Chapter 22 Fireworks and Wild Vegetables (Ch 22)

Naraku was already helpless with his useless system, and asked for the one hundred and third time: “When will you upgrade to allow me to leave messages and post things there?”

[Travelers, please wait patiently for the system update]

“Aren’t you product managers in a hurry?”

We don’t have a product manager

“No wonder.”

Naraku looked at his popularity value and found it was more than enough for him to give himself a major upgrade.

If he has another chance to show up in the near future, it will probably be during the Chunin Exams. If he does some highlight performances at that time, his popularity will surely soar.

In the original world line, Kakashi was very young when he became a Chunin. He should have passed the exam within a year of graduation, so he couldn’t be left behind.

Oh, it’s so stressful to be a close friend of a genius.

Naraku let out a long sigh. Even though Sakumo had commented that his talents were basically the same as Kakashi’s, he still couldn’t help but feel a little pressured when he thought about the scene in the later part of the plot where there would be so many Super Kages and Kage-level people everywhere.

Moreover, as an Uchiha, the road ahead is becoming increasingly difficult. With disadvantages in public opinion, suppression from high-level officials, and infighting within the clan, life is not going to be easy.

I opened the mall and bought a few ninjutsu that I had seen before but were not eye-catching. I felt a little more confident and slept soundly until dawn.

…

Autumn passed quickly, and the clear and cool weather was gradually replaced by the gloomy winter. The cold wind was blowing, the flowers withered, the grass and trees dried up, leaving only some bare stems swaying in the cold wind.

Naraku and Kakashi are still busy with missions and training. As a senior ninja, Sakumo has a heavier workload. The family of three is always separated from each other and they only see each other a few times in ten days or half a month.

Fortunately, every time we get together, everyone is safe and sound.

What made Sakumo satisfied was that every time he went home to reunite with his son and apprentice, he would find that they had made progress in all aspects. Naraku’s swordsmanship and physical skills had become more advanced, Kakashi’s ninjutsu had become more proficient, and his throwing techniques even had some of the Uchiha’s influence, which made him a little amused.

The New Year has arrived quickly. Even the ninjas have stopped all the tasks that can be stopped during these days, leaving some free time to spend with family and friends. The world is now at a rare peace.

It was the first time that Naraku celebrated the New Year here. Although it was not as lively as his hometown, the festive atmosphere was still strong. The whole Konoha was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere of fireworks, as if it was no longer a village where ninjas gathered, but an ordinary small town in his previous life.

The animators did not miss the opportunity to fill the episode with running time, and used two full episodes to describe the few beautiful moments in the ninja world. The tone was light-hearted and humorous, from the preparation of New Year’s goods to the end of the New Year, and almost all the named characters showed up. It was praised by the audience as the most healing New Year’s extra-episode of the third season, and it even made it to the hot search list.

Especially the final fireworks scene, coupled with the soothing and gentle BGM, I don’t know how many old viewers who have followed the show since the first season have shed tears.

Colorful fireworks bloomed in the night sky, like countless stars being awakened and falling. The bright light illuminated the entire Konoha and was reflected in everyone’s eyes.

Whether ninjas or civilians, relatives and friends gathered around each other and held each other tightly, with peaceful and moved expressions on their faces, their eyes filled with expectations for the new year, hoping that such peace would last forever.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo rarely stopped bickering. They stood together on the Hokage Rock, watching the fireworks with calm expressions and taking a puff of their pipes from time to time.

The three ninjas had also gathered, sitting in the bustling tavern, staring at the sparks in the night sky through the window, clinking glasses with each other, spilling drinks all over their hands and the table;

Minato and Kushina were in the center of the crowd, their hands hidden under their clothes clasped each other’s hands at the same time, and after feeling each other’s movements, they silently revealed a somewhat shy but frank smile;

Sakumo sat in his yard, holding Kakashi in one hand and Naraku in the other, listening to the two children compare which fireworks in the sky were the most beautiful. He expressed his own opinions from time to time, but his own son despised his backward taste. He regained his confidence with the comfort of his obedient apprentice…

At least at this moment, everyone has the same expectation for happiness and peace.

…

As winter turns to spring, the cold and gray fade away from the world.

The earth began to wake up, tender green leaves appeared on the branches of the trees, and grass buds sparsely poked their heads out of the thawed soil, growing more vigorous day by day as the sun rose and set.

A pair of feet wearing ninja shoes landed next to the lush green and purple grass, followed by a small shovel that dug it up by the roots.

“Kakashi, look, there are quite a few ground bracken here.”

Naraku shook the wild vegetables in his hand, shook off the dirt stuck on the roots, and carefully placed them in the backpack behind Kakashi.

“I’ll make it for you and Master to taste when the time comes.”

Kakashi saw that his backpack was almost half full, but he couldn’t help but ask the question he had been holding back for a long time: “Is this really delicious?”

Although the Ninja School teaches how to survive in the wild and identify edible animals, plants, and various herbs, he has never encountered a situation where he needed to use that knowledge. If he is thirsty or hungry, there are plenty of ways to solve the problem. If all else fails, there are military ration pills and antidotes. Naturally, he has never eaten wild vegetables or natural herbs.

“Don’t worry, it’s delicious. When I didn’t have any vegetables to eat, I would find this outside and bring it home to make soup.”

Naraku smiled brightly, and seemed to be nonchalant when talking about the suffering he had suffered in the past. Kakashi couldn’t help but imagine the hardships he had endured back then. Wild vegetables might have been one of the few foods he had at that time.

When Naraku dug up one, this strange-shaped little grass looked much more pleasing to the eye.

The two searched on the mountain for a while, until the backpack was almost full and the sun was about to set, then they went home together to cook.

The Hatake family.

The kitchen was filled with steam. Naraku was busy washing wild vegetables while Kakashi was boiling water in a pot. Everything was busy yet orderly.

“What’s delicious today?”

Shuo Mao poked his head in and saw the remaining wild vegetables in the backpack. He smiled knowingly and said, “Eat bracken?”

Kakashi turned around and asked, “Do you recognize your father?”

“Don’t underestimate the experience of ninjas,” Sakumo explained with a smile, “We were on a mission once and had nothing to eat, so we each dug up a lot of wild vegetables and brought them back. Someone was lucky enough to catch a wild pig, and we were able to barely eat our fill when we got together.”

“Fortunately, Master is resting these days. If it were a few days later, we wouldn’t be able to eat something this tender.”

Naraku poured the chopped bracken into the pot and stir-fried it, adding seasonings when the heat was just right. His movements were none of the awkwardness he had a year ago, and were now skillful and efficient.

“Yes, I am so lucky.”

Shuomao smelled the fresh and fragrant aroma of vegetables in the air and thought that life like this was really good. He didn’t have to lose important people, nor did he have to fight with swords and lick blood, struggling on the line between life and death every moment.

For a ninja, safe and secure family members at home and steaming hot meals on the table are the greatest luxuries in the world.

As for the Chunin Exam that I was about to mention, let’s talk about it later.

Sakumo smoothly put the matter behind him and planned to enjoy the delicious dinner first.

…

“Chūnin Exam?”

Kakashi raised his head which was about to be buried in the bowl, still chewing the food he hadn’t swallowed in time, and his words were vague.

Naraku put down his chopsticks and pointed at himself: “Us?”

“Well, according to your level, you are qualified to participate in the Chunin selection exam.” Sakumo picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and put it into the bowl. He spoke about the privilege of being a jonin captain: “Go and give it a try. I will write the recommendation form.”

Kakashi swallowed the food in his mouth and said, “If you become a Chunin, you can take B-rank missions, right?”

“I am restless and irritable.”

Sakumo was speechless. He knocked Kakashi on the head and taught him a lesson: “The Chunin Exam has a mortality rate. It’s not as easy to pass as the graduation exam. Sometimes, the stronger the Genin, the more likely they are to be eliminated due to bad luck. Don’t take it lightly.”

“Yes, Master, we understand.”

Naraku nodded, and Kakashi also said “hmm” with a serious expression.