Naruto: From Novice to Grave

The sun climbed higher, and it was getting close to noon.

Konoha Village, nestled in the forest, is free from industrial pollution. The river is clear and bright under the sunlight, flowing slowly. The surface of the river reflects the sunlight, sparkling as if it is mischievously winking and mocking the two air force kids on the bank.

There were clearly fish in the river, some even swimming to the shallow water near the bank to forage, but perhaps they were too slippery from being caught by the ninjas, and they wouldn't take the bait, retreating back to the deep water at the slightest movement.

"Is there something wrong with your bait, Gale?"

"That can't be right. Although my father bought it a long time ago, it's been sitting unopened at home."

"What?" Higashino Makoto immediately took out the package from the side, glanced at it, and then smelled it. "Damn it, it smells wrong, it's long expired."

Moonlight Gale didn't quite understand: "Huh... that can't be right, bait can expire? What should we do then? Really, how about we go dig for earthworms?"

"I'm not fishing anymore."

Before I transmigrated, I was an air force pilot. After transmigrating, I've been cultivating chakra and becoming a ninja. If I'm still an air force pilot, then I've transmigrated for nothing. I can't stand it. I'll deal with it.

Higashino threw down his fishing rod, took out several large fishing hooks from his backpack, tied them with lines, and with a leap, jumped directly onto the river surface, standing steadily on it.

My senses are fully engaged, and I'm quietly observing the underwater situation.

His sensory abilities come from absorbing white natural energy, and are different from the chakra perception of ninjas or the Kagura Mind's Eye of the Uzumaki clan. They are more refined and less easily misled by other means, a fact that was proven during his battle with Higashino Jiro.

Soon, he sensed a group of fish swaying toward him.

Higashino Makoto moved with lightning speed. He tried it once, calculating the angle of light refraction in his mind, and then used the technique of throwing a shuriken to cast the fishhook into the water, directly hooking it into the mouths of several large fish.

With a gentle pull, today's lunch was anchored up.

fish:"???"

Gekko Hayate looked enviously at Higashino Makoto's feet on the water, wishing he could do that too, but he didn't know how yet.

Uzuki Yugao didn't think too much about it. Holding a bunch of wildflowers she had arranged herself and carrying a cloth bag, she ran to the shore and cheered. Today's lunch was finally settled.

After getting ashore, Higashino Makoto instructed, "I'll prepare the ingredients. Hayate, go get some firewood to start a fire. Yugao, go wash the pot. We'll make some fish soup to soothe your throat later."

"Hey, big brother, can I put mushrooms in the soup? It should be really delicious." Uzuki Yugao said, opening the cloth bag in her hand. Inside were the colorful and beautiful fruits of her labor.

Higashino looked at the mushroom, then at her: "Where did you pick it?"

"There are many more in the woods behind."

Moonlight Gale's eyes twitched uncontrollably: "Hey, this looks poisonous."

"Not entirely." Higashino Makoto picked through the plants, throwing all the poisonous ones into the river to feed the fish. He then instructed Uzuki Yugao, "Today, when we get back, you'll be punished by having to read the 'Ninja Wilderness Emergency Edible Plant Handbook' several times. Now, go and clean up the rest."

The little girl stuck out her tongue: "I know!"

The fish in the river: "???"

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With the three of them working together, they quickly started a fire, with a pot on top. Around the fire, five branches were stuck into the ground, each skewered with a large fish marinated in seasonings.

Higashino really planned to give the little girl one serving, and he and Gekko Hayate each two servings. If Hayate couldn't finish them, he could help, since he had a big appetite anyway.

While waiting for the food, Higashino asked curiously, "Have you been training at home for the past month or so? What kinds of training have you been doing?"

Hayate Gekko: "Similar to you, learning basic knowledge, training the body, refining chakra, practicing swordsmanship, etc. Currently, I can refine chakra at any time during battle."

"Did you train with Xiyan?"

"Well, our two families have similar fighting styles and are also family friends, so for convenience, juniors of the same age train together."

"Very good, I look forward to your growth."

Uzuki Yugao puffed out her cheeks: "Shin-nii, you sound just like my dad. Don't underestimate me, Mom says I'm a genius too."

"Hmm, you're a genius!" Higashino Makoto chuckled and patted the little girl's head, but she glared at him and slapped his hand away.

Hayate Gekko looked at Makoto Higashino, a little embarrassed, but finally spoke up: "Um, Makoto, could you teach us the tricks of chakra control?"

Upon hearing this, Uzuki Yugao raised Higashino Makoto's hand again and placed it on her head, staring at him with watery eyes.

She doesn't really understand chakra control yet, but standing on the water must be a lot of fun.

Higashino Makoto was naturally generous: "No problem, I'll teach you after we eat."

The fish soup bubbled in the pot, and the grilled fish gradually changed color under the high temperature of the flames and with Higashino Makoto's frequent flipping. The rich aroma wafted out, not only tempting the three people's stomachs but also attracting an uninvited guest.

"It smells so good! I knew coming to the river to play was the right decision. I was just hungry and now there's something to eat."

"Brother Rock Jelly is right."

Accompanied by loud talking, four figures emerged from the forest and appeared in front of Higashino and his two companions.

The four were all teenagers, three boys and one girl, who looked to be around seven or eight years old. Higashino sensed that they all had chakra auras, so they should be students from the ninja academy.

The Konoha Ninja Academy's academic system is similar to that of the Japanese Ninja Academy in its previous life, with three semesters a year. The new semester started on April 1st, which means that school has already begun a few days ago.

This place is on the edge of the village, far from the school, so even during lunch break, it's impossible for students to run to the river.

Clearly, these mischievous kids skipped class.

At this moment, the burly, dark-skinned boy in the lead, hands on his hips, shouted, "Hey, you three brats, give up your food as a sign of respect to your senior."

Upon hearing this, Uzuki Yugao's little face puffed up in anger, and Gekko Hayate also looked at the four of them with hostility. Although they were all very young, they were not afraid at all.

Shinichi Higashino was somewhat surprised. Was this... being bullied by some unruly child?

In my past life, watching anime made me feel that there were many unruly brats in Konoha who dared to bully anyone, including the eldest son of the Uchiha clan leader and the young lady of the Hyuga clan.

He rarely goes out, and he didn't expect to run into someone like this on his one occasional outing, so he asked curiously, "Why?"

The burly, dark-skinned boy glared at Higashino Makoto: "Yo, kid, you're pretty arrogant. I choose you. Let's play a ninja game."

"I am now the Hokage of Konoha. You are ninjas from an enemy country. Surrender, you bastards who dared to invade! I will defeat you in the name of Konoha!"

After saying that, he raised his fist and charged at Higashino Makoto. It seems that since he couldn't get food, he decided to just rob him.

Unfortunately, his movements were full of flaws in Higashino Makoto's eyes, and his speed was also incredibly slow.

Higashino appeared in front of him even faster, ducking to dodge the attack while simultaneously delivering a punch to his stomach.

The burly, dark-skinned boy immediately clutched his stomach, collapsed to the ground in pain, and was unable to get up again.

"Boss Rock Jellyfish!" the other two boys shouted, but Higashino was too fast. Before they could rush over to help, he followed in his boss's footsteps, falling to the ground like a boiled shrimp, muttering repeatedly, "Monster, there's a monster!"

The remaining girl, seeing Higashino Makoto standing in front of her, much shorter than herself, immediately covered her head and crouched down defensively, screaming loudly, "Ah! Don't hit me, I surrender!"

After thinking about it, Higashino gave her another punch on the head, because he wanted to promote gender equality.

The burly, dark-skinned boy named Rock Jelly stood up despite the excruciating pain. His body trembled violently, but he still managed to force himself to say, "Damn it, I didn't expect the enemy to be so strong. I am the Hokage, after all."

Higashino was moved by his dedication: "Are you really that into character, bro? Seriously, if the Hokage were as weak as you, Konoha would be truly doomed."

"Don't underestimate my dream, you bastard. I'm determined to become Hokage."