"Sorry, this was our fault."
Baki brought Temari with him and bowed to Kakashi and Konohamaru in apology.
Konohamaru walked over with his head held high. Looking at the ugly Baki, he curled his lip and said, "Fine, I forgive you. Keep your village's ninja in line. Why are they so ill-mannered?"
Baki did not take offense at Konohamaru's words. After all, why would an adult get angry with a child?
He merely looked at Kakashi, waiting for his answer.
"Well, since Konohamaru has forgiven you, I won't say anything more. But this is still Konoha, after all. Don't bring your village's way of doing things here."
Kakashi nodded as he spoke to Baki.
After all, the other party was from a Shinobi Village jointly holding these Chunin Ninja Exams, so he could not let relations grow too strained. But letting them go without a word would make Konoha look weak, so a little veiled sarcasm was a good choice.
Baki left with Temari, his expression sour. Hinata had hurried over when she saw the fight begin, but after discovering that Naruto could handle them easily, she had simply slowed to a walk.
"Hey, what happened?"
Sasuke looked at Naruto, who was standing with Konohamaru, and asked.
Naruto shook his head and told Sasuke, "Nothing much. Someone from Sunagakure attacked Konohamaru, and then another one showed up. I sparred with them."
Although he had won, Naruto was not in a very good mood.
That Calabash Brothers kid was so much like his former self.
"Gaara, huh?"
"Naruto-kun?"
A soft hand took Naruto's clenched hand as Hinata gently called to him.
"Ah, it's nothing. I was just thinking about something."
Naruto gave Hinata a somewhat forced smile.
*If I hadn't had my teacher, Sasuke, or Hinata, would I have become someone