Kakashi narrowed his eyes and examined the mission carefully.
"Escort Tazuna, a bridge builder from the Land of Waves, back to his village?"
As Kakashi murmured those words, Sarutobi nodded, then said, "I specifically kept an eye out and saved this mission for Naruto and the others. Of this year's teams, yours is the best fit."
Naruto? A good fit?
Kakashi sensed something wrong almost immediately. The mission the Third had just given Naruto and the others had been an A-rank infiltration mission.
And the Third's expression hardly looked like he was joking.
Then was there more to this mission than met the eye?
Still, Kakashi nodded and took the mission scroll, then turned to leave.
"Kakashi."
Kakashi paused, then turned back toward Sarutobi, who had called out to him.
A smile appeared on Sarutobi's aged face. Looking into Kakashi's eyes, he said meaningfully, "Believe in yourself, and believe in your subordinates too."
Kakashi froze for a moment, then returned to his languid demeanor and nodded. "Mm. I have plenty of faith in them."
Seeing him like that, Sarutobi smiled helplessly, then waved him off.
As the door closed softly, Sarutobi's aged voice sounded in the Hokage Office.
"But Kakashi, it seems it's been a long time since you trusted your teammates."
Sarutobi shook his head, then lowered it again to deal with the unfinished paperwork.
Outside, Kakashi gazed at the empty blue sky, without a single cloud in sight, and narrowed his eyes. He quietly walked beneath a tree and closed them.
Trust my teammates?
Do I... really still have teammates?
After keeping his eyes closed like that for a full ten minutes, Kakashi heard a ringing shout.
"Oh! Kakashi, my lifelong rival, let us duel!!!"
"Hey, Might Guy, Kakashi-sensei is resting. Isn't it rude to disturb him like