"Eh." Seeing three pairs of eyes staring at him in unison, Kakashi knew he definitely couldn't escape this time. He could only let out a long sigh and lead everyone off to celebrate.
"Kakashi, during the next month, I want to train with you. Right now I'm really too weak."
After they had eaten their fill, Sasuke spoke up with his own thoughts. As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Furina sitting across from him, and the resolve in his heart grew even firmer.
"Oh? My training is going to be very tough, you know. Are you sure your body is really fine?"
Hearing Sasuke's request, Kakashi didn't refuse outright. During the meal he had also heard about what happened in the second exam. Facing such a powerful enemy as Orochimaru, it was normal to feel one's own strength was insufficient.
And even he himself... Recalling what had happened when he sealed Sasuke's curse mark earlier, Kakashi couldn't help feeling a bit fortunate in his heart. If Orochimaru had chosen to attack at that moment, he probably would have...
In short, with everything Sasuke was facing right now Orochimaru, Itachi almost everything was urging him to become stronger quickly. In that case, as his teacher, he had to take responsibility.
"Of course. Didn't I already say so? My body is perfectly fine now. There definitely won't be any problems. You just need to make sure I get stronger as fast as possible."
"Heh, nice look in your eyes."
After getting Sasuke's firm confirmation, Kakashi wasn't surprised. With Sasuke's personality, this was the only answer he would give. Looks like the next month was going to keep him very busy. The conviction in those eyes was almost contagious even to him.
"Then rest well today. From tomorrow on, I won't hold back at all during training."
"Hmph. I'm more than willing."
Watching the two of them exchanging glances and finishing each other's sentences, Naruto suddenly felt something was off. Why were only the two of you getting all fired up? He needed training too, okay? He didn't want to lose face in the matches a month from now.
"Mm, Naruto, I know what you're thinking. But compared to Sasuke, my training style really isn't suitable for you. It wouldn't have much effect. Tomorrow I'll find another teacher for you."
After listening to Naruto's request, Kakashi didn't agree to train him together. This wasn't because he didn't want to teach him, but because it genuinely wasn't a good fit.
"Why is Sasuke suitable for your training but I'm not? Kakashi-sensei, are you playing favorites?"
"Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke both possess the Sharingan, so there are many things they can learn from each other in that regard. Moreover, Sasuke's chakra nature aligns better with Kakashi-sensei's. Whether Lightning Release or Fire Release, Kakashi-sensei is highly proficient in both. But the areas you're strong in happen to be the ones Kakashi-sensei isn't as skilled at. So finding someone else to guide you is the right choice."
Seeing that Naruto also wanted Kakashi to guide his training, Furina almost couldn't hold back her laughter. Asking Kakashi, a chakra-teaching expert, to teach you, a chakra-ton user how humorous was that?
"That's right. Just like Furina said. Our compatibility isn't good. Training together would only give half the result with twice the effort."
"Ohhh, I see." After the back-and-forth explanations from Furina and Kakashi, Naruto understood the situation. He wasn't an idiot. Since it wasn't a good fit, of course he wouldn't force the issue.
"We all have teachers now. What about you then?" After resolving his own matter, Naruto didn't forget about Furina. Having been friends for so many years, he felt he should think about her as well.
Upon hearing this, Sasuke and Kakashi's gazes also turned toward Furina. Although they didn't speak, the meaning in their eyes was similar to Naruto's. As teammates they had already acknowledged, naturally they wouldn't overlook her either.
Facing the inquiring looks from the three of them, the upward curve of Furina's lips became even more pronounced. Her smile was as radiant as a blooming flower. This feeling was actually pretty nice.
"You don't need to worry about me. I have my own training plan. I just need Kakashi-sensei to spar with me more during this time to build up my actual combat experience."
Training? Her training was simply to show her face more, let more people like her, and then just add points and be done with it.
What she truly needed to cultivate herself was combat experience. Although she could rely on adding points to produce miracles through sheer power, she didn't want to depend solely on brute-force overwhelming. After all, what if one day the miracles stopped coming? That would be disastrous.
"Looks like I won't have a single moment of free time in the coming period." Facing Furina's request, Kakashi naturally couldn't refuse. Right now he only felt his head aching at the thought of his upcoming busy routine.
Teaching Sasuke one moment, sparring with Furina the next like a spinning top that never stops. Just thinking about it made life seem a little bleak.
"Don't think like that, Kakashi-sensei. This way you'll read a bit less of Icha Icha Paradise, which is good for your health too. In future battles, you'll last a lot longer."
"Pfft." Hearing Furina's "comfort," the water Kakashi had just drunk sprayed out completely in an instant. After all this time, how was she still hung up on that thing? His reputation!
Wait a second how did he manage to spray water while wearing a mask? Looking at Naruto across from him, who had turned into a drenched chicken, question marks rose above Furina's and Sasuke's heads.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Before Kakashi could even refute Furina's twisted logic, Naruto, who had reacted and was now greatly embarrassed and angry, had already started his tirade. Clearly he hadn't done anything, so why was he the one who got soaked?
"Sigh, where's the towel, I..."
...
The day before the match
Konoha Hospital
In one of the hospital rooms, a large amount of sand suddenly floated in slowly and gradually gathered in front of a hospital bed. On the bed lay a sleeping bowl-cut head. Then a figure carrying a gourd on his back also arrived beside the bed.
"Hmph."
The person carrying the gourd was naturally Gaara. The one lying on the bed was Rock Lee, whom he had faced in the elimination tournament. At that time someone had stopped him from continuing to attack, but he wouldn't give up so easily.
"Attacking someone who's asleep isn't very appropriate, you know~"
Just as the sand was about to wrap around Lee, Furina suddenly appeared between the two. With a casual wave of her arm as she appeared, all the incoming sand was knocked away.
"You again." Hearing Furina's voice, Gaara's gaze darkened even further. Why was this person so annoying, always getting in his way at crucial moments?
"Of course it's me. It's been so long since we last met. Did you miss me~"
Looking at Gaara's increasingly gloomy face opposite her, Furina almost burst out laughing. She'd been waiting for you forever, little bro. Ever since she remembered that he would come to the hospital to attack Lee, she had been coming here to squat from time to time.
And during this stakeout time, she hadn't wasted it either. She had conveniently asked the on-duty medical ninja in the hospital to teach her about medical ninjutsu. Although the other had only explained the general principles, thanks to the charm from adding points, she had actually managed to learn it.