The sun climbed high, noon was near.
Konoha Village, deep in the forest, had no industrial smog; the river sparkled crystal-clear beneath the sun, flowing lazily, its surface flashing like mischievous winks that mocked the two kids on the bank who hadn't caught a single fish.
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There were fish in the river; some even cruised the shallows to feed, but after being nabbed by Ninjas they'd grown wary and refused to bite, darting back to the depths at the slightest ripple.
"Is your bait off, Hayate?"
"Can't be. Dad bought it ages ago, but it's been sealed at home the whole time."
"What?" Higashino Shin snatched the packet, sniffed, and scowled. "Idiot, this smells wrong—expired long ago."
Gekkō Hayate blinked. "Huh? Bait can expire? So what do we do, Shin? Wanna dig for earthworms?"
"I'm done fishing."
Back on Earth I got skunked; after transmigrating I've trained in Chakra and become a Ninja—if I still go home empty-handed, what's the point? Unacceptable. Time to fix it.
Shin tossed his rod, pulled out several large hooks, tied them to lines, and leapt onto the river, standing steady on the surface.
He spread his perception, quietly monitoring everything beneath the water.
His sensing came from absorbing White Natural Energy; unlike Ninja Chakra senses or the Uzumaki Clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura, it was finer and harder to fool—proven during his spars with Higashino Jiro.
Soon he felt a school of fish drifting close.
Shin struck like lightning: first gauging the light's refraction, then—using shuriken-throwing form—whipped the hook underwater and speared several big fish right through the mouth.
A gentle tug hauled up the entire afternoon's lunch.
Fish: "???"
Gekkō Hayate stared enviously at Shin's water-walking feet, wishing he could do the same—but he hadn't learned it yet.
Yūgao Uzuki didn't overthink; clutching a bouquet of wildflowers and a cloth bundle, she dashed to the bank cheering—today's meal was secured.
Back on shore, Shin ordered, "I'll prep the food. Hayate, gather dry firewood. Yūgao, wash the pot—we'll stew some fish broth in a bit."
"Hey, Big Bro Shin, can we add mushrooms? It'll taste yummy!" Yūgao opened her bundle: colorful fungi, very pretty.
Shin eyed the mushrooms, then her. "Where'd you pick these?"
"In the woods back there—loads of them."
Gekkō Hayate's eyelids twitched. "Whoa, those look seriously toxic."
"Not all." Shin sorted them, tossing the poisonous ones to the fish, and warned, "Tonight you'll copy out the Ninja Field Edible Plants Manual—twice. Now go wash the safe ones."
The little girl stuck out her tongue. "Got it."
River fish: "???"
---
With the trio's teamwork, a fire was soon crackling under a pot; five branch skewers ringed the flames, each impaling a spice-rubbed big fish.
Shin planned: one for the little girl, two each for Hayate and himself—if Hayate couldn't finish, Shin's appetite could handle the rest.
While the food cooked, Shin asked, "What've you two been doing this past month? Training at home?"
Gekkō Hayate: "Same as you—basics, physical drills, Chakra refinement, kenjutsu. I can already draw Chakra mid-spar."
"Training together with Yūgao?"
"Yeah. Our families' styles are similar and we're old family friends, so the kids of the same age train together."
"Good. I look forward to seeing how strong you'll get."
Yūgao puffed her cheeks. "Big Bro Shin, you sound just like my dad. Don't underestimate me—Mom says I'm a Genius!"
"Sure, you're a Genius!" Shin laughed, ruffling the little lolli's head; she slapped his hand away with a glare.
Gekkō Hayate looked sheepish but finally blurted, "Um, Shin, could you teach us Chakra-control tricks?"
At that, Yūgao lifted Shin's hand back onto her head, gazing up with sparkling eyes.
Chakra control was still fuzzy to her—but standing on water looked fun.
Shin wasn't stingy. "No problem—lesson after lunch."
The soup bubbled; the grilled fish browned under Shin's steady turns, and a rich aroma drifted out—hooking not only their stomachs but also some uninvited guests.
"Smells great! Told you coming to the river was smart—food just when we're hungry."
"You're right, big bro Iwa Zune."
With noisy chatter, four figures stepped from the trees—three boys and one girl, all about seven or eight. Shin sensed Chakra on them: Ninja Academy students.
Konoha's Ninja Academy ran three terms a year; the new term had started April 1, so classes were already in session.
This spot, on the Village's edge far from school, wasn't reachable at noon unless you cut class.
Clearly these brats had skipped.
The stocky dark boy in front planted his hands on his hips. "Hey, you three shrimp, hand over the food as tribute to your Seniors!"
Yūgao's cheeks ballooned in fury; Hayate's gaze turned sharp. Though small, neither showed fear.
Shin was amused—bullying by brats?
Back on Earth he'd watched anime and thought Konoha had too many snot-nosed punks who'd even beat the Uchiha heir or Hyuga heiress.
He rarely went out, yet the one time he did… Curious, he asked, "And why should we?"
The dark boy glared. "Yo, runt, cocky, huh? You're it—let's play Ninja game. I'm the Hokage; you're enemy nin. Surrender, invaders! I'll crush you for Konoha!"
He charged, fists swinging—food grab upgraded to straight-up robbery.
To Shin his moves were full of holes and snail-slow.
Shin flashed in even faster, ducked the punch, and slammed a fist into the boy's gut.
The kid folded, clutching his stomach and howling, down for the count.
"Iwa Zune-boss!" the other two boys yelled, but Shin was quicker; before they could help they joined their leader on the ground, curled like boiled shrimp and wailing, "Monster—there's a monster!"
The remaining girl hugged her head and crouched. "Aah! Don't hit me—I surrender!"
Shin pondered, then tapped her head anyway—gender equality.
The dark boy named Iwa Zune, shaking like a motor, forced himself up. "D-damn… enemy's so strong… but I'm the Hokage!"
Shin was moved by his dedication. "Still in character, bro? If Lord Hokage were this weak, Konoha would be doomed."
"Don't mock my dream, bastard! I'm gonna be Hokage one day!"