Chapter 26 - A Small Challenge

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Naka fixed her fierce gaze on Mi Blade, eyes narrowing as if she were sizing him up for a sparring match.

“I know you, Hatake Mi Blade! Sooner or later, I’m going to surpass you!” she declared, her cheeks puffing up in defiance as she adopted a stance brimming with confidence.

“Bring it on, Sister Naka! I look forward to the challenge!” Mi Blade shot back, a wide grin spreading across his face, the kind of grin that could melt the iciest of hearts.

Naka, her round cheeks flushed and her bright eyes shining with determination, puffed out her small chest like she was about to take on an entire army.

“Get ready!” she declared, practically bouncing on her feet in excitement, her energy contagious.

To Naka, Mi Blade wasn’t some prodigy or legendary ninja; he was just the boy standing between her and her beloved training sessions with her older sister.

She wasn’t about to let that go unchallenged. Unbeknownst to her, she was picking a fight with a seasoned warrior, but to her, Mi Blade was just another obstacle to overcome.

Even the Uchiha guards nearby exchanged bewildered glances, clearly unaware of Mi Blade’s true status in the ninja world. If a five-year-old wasn’t impressed by his reputation, why should they be? After all, to Naka, he was just the guy intruding on her world.

The Uchiha clan had done an excellent job of keeping Mi Blade’s identity under wraps. It would have been rather embarrassing if the village knew that this so-called “legendary ninja” was a kid who sometimes forgot where he left his lunch or mistook ordinary rocks for hidden weapons.

“I don’t have a close match. It’s almost impossible for you to beat me!” Mi Blade boasted, puffing out his chest like a proud peacock, enjoying the moment.

“Why?” Naka snapped back, her fiery gaze locking onto his, as if she were preparing to unleash a wave of raw determination.

“Because I graduated at five and became a Chunin at six. How old are you, Sister Naka?” Mi Blade asked, trying to sound as impressive as possible, like he had just returned from a triumphant journey.

“Five years old,” Naka admitted, her brow furrowing as she realized the gap in their experience.

“Exactly! You’re still in your first year at the academy, right? I graduated at your age. That’s like me being a ninja prodigy while you’re still learning how to tie your shoes!” Mi Blade teased, clearly enjoying the playful banter.

“Hmph!”

Frustrated, Naka clenched her tiny fists, her face scrunching up in determination, ready to take on the world—or at least this smug boy in front of her.

“I’ll submit my graduation application when I get back!”

“Great! I’ll be waiting for the good news!” Mi Blade replied, barely able to contain his laughter as Naka turned on her heel, stomping off with all the intensity of a miniature warrior on a mission.

As Naka marched away, Uchiha Yu watched her sister with an amused smile.

“She’s been like this since she was little. Always ready for a challenge.”

“It’s fine! Honestly, I think she’s super cute,” Mi Blade said, still chuckling at the sight of Naka’s determined departure.

“Is that so?” Uchiha Yu’s voice took on a playful tone, her eyes glinting mischievously.

“So, do you like her?”

Mi Blade, not catching the full implication behind her words, shrugged casually.

“Who wouldn’t like a little girl like that? She’s full of fire.”

Yu laughed, the sound light and teasing. “Good to know.”

It took a moment for Mi Blade to realize what she was implying, and when it hit him, his eyes widened in horror. Waving his hands frantically, he stammered, “Sister Yu, don’t misunderstand! I didn’t mean it like that!”

With a soft chuckle, Yu waved his concerns away like they were nothing more than a fleeting thought.

“Relax, Mi Blade. You’re only a year older than Naka—don’t act like you’re all grown up.”

“Eh…”

Mi Blade’s face flushed a deep crimson, his embarrassment as plain as day.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I think I’ve been misunderstood!” he exclaimed, his arms flailing in a comical display, as though he were trying to fan away the awkwardness.

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At the yakiniku restaurant, Mi Blade’s eyes gleamed with excitement as the aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, each piece popping and crackling on the grill like tiny fireworks. He could hardly contain his enthusiasm as he sat across from Uchiha Yu, ready to enjoy a well-deserved feast.

“Let’s eat until we can’t move!” he proclaimed, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, like a child who had just stumbled into a treasure trove of candy.

As they began digging into the perfectly charred meat, Uchiha Yu, her face lit with enthusiasm, started sharing the storied history of her clan. The excitement in her voice was palpable, spilling out like broth boiling over in a pot.

“You know, the Uchiha clan was once one of the most powerful forces during the Warring States Period,” she said, her hands animated as she waved a piece of grilled meat like it was the battle flag of her ancestors. “Imagine thousands of us, a ninja army, all over the battlefield!”

“Sounds like one epic ninja party!” Mi Blade exclaimed, his eyes wide with fascination.

“But what happened?”

Uchiha Yu sighed, a note of theatrical drama creeping into her voice.

“Well, things got complicated. You had elders, factions, and even some members who never awakened their Sharingan or learned ninjutsu. Can you imagine? A ninja who can’t use ninjutsu!”

Mi Blade gasped in mock horror, clutching his chest as if the news were too much to bear.

“What? A ninja who can’t do ninjutsu? That’s like being a chef who can’t cook! Party foul for sure!”

Uchiha Yu laughed, her laughter bright and contagious, lighting up the restaurant like the glow of the grill before them.

“Exactly! And don’t even get me started on how the land used to be held by our high-ranking clan members. Now it’s mostly orphans and widows. It’s really sad when you think about it.”

Mi Blade nodded, the gravity of her words settling in, but couldn’t resist lightening the mood.

“So, your clan went from being ninja elites to… ninja ‘please take my leftovers’?”

Uchiha Yu chuckled, though the somberness of her family’s decline still lingered in her voice.

“Pretty much. My parents were both Genin. They died in the Second Shinobi World War, and now it’s just Naka and me, the last of the Uchiha. It’s like a bad action movie, but without the cool fight scenes.”

“Yikes!” Mi Blade said, his mouth full of grilled beef, eyes wide with surprise.

“But hey, you’re a Chunin now! You’ve leveled up! You’re the hero in your own story!”

A proud smile tugged at the corners of Uchiha Yu’s mouth.

“That’s right. And now I’ve got to make sure Naka awakens her Sharingan. I’m like a ninja coach on the sidelines, shouting, ‘You can do it!’”

Mi Blade, feeding off her energy, lifted his meat skewer into the air like it was a trophy.

“Come on, Naka! Show us what you’ve got!” he cheered, fully immersed in the idea of Team Uchiha-Hatake.

Uchiha Yu laughed again, throwing in some exaggerated coach-like gestures, as if blowing a whistle and waving her arms.

“Exactly! And for now, we’re safe. No one’s trying to challenge us for our place.”

Just as she leaned back, basking in the moment, Mi Blade’s expression grew comically serious, his eyes narrowing as if he had just uncovered a secret plot.

“Not so fast! Have you ever thought about the future of the Hatake clan?” he asked, his voice dropping dramatically.

“What if I never have kids? We’d be doomed! The Hatake clan could vanish, just like that—poof!” He mimed an explosion with his hands, as if his entire lineage could disappear like a forgotten meal.

Uchiha Yu arched an eyebrow, struggling to suppress her laughter.

“Wait, are you saying you’re suddenly motivated to start a ninja family? This just got serious!”

“Absolutely!” Mi Blade’s eyes sparkled with newfound determination, as if he had just unlocked the secret scroll of ninja parenthood.

“The rise of the Hatake clan starts now! Step one: more kids! Step two: plant fewer trees—we’ll need space for all the future Hatake ninjas!”

Uchiha Yu burst out laughing, nearly dropping her meat skewer in the process.

“You do realize it doesn’t work like that, right? You can’t just order kids like you’re asking for more meat at a barbecue!”

“But think about it!” Mi Blade continued, undeterred.

“A whole army of little Hatakes, running around, training hard, stealing lunchboxes—we’d conquer the playground in no time!”

Uchiha Yu shook her head, still giggling. “True, but maybe you should learn how to be a dad first before you plan your ninja army. I mean, have you even changed a diaper before?”

Mi Blade froze, the sheer terror of the thought dawning on him like a cold, harsh reality.

“Diapers? Wait… are those like the ninja scrolls of parenthood? Because I’m pretty sure I’d need a jutsu for that!”

“More like a survival technique!” Uchiha Yu quipped, wiping away tears of laughter. “But hey, you’d make a legendary dad! Just level up those parenting skills first.”

Nodding, Mi Blade’s enthusiasm returned full force.

“Alright! I’m ready! Step three: ninja baby classes! I’ll master the art of diaper changing!”

“And don’t forget,” Uchiha Yu teased with a grin, “there are no cheat codes in parenting.”

The two of them erupted into laughter, imagining a future filled with tiny Hatake ninjas, diaper disasters, and heroic quests for the last slice of pizza at the dinner table.

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“Hatake Mi Blade!”

At the Konoha training ground, Mi Blade strolled with the swagger of a prince, an ice cream cone in hand like a scepter of pure indulgence.

His gaze lazily shifted to his comrades, Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi, who were drenched in sweat, immersed in their intense training. Their movements were sharp, precise, as if they were preparing for a life-or-death battle instead of basic drills.

Watching them, Mi Blade’s heart gave a small pang of guilt. Here he was, enjoying the cool sweetness of his dessert while his friends toiled away under the blazing sun.

He took a slow, thoughtful lick of his ice cream, the cold treat melting in his mouth like the last bit of comfort before a storm.

“Ninjas grow up too fast,” he thought to himself, almost wistfully. “If only I could train in flavors...”

Just as he was getting lost in his musings, a piercing voice sliced through the air.

“Hatake Mi Blade!”

Every head turned to the source of the shout, and there stood Uchiha Naka, a fierce little whirlwind in a perfectly crisp ninja outfit, brandishing a fan like a warrior ready for battle.

Her tiny frame belied the intensity in her eyes, and for a moment, she looked like she could take on the whole village with sheer willpower alone.

“Hey, Mi Blade!” Naka marched over, fire practically blazing in her eyes.

“I learned the Three Body Technique and aced my shuriken skills! So why was my graduation application rejected?!” Her hands planted themselves on her hips, her stance full of righteous indignation, as if she was ready to challenge the entire Konoha Council to a duel.

Asuma, who had been silently savoring his own ice cream with the seriousness of someone contemplating the meaning of life, shot her a side-eye.

“What’s with this kid? You’re not even a ninja yet!” he muttered, his voice heavy with exaggerated drama. He turned to Kurenai Yuhi with a theatrical sigh.

“I always thought Mi Blade was the chivalrous type, but now look at him! A heartbreaker, rejecting girls left and right. It’s embarrassing to even be on the same team!”

With a flourish, Asuma leaned closer to Kurenai Yuhi, adopting the air of a tragic hero from some low-budget ninja soap opera.

“But don’t worry, Red. I’m not like him! My loyalty is to you alone—no distractions, no ice cream standing in my way!”

Kurenai Yuhi’s face flushed a deep crimson, her eyes narrowing in playful annoyance. She gave him a silent glare, the kind that said a thousand words without uttering a sound.

“Seriously, Red,” Asuma persisted, undeterred, “I’m your true ninja partner!”

Mi Blade, watching the melodrama unfold, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh, come on, Asuma! You’re just a kid with a sweet tooth and a crush. Besides, I’m the one with the ice cream! Clearly, I’m the one winning here!”

He waved his cone in the air, as if it were some kind of victory banner, daring anyone to challenge his supremacy.

Meanwhile, Naka, completely unaware of the romantic tension swirling around her, crossed her arms in defiance.

“If I can’t graduate, then I’ll take down every ninja in this village with my adorable fan techniques! You just wait!”

Her tiny voice was filled with absolute determination as she brandished her fan again, almost knocking over a training dummy in her dramatic display.

Mi Blade burst out laughing, his whole body shaking with amusement. Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi exchanged exasperated glances, silently asking themselves what kind of bizarre situation they had gotten mixed up in.

The training ground had devolved into a scene of ice-cream-fueled antics and childlike threats of ninja supremacy. It was another day in the wild, unpredictable world of Konoha.

Mi Blade, still chuckling, sauntered over to Naka, his expression a mix of playful mischief and feigned seriousness, like a cat who had knocked over a vase but felt no remorse.

“You know,” he said with a sly grin, “you look super cute when you’re angry. I didn’t see your sister at dinner today, so what’s got you all fired up?”

Naka’s eyes widened, her face flushing in a rare moment of surprise. She was used to being admired by the boys in her class, but none of them had ever dared to tease her so openly. Usually, they were too shy, stammering and blushing whenever they tried to talk to her, as if struck by some ninja love spell.

Her shock lingered for a beat before she found her voice again, and her fists clenched at her sides, ready to fire back with all the fierceness her little frame could muster.