Chapter Fifteen: Naruto the Top Student

Mentioning the Nanhe River inevitably brings to mind the Nanhe Shrine, which in turn makes one think of the Uchiha district. In reality, though, the Nanhe River’s course is quite long. While it passes through the Uchiha district, it does not lie entirely within it. The spot where Haruka Higashino and his companion were now was an example of this—though not too far from the Uchiha district.

Since the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, the village had grown even more vigilant toward the Uchiha, wary that someone might use the Sharingan to incite another disaster. In principle, it was hardly appropriate for Naruto, the Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki, to linger in a place like this. Haruka considered this briefly, but soon dismissed the concern. If someone told them to leave, then they would leave; if no one did, why worry?

As for the possibility that he might attract attention, Haruka didn’t care. Finding a suitable spot, he set down the bag of spices he’d been carrying and ran his hand over the grass. It was dry and clean.

He sat down on the ground and glanced at Naruto, who was not far away, chasing after some unknown flying insect. Naruto darted and leapt with impressive agility, yet the bug still managed to elude him with ease.

Haruka didn’t intervene, simply watching for a while before turning his gaze upward. The weather was pleasant: the sunlight was warm but not harsh, bright but not oppressive. The sky was a pale blue, streaked with soft white clouds, as if drawn from a manga.

“How comfortable,” Haruka murmured, lying back beneath the shade of a tree. The leaves above swayed gently in the breeze, filtering the sunlight so it didn’t sting his eyes.

“Brother Haruka!”

Haruka tilted his head and saw Naruto’s feet running toward him.

“I caught some bait!” Naruto announced with pride.

“How impressive,” Haruka replied, his tone noncommittal.

Naruto didn’t seem to mind. He stretched out his hand to show Haruka the two insects he’d just caught.

Haruka glanced at them, then sat up.

“Here, put the bait on the hook,” he said, fishing in the bag for a moment before passing Naruto a hook already tied to a line.

Once Naruto had attached the bait, Haruka stood as well. He snapped off two branches from a nearby tree and then took a kitchen knife from the bag.

With a few swift movements—just a flash of steel from Naruto’s perspective—the smaller twigs were stripped away, leaving two smooth fishing rods.

“Wow! That was amazing, Brother Haruka!” Naruto exclaimed in awe.

Haruka turned his head and replied flatly, “Just basic technique.”

“Huh?”

Without further explanation, Haruka took the fishing line from Naruto and tied it to one of the branches. In no time, two simple fishing rods—without even a float—were ready.

He handed one to Naruto and, with the other, flicked his own rod with practiced ease. The baited hook flew into the water; now it was just a matter of waiting.

Naruto tried to imitate Haruka’s motion, but his hook snagged on some weeds by the bank. After a good deal of effort, he managed to free it and, after several more attempts, finally cast his hook into the water.

They sat together under the tree, the breeze gently stirring around them. Occasionally, a fish would leap, sending ripples across the water—proof that there were indeed fish here.

“Brother Haruka,” Naruto piped up, perhaps a bit bored by the wait, “I really want to be like you.”

At that, Haruka immediately replied, “You mustn’t.”

“Why not?” Naruto asked, puzzled.

“If you become as lazy as I am, who will save the world?”

“What? Brother Haruka, what are you talking about? I just think you’re really amazing. You can make money, you’re great at fighting, your cooking is delicious, you know so much, you’re skilled with a knife, and even the way you cast a fishing rod is cool.”

“I wish I could be as awesome as you!”

Haruka glanced at Naruto, whose face shone with admiration and longing.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” Haruka encouraged.

“How so? I don’t seem to be good at anything.”

Haruka pondered this but couldn’t think of any strengths Naruto had at this stage.

“You’ll be amazing in the future,” he said at last.

Seeing Naruto’s doubtful expression, Haruka added, “I can see the future. The Naruto I see in the future is very impressive.”

“Tch, you always say things to fool kids,” Naruto said, feigning disdain, but then, as if remembering something, continued, “Grandpa Third said I’ll soon be able to enter the Ninja Academy. When I do, I’m going to study hard and become super strong!”

Study hard? Is the story changing? An honor-student Naruto?

Haruka couldn’t help but imagine the possibility. But before he could get lost in his thoughts, he felt a tug on his fishing rod.

“Brother Haruka, you’ve got a bite!”

The water’s surface broke into ripples, droplets splashing as the line drew taut—Haruka could make out a fish at the end of his line.

He remained calm, reeling in the fish with practiced ease, while Naruto was beside himself with excitement.

“Brother Haruka, pull harder! The fish will get away!” “Careful!” “Brother Haruka!”

Haruka wasn’t thrown off by Naruto’s commotion. He skillfully tired the fish out, then slowly drew it toward the shore.

It was a fish he didn’t know the name of, about the length of his arm. Since they had no net, once it was close enough, Haruka simply reached out and grabbed it.

With the strength of a jonin, catching a fish was no challenge at all.

Only after hauling it in did Haruka realize a problem: he’d been so focused on catching the fish that he hadn’t thought about what to do with it afterward.

After a brief discussion, he and Naruto decided to clean the fish and start a barbecue right there.

Naruto went off to collect firewood in the nearby forest, while Haruka set to work with his kitchen knife.

By the time Haruka had the fish cleaned and skewered, Naruto had returned with wood. It hadn’t been long since lunch, but one grilled fish between the two of them seemed manageable.

But then, as soon as the first fish was set over the fire, Naruto’s fishing rod—left on the bank—hooked another fish.

Not wanting to waste anything, Haruka cleaned this one as well.

Then, in the interest of not wasting time, he baited his own rod with a blade of grass—and, against all expectations, caught yet another fish.

“Brother Haruka, what do we do now?”

“We grill them all,” Haruka decided.

“But we can’t eat them all, can we?”

“Here’s an idea: if anyone passes by, we’ll invite them to join us.”

“Hey, that’s a great idea!” Naruto said, his eyes bright with anticipation. Who would pass by here, he wondered?