White Fang Was an Eyesore

That morning, he ate steamed buns bought with all the money he had.

Ying Shu arrived at the meeting spot early. It was around six-thirty, and the meeting time had not yet arrived, but he wanted to train for a while first.

The second stage of Hydrogen Release—chakra nature transformation and fusion—had to be mastered as soon as possible.

Yesterday had been extremely dangerous. He had escaped using the Transformation Technique, but experienced ninja might have sent clones after him.

Honestly, even if they were only clones, the two of them definitely could not have beaten them.

It had been a huge gamble, one that bet on the enemy's intelligence.

Fortunately, he had won. Otherwise, Obito might have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan on the spot.

In fact, if he could directly activate the second stage of Hydrogen Release and react instantly with complete freedom to ignite it, that Kumogakure ninja would never have been able to get close to him.

He could have just hurled tiny hydrogen bombs at the guy. Who could withstand that?

However, mastering chakra nature transformation was not so simple.

The old man had once said that mastering chakra nature transformation was essentially a process of tempering the quality of one's chakra.

The more ninjutsu one mastered and the better one's chakra control became, the more naturally one could gradually grasp chakra nature transformations.

Of course, some people could only master two or three types in their entire lives. Someone like Ying Shu, who was naturally capable of two, already had considerable talent.

Ying Shu found it easy enough to understand.

If chakra was imagined as a pool of water, then by controlling its temperature, water could become ice, boil, or turn into vapor.

Add other variables, meaning two kinds of chakra reacting at once, and it could even be electrolyzed into hydrogen gas or turned into magma—Bloodline Limits like Lava Release worked on this principle.

But understanding it was one thing; doing it was another.

Ying Shu already knew that his talent was definitely good, but he was not arrogant enough to think he could create a Bloodline Limit at six years old—at least if only Lightning Release and Water Release were counted.

Add Fire Release, and it would become a Bloodline Elimination.

"Let's start with Water Release."

He took a deep breath, recalled the contents of the scroll, mobilized his chakra, and formed hand seals.

Before becoming an ambassador of nuclear peace, Ying Shu decided to first accomplish the small goal of becoming a Sea Release ninja.

Even if he could not achieve Sea Release, he had to at least become a River Release ninja...

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

A little after eight, the sun clocked in.

Obito and Minato arrived one after another, while Kakashi nearly showed up late.

Ying Shu, who had been so absorbed in training that he was getting a little carried away, did not notice at first.

But when he saw Kakashi apologize to Minato, he was immediately stunned.

He could understand Obito not being late. Women always affected the speed at which one got out of bed.

But Kakashi nearly being late was rather astonishing...

Ying Shu secretly observed Kakashi. Sure enough, something was off. Those dead-fish eyes had found their soul again, but Kakashi himself seemed to have lost his.

Looks like White Fang shut himself away again, Ying Shu sighed inwardly.

He had predicted it long ago: the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. The teammates White Fang had risked his life to save had not only failed to thank him, they had joined the crowd spitting abuse. That kind of blow was enormous.

But then again, the problem still lay with Kakashi.

White Fang's weakness was not a fragile heart. It was his beloved son.

"Kakashi, after today's mission, Obito and I will go to your house to restock. We can settle the money from this period while we're at it."

Ying Shu found an excuse and patted Kakashi on the shoulder.

He had originally wanted to say he wished to ask White Fang for guidance, but with Minato right beside them, he had to consider the man's feelings.

"Huh?" Kakashi, still spacing out, did not understand at first. "Forget about the money. Just take whatever you want."

The generous Kakashi did not think much of it.

Obito, on the other hand, looked rather smug. "I won't be going. The clan head is going to personally guide my training. You know, as the Uchiha clan's number one genius, I always... Hey? Wait for me!"

D-rank missions were always tedious yet simple.

Helping an old man prune his trees took Kakashi and Ying Shu only half a day.

As for the Uchiha clan's number one genius, he was still working hard to stand on a tree trunk parallel to the ground...

Of course, Obito had not done nothing. Clearing away the branches was his job.

Around four in the afternoon.

Team 7 finally earned their first pot of gold.

The reward was six thousand ryo. Minato did not take a single ryo, leaving each of the three with two thousand ryo.

Kakashi said it felt pretty good. It was a little small, but he had earned it himself.

But Ying Shu and Obito could not stay calm at all...

"Ying Shu, hurry up and hit me. Am I dreaming? Two thousand ryo for half a day's work, damn..."

Obito was stunned. He counted the money again and again, always feeling that he had counted too much, then starting all over.

"Tch! It's only two thousand ryo. Look at how pathetic you are!"

Ying Shu, who was also counting his money, declared that he disdained associating with Obito!

At four-thirty, Ying Shu followed Kakashi home.

"I'm back! Father, we have a guest." Kakashi greeted him as though nothing was wrong.

"Coming, coming!" A middle-aged man's voice rang out from inside. It was unlike what Ying Shu had imagined—very hearty. Not as gentle and comforting as Minato's, but deeper and heavier, yet still able to give one a sense of security.

Then Ying Shu's eyes widened.

A burly, silver-haired middle-aged man with a ponytail came striding out energetically. He bore a 70.08% resemblance to Kakashi, wore a smile, and seemed cheerful, giving off the air of a friendly uncle next door.

His face alone would have been fine, but everything below his neck was wrong.

He wore an apron, a kitchen knife in his left hand and a spatula in his right. The deadly part was the pattern on the apron: a wrinkly little dog wearing a pink accessory. Cute and tasteful, except it was rather hard on the eyes.

Fortunately, White Fang had clothes under that apron instead of muscles. Otherwise, Ying Shu feared he would have needed to wash his eyes on the spot.

"I'm Kakashi's teammate, Ying Shu! It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me!" Ying Shu bent into a bow, giving his eyes a chance to rest.

"Hahahaha! No need to be so polite, little Ying Shu. I often hear Kakashi mention you. You're a reliable partner!" White Fang laughed heartily, showing no sign whatsoever of being suicidal over a fragile heart.

"Um... Kakashi, hurry and take little Ying Shu to rest in the house. Wash your hands and get ready to eat!"

"Dad prepared grilled fish for you today~"

White Fang left while humming a little tune Ying Shu could not understand.

He left behind an utterly calm Kakashi and an Ying Shu so calm his face was expressionless.

"Come on, let's get the ninja tools," Kakashi called.

"...Mm." Ying Shu was thoroughly puzzled.

With White Fang acting like that, Kakashi should not be depressed at all, should he?

Had something happened that he did not know about? That should not be the case...

When he bought steamed buns that morning, he had heard plenty of complaints.

"Forget it. I'll take things one step at a time."

Ying Shu suppressed the doubts in his heart and followed Kakashi forward.