Two villas had appeared in the clearing beside the woods, and a large pile of firewood had been laid out in the space between them.
As Fire Release ignited it, the firewood crackled, flames springing up over its surface and illuminating the faces of the people gathered around.
Since they were going to barbecue, everyone divided the fire into three piles.
One was for grilling fish, another for roasting the deer, and the last was left waiting for Naruto and Hinata to return.
But... with Naruto and Hinata absent, Kakashi felt a little awkward among the Kumogakure crowd.
￣□￣｜｜
Fortunately, since Kakashi's student Naruto had helped build the houses, the people from Kumogakure treated him a little better.
"Here, take this. Let me have a taste once it's cooked."
With a short knife in hand, Yugito Nii finished preparing the plump fish in a few swift strokes.
Kakashi took the fish, whose eyes had already lost their luster as though its soul had ascended to heaven, and reached his other hand toward the one holding Yugito Nii's knife.
Understanding, Yugito Nii handed him the short knife, then crouched beside him, looking forward to his performance.
Ah, it's been so long since I last prepared a fish.
Looking at the descaled fish in his hand, Kakashi recalled his retirement, which had been neither particularly short nor particularly long.
Back then, after completing his mission to infiltrate Kumogakure, Kakashi had returned to Konoha, mentored Tenzo for a while, and then retired.
After retiring, Kakashi had essentially settled into a life of lazing around.
With nothing to do each day, he would lie in a sunny spot on Back Mountain, catching a few fish from Stream along the way to take home or grill and eat right there.
Some might ask: starting fires