"Shh—"
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and extended his index finger, making a hushing gesture at his lips.
He pointed to Uchiha Obito, who was still unaware, sticking out his butt and concentrating on fighting a battle of wits with his float, and lowered his voice.
"Don't scare the little guy."
Uchiha Yagen's movement froze in place. He looked at Lord Hokage's relaxed and casual appearance, then glanced at his foolish son, and for a moment, he was at a loss, maintaining a half-crouching posture that looked somewhat comical.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze passed over him and landed on the empty fish basket at his feet. Looking at the motionless water surface on Obito's side, he deliberately cleared his throat and asked in a caring tone of an elder:
"Ahem, Obito, how's the harvest today?"
Little Obito, who was staring intently at the water surface, didn't even turn his head. Hearing this familiar question, he subconsciously thought it was his father.
His little face instantly collapsed, and his whole person exuded an aura of grievance. He pouted and complained:
"Didn't catch a single fish! These fish are all bad guys! They bully me! The bait is obviously the same, but they just won't bite!"
After Uchiha Obito finished speaking, he felt something was wrong.
This voice... doesn't seem like Father's?
Father's voice isn't this gentle.
Little Obito turned his head in confusion.
In the next second, his eyes widened instantly, and his small mouth, still retaining some baby fat, opened into an O shape.
Who did he see?
That face... that face he could see every day on the tallest rock wall in the center of the village!
It's Uncle Hokage!
It's the great hero Father talked about, who led everyone to win the war, let everyone have enough to eat, and made the village super beautiful!
"Ah! Ho... Uncle Hokage!"
Uchiha Obito exclaimed, his hand shook, and he almost threw the fishing rod into the lake.
He jumped down from the chair in a panic, his little face flushed with excitement and nervousness, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.
But in the next second, when he met Sarutobi Hiruzen's smiling eyes, all nervousness flew away.
A huge grievance welled up in his heart.
He thought of his fruitless afternoon, thought of those cunning fish, and then looked at the biggest and most powerful person in the village before him.
"Wah—"
Little Obito's mouth puckered, and his eyes instantly filled with tears. He rushed towards Sarutobi Hiruzen and hugged his thigh.
"Boohoo... Lord Hokage! The fish... the fish are bullying me! They are all bullying me!"
This sudden scene petrified everyone present.
In the distance, Sarutobi Hasumi dropped the candied haw in his hand with a plop.
Uchiha Yagen felt his vision go black, almost losing his breath.
Rebellious son!
This is Lord Hokage!
You... how dare you... how dare you hug Lord Hokage's leg and cry!
And complain! The object of your complaint is fish!
Uchiha Yagen felt that his family glory and personal dignity were shattered by his son's crying at this moment.
He wished he could immediately let this foolish son experience the fatherly love of a fist.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was also stunned by the little guy's enthusiasm, then laughed out loud.
He looked down at little Obito, who was hugging his thigh, crying out of breath, and wiping snot and tears on his trouser leg while crying. Instead of being angry, he found it extremely interesting.
He reached out, gently patted Obito's fuzzy little head, and asked gently:
"Oh? Fish bullying you? Tell me, how did they bully you?"
Little Obito felt he had found a backbone. He raised his tear-stained little face, sobbing, and began his accusation with chaotic logic.
"They... they all looked at my bait! There were several big fish! They swam over, smelled it, and then... then wagged their tails and swam away! Boohoo... they were even blowing bubbles in the water! They must be laughing at me!"
"They think I'm stupid! Can't catch them!"
"Lord Hokage, they are bad fish! Let's catch them all and make grilled fish, okay!"
The innocent words of a child made Sarutobi Hiruzen unable to hold back any longer, and he burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha..."
He ruffled Obito's hair, thinking this child was just too cute.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat down naturally beside Uchiha Obito.
He didn't choose the empty wooden chair, but sat directly on the grass by the lake, in a casual posture.
He casually picked up the spare short fishing rod next to him.
The fishing rod was a bit rough in workmanship, but polished very smooth, obviously prepared with care.
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the kneaded dough bait from the small box beside him, skillfully took off a small piece, rolled it into a ball of suitable size at his fingertips, and gently hung it on the hook.
The whole movement was smooth and flowing, without any delay, carrying the familiarity of years of labor.
With a flick of his wrist, the fishing line drew an elegant arc in the air, carrying the bait silently into the water, only rippling a tiny circle.
All this happened while Uchiha Yagen was still frozen in place, his mind blank.
This elite of the Uchiha clan felt as if he were in the most bizarre genjutsu at this moment.
The noble Third Hokage, known as the Ninja Professor, was sitting cross-legged on the grass, holding his son's spare small fishing rod, and preparing to fish with a serious face.
Uchiha Yagen felt his Sharingan was about to evolve because of this surreal scene.
"Fishing."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the calm water surface and said in a chatty tone to little Obito, who was still hugging his thigh and sobbing.
"You have to know what fish like."
His voice was gentle and steady, like a breeze brushing over the lake, carrying a soothing power.
Little Obito sniffled, his attention attracted by his words, and gradually stopped crying.
He raised his tear-stained little face and asked curiously with a thick nasal voice.
"What do... fish like?"
"They like quiet."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the water surface without blinking.
"You made too much noise here just now, they were all scared away by you, so naturally they wouldn't come to eat your bait."
"Like quiet, like delicious bait."
"Finally..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen paused here, turned his head slightly, glanced at the little guy beside him who was looking at him with admiring eyes, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a smile.
"They also like... smart opponents."
"Smart... opponents?"
Little Obito was stunned, his little brain unable to process this.
He leaned closer to Sarutobi Hiruzen, his little face written with big confusion, and asked curiously.
"Uncle Hokage, can fish think too? How would they know who is smart and who is not? Do they have to go to the Ninja Academy like me when they grow up?"
<><><><><
Read Advaned Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ ush the Story forward with your [Power Stones]