Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 38: The Right Way to Catch Goldfish

On their first evening in the capital, Hayama had a taste of what it was like to live like a king.

At dinner time, the first thing brought in wasn't the food but a troupe of ornately dressed musicians. Under the curious gazes of Hayama and the others, they began playing melodies reserved for the Fire Country's nobility. Several beautiful court ladies danced gracefully to the music, leaving Hayama dumbfounded.

Hayama thought back to the grandeur of imperial banquets from his previous life. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to experience something similar. Perhaps he could write a book about it, calling it My Time in the Naruto World Rivals the Reign of Qianlong.

When the dance ended, the musicians struck up a new tune, and the dancers kept performing…

Unable to bear it any longer, Minato whispered something to the reception officer. The officer, looking slightly embarrassed, dismissed the entertainment. With a clap of his hands, a group of attendants arrived, carrying platters of food.

Before long, the long wooden dining table was filled with dishes. The aroma made Hayama's mouth water.

Reflecting on it, Hayama realized that in his seventeen years in this world, he had never encountered such exquisite cuisine. As a child, his meals were simple home cooking—filling, but nothing more. On the battlefield, just having a hot meal was a luxury. As for flavor, it was usually best not to think too much about it.

Hoping a group of battle-hardened ninja could prepare gourmet food was a fool's errand.

Once all the dishes were served, the officer tactfully closed the door, leaving them alone to enjoy the meal.

Akimichi Tangdong could barely contain himself. He lunged forward, one hand grabbing a salt-baked crab from the center of the table, the other tearing off a whole drumstick. He devoured both with equal gusto.

Hayama, who had been eyeing the crab, turned back to find its claws gone. Alarmed, he couldn't let this opportunity slip by. In his previous life, Hayama loved seafood, especially large crabs. But it was always too expensive for him to indulge. Now, a whole crab was in front of him, free of charge, and he was determined not to waste it.

Without a second thought, Hayama hugged the crab to himself, expertly breaking the shell with a kunai, and began eating with relish.

Delicious. Finally, he could eat crab to his heart's content.

Tangdong, biting into the crab claws, cursed himself for not going for the juicy crab roe first. A professional foodie from the Akimichi clan should know better. Resigned, he turned his attention to other dishes.

"Burp~"

Satisfied, Hayama leaned back and patted his stomach. He was full but parched, so he reached for a bowl of soup next to Minato's left hand.

This soup was a bit unusual—just some radish-like chunks floating in it, with no other ingredients. Hayama ladled a bit into his bowl, took a sip, and his expression turned odd. This was deer antler soup.

Deciding he didn't need any extra vitality, Hayama set the soup aside and poured himself a glass of water instead.

Minato, intrigued by the soup, asked, "Hayama, what's in it?"

Hayama met his gaze and, without missing a beat, replied, "Radish-like tofu soup. Crunchy, chicken-flavored. Perfect for you."

Trusting Hayama's sincerity, Minato ladled himself a bowl and took a sip.

Not long after, Hayama noticed Minato's face turning red. He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.

Suppressing a laugh, Hayama concluded that the soup had been prepared specially for Jiraiya. Likely a token of goodwill after hearing of his reputation. Too bad Jiraiya had gone out and missed this act of hospitality. Instead, Minato was now feeling its effects.

Ninja physiology was far more robust than that of ordinary people. A bowl of this "special" soup was enough to make Minato feel a certain heat rising, much to his embarrassment.

In the world of Naruto, ninja often matured early, with many marrying young. By comparison, Hayama's unmarried status at seventeen made him a late bloomer. Decades earlier, he might even have been penalized for late marriage. It didn't take Minato long to realize what kind of soup he'd drunk. He glanced at Hayama with a mix of embarrassment and mild reproach.

Indeed, the greatest tricksters were always those closest to you, not your enemies.

This minor incident didn't dampen their appetites. They polished off nearly everything on the table. Even Hayama, known for his restraint, ate until he was fully satisfied. With the capital being as safe as the Hidden Leaf, there was no risk of enemy ninja attacks. The group allowed themselves to indulge, enjoying a rare moment of ease.

After the meal, Hayama felt completely relaxed. The accumulated fatigue from intense battles lifted, and he felt a rare urge to go out and explore.

Minato agreed, while Inuzuka E and Tangdong had other plans. E wanted to take his dog for a solo stroll, and Tangdong, feeling lazy after eating, preferred to stay put. Hayama didn't press them. After changing into casual clothes, he and Minato ventured out into the bustling streets of the Fire Country's capital.

At night, the capital was brilliantly lit. Electricity had brought modern conveniences to the people, allowing a vibrant nightlife to flourish. Unlike Konoha—a city primarily built around its military function—the capital was a political and economic hub, bustling with activity.

Walking through the crowded streets, Hayama felt a sense of unfamiliarity. It was as if he'd stepped into another world. Here, people lived far removed from the violence and strife of the ninja world. Their faces were filled with genuine, carefree smiles.

In this respect, the First Hokage's vision of the one-country, one-village system had been a success. At least it allowed most ordinary people to live far from ninja battles, achieving a measure of peace—though this didn't extend to the people of smaller nations.

The First Hokage hadn't used his overwhelming strength to unify the entire ninja world by force. Instead, he set an example and negotiated a relatively peaceful path for other clans to follow. The establishment of the village system ended the chaos of the Warring States period, sparing ordinary people from the endless conflicts between ninja clans. However, it also made wars between the newly formed ninja villages larger in scale and more deadly.

From a historical perspective, the First Hokage's approach was likely the most prudent. While the Senju and Uchiha alliance offered a chance to unify the ninja world, it would also have created countless long-term problems. Ninja, by their very nature, were difficult to completely integrate. Even the legendary First Hokage couldn't force all the clans into one fold in his lifetime. Those who couldn't fight would simply flee and bide their time.

Under his leadership, history took a monumental leap forward. Yet even he couldn't bring an end to war in one fell swoop.

Each generation has its own mission and responsibility. The First Hokage had built the stage. Now it remained to be seen which of the five great nations would have the last laugh and unify the ninja world.

Forty years later, Konoha—the most likely candidate—had already lost its edge in conquering other nations. One could argue that the Third Hokage had squandered a winning hand.

During the First Great Ninja War, Konoha had fought on three fronts simultaneously and still emerged victorious. But under Hiruzen Sarutobi's leadership, the Second Great Ninja War dragged on for six or seven years, ending in what could only be described as a costly and pyrrhic victory.

It seemed inevitable that another war would come. Hayama estimated that the Third Great Ninja War would break out within the next decade.

However, this analysis was based on his knowledge from his previous life. He couldn't guarantee that it would align perfectly with the actual events of the Naruto world. Perhaps, one day, someone might develop a weapon so powerful it could instantly destroy everything, and the ninja world would be unified overnight.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Hayama strolled along, thoroughly enjoying his relaxed state. Eventually, a small street stall caught his eye—more specifically, a simple game.

It was a goldfish scooping game. For just ten ryo, participants could try to scoop goldfish using a paper net provided by the vendor. The concept was simple, but execution was tricky. Hayama watched as several people failed, wasting a hundred ryo without catching a single fish.

The challenge lay in the delicate nets. Once wet, they lost much of their strength, easily tearing under the struggle of the goldfish. More often than not, players ended up with nothing but wet hands and disappointment.

Curious, Hayama decided to give it a try. Under Minato's puzzled gaze, he contributed fifty ryo to the vendor's earnings…

Having failed repeatedly, Hayama narrowed his eyes. On his next attempt, he subtly infused a thin layer of chakra into the net, reinforcing it. This hidden trick allowed him to successfully scoop a goldfish. At the last moment, however, he let it slip free, pretending to fail once more.

No one noticed the deception. To the onlookers, he was just another sucker. Some even began to mock him for throwing away his money.

Hayama, feigning frustration, grabbed the vendor's collar and demanded compensation. Realizing he might lose business if things escalated, the vendor begrudgingly gave him three goldfish, which finally made Hayama happy enough to leave.

Once they reached a quiet alley, Hayama's eyes gleamed. "Minato, there's something off."

Minato nodded silently. Having worked together for a while, he knew Hayama wouldn't waste money so recklessly. Hayama wasn't that kind of person.

"That girl who scooped two goldfish in one go—she's a ninja," Minato said, his tone carrying a trace of tension.

"Not just that," Hayama added. "Her chakra control is exceptional."

Hayama had confirmed through personal experience that only by using chakra could someone reliably scoop a goldfish. To be certain, cautious Hayama had tested it fifty times—there was no room for doubt.

Suddenly, their leisurely post-dinner stroll had turned serious. The appearance of a ninja, with unknown motives, was enough to put them on high alert.

This was a sensitive time. Any ninja spotted in the capital would raise suspicion. Hayama and Minato immediately stopped their leisurely outing and began quietly following the mysterious female ninja.