After speaking, Uchiha Yagen seemed to feel that this wasn't enough to express his sincerity, so he immediately added:
"That... that's perfect! Lord Hokage, why don't you and your student fish here this afternoon, and in the evening... don't leave, let's have a simple meal together!"
"My wife's cooking... is passable!"
His tone was full of expectation and nervousness.
This invitation was almost blurted out, completely from the heart.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the face that was almost sticking to his, twitched the corner of his mouth, and hurriedly nodded.
"Ahem... alright, then we'll trouble you."
"Yay! Awesome! We're having a big meal tonight! I can meet Uncle Hokage's student!"
Before Yagen could recover from his immense joy, little Obito beside him cheered again. He seemed to have already seen the happy scene of everyone sitting together in the evening, eating the three-colored dango and delicious grilled fish made by his mother.
◆
The afternoon sun became gentle, shedding the scorching heat of noon, and plated everything with a layer of warm gold.
Sarutobi Hiruzen led a boy whose face was written with reluctance, walking slowly towards the lake.
Senju Nawaki's shoulders were slumped, every step seeming to drag a thousand-pound chain. His originally energetic face now only had the look of someone who had lost the will to live after being repeatedly tortured by theoretical knowledge.
"Uncle Hokage, why do we have to come here?"
The boy's voice carried a weak complaint.
"The practical combat training in the afternoon is obviously more meaningful."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't turn his head, but just said in a gentle tone:
"Your training has already begun."
Nawaki was stunned, looking at his teacher's broad back in confusion.
Training?
Here? With whom? With the fish in the lake?
Before he could figure it out, a childish voice full of surprise came over.
"Uncle Hokage! You're here!"
A small figure jumped down from the chair by the lake, moved his short legs, and rushed over like a small cannonball.
It was Uchiha Obito.
He ran up close, looking up with his brilliant little face, his eyes shining with pure joy.
Then, Uchiha Obito noticed the dejected big brother behind Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Obito tilted his little head curiously.
"Big brother, who are you? You look unhappy."
Nawaki glanced at this little guy who was much shorter than him, and out of politeness, nodded.
"You can call me... Nawaki."
"Oh oh~"
Obito responded quickly and extended his small hand enthusiastically.
"Hello, Big Brother Nawaki! My name is Uchiha Obito! Let's fish together! My dad said that whoever catches the biggest fish today will get extra three-colored dango from mom as a reward tonight!"
At the mention of food, little Obito's eyes instantly brightened a bit more.
Nawaki looked at his innocent appearance, and the irritability in his heart dissipated a little, but he still couldn't muster much interest in fishing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and patted Obito's head, then took another prepared fishing rod from Uchiha Yagen and handed it to Nawaki.
"Nawaki."
"Your first training topic."
"Go catch your first fish."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was very serious, not like he was joking at all.
"Umm... okay..."
Nawaki glanced at the fishing rod, then at Uncle Hokage's unquestionable gaze, and could only helplessly take it.
He imitated Uchiha Yagen, found a spot by the lake to sit down, clumsily hooked the bait, and then forcefully threw the line out.
"Plop!"
The bait, like a small stone, smashed heavily into the water, splashing a little water and scaring away a few small fish that were leisurely swimming nearby.
This kid! How much bait did you put on??!
Uchiha Yagen's eyelid twitched, but he didn't speak.
Sarutobi Hiruzen just watched quietly, with no expression on his face.
Time began to pass minute by minute.
For the energetic Senju Nawaki, this sitting still was simply torture.
He moved his body for a while, adjusting his sitting posture.
Then he scratched his head, feeling a little itchy on the back of his neck.
From time to time, he lifted the fishing rod to see if the bait was still there, then threw it back into the water.
Senju Nawaki exuded an aura of anxiety all over.
The lake water around his float was as quiet as a mirror, without a ripple.
"Sigh..."
Nawaki let out his seventeenth sigh of the afternoon.
This was even more torturous than memorizing "Five Hundred Basic Transformations of Chakra Nature."
And just when he was about to lose all patience, a small cry came from not far away.
"Father! It moved! It moved!"
It was Obito's voice.
Nawaki turned his head subconsciously.
He saw little Obito nervously holding his small fishing rod, the tip of the thin rod bending slightly.
"Don't rush, Obito, steady! Let it run for a bit!"
Uchiha Yagen immediately crouched down, holding his son's hand, guiding him with a steady voice.
"Yes, that's it, slowly pull it up!"
Little Obito gritted his teeth, his face turning red, using all his strength to slowly turn the reel.
Splash.
A palm-sized crucian carp was pulled out of the water, its tail thrashing in the air, splashing a string of crystal water droplets.
"Wow—!!"
Little Obito let out a huge cheer. He threw down the fishing rod and clumsily grabbed the fish that was still jumping around.
"Father! I caught it, look, I caught it!"
He held his trophy high, rushing to Uchiha Yagen as if presenting a treasure, his face beaming with unparalleled pride.
"Haha, well done, Obito, you're a fishing genius!"
Yagen picked up his son and kissed his muddy little face, the laughter of the father and son echoing in the boy's ears.
This heartwarming and fulfilling scene scratched fiercely at Nawaki's heart.
His cheeks instantly became hot.
A strong sense of frustration and shame welled up in his heart.
Nawaki stared deadly at his motionless float, his hand gripping the fishing rod tighter and tighter.
Just then.
A warm palm gently pressed on his shoulder.
That power instantly smoothed the restlessness in his heart.
Nawaki trembled violently, knowing who it was without turning back.
"Uncle Hokage..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't speak, just stood quietly behind him.
His gaze passed over the boy, towards the lake surface dyed gold by the setting sun.
"Nawaki."
After a long time, he finally spoke slowly, his voice so calm that no emotion could be heard.
"What is a ninja?"
This question stunned Nawaki.
He opened his mouth, but found he didn't know how to answer.
Is it powerful ninjutsu? Is it the determination to protect the village? Is it the will to never give up?
These answers flashed through his mind, but he felt that the teacher didn't want to hear these.
"Your heart is too noisy."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice, like a breeze brushing over the lake, drilled clearly into Nawaki's ears.
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