While Zhang Miao was lost in wild, unfounded fantasies, Kakashi had already cast his hook into the water. Before long, the sound of splashing jolted Zhang Miao awake.
Splash!
Hearing the sound, Zhang Miao immediately turned toward it and saw a bluish river fish trace a graceful arc through the air before landing on the ground with a smack.
Kakashi had caught a fish so quickly?
Looking at the river fish flopping on the ground, Zhang Miao was momentarily dumbfounded.
But Kakashi did not hesitate. After catching the fish, he swiftly removed it from the hook and tossed it into the fish basket, then cast the hook into the river again and began fishing once more.
Zhang Miao no longer had time for random thoughts. He watched Kakashi fish with complete focus, carefully observing every movement and learning how to fish.
Seeing how serious Zhang Miao was, Kakashi raised an eyebrow and directly handed him the Fishing Rod.
"Here."
Zhang Miao had been itching to try it for a while. When Kakashi handed over the Fishing Rod, he took it without hesitation. Then, imitating Kakashi, he occasionally lifted the rod or tugged the line back.
Seeing Zhang Miao fish with surprising skill, Kakashi raised an eyebrow again. Expressionless, he found a branch nearby, took a transparent line from his Ninja Tool Pouch and tied it to the branch, then attached a hook. A simple Fishing Rod was complete.
After baiting the hook, Kakashi stood not far from Zhang Miao and tossed it into the river with a plop.
A few dozen breaths later, the sound of splashing rang out again.
Splash!
Hearing it, Zhang Miao turned around again and realized that Kakashi had caught another fish.
That fast?
Watching Kakashi expressionlessly put the fish into the basket, Zhang Miao gritted his teeth.
"Same Fishing Rod, same bait. Why can't I catch anything? Do these fish recognize people or something?"
Zhang Miao was deeply unconvinced, but as he watched Kakashi catch fish one after another while he himself had yet to catch anything, he could not help feeling oddly disappointed.
Kakashi seemed to notice that Zhang Miao was unhappy. He lifted his eyelids slightly, then spoke as though talking to himself.
"After casting it in, let the bait drift with the current. When you pull it back, pull it a little farther. Don't move too quickly."
Hearing Kakashi's words, Zhang Miao's heart stirred, and he immediately adjusted his movements.
Less than two minutes later, as Zhang Miao reeled the bait back in, he suddenly felt the Fishing Rod in his hand grow heavy. His eyes widened in delight.
It took the bait!
With that thought, he immediately lifted the rod with all his strength and swung it back!
Splash!
Amid a pleasant burst of splashing, Zhang Miao hooked a palm-sized blue-backed river fish from the river. After tracing an arc through the air, it landed on the ground and flopped wildly.
Seeing this, Zhang Miao hurriedly threw down the Fishing Rod and ran over to pin down the still-flopping fish, then carefully placed it into the fish basket.
Seeing this, Kakashi narrowed his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched beneath his mask.
Zhang Miao had no time to pay attention to Kakashi's expression. Having caught his first fish, he was filled with even more confidence. After placing it in the basket, he eagerly threw himself back into the great endeavor of fishing.
Time passed quickly. As Zhang Miao and Kakashi focused on fishing, the sky gradually darkened.
After putting another fish into the basket, Kakashi immediately put away his Fishing Rod and looked at Zhang Miao.
"It's about time. We should go."
"Uh... so soon?"
Zhang Miao clearly wanted to fish a little longer, but he knew what mattered more. He could only nod reluctantly and hand the Fishing Rod to Kakashi.
Kakashi took the Fishing Rod from Zhang Miao and put it away. Then, carrying the rod and fish basket, he crouched down with his back to Zhang Miao.
Seeing Kakashi do this, Zhang Miao did not hesitate in the slightest. He leaped onto Kakashi's back, wrapped his left arm around Kakashi's neck, and swung his right arm forward with force!
"Run, brother! Oh ho ho ho ho..."
Kakashi: "..."
The glow of the setting sun shone upon Konoha's gate, casting a long shadow. At that moment, the two Konoha ninja guarding the entrance were sleepily dozing off when a young yet loud singing voice suddenly drifted in from outside the village.
"Young man, listen to me."
"Things like humans are not a waste."
"Things like tomorrow are no longer needed."
"Don't hide the fist you clutch tight..."
Hearing the song, the two Konoha ninja on guard immediately stood up and looked toward the gate.
Kakashi, dressed in black, was walking toward the entrance carrying a Fishing Rod and fish basket. The one singing was Zhang Miao, who was riding on his back!
This song, "NO BOY NO CRY," was a theme song from the first Naruto series and Zhang Miao's favorite. Its rapid drumbeat, shouted singing style, and the feeling of breaking through every restraint made Zhang Miao resonate with it every time he heard it!
"As though you could sell away your uneasy dreams."
"You're not that old yet, are you?"
"Young man, the gun in your heart."
"Only you can pull its trigger!"
Watching Zhang Miao sing at the top of his lungs, the two gatekeepers could not help smiling knowingly. Their chins and heels bobbed along to the rhythm of his song.
After entering Konoha's gate, Kakashi nodded to the two as a greeting. Zhang Miao did not stop singing. As he sang, he waved to them like a star greeting fans at a concert.
"All the young people say, tear my heart apart."
"Those who have given up, those words don't matter."
"All the young people say, the voices we cry out."
"Are the freedom hidden beneath the bed..."
Watching Zhang Miao sing as he disappeared into the distance on Kakashi's back, the two ninja looked at each other and burst into laughter together.
"Haha, that kid's pretty great!"
"Yeah, he's quite interesting!"
The two ninja did not know that the moment they said this, Zhang Miao, who had been singing loudly on Kakashi's back, suddenly stopped. A trace of surprise appeared on his face.
When Kakashi saw Zhang Miao suddenly fall silent, he turned to look at him in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Kakashi's puzzled expression, Zhang Miao immediately came back to his senses and hurriedly shook his head.
"Uh... nothing!"
"Oh."
Since Zhang Miao would not say, Kakashi did not press further and continued carrying him toward home.
Kakashi did not know that Zhang Miao had suddenly stopped because two familiar voices had sounded in his mind.
"Ding—Congratulations, Host, you have obtained Ninja Fragments x3!" "Ding—Congratulations, Host, you have obtained Ninja Fragments x2!"
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