Chapter 382: Fishing by the River
Kakashi's eyes widened as he quickly warned,
"Don't rush, don't rush! Fish these days are smart—they'll test the bait. Wait until it stops nibbling before reeling it in."
Haneda, feeling it was too troublesome, simply reeled in the line without hesitation. For him, fishing was just a way to pass the awkwardness.
Catching a fish? Didn't matter.
Seeing Haneda reel in so quickly, Kakashi scolded,
"Didn't I just tell you—don't ignore the advice of your elders, or you'll—wait, huh?"
Kakashi's scolding trailed off as he stared in disbelief. Haneda had actually caught a fish.
How was this possible?
Why was it that whenever Kakashi fished, he'd encounter the most cunning fish—ones that used their mouths to carefully test the hook, sometimes even stealing the bait outright?
And yet, Haneda reeled in a fish without effort.
Why?
"Doesn't seem that hard to me," Haneda said casually. "Kakashi, you're overthinking it. Fishing isn't supposed to be this complicated."
Haneda held up the fish and weighed it by feel. "About three or four pounds. Not bad, but not great. Won't even fill me up."
"…" Kakashi glanced at his own bucket, which contained a single ten-centimeter-long fish and a shrimp that he still couldn't figure out how it had gotten caught.
The indignity was immeasurable.
Kakashi began to suspect Haneda was showing off, but he couldn't find proof. In the end, he pursed his lips and muttered,
"Beginner's luck, that's all. Even kids can catch fish like this on their first try. It was the same for me."
Sakumo, standing nearby, took the opportunity to chime in,
"Kakashi, I told you, fishing is about your mindset. Those who remain calm and unbothered are the ones who catch the most."
"When you're too fixated on something, it becomes harder to obtain."
Embarrassed to argue with his father, Kakashi responded with a sulky tone,
"But isn't it the things you care about most that make you happiest when you finally achieve them? What's the point of not wanting anything?"
"I refuse to believe I'll lose to a beginner, not with my years of fishing experience, my flawless technique, and my state-of-the-art gear!"
As Kakashi ranted, a fish suddenly jumped out of the river, splashing water onto his face.
He turned to see the line jerking in Haneda's hands—another fish had taken the bait.
"…" Kakashi was speechless.
But Sakumo didn't let up. "See? Didn't I say so?"
"Father, that's just beginner's luck! I'm not comparing myself to a rookie!" Kakashi retorted, his face darkening.
"Then how about comparing yourself to me?" Sakumo said, gesturing toward his own bucket, which was brimming with fish staring back at Kakashi.
Kakashi immediately shook his head. "I'm only competing with myself. I'm a straightforward guy like that."
Haneda, holding his two fish, smiled and said,
"I'll go gather some dry wood. Let's have grilled fish tonight. What do you think, Kakashi?"
Kakashi replied stubbornly, "Two fish aren't enough. Wait until I catch one more."
Haneda glanced at Kakashi's bucket and shook his head inwardly.
"Forget it, Kakashi. Uncle Sakumo's already caught plenty. There's enough for all three of us."
Kakashi insisted, "I'll only eat the ones I catch myself. You know me—I've been self-reliant since I was a kid."
"Fine, suit yourself."
As Haneda turned to leave, he noticed something odd. In the clear water near the riverbank, several large fish were blowing bubbles at Kakashi, as if mocking him.
Pointing at the fish, Haneda helpfully suggested,
"If all else fails, just use your short sword to spear a few. There are plenty right there."
Kakashi followed Haneda's finger to see the fish staring at him and puffing bubbles.
In that instant, his face turned an alarming shade of black.
Sakumo joined in the teasing, "With your shuriken and kunai skills, one throw should do the trick."
"These fish seem pretty dumb. Even with people around, they don't swim away."
Kakashi's face grew darker, his teeth clenched as he growled,
"A man does not eat food that is given to him in contempt!"
Sakumo laughed but said no more.
This is actually kind of fun, he thought. How did Kakashi get so bad at fishing?
In the past, Sakumo would catch two fish in half an hour and bring them home by dusk.
Now, despite his experience and fancy gear, Kakashi couldn't catch a thing.
As the sun set and the fish retreated to the middle of the river, Kakashi's bucket still held only one tiny fish and—unexpectedly—three shrimp.
Even the shrimp seemed eager to help, clamping onto the hooks willingly.
By the time Haneda had revived Sakumo using the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique and started a fire nearby, Kakashi was still stubbornly fishing.
The determination of a true fisherman was on full display.
But just as Haneda walked over to check on him, Kakashi lost his temper.
Grabbing his rod, he smacked one of the mocking fish unconscious.
Then, pretending nothing had happened, he stuffed the hook into the fish's mouth and slung the rod over his shoulder, walking back with the fish as if he'd made a great catch.
Unfortunately, he turned around to find Haneda watching him.
Awkwardly, Kakashi smiled and asked,
"Haneda, what are you doing here?"
"Just taking a stroll. I didn't see anything… You believe me, right?" Haneda replied, equally awkward.
"Look at this big fish I caught—with the rod, of course," Kakashi said nonchalantly.
Haneda's eye twitched. He thought the statement sounded off but, glancing at the rod in Kakashi's hand, realized it wasn't technically wrong.
"Well… sure. Let's head back, Kakashi. Don't keep Uncle Sakumo waiting."
"You know he hasn't had a proper meal in ten years."
"And besides, don't you have your famous Kakashi-style grilled fish to prepare?" Haneda said, attempting to change the subject.
If he didn't feel embarrassed, then Kakashi should.
But then, a pair of eyes peeked out from the bushes behind them. It was Sakumo—he'd been there the whole time.
"Kakashi, didn't you say you wouldn't eat food given in contempt?"
"…" Kakashi's face turned crimson with embarrassment.
Haneda quickly came to his rescue, "Uncle Sakumo, that fish is for me! Kakashi was being thoughtful."
Realizing the opportunity, Kakashi straightened up and said, "Exactly! Father, I, Kakashi Hatake, never eat food given in contempt!"
"…" This time, Sakumo was the one left speechless.
Has my son become this shameless in just ten years?
Kakashi added, "Besides, I caught it myself. Knocking it out doesn't count as contempt!"
"…" Sakumo fell silent again.
...…
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