"Asuma, don't you recognize Teacher Lin Yu?"
Might Guy, convinced by Kakashi's "Let's talk after we finish eating," trotted over to Kakashi's seat and stared at him intently.
Asuma sat on the other side, with a seat separating him from Lin Yu. Since he didn't know Lin Yu, he was somewhat surprised by Might Guy's question.
"He, he's a teacher at the Ninja Academy?"
Asuma recalled the teachers he had encountered when he was in school, but he had never seen a red-haired teacher.
"That's right! Teacher Lin Yu is our class's homeroom teacher. He taught us for... half a day?"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Lin Yu coughed. He had completely forgotten his identity as a teacher. Would Hiruzen Sarutobi deduct his salary for this!
Lin Yu suddenly realized he hadn't collected his salary for five or six years. He couldn't let that old man Sarutobi keep it for free!
Tomorrow... after I finish eating, I'll go get it!
"Half... half a day?"
Asuma felt a little awkward and buried his head in his ramen. No wonder he hadn't seen Lin Yu in the neighboring class; he was fired after only half a day of teaching!
However... Lin Yu? Uzumaki Lin Yu? My father mentioned him. He's very strong.
But he looks younger than me. Could he be all show and no substance? Asuma felt a sudden urge to spar with Lin Yu.
"It was only half a day, right? You agree, Kakashi!"
Might Guy stared intently at Kakashi, his body almost pressed against him. Might Guy was preventing Kakashi from sneaking away, given his track record of dozens of "previous offenses"!
"Guy, don't be so close to me. I'll really accept your challenge today."
Kakashi was a bit helpless. With Might Guy staring at him with such wide eyes, how could he eat his ramen!
Might Guy shook his head and said seriously, "Teacher Lin Yu taught me, if you say anything, I won't listen to you, and you won't escape my grasp!"
"Kakashi! You won't get away this time!"
Might Guy swallowed the ramen that had just been served in one gulp, his cheeks puffed out as he glared at Kakashi. Kakashi had rejected his challenge 998 times this month!
He absolutely couldn't let him escape today. He'd even carry him away in a sack!
Lin Yu quietly ate his ramen. As long as he wasn't embarrassed, someone else would be!
So what if he only taught for half a day! Would old man Sarutobi not pay him?
If he dares not pay me, I'll...
Lin Yu's gaze fell on Asuma, who was lowering his head to eat ramen, and he smirked wickedly. I'll give his son to Jirō as a warming boy!
Speaking of which... isn't Asuma about to become one of the "Twelve Guardian Shinobi"?
Lin Yu didn't have much impression of these Guardian Shinobi. Only the bald Jirō looked a little familiar. He couldn't remember the rest at all.
It was probably just ten extras, plus Asuma and Jirō, a pair of good buddies. Nothing interesting, just a bunch of weaklings!
*Plop!*
Lin Yu put down his chopsticks, patted Kakashi on the head, and said, "Guy is pursuing you so earnestly, why don't you accept him once? Perhaps after you win, he'll give up pestering you!"
Kakashi was helpless. He had originally planned to go to the park to read comic books all day after eating his ramen, especially since he was going to report to the ANBU in a few weeks.
He wouldn't have time to savor life's philosophies then! However, the recent comic books were becoming increasingly uninteresting, with predictable plots. Nothing had caught his eye.
Alas, should he find an opportunity to go out and gather some "intelligence"!
Kakashi's face was full of gloom, and he mumbled, "Alright, I accept your challenge, Guy."
*Bang!*
Might Guy slammed the table heavily, exclaiming excitedly, "Kakashi, you've finally accepted my challenge! I'm so happy! My youth..."
Before Might Guy could finish, a thin crack on the tabletop was widening...
*Crack! Boom!*
With a clang! The rolling pin that Teuchi was using to knead dough fell to the ground. The table in front of them had half collapsed, and there wasn't a soul in sight, only a few wads of green banknotes left behind.
"Damn brats! You just wait!"
Otsutsuki Ichiraku! Awakened!
...
On the streets of Konoha, four figures wiped the sweat from their brows. Among them, Might Guy asked weakly, "Is it really okay for us to leave like this?"
Kakashi glared at Might Guy. He knew it wasn't good, but he still dragged me away!
Lin Yu chuckled, "It's fine, Brother Teuchi won't mind."
Might Guy breathed a sigh of relief. What Godfather said must be right. He then looked at Asuma, "Asuma, why did you run out with us?"
Asuma was speechless: You all ran away, would it be awkward for me to stay there alone! Most importantly, I came with you!
You, Might Guy, broke the table, and you want me to stay and take the blame?! This person with thick eyebrows and big eyes has so many petty thoughts!
Asuma lit a cigarette, waved his hand, and said, "I have something to do, so I'll be going now!"
Lin Yu watched Asuma's retreating back and said to Might Guy, "Guy, how did you end up eating ramen with Asuma?"
Kakashi also looked over. He didn't remember Might Guy and Asuma being that close.
Might Guy said, "We just happened to run into each other. Asuma seemed to be going on a date this afternoon. I overheard him say that on the way!"
A date?
Lin Yu blinked his eyes. Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, he vanished from the spot without a word.
No! Asuma belongs to Jirō, and as for... cough, cough!
Might Guy rubbed his head, somewhat confused, "Teacher Lin Yu is in such a hurry, does he need to go to the restroom?"
Kakashi, with his dead fish eyes, stared at the somewhat "foolish" Might Guy and said, "Let's start quickly! I'm in a hurry to get back."
Might Guy's eyes lit up. He spun around with a Thomas twist, revealing his pearly white teeth to Kakashi, and declared, "Then let's have a friendly match full of youth!"
Kakashi: "Heh heh..."
A moment later, Kakashi followed Might Guy to the end of the street, his dead fish eyes drooping, and said listlessly, "So, the match you mentioned is to run laps around Konoha with me?"
Might Guy was already doing high-knee exercises in place, his eyes filled with fighting spirit!
"Kakashi! I will absolutely not lose to you!"
Might Guy felt his chances of winning were high, as he had been practicing this since he was a child!
Kakashi pulled down his mask, his head feeling a bit stuffy. The outcome of this match was entirely up to luck!
Kakashi really wanted to slip away now, but thinking about the future trouble, he decided to resolve it once and for all.
I hope that after I win, you won't come looking for me anymore! I, Kakashi, am a double agent now! I have a heavy burden!
"Ready! 3, 2, 1! Go!"
*Whoosh!*
Two figures shot out like arrows, and from then on, Konoha gained another beautiful sight.