"That's true enough, Naruto."
"If I haven't asked you to call me your teacher, there's a reason for it."
For once, Kakashi joined the conversation.
Naruto froze. "Huh?"
But no one paid him any attention now.
Naruto scratched his head, still looking as though he hadn't figured it out.
"This silly kid." Kakashi laughed, watching cheerfully as Hayashi walked to the edge of the field and sat on a wooden stump.
Propping his head on one hand, Hayashi watched the three of them making a fuss on the field and spoke with resignation.
"Isn't that enough? I think we can get started now."
The midday sun was fierce, baking the top of his head.
He raised a hand to gather his hair-he hadn't done anything with it since coming to Konoha, and it had grown this long without him noticing.
He would have to find somewhere to get it cut later.
Hearing his voice, Sasuke turned his head.
That person sat on a stump at the edge of the field, his head propped on one hand, his eyelids half lowered in utter boredom.
The midday sunlight fell on his hair. His long red hair nearly reached down his back, gleaming in the sun.
It swayed gently whenever the wind blew.
Framed by that light, his face was almost unfairly beautiful.
When they had been fighting over grilled meat last night, Sasuke had never imagined he could wear an expression like this.
Sasuke's gaze lingered a moment before he remembered to look away.
But what good were pretty looks?
Sasuke knew better than anyone what lurked beneath that languid exterior-the person who had clashed head-on with Kakashi during the graduation exam was him.
He silently clenched his fists and turned toward Kakashi.
"So this is the real Genin exam?"
"Yes."