Where There Were Chocolate Sticks, There Was Paradise

As soon as the dismissal bell rang, Shin-chan eagerly began packing his schoolbag.

"Kakashi." Shin-chan ran over to Kakashi's desk with his schoolbag in his arms. "I can't go train today."

Kakashi looked up at him.

"Why not?"

"I'm going to Xiao Che's house." Shin-chan pointed at Uchiha Toru beside him. "He said they have lots of chocolate sticks at his place."

Kakashi's brows drew together slightly.

"The key to Blade Techniques is persistence. Skip one day, and you'll get rusty."

Shin-chan's face fell. "But the chocolate sticks..."

"It's all right." Uchiha Toru came over and stood beside Shin-chan. "We have a dedicated Training Ground at my house. If Shin-chan wants to practice, he can train there too."

He looked at Kakashi and hesitated before asking, "Kakashi, do you want to come with us?"

Kakashi glanced at him, his eyes giving nothing away.

"No."

He slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and turned to leave.

Shin-chan waved at his silver-haired back. "See you tomorrow, Kakashi!"

Kakashi didn't turn around, only gave a small wave.

On the way to the Uchiha Clan Compound, Shin-chan kept talking about chocolate sticks.

"Xiao Che, do you really have strawberry ones?"

"Yes."

"What about milk ones?"

"Those too."

Shin-chan's eyes shone like lightbulbs.

"Your house is amazing, Xiao Che. It's practically paradise!"

Uchiha Toru smiled but said nothing.

As they walked, Shin-chan began to notice that the buildings around them were changing.

The road grew wider and the houses larger, but there were fewer and fewer people. The occasional passerby hurried along.

Only the people wearing clothes with the Uchiha Crest looked at him strangely.

They weren't glaring at him or looking at him with dislike. It was more like they'd spotted some rare animal.

Shin-chan tilted his head and quietly asked Uchiha Toru, "Why do they keep looking at me?"

"Because not many people come to the Uchiha Clan Compound." Uchiha Toru lowered his head, his voice soft. "People from outside don't usually come here."

"Why not?"

Uchiha Toru was silent for two seconds. "Because... our family is a little different from everyone else."

Shin-chan blinked, not quite understanding.

The two little figures continued onward, passing through the curious stares.

Uchiha Toru's house was much bigger than Shin-chan had imagined.

Just inside was a spacious courtyard paved with flagstones, with an old tree growing in the middle.

The house was built in an old style of Japanese Architecture, with a Wooden Corridor and paper-covered sliding doors. It looked expensive.

"Wow." Shin-chan's mouth fell open. "Your house is huge!"

"It's not that big." Uchiha Toru looked a little embarrassed. "I've lived here since I was little, so I'm used to it."

A woman in a kimono stepped out from the Genkan. She had gentle features and neatly combed hair.

When she saw Shin-chan, she paused for a moment, but quickly gave him a warm, polite smile.

"You must be Xiao Che's friend. Welcome."

"Hello, ma'am." Shin-chan looked up at her. "My name is Shin Nohara, and I'm five years old."

Toru's Mother couldn't help laughing at the way he introduced himself. "Hello, there. Xiao Che often talks about you."

"Really?" Shin-chan turned to Uchiha Toru. "What do you say about me?"

Uchiha Toru turned his face away, looking a little embarrassed. "Nothing much."

"He says you're very kind," Toru's Mother answered for her son. "You look after him a lot at school."

Shin-chan proudly swayed his head. "Of course! Xiao Che is my best friend."

Uchiha Toru cut in. "Mom, I'm taking Shin-chan to have some snacks."

"Okay." Toru's Mother nodded. "I'll get them ready for you. Is there anything you don't eat?"

"No." Shin-chan raised his hand. "I like chocolate sticks. Strawberry and milk flavors are both fine."

Toru's Mother smiled. "All right, I'll remember that."

They had their snacks in a large Japanese-style room.

Shin-chan sat cross-legged on the Tatami, with a huge plate of chocolate sticks in front of him. There were all kinds, piled up like a little mountain.

"Xiao Che..."

"Hmm?"

"Can I eat these?"

"Of course. They're for you."

Shin-chan took a deep breath, then reached out and picked up the first one.

Strawberry flavor.

He took a bite.

Uchiha Toru watched him anxiously. "How is it?"

Shin-chan Closed his eyes and chewed slowly, his face wearing an enchanted expression.

"This is the best chocolate stick I've ever eaten."

"You said that last time, too."

"Because they're this delicious every time."

Uchiha Toru couldn't help laughing. He picked up a milk-flavored one and joined Shin-chan.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, warm and golden.

Shin-chan had been eating for a while when something suddenly occurred to him.

"Xiao Che, where's your Training Ground?"

"Behind the House."

"Can I see it?"

Uchiha Toru paused. "Do you want to train?"

Shin-chan thought about it, then looked at the chocolate stick in his hand, his expression conflicted. "Well... I don't really want to train. I just want to see it."

Uchiha Toru smiled. "Then let's go."

The Training Ground was an open space covered in Fine Sand. A few targets stood around it, and several Kunai lay in one corner.

Shin-chan stood at the edge and looked over the open space.

"Xiao Che, do you train here every day?"

"Yeah."

Shin-chan looked at the Training Ground, then at Uchiha Toru. "You work so hard."

Uchiha Toru paused.

"Work hard?"

"Yeah. You have to train at home after school. Isn't that hard?"

"It's not hard." Uchiha Toru shook his head. "I like the feeling of getting stronger."

Shin-chan blinked and said nothing.

"Let's get started." Uchiha Toru loosened up. "You practice Blade Techniques, and I'll practice Fire Style."

"We're really going to practice?"

"We're already here."

Shin-chan sighed and began swinging his blade.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

As he kept swinging, his gaze drifted over to Uchiha Toru.

Uchiha Toru stood at the other end of the Training Ground, forming Hand Seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A ball of flame burst from his mouth and exploded in midair. The firelight cast a red glow over the entire backyard.

Shin-chan's mouth fell open. He forgot to swing his blade and simply stared.

So cool.

Uchiha Toru tried again. This time, the fireball was a little smaller than before. He frowned instinctively and gave it another try.

Without realizing it, Shin-chan walked over and stopped beside him. "Xiao Che."

Uchiha Toru stopped and turned to look at him.

"What is it?"

"How did you do that?"

Uchiha Toru paused. "Do you want to learn?"

Shin-chan nodded. "A little."

"Weren't you supposed to practice Blade Techniques?"

"I can practice those later," Shin-chan said matter-of-factly. "I want to learn this now."

"Sorry." Uchiha Toru looked troubled, his voice unconsciously growing softer. "This is a Ninjutsu of my clan. I can't teach it to outsiders without my family's permission."

"Since he's Xiao Che's friend, there's no harm in teaching him Fire Style."

An Elder stood at the edge of the Training Ground, dressed in a dark kimono, his hair white with age.