Soon, six steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of them.
Yoru turned and stared at Kakashi.
Kakashi blinked. "Why are you looking at me? Eat."
Yoru said nothing.
A second later, Kakashi understood.
He rolled his eyes. "You're just as bored as the rest, huh?"
He knew exactly what Yoru wanted—to see what was under the mask.
Yoru grinned. "Curiosity."
Even if Kakashi was handsome, Yoru wanted to know how handsome—handsome enough to make Teuchi and Ayame look starstruck every time.
With a helpless sigh, Kakashi slowly removed his mask.
Yoru froze for a moment.
"…Kakashi-sensei. Now I understand why you wear a mask. If you didn't, the girls of Konoha would be lining up outside your house."
Kakashi's face was undeniably attractive. Yoru knew full well what kind of damage that would do.
Sure enough, Teuchi and Ayame were practically sparkling-eyed.
Kakashi calmly put his mask back on and began eating.
"Eat."
Yoru shrugged and dug in.
Halfway through the meal, the shop door slid open again.
Yoru barely paid attention—until a loud voice boomed through the shop.
"Yo, Kakashi! Didn't expect to see you here!"
Yoru nearly reached for a kunai out of reflex.
Kakashi sighed.
"Guy…"
The newcomer wore a green jumpsuit and flashed a dazzling white smile.
It was none other than Might Guy.
Behind him were his three students: Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten.
The moment Neji entered—
His gaze locked onto Yoru.
Yoru didn't realize it, but Neji had sensed him immediately.
There was something different.
A pressure.
A threat.
Something he had never felt from someone his own age.
Guy casually plopped down beside Kakashi.
Neji's team took seats near Yoru.
Guy finally noticed him.
"Kakashi, is this your student?"
He had been on missions recently and wasn't familiar with Team 7's lineup.
Kakashi paused briefly, then nodded.
"Yes."
Guy grinned broadly.
"He looks energetic! Want to train in taijutsu under me?"
Kakashi's eye twitched.
"No. I'll teach him myself."
Guy laughed loudly. He was mostly joking.
Mostly.
If Yoru really asked, he'd gladly accept.
After all, more taijutsu users meant more youthful flames of passion—and maybe a victory over Kakashi in some strange internal competition.
Tenten leaned forward curiously.
"Hi, I'm Tenten. You're Kakashi-sensei's student?"
"Yoru."
Rock Lee stepped up enthusiastically.
"I am Rock Lee! I will defeat all geniuses through hard work!"
His gleaming smile mirrored Guy's perfectly.
Yoru felt slightly overwhelmed.
Neji spoke last, calm and direct.
"I'm Neji Hyuga. You're different."
There was no subtlety in his words.
Yoru gave a light chuckle. "Is that so?"
Kakashi noticed Neji's serious expression and quickly changed the subject.
"Guy, order already. The owner's been waiting."
Guy happily complied.
Kakashi leaned toward Yoru. "Finish quickly."
Yoru understood.
Neji had the Byakugan.
If he activated it and examined Yoru's chakra network—
The abnormal density would be impossible to hide.
Yoru nodded and finished all three bowls swiftly.
Soon after, Kakashi pulled him out of Ichiraku.
Guy didn't notice.
Neji did.
Yoru intrigued him.
That quiet pressure wasn't an illusion.
Walking down the street, Kakashi spoke quietly.
"Neji noticed you. You felt it, right?"
Yoru nodded.
"His attention never left me."
Kakashi sighed.
"He was the top graduate of last year."
"And he has the Byakugan."
"He's already at chūnin-level strength."
"He's developed a shinobi's instincts."
Yoru nodded.
"I've heard of him. He was famous even when I was in the Academy."
They had overlapped five years in school.
Neji was one year ahead.
Back then, Yoru had intentionally kept a low profile.
Neji never paid him any attention.
Kakashi's tone turned serious.
"If he discovers your chakra reserves, it'll complicate things."
"Guy can't keep secrets."
That was one reason Guy was never fully trusted with sensitive operations.
He excelled at straightforward combat.
Not secrecy.
Yoru shrugged slightly.
"Even if Neji knew, I doubt he'd talk carelessly."
Kakashi nodded.
"Probably not. But caution never hurts."
Soon they arrived at the lake beneath the waterfall.
Moonlight shimmered across the water.
Kakashi stood before Yoru.
"I have two training plans."
"I'll let you choose."
Yoru met his gaze. "Go ahead."
"Option one: I teach you a high-difficulty technique immediately. Your combat level will spike quickly."
"Option two: We start with foundational techniques and gradually increase complexity."
Kakashi fell silent, watching closely.
Yoru thought briefly.
Then said calmly,
"I choose the first option."
He expected resistance.
Instead, Kakashi smiled.
"As expected."
"I hoped you'd choose that."
"You're not ordinary."
"If I treated you like everyone else, it would hold you back."
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