Ginta raised an eyebrow, then two, and stared at the clone. Then at Kakashi, who seemed to be amused by his construct. "Are you kidding me?" he asked.

The clone took advantage of his open mouth to insert a spoonful of sauce-laden carrot. Kakashi choked on his rice.

Ginta's face reddened, and he scowled at the clone and its maker, snatching the spoon from the clone's hand. "Are you feeling okay? How in the fuck did you make a clone with a sense of humor? I thought you had yours surgically removed weeks ago, when you were in hospital with Ryouma."

He dropped the spoon and reached for his bottle, tipping it up fast to wash the food down. To stop his mouth before he said anything else stupid. Conversations with Asuma and Tsume about his poor broken heart haunted him. What the fuck was he doing thinking about that now? He looked down at his food, stirring it resolutely, avoiding penetrating grey stares.

"Morphine makes me stupid. You already know that, from that other mission."