Chapter 6 - Graduation and Retirement

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As she walked away, Miblade couldn’t help but feel a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. “Man, that was tough! Who knew training could feel like a workout?” he thought, already tired as a dog after a day at the park.

Meanwhile, Saki found a secluded spot, rubbing her sore right hand.

“Wow, is this really the Hatake Ryuu Sword Art? Miblade’s got some serious talent. If I had to face off against Master Sakumo, I’d probably just end up in the hospital or calling for backup from the local kindergarten!” she mused, shaking her head in disbelief.

With a satisfied grin, she headed off, knowing full well that training this promising young ninja would be a challenge worth facing. After all, who wouldn’t want to say they trained the next ninja prodigy—or at least the next kid to throw a sword and not hit anyone important?

As Miblade strolled down the vibrant streets of Konoha, he clutched a tri-colored ball in his small hand, its bright hues glistening in the sunlight like a mini rainbow.

“Look at me, the triumphant champion of snack time!” he thought, puffing out his chest like a peacock in full display.

“Hey, Uncle Snake!” he called out, spotting a familiar figure leaning against the wall like a brooding statue.

“Do you want to eat some of my tri-colored balls? They’re delicious!”

The person he addressed was none other than Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin—a title that always made him squirm a bit.

“Uncle Snake” was what the kids called him, and honestly, it wasn’t the most flattering nickname—especially not after his somewhat embarrassing defeats in the past.

“I mean, who wants to be known for getting his butt kicked by Uchiha Itachi?” he muttered to himself, half-amused, half-annoyed, like a villain with a flair for dramatic self-reflection.

With an air of practiced nonchalance, Orochimaru replied,

“No, thank you,” his smile as charming as a toothy alligator. But as if his hand had a mind of its own, it reached out to accept one of the colorful snacks anyway.

It was like watching someone resist a second helping of dessert—nobody really wins.

Miblade grinned, noting that Uncle Snake couldn’t resist a good snack, even if he pretended otherwise.

“So, what’s up, Uncle Snake? You look like you just crawled out of a laboratory… again.”

“Indeed,” Orochimaru replied, smoothing his hair back with a dramatic flair that could rival a soap opera star.

“I just emerged from my latest experiment and heard some troubling rumors. I was hoping to speak with Senior Sakumo. Do you know where he is?”

“Sure! Come with me, and we can chat while I show off my culinary treasures!” Miblade said cheerfully, leading the way like an overly enthusiastic tour guide who’s just discovered the wonders of chocolate.

As they walked, Miblade munched on his tri-colored balls, eyes sparkling with the kind of joy only found in children and caffeinated squirrels.

“So, what’s the scoop? I heard Dad gave up a mission to save a friend. He’s thinking about retiring from being a ninja!”

Orochimaru’s brows knitted together at this revelation, looking like he just bit into a sour lemon. “Do you think Master Sakumo’s decision is the right one?”

“Absolutely!” Miblade declared, his little fists clenching with the determination of a toddler facing down bedtime.

“Ninja Code or not, if you see your friends in trouble and don’t help them, what kind of ninja are you? I say it’s better to be a friend than a cold-hearted assassin! Unless the assassin has cookies—then it’s a tough call.”

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“Ah, the idealism of youth,” Orochimaru mused, a small, almost amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips, like he was witnessing a puppy trying to howl.

“Ninja are supposed to follow their missions, but I see your point. Even if that point is made by a kid with a colorful ball.”

The pair munched on the tri-colored snacks, their laughter and conversation echoing like a cheerful musical number all the way to the grand entrance of the Hatake Mansion.

Just as they reached the door, Orochimaru suddenly stopped, a look of urgency flickering across his face like he just remembered he left the oven on.

“You should head back now. I have… something to attend to. I’ll come back later tonight,” he said, his tone shifting as if he were hiding a secret like a magician about to pull a rabbit out of a hat.

“Wait, what? We’re already at the door!” Miblade exclaimed, slightly taken aback.

“Can’t you at least come in for a moment? I’ve got snacks!”

“Sorry, next time!” Orochimaru said, his words spilling out in a hurried rush as he turned and slipped away, disappearing into the shadows like a snake that just remembered it left its car running.

Miblade blinked, his mouth agape like a fish out of water.

“Well, that was abrupt! Next time, Uncle Snake!” he called after him, a mix of confusion and amusement bubbling in his chest.

“I guess he’s off to save the world… or conduct more creepy experiments! Hope it’s not both, or we’re gonna need a lot more tri-colored balls!”

With a shrug and a chuckle, he turned and headed inside, his mind buzzing with thoughts of adventure, snacks, and the antics of his peculiar neighbors in the Hidden Leaf Village—where you never knew if the guy next door was a legendary ninja or just the weird uncle with questionable hobbies.

As Miblade stepped into the familiar warmth of his home, he was greeted by the sight of his father, Sakumo, lounging under a leafy tree like a wise sage on a permanent vacation.

The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting playful shadows over a tea set that looked like it had been through more drama than a reality TV show.

“I’m back!” Miblade announced, his voice echoing with the exuberance of a young ninja fresh from the battlefield—or at least a particularly intense game of hide-and-seek.

Sakumo looked up from his book, a smile breaking across his face like a child with a cookie jar. “Ah, Miblade! Where’s Kakashi?”

Miblade shrugged with an exaggerated flourish that could only be described as a ‘teenage diva’ move. “He and I aren’t exactly joined at the hip, you know! I decided to be the first to grace our humble abode with my glorious presence. The throne of Miblade has returned!”

With that, he strutted over to the tea set like he was about to perform a magic trick, pouring himself a steaming cup of tea as if it were a delicate art form worthy of the finest gallery. The rich aroma wafted up, and he savored it like a sommelier at a five-star restaurant sniffing a rare vintage.

“Ah, this is the life! Just me, tea, and the profound mysteries of existence... like why are there always socks missing from the laundry?” he mused, taking a moment to appreciate the tranquility of the scene.

Sakumo chuckled, ruffling Miblade’s hair affectionately. “You’re a real philosopher, you know that? So, how does it feel to be a ninja on your very first day? Did you save the world, or at least your lunch?”

Miblade’s face lit up as he recalled the day’s events. “Well, it was something! I got taken to the training ground by Saki, the shinobi, and I faced off against her. Let’s just say, I was more like a piñata than a challenger!"

"She wiped the floor with me! I thought there’d be a thrilling mission awaiting me, but turns out Saki said there are no missions for the next few days. Boring, right? What’s a ninja to do with all this free time? Count the number of clouds? Try to teach my pet frog to fetch?”

Sakumo laughed heartily, a sound that could probably scare off wild animals.

“Haha! With the war over, you’ll find the missions aren’t as plentiful as you might have hoped. But hey, enjoy the peace while it lasts! You might even get to learn a new skill... like how to not get wiped off the floor next time!”

Miblade rolled his eyes dramatically. “Yeah, because nothing says ninja training like a relaxing afternoon with tea and existential dread! Maybe I’ll start a support group for ninjas who get their butts kicked. We could have snacks!”

Sakumo shook his head, laughing even harder. “Just remember, Miblade: every great ninja has to start somewhere—even if it’s picking themselves up off the floor!”

Their evening continued with a comfortable rhythm, and soon enough, Kakashi returned home, his presence completing the family tableau like the final piece in a puzzle that was just a little too chaotic.

They all settled down for dinner, sharing stories and laughter, the atmosphere filled with warmth and the faint smell of questionable leftovers that no one wanted to claim.

After the meal, Miblade, filled with earnest determination and perhaps a touch too much sugar from dessert, called out to his father as Sakumo started heading upstairs.

“Dad! Can you teach us two ninjutsu techniques?”

Sakumo paused, raising an eyebrow like he’d just heard the most ridiculous thing ever—like someone suggesting they fight a rogue potato. “Have you both mastered swordsmanship yet?”

“Not exactly,” Miblade admitted, scratching his head sheepishly as if trying to find a brain cell hiding in there.

“Now that we’re officially ninjas, I thought it might be wise to expand our skills a bit. You know, just in case we end up facing a rogue potato or something. Those guys are sneaky!”

Kakashi, who was about as expressive as a rock, silently nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the prospect of learning new skills.

It was clear that having a brother around had subtly changed his personality, adding a bit of lighthearted mischief to his otherwise stoic demeanor—like adding sprinkles to an otherwise boring cupcake.

Sakumo, looking serious but also slightly amused, led his two sons to the yard.

“Alright, listen up! I may not be a ninjutsu expert, but I know a few tricks. Most of what I know is more supportive than flashy, though,” he added, recalling how he often preferred practical skills over flamboyant techniques.

“Just like when I taught you that fireball technique—let’s just say I’m not winning any awards for Best Pyrotechnics anytime soon.”

Miblade and Kakashi exchanged hopeful glances, brimming with excitement as if they were about to receive a legendary scroll or maybe just a pizza.

After all, this was Sakumo Hatake they were talking about—the legendary White Fang! Just like when a legendary master, Yuding, taught Yang Jian that he didn’t know many spells but still managed to create chaos in the Heavenly Palace, they felt they were on the brink of a breakthrough—or at least a fun afternoon.

Sakumo stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if trying to remember where he left his last brain cell.

“How about I teach you some B-level ninjutsu? First up is the Shadow Clone Technique! It creates real clones that can think and fight on their own! Perfect for when you want to appear more impressive than you actually are! Just don’t ask them to do your laundry.”

Kakashi and Miblade’s eyes widened in awe, their imaginations running wild. “Yes! That sounds amazing! We could have a clone do our chores! And make snacks!”

“And then there’s the Instant Ninjutsu,” Sakumo continued,

“which lets you move quickly over short distances. But be warned! When you reach intermediate or advanced levels, the village will hand out these techniques as rewards, so you’ll have to earn them! No free rides!”

The two brothers were practically bouncing with enthusiasm, and Miblade couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

“So, our first ninja lesson is basically about making clones to do our homework? Count me in! I could use a few clones to take my math tests!”

“Great! We’ll be ninjas with a homework army!” Kakashi chimed in, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Sakumo sighed with a chuckle. “Just remember, if you get caught, it was the clone’s fault, not yours!”