After Hikoneko finished speaking, the other three, who had been looking forward to this, all turned their eyes toward Kakashi, who was over there staring at the table. Hinata was the only exception.
Kakashi: Look at this table. Wow, what a table!
"All right, all right, I was just trying to build a little mystery. Honestly, why are you all looking at me like I'm a con artist?"
Kakashi scratched his white hair and spoke with a little embarrassment.
Mainly because the way they looked at him, Sasuke included, was already shifting from a respected teacher to garbage beside a trash can.
"Ahem, then could we trouble you to take us to see this hornets' nest, Hikoneko?"
Kakashi changed the subject.
"Oh, please follow me."
Hikoneko nodded, rose from her chair, walked over to a doorway covered by a mesh curtain, and pulled it aside.
"This door leads straight into the garden. I installed a screen because I was worried bees might get into the house. Looking back now, it really saved my life."
Hikoneko explained to everyone.
"If I hadn't installed it, I might have been stung before I even noticed the hornets."
With that, she pushed the door open and led them into the garden.
"Wow, it's so pretty!"
Naruto's eyes lit up as he looked at the garden, where flowers of every color competed in bloom. Even some of his resentment at being tricked by Kakashi faded.
"Roses! Auntie Hikoneko, can I smell them?"
Karin spotted a patch of red roses as vivid as her hair and was instantly captivated.
"Of course. You can pick a few to take home later, too. Consider them a gift from me."
Hikoneko smiled as she spoke.
"But be careful. I don't know whether any hornets are hiding over there."