Kakashi's Shock

Kakashi really did have a knack for cooking fish—that much was obvious from the pile of bones, over ten centimeters high, sitting on the table to Zhang Miao's left.

"Mm... this fish tastes really good. What's it called?" After finishing the last fish on his plate, Zhang Miao sucked on his fingers and asked.

Watching Zhang Miao's thoroughly satisfied expression, Kakashi crossed his arms, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Pan-fried river fish—Kakashi Style!"

After saying that, Kakashi suddenly remembered how Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara had once praised his pan-fried river fish just as highly.

At that thought, a flash of nostalgia and pain crossed his eyes again.

Seeing Kakashi suddenly fall silent, Zhang Miao, familiar with the plot of Naruto, could roughly guess what was on his mind. He let out a long sigh.

"Ah... such delicious fish. What if I can't eat it next time? That's really worrying."

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Kakashi set aside that painful memory for a moment. He looked up at Zhang Miao, who was rubbing his temples with a pained expression, then turned his head away again.

"If I'm around, you can come again."

"Always freeloading—how could I be so shameless?"

After hearing Kakashi's offer, Zhang Miao shook his head again. But soon, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly clapped his hands with a sharp smack.

"Got it! How about this—I'll use this as payment for the meal. What do you think?"

With that, Zhang Miao thumped something down onto the table.

Kakashi didn't pay much attention to Zhang Miao's words at first. In his view, as a war orphan, Zhang Miao probably couldn't produce anything valuable—at best, a pretty rock picked up on the road.

But when he turned to look at the table, his gaze was immediately drawn to the object on it.

"This... this is..."

What now sat on the table was a kunai—but it was unlike any ordinary kunai.

This kunai had a three-pronged shape, and on its handle, four small characters were clearly visible—

Sword of Ninja Love.

Most people might find this kunai unfamiliar, but to Kakashi, it was all too familiar!

Because this was his teacher Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Kakashi snatched the Flying Thunder God Kunai off the table, cradling it in both hands as he brought it close to his eyes, disbelief written all over his face.

"This is... this is the Fourth Lord's..."

Before Kakashi could finish, Zhang Miao's calm voice reached his ears again.

"Looks like you're satisfied with the payment. That puts my mind at ease. Also, calling him 'Fourth Lord' is too distant—I think he'd prefer you call him Teacher Minato!"

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Kakashi snapped back to reality. He immediately turned to look at Zhang Miao, another flash of shock in his eyes.

"How do you know that? And where did you get this Flying Thunder God Kunai?"

Kakashi clearly remembered that when he first met Zhang Miao, the boy had been empty-handed. How could he suddenly produce a kunai—and a Flying Thunder God Kunai at that?

Had he picked it up on the road?

That was utterly impossible!

After all, following the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, all Flying Thunder God Kunai had been carefully sealed away. Even getting a glimpse of one was difficult, let alone finding one lying around.

As for a forgery, that was even more unlikely. Kakashi figured that no matter how stupid he was, he wouldn't mistake his own teacher's Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Seeing the shock mixed with disbelief on Kakashi's face, Zhang Miao waved a hand at him.

"That's a long story, and I don't really know how to explain it right now. Just know this—it was mine, and now I'm giving it to you, so it's yours. That's it!"

With that, Zhang Miao hopped down from his chair, patted his belly, and waved at Kakashi.

"Alright, I'm full. Time for me to head back. Thanks for the meal!"

Then, Zhang Miao strode toward the door.

Just as he reached the door, opened it, and was about to step out, Kakashi snapped out of it and called out urgently, "What's your name?"

"Name?"

At Kakashi's question, Zhang Miao paused mid-step. After thinking for a moment, he scratched his head and grinned at Kakashi.

"If I remember right, the name the Third Elder registered for me is Ryunosuke—Uzumaki Ryunosuke."

"Uzumaki Ryunosuke?"

Hearing that name, and looking at Zhang Miao's fiery red hair, Kakashi immediately thought of one person.

Minato Namikaze's wife—Kushina Uzumaki!

The Uzumaki Clan had originally lived in Uzushio, in the Land of Whirlpools. But after the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, the clan's members scattered across the world.

And Kushina Uzumaki was the only member of the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha!

Now, Zhang Miao claimed his surname was Uzumaki, and that the name was registered by the Third Hokage himself—that was hard to doubt. He'd also said earlier that his parents had died during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, proving they were originally villagers here.

Most importantly, he'd produced a Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Kakashi was a ninja skilled in analysis. When he connected all the dots, he arrived at a startling conclusion!

The child before him was the orphan of his beloved teacher, Minato Namikaze!

After reaching this conclusion, Kakashi immediately calmed down. He strode over to Zhang Miao, one hand bracing the door Zhang Miao had opened, the other gripping Zhang Miao's chin.

"Open your mouth!"

Hearing Kakashi's words, Zhang Miao was startled for a moment, but obediently opened his mouth.

Staring at the two lonely little white baby teeth on Zhang Miao's lower gum, Kakashi's eyes widened again.

"Only two teeth? Are you not even a year old yet? How is that possible?"

"Nothing's impossible!" Zhang Miao brushed aside Kakashi's hand gripping his chin and shot him a glare. "Can't I be precocious? And isn't this result exactly what you wanted?"

"Uh... well..."

Seeing Kakashi at a loss for words, Zhang Miao couldn't help but sigh again, then waved at him.

"Ah... fine. You should know everything you need to know by now. I should get going. I'll come back tomorrow to eat fish. Bye!"

With that, Zhang Miao opened the door, stepped out, and closed it from the outside.

"Bang!"

When the sound of the door closing rang out, Kakashi snapped back to reality.

He looked at the now-closed door, then down at the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his hand. Thinking of Zhang Miao's face, which bore a faint resemblance to Minato Namikaze, a smile crept onto Kakashi's face.

"I never thought Teacher Minato left behind a child. This is wonderful... truly wonderful!"

As he said this, Kakashi suddenly felt his eyes grow a little moist.

Meanwhile, just as Zhang Miao stepped out of Kakashi's house, he received a system notification.

"Ding--Obtained Kakashi Hatake Fragment x5!"