Kakashi's Birthday

Compared to the sword, the design of the scabbard was much simpler.

However, according to Gu Qi's idea, the scabbard not only had to ensure that the sword could be drawn quickly, but also prevent the blade from slipping out of the scabbard, causing the sword to be lost or injuring someone.

After much thought, Gu Qi decided to add a latch on both sides of the guard to lock the scabbard.

Additionally, Gu Qi referenced the design of fast-draw gun holsters from his previous life and added springs to the latches.

This way, when the sword was inserted into the scabbard, it would trigger a safety mechanism, allowing the latches on the guard to engage with the reserved grooves on the scabbard.

When drawing the sword, all that was needed was to grip the hilt and apply a slight downward force to disengage the safety, and then the blade would spring out of the scabbard with the help of the springs.

The reason for this design was that Gu Qi found that even though he had shortened the sword's length, drawing it from his back was still somewhat awkward.

What if the sword got stuck on the battlefield? That would be incredibly embarrassing.

As for the shape of the scabbard, Gu Qi thought long and hard before deciding to make it cylindrical.

This way, even if the sword wasn't drawn, it could still be used as a club.

After some more time, a pure steel scabbard and the modified rail sword were finally completed.

Like a child who had just received a new toy, Gu Qi played with it for a long time before putting the sword down.

"No, there are still significant flaws in the design. I'll have to continue optimizing it." After putting down the sword, Gu Qi rubbed his throbbing forehead, deciding to end his work for the day.

He casually placed the sword near the furnace and then left the laboratory.

The next morning, after his usual training, Gu Qi, uncharacteristically, didn't run off anywhere. Instead, he sat in the Ninja Tool Shop downstairs, reading a book while minding the store.

"Yip, yip, yip! Who are you? Why are you impersonating Kakashi Gu Qi?" Kakashi, holding a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, seemed startled by this sight.

Gu Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Are you looking for trouble?"

"That tone of voice, yes, it's definitely my Gu Qi." Kakashi said with a smile.

"Heh..." If it weren't for the fact that he knew what day it was, Gu Qi would have retorted long ago.

"Huh? You're acting so out of character? Tell me, what's up?" Seeing that Gu Qi didn't argue back, Kakashi looked somewhat surprised and uncertain.

Gu Qi didn't want to waste any more words. He directly took out a box and handed it over. "Here, your birthday present!"

Kakashi looked surprised and scratched his head. "Huh, it's my birthday today?"

"What else?"

Kakashi took the box, feeling incredibly touched.

He opened the box to find a beautifully crafted lanyard inside, with a brown bead at one end.

This was the Crimson Pill that Gu Qi had prepared for Kakashi.

"You think such a cheap gift can get rid of me? That's too lame!" Kakashi said as he put the Crimson Pill around his neck.

"Heh, our friendship is only worth this much," Gu Qi retorted.

"You wound me so deeply."

Although he said that, Kakashi's smiling eyes betrayed his true feelings.

In this world, the only person Gu Qi couldn't let go of was Kakashi, his only family here.

As time went by, Gu Qi found his ties to this world growing deeper.

If he could truly return one day, perhaps he wouldn't know if he could be as resolute as he was at the beginning.

"Since it's my birthday today, let's go eat Yakiniku!" Kakashi said with a smile.

Gu Qi snapped back to attention and grinned. "Then you better have enough money ready. If you can't pay the bill later, I won't be responsible!"

"Tch, I won't make that mistake a second time!"

The two of them, while bickering, slowly walked towards the bustling street.

Behind them trailed three excited Ninja Dogs.

"Phew, I haven't eaten this well in ages!"

Gu Qi exclaimed after he was full.

However, compared to Gu Qi, Kakashi looked quite displeased.

Gu Qi, plus the three Ninja Dogs, plus Kakashi himself, had spent a hundred and fifty thousand Ryo on the meal.

Gu Qi ordered the most expensive items, and the three Ninja Dogs ate whatever they could find. Kakashi felt that if he was paying, he might as well eat his money's worth.

And so, the five of them completely cleared out the premium ingredients at Yakiniku Q.

As they were leaving, the owner of Yakiniku Q saw them off very politely.

Even after Kakashi and the others were far away, she still had a smile on her face.

"Hey, Kakashi, stop looking so wronged! Come on, let's go get some dessert!" Gu Qi pointed to a dango shop nearby.

"You're still eating? Haven't you had enough already?" Kakashi's eyelids drooped, clearly annoyed.

"That was the main course, this is dessert. How can they be the same thing!" Gu Qi argued.

Kakashi sighed helplessly. They had already spent so much, what was a little more? "Whatever you say! If you get a stomachache, don't come crying to me."

"Hmph, underestimating me."

Gu Qi said as he walked to the counter, "Boss, I'll take all the red dango."

"Alright, that'll be five hundred Ryo in total. Thank you for your patronage." The boss, seeing a big sale, happily served him.

"Kakashi, pay up!" Gu Qi grabbed the bag handed over by the boss and shouted to Kakashi behind him.

Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes again, "It's my birthday today, why do I still have to pay?"

"Heh heh, I'm still just a child!" Gu Qi showed his pearly white teeth.

Kakashi almost choked to death; that answer was too much.

"Boss, give me ten skewers of red dango."

A pleasant, melodious female voice reached Gu Qi's ears at that moment.

"I'm sorry, customer, the red dango were just all bought by that guest."

Immediately after, Gu Qi heard the boss's apologetic reply.

"Hey, kid, I need to talk to you about something." Then, a rather well-built and sexily dressed female ninja suddenly appeared before Gu Qi.

"What is it?" Gu Qi asked with a sullen face while eating dango.

Gu Qi recognized the person before him, Anko Mitarashi, a Jonin from Konoha and one of Orochimaru's disciples.

"Eating so many sweets is bad for a child's body, come, big sister will help you share some," Anko Mitarashi said in a tone that implied she was doing him a favor.

"Heh!" Gu Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes. Was this woman mentally challenged?

Seeing Gu Qi's expression of looking at someone mentally challenged, Anko Mitarashi's eye twitched.

However, for the sake of the dango, Anko suppressed her displeasure and forced a smile, "Um, how about you sell some to me, big sister? Just ten skewers will do."

"Is that so... Not selling." Gu Qi took another bite of dango and replied without looking up.

Upon hearing this, a "well" character appeared on Anko's forehead, "Kid, don't push it too far!"

"Heh!" Gu Qi didn't speak, taking another bite of dango and casually giving one skewer to each of the three Ninja Dogs.

Seeing the dango dwindling, Anko completely lost it. She clenched her fists, making them crackle, "Kid, believe it or not, I'll beat you up!"

What should a brat do when threatened? Of course, call for backup!

"Kakashi, someone's trying to bully me! Kakashi… Ka…"

Gu Qi was not afraid at all. He opened his mouth and called out to his support.

However, as he was shouting, Gu Qi's voice gradually lowered because he discovered that Kakashi had long since disappeared.

"So you're Kakashi's younger brother, but so what!" Anko Mitarashi licked her lips, revealing a dangerous aura.

"Gulp!" Gu Qi swallowed, realizing that without Kakashi, he and the three Ninja Dogs were no match for Anko.

"You, what do you want to do?" Gu Qi was a little scared. Unlike others, Anko wasn't inherently bad, but she had a bad temper, and more importantly, her thought process was abnormal.

"Heh heh, of course, I'm going to beat you up and then snatch the dango!" Anko said to Gu Qi with a smile.

Gu Qi forced a smile, "Um, can I choose to accept your previous offer and sell ten skewers of dango to you, big sister?"

"Heh heh, right now I just want to beat you up first, and then snatch the dango," Anko said with an evil smile, and then slowly walked towards Gu Qi under his terrified gaze.

"Yabai! I was wrong, Big Sister Anko, Boss!"