Kakashi's Shock

Kakashi really had a knack for cooking fish. Zhang Miao could tell just by looking at the pile of fish bones over ten centimeters high on the table to his left.

"Mmm... this fish is really delicious. What is it called?" After finishing the last fish on the plate, Zhang Miao sucked on his fingers as he asked.

Seeing the satisfied look on Zhang Miao's face, Kakashi folded his arms, a hint of amusement flashing through his eye.

"Pan-fried river fish—Kakashi Style!"

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

At the thought, nostalgia and pain flashed through his eyes.

Seeing Kakashi suddenly fall silent, Zhang Miao, who was familiar with the story of the Hokage, could roughly guess what he was thinking. He let out a long sigh.

"Ah... what am I supposed to do if I can't eat such delicious fish next time? This is worrying me to death."

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Kakashi temporarily set aside those painful memories. He looked up at Zhang Miao, who was rubbing his temples with a pained expression, then turned away again.

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

"How could I keep eating and drinking for free? That would be too embarrassing."

After hearing Kakashi's words, Zhang Miao shook his head again. But then, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly clapped his hands.

"I've got it! How about I use this as payment for the meal?"

With that, Zhang Miao tossed something onto the table with a thud.

Kakashi did not pay much attention to Zhang Miao's words. In his view, as a war orphan, Zhang Miao could not possibly have anything valuable. At most, it would be a pretty stone he had picked up along the road.

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

"Th-this is..."

The item on the table was a kunai, but it differed from an ordinary kunai.

It was a three-pronged kunai, and four tiny yet clearly visible characters were inscribed on its handle—

Sword of Ninja Love!

Ordinary people might not recognize this kunai, but Kakashi knew it all too well!

Because it was his mentor Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Kakashi snatched the Flying Thunder God Kunai from the table, held it in both hands, and brought it close to his eyes, disbelief filling his gaze.

"This... this belongs to Fourth Lord..."

Before Kakashi could finish, Zhang Miao's calm voice rang out beside him.

"It looks like you're satisfied with the payment, so that puts me at ease. Also, calling him Fourth Lord is too distant. I think he would rather hear you call him Teacher Minato!"

Zhang Miao's words snapped Kakashi back to his senses. He immediately turned to stare at Zhang Miao, shock flashing through his eyes once more.

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

Kakashi clearly remembered that when he had first encountered Zhang Miao, the boy's hands had been completely empty. How had he suddenly produced a kunai, and a Flying Thunder God Kunai at that?

Could he have picked it up on the road?

That was impossible!

After the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha had ended, every Flying Thunder God Kunai had been securely sealed away. It was difficult enough just to see one, much less pick one up off the road.

A forgery was even less likely. Kakashi did not think he was foolish enough to mistake his mentor's Flying Thunder God Kunai!

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

"That's a long story, and I don't even know how to explain it right now. Anyway, you only need to know one thing: this is mine. Now that I've given it to you, it's yours. That's all!"

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

"Alright, I'm full, so I should be heading back. Thanks for the meal!"

After saying that, Zhang Miao headed straight for the door.

When he reached the entrance and opened the door to leave, Kakashi suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly called out, "What's your name?"

"My name?"

Hearing Kakashi's question, Zhang Miao stopped. After thinking for a moment, he scratched his head and smiled at Kakashi.

"If I remember correctly, the name Third Elder registered for me should be Ryunosuke, Uzumaki Ryunosuke!"

"Uzumaki Ryunosuke?"

Hearing that name and seeing Zhang Miao's fiery red hair, Kakashi immediately thought of someone.

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 members of the Uzumaki Clan scattered across the world.

And Kushina Uzumaki had been the only member of the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha!

Now Zhang Miao claimed that his surname was Uzumaki, and that Third Hokage had registered his name. That was probably true. He had also said earlier that his parents had died during the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha, proving that they had originally belonged to this village.

Most importantly, he had produced a Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Kakashi was a ninja skilled at analysis. Once he connected all these clues, he immediately reached a shocking conclusion!

The child before him was the orphan left behind by his mentor, Minato Namikaze!

After reaching that conclusion, Kakashi immediately calmed down. He strode to Zhang Miao's side, braced the door Zhang Miao had opened with one hand, and pinched Zhang Miao's chin with the other.

"Open your mouth!"

Zhang Miao froze for a moment at Kakashi's words, but obediently opened his mouth.

Looking at the two lone, white baby teeth on Zhang Miao's lower gums, Kakashi's eye widened again.

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

"There's nothing impossible about it!" Zhang Miao brushed aside Kakashi's hand from his chin and rolled his eyes at him. "Can't I just be mature for my age? Besides, isn't this exactly the result you wanted?"

"Uh... this..."

Seeing Kakashi rendered speechless, Zhang Miao could not help sighing again and waved at him.

"Ah... alright, you should already know everything you need to know. I should head back too. I'll come eat fish again tomorrow. Bye-bye!"

With that, Zhang Miao opened the door and walked out, then shut it from outside.

Bang!

As the sound of the door closing rang out, Kakashi finally came back to his senses.

He looked at the closed door, then lowered his head to look at the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his hand. Thinking of Zhang Miao's face, which bore some resemblance to Minato Namikaze's, a smile appeared on Kakashi's face.

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

As he spoke, Kakashi suddenly felt his eyes grow wet.

At the same time, Zhang Miao, who had just left Kakashi's house, received a system notification.

"Ding—Obtained Kakashi Hatake Fragment x5!"