"Huuh…"
"I'm... fine..."
"Just... give me a minute..."
Kakashi kept his forehead pressed to the ground, so it was impossible to see his expression at the moment.
But Naruto could tell he might have gone a little too hard...
"Kakashi-sensei, did I analyze your information properly this time?"
Naruto said with his hands on his hips, looking very proud.
Remembering how Kakashi had pinned him down at six years old and comparing it to Kakashi's current state, Naruto felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
'I feel like I eat three extra bowls of rice tonight.'
He gave Kakashi a consoling pat on the shoulder, then casually plucked the bell from his waist.
Kakashi, who is still kneeling, had zero desire to interact with this little brat.
'Why did this brat hit me so hard?!'
'No matter what, I practically raised him!'
If he hadn't blocked that punch at the last second...
Kakashi had no doubt that he might be killed by this punch.
Kakashi glanced at his right arm, and he felt that he would need to recuperate for a few months before it could heal.
'I'm so tired...'
'Whoever wants to lead Team 7 can do so!'
'Anyway, I'm going straight to Sandaime-sama to quit.'
After a while, Kakashi forced himself up, stood up with difficulty, and said with his usual deadpan tone, "You all passed."
"Dismissed."
Kakashi announced, then cradled his arm, hunched slightly, and limped away.
Naruto felt somewhat guilty when he saw the miserable appearance of the white-haired bum.
'He did kinda watch me grow up...'
'And he was the one who taught me how to use the portals...'
'I might have gone overboard.'
Thinking of this, Naruto took out a bottle of health potion, hurriedly chased after him, then grabbed his sleeve and said, "Kakashi-sensei."
"Take this."
The moment he said it, Naruto noticed that Kakashi's body was shaking.
"Naruto!"
"Stop pulling my broken arm!!"
Kakashi was really desperate. Not only was he injured by the Genin he led, but he also had his broken arm grabbed by this brat...
He really wanted to use Chidori on Naruto now.
"Ah! Sorry!"
After realizing that he grabbed the wrong place, Naruto scratched his head sheepishly.
'I swear to god, I didn't mean to grab his broken arm.'
He quickly shoved the health potion into Kakashi's good hand instead.
Kakashi glanced at the kid and was confused as to what he was doing.
"This is a potion that can heal injuries..."
"Kakashi-sensei, just drink it when you get home."
As if seeing the confusion in his eyes, Naruto kindly explained how to use it.
Kakashi's visible eye twitched.
'Are you kidding me...'
'I still have some awareness of my own injuries.'
'Based on my years of experience, my entire arm is definitely fractured and dislocated.'
'No matter how magical your medicine is, can it compare to the Medical Ninjutsu of the Medical-nin?'
'And…'
'Even if it worked… shouldn't it be applied topically?'
'This kid's explanation sounded completely unreliable.'
But considering Naruto's guilty expression, Kakashi decided to accept the potion.
"Got it."
"I'll take the stuff."
"Oh, and go get a team photo taken later."
"I'm leaving now."
Kakashi still showed the usual deadpan look. After giving his instructions, he limped away from the scene with the health potion in his hand.
For some reason, Naruto caught a glimpse of loneliness in Kakashi's retreating figure… something he recognized all too well.
"Why is it different from what I expected..."
Naruto muttered as he watched Kakashi disappear.
Even though he had defeated Kakashi, he was not as happy as he thought.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Sasuke appeared next to Naruto at some point. This guy was covered in mud, and there was a pungent earthy smell coming out of him.
If one doesn't know, they might think this guy had just rolled in the mud.
It can be said that he looked absolutely wrecked.
Also standing nearby was Sakura. She lowered her head and didn't dare to look at Naruto and Sasuke.
Even when Sasuke is around, she doesn't become a fangirl anymore.
There was no way around it. In the battle just now, the girl realized the gap between her and these two cheaters.
She had originally wanted to prove herself...
But who knew that once the battle started, not only did she stand there in a daze, she also became dead weight for Naruto and Sasuke.
Sakura clenched the corners of her clothes tightly, and her body twitched occasionally as she fought back tears, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
"I'm so sorry..."
Naruto noticed the wet spots near Sakura's feet, and when he glanced at the way her shoulders were twitching, he knew what was going on.
He nudged Sasuke with his elbow and kept winking at him, as if to say... 'Brother, comfort your future wife quickly.'
'If you stay single, we won't be able to become relatives in the future.'
But to Sasuke, Naruto's gestures just looked bizarre.
"Boring."
Sasuke replied indifferently, and it was unclear whether he really didn't understand or was pretending not to understand.
In the end, it was Naruto who spoke up to comfort Sakura.
"Hey, Sakura, don't beat yourself up."
"No normal person stands a chance against Kakashi-sensei."
Sakura: "???"
She looked at the two of them in confusion with tears on her face, and she began to wonder in her heart, 'So... neither of you are normal people?'
Naruto just glanced at Sasuke's expressionless face, with a bit of contempt and sarcasm in his tone, "Hey, Sasuke, you were really 'too good' just now, weren't you?"
"I helped you dodge Kakashi-sensei's Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique once already!"
"How'd you fall for it again?"
"Where's your Fire Release?"
"Where's your Shurikenjutsu!?"
"You only used them once the whole fight!"
"And your Taijutsu..."
…
Naruto's mouth ran like a machine gun, ruthlessly dissecting every one of Sasuke's mistakes…
Exactly like how he'd trash-talked his teammates after losing a match in his previous life.
If it weren't for the fact that the other party's parents and entire clan were no longer around, Naruto would have to 'politely greet' Sasuke's family tree.
To be honest, although Naruto's words were harsh, Sasuke had indeed underperformed this time.
This wasn't even close to his usual level.
So although Sasuke's face darkened, he stayed silent.
He himself was not satisfied with his performance just now.
Just now, not only was his attack timing was off, he also hadn't landed a single hit on Kakashi.
By Naruto's standards…
Throughout the entire battle, his total contribution to the fight was less than one punch from Naruto.
Only when Naruto finally ran out of breath did Sasuke mutter, "It won't happen again."
Hearing this, Naruto's expression softened slightly.
It's just…
'I've talked my mouth off, and that's all you say???'
Sakura felt the pressure rising as she watched how her two teammates interacted with each other.
Deep down, she knew...
The words Naruto used to comfort her just now were purely polite remarks made by someone they were not close to.
'If I get to know this guy well...'
'He'd rip me apart just like this, wouldn't he?'