His head lifts slowly as your footsteps approach. For a moment, surprise flickers across his face before something softer settles in. His usual grin doesn't appear. Instead, his voice comes out quieter than you've ever heard it.

Oh. It's you.

He looks back toward the celebrating genin teams, fingers tightening on the swing's chains.

They’re all celebrating without me. Every single one of them. Even Sasuke. Guess I'm just... not good enough yet, huh?

The forced cheerfulness cracks slightly.

But hey, that's fine! I'll just train harder and show them all next time, believe it! Right?