"Captain Kakashi is truly a gentle person." Shinji teased, not daring to mention 'nostalgic' directly, so he could only put it that way.
A hint of nostalgia flickered in Kakashi's deadpan eyes, then he looked at Shinji, speechless.
"You weren't like this before, and you know even better whether I'm a gentle person or not."
Kakashi somewhat missed the old Shinji, at least he was a proper junior then. Like Tenzo, but ever since he was promoted to Jonin, he had become a bit unreliable.
"Before was before, and now is now." Shinji waved his hand.
In the past, he didn't have much strength, so naturally, he wasn't in the mood to joke around. When on missions, he naturally listened to the more professional Kakashi, otherwise, his life might be lost. Who would he complain to?
However, ever since his strength increased, he had developed a bit of a mischievous streak. After all, how could a person remain that way their entire life? Shinji, at least, couldn't.
To endure for seventeen years, Shinji already admired himself greatly. That was seventeen years of living every day with the worry of losing his life tomorrow.
Hearing Shinji say this, Kakashi didn't respond. He simply pulled out his Icha Icha Paradise and started reading. On Jiraiya's return, he had given Kakashi a new limited edition copy.
Not long after, Shinji felt pink bubbles forming around Kakashi.
This guy, couldn't he just find a wife?
Shinji was a bit speechless. It wasn't as if he hadn't read Icha Icha Paradise. He felt it was just so-so, which greatly displeased Jiraiya, who called him a repressed pervert.
Otherwise, why would he be so uninterested in his masterpiece?
To this, Shinji only wanted to say, "Heh heh. I've seen bigger scenes, everything else is just fleeting clouds."
—
On the mountain peak, mist enveloped the surroundings.
Shinji stood beside Hiruzen, taking a breath of air. He had to admit, it was quite good. It was just that the climate was relatively less warm than Konoha, and the terrain was too rugged.
Shinji looked up at the roughly styled metal gate.
The highest point was already obscured by clouds. From his position, it was difficult to see the full picture. Only the large Kumogakure on the gate was very conspicuous.
Shinji and his group had arrived at Kumogakure. They stood there, just waiting for the people from Kumogakure to open the gate.
Not long after, the gate slowly opened a crack, and a team emerged from within.
The tall, dark-skinned man leading them walked forward with an indifferent expression.
Kakashi, receiving a signal from Hiruzen, slowly stepped forward.
The dark-skinned man said coldly, "Travel documents."
Kakashi didn't mind, pulling out the Chunin Exams travel documents he carried and handing them to the man in front of him.
The dark-skinned man took them and carefully inspected them.
After returning them to Kakashi, he then said, "We need to inspect your team."
Kakashi frowned upon hearing this.
This was against the rules, and as the Hokage, Hiruzen was also in the team. The man in front of him intended to inspect even the Hokage.
The Konoha ninjas behind Kakashi, hearing this, all looked at this elite squad from Kumogakure with anger.
Sensing the gaze of the Konoha ninjas, the people behind the dark-skinned man also became hostile, one by one.
In an instant, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Shinji's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes held a hint of coldness.
Kumogakure was preparing to give Konoha a show of force at the entrance.
The thunder all around became increasingly deafening, as if providing background music for the scene before them.
"Stop!"
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, a loud shout came from behind the elite squad of Kumogakure.
A middle-aged man wearing a military beret and a 'Lightning' eye patch over his left eye quickly walked over.
The dark-skinned man, who had been indifferent, immediately lowered his head upon seeing the newcomer.
"Dodai-sama."
"You all step back now." Dodai waved his hand, signaling the man to retreat to the back.
He did not object at all to what the man had just done.
Then he walked forward and nodded to Hiruzen, saying, "The Hokage has honored us with his presence. I am Dodai, the Raikage's aide, and I welcome you."
Shinji looked curiously at the man before him, who, in the original story, was not an ordinary extra because he had shared a scene with Naruto.
His words were generally fine, but he didn't mention at all what the elite squad had just done.
"Then your welcoming party is a bit small." Shinji said with a half-smile.
Hiruzen naturally couldn't speak up. The dignity of a Hokage was not something that could be casually offended.
In the village, Hiruzen was a kind and amiable old man, a Hokage Grandpa. Outside, however, he was not to be treated in such a manner.
Dodai hadn't expected the young man beside Hiruzen to speak, and asked with some confusion, "This is—"
"Konoha Jonin Shinji." Shinji said indifferently.
Dodai was stunned upon hearing this name, then looked at him with great shock.
Although Samui and C had described Shinji's situation after returning to the village, seeing him in person was a different matter entirely. After all, he was simply too young.
Dodai was able to maintain his composure, but the elite squad from earlier did not have that kind of self-restraint.
Clang—
The dark-skinned man held a long sword, his face full of anger, about to step forward.
"Hey—please don't ignore my presence."
Kakashi's indifferent voice sounded from behind the dark-skinned man, and a kunai was already pressed against the dark-skinned man's neck.
Kakashi's move instantly caused the already agitated elite squad to erupt.
"Presumptuous! Retreat at once!"
Dodai's face turned cold, and he turned to scold the dark-skinned man.
Then he turned back, changing his expression, and said to Hiruzen with a slight apologetic smile, "Hokage, I am truly sorry. After all, this captain once studied swordsmanship with Killer Bee, so he can be considered a disciple. He lost control for a moment, please forgive him."
Shinji's eyes flickered as he looked at the man held hostage by Kakashi, then at Dodai, who was smiling apologetically.
Hiruzen chuckled and waved his hand.
Kakashi, who was holding the man hostage, instantly vanished and reappeared behind Hiruzen.
"It's nothing, young people tend to be impulsive. After all, seeing his sensei beaten like that, he's bound to be a little unconvinced."
Shinji tried hard to maintain his expression. He had to admit, Hiruzen's words were as if laced with poison.
Couldn't they see that the attacker's face was already flushed with a hint of red?
If he said another word, he would probably get completely riled up and start a fight.
Dodai first signaled to the squad behind him, then invited Hiruzen and the others with a beaming smile, "Heh heh, I will lead the Hokage into the village. Accommodations have already been arranged."