at the gates drifted into their ears on the wind.
"Definitely an inner-circle kid..."
"...I heard he got him expelled?"
The envy vanished from Naruto Uzumaki's face in an instant.
He stepped forward, just about to erupt-
The crowd turned and saw him. Their expressions changed all at once, and they scrambled backward as if they'd spotted something disgusting.
Some muttered under their breath as they retreated.
"Demon fox..."
Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked and was about to charge-
A hand reached over from beside him and grabbed his arm.
It was Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke pulled him past the crowd, speaking as they walked.
"What, if I don't stop you, you're going to charge at them again?"
"What else am I supposed to do?!"
Naruto Uzumaki growled, struggling against his grip.
"Just stand there and listen to them bad-mouth Hayashi?!"
"Tch."
Sasuke Uchiha didn't look back.
"Typical dead-last thinking."
"Even someone as strong as Hayashi is finding ways to get stronger. What about you? You're going to rush in, start a fight, and cause trouble for him?"
Naruto Uzumaki froze.
"I... I wasn't trying to cause trouble for Hayashi..."
Sasuke Uchiha ignored him, let go, and kept walking.
After walking a little farther, he turned back to Naruto, who was still standing in place.
"Then get stronger."
"Strong enough to shut them all up."
He paused, impatience creeping into his voice.
"Seriously-are Hayashi and I supposed to keep playing house with you kids forever?"
"What do you mean, playing house?!"
Naruto Uzumaki clenched both fists and shouted at him.
"That's what it is." Sasuke Uchiha folded his arms. "Do you think he and I still need to stay at this school?"
With that, he lost all interest in continuing the conversation, turned around, and headed toward the training ground.
"Think about it yourself, Naruto."
Naruto Uzumaki stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched tight.
"I'll catch up to you sooner or later!"
He murmured it so quietly that only he could hear.
"Smug jerk Sasuke!"
Then he shouted at the top of his lungs after the figure heading toward the training ground:
"Hayashi would never be like you-!"
After shouting, he turned and ran off in another direction.
Up ahead, Sasuke Uchiha's steps faltered for half a beat.
Then he kept walking as though he hadn't heard a thing.
Only the corner of his mouth moved, almost imperceptibly.
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Hayashi followed Gekko Hayate through a series of turns until they reached a house with a small courtyard.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was spotless, with several wooden sword-training racks neatly arranged in a corner.
As soon as he entered, he saw someone sitting in the living room.
A purple-haired woman with strikingly beautiful, cool features.
The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up. She stood and came over in a few quick steps.
First, she reached out and stroked his red hair. Then she crouched down and looked at him with a bright smile.
"Hayate told me about you ages ago. I've been wanting to meet you."
"My name is Uzuki Yugao."
Uzumaki Hayashi readily went along. "My name is Uzumaki Hayashi. Hello, Big Sister Yugao."
He answered sweetly, but inside, he was already reeling.
Good grief.
A beautiful, mature older woman. Her charm was off the charts.
Even he was finding it a little hard to resist.
Crouching there, Uzuki Yugao looked him up and down, liking him more with every glance, then reached out to gently smooth his red hair again.
The talented, well-behaved child Hayate had described was far more endearing in person.
Uzumaki Hayashi's scalp tingled under her touch, but he still had to maintain his obedient smile.
Honestly, being treated this way by a beautiful older woman was rather embarrassing.
Watching their lively interaction, Gekko Hayate smiled, then turned and slowly walked into an inner room, apparently looking for something.
Before long, he came out carrying a Tachi.
"Here."
With a cheerful smile, he tossed the sword toward Uzumaki Hayashi.
Uzumaki Hayashi scrambled to catch it.
It felt heavier in his hands than he'd expected. The scabbard was cool and smooth to the touch.
He couldn't help looking at the hilt, and a word slipped out without him realizing:
"Wow..."
Before you continue