Chapter 345: The Lonely Scarecrow Kakashi
Teuchi managed a warm, composed smile and said, "If you don't have local currency, feel free to bring it next time, sir. A face like yours, I won't forget. But you might want to exchange this gold for the Land of Fire's currency at the mission office in the Hokage Building."
But Ye Wen? Concerned with a small amount of cash? Not likely. He firmly pushed the gold ingot back toward Teuchi, saying, "Boss, just take it. This is nothing to me. And I quite enjoyed your ramen. I'd rather see someone with your skill running a proper establishment instead of this old setup. Next time I come, I hope to see an upgraded Ichiraku Ramen!"
Teuchi's face flushed at the mention of his shop's "rundown" appearance, but the truth stung. Though his ramen was beloved in Konoha, Teuchi was no hidden warrior or noble. As a civilian in a shinobi dominated society, he faced constant challenges, and running his business was no exception. With high taxes in the Hidden Leaf and his insistence on quality ingredients, he had little left to improve his shop.
Watching Ye Wen's figure disappear into the distance, Teuchi's eyes welled up with gratitude. Just by his manner, Teuchi knew his customer wasn't ordinary; his attire suggested a foreign dignitary. Receiving such encouragement and financial support stirred in Teuchi a renewed passion for his craft. Turning to Naruto, who was still a bit bewildered, Teuchi called, "Naruto, I'm in a great mood today! How about a super deluxe Ichiraku Ramen on the house?"
Though too young to understand the nuances, Naruto's eyes sparkled at the thought of a "super deluxe ramen" and eagerly nodded.
Outside, Ye Wen chuckled as Naruto's voice carried after him. "Where did Naruto even pick up that weird phrase?" he mused, momentarily stumped by the origins of Naruto's "dattebayo." Unable to recall, he shrugged it off and continued exploring Konoha.
The real Hidden Leaf Village was far larger than its anime counterpart suggested, with sprawling training grounds around the village's residential core, each intended for honing the shinobi arts. However, Ye Wen found the hidden truths of these shinobi arts laughable. Yes, ninja techniques could be deadly but when faced with the future threats of the Otsutsuki, they were almost pitiful. Chakra based jutsu simply fed into the Otsutsuki's power as if they were batteries.
Ye Wen shook his head, amused at the thought. What a joke, he thought. These powers, perhaps aside from sage arts, were rendered nearly useless in the face of Otsutsuki power, leaving taijutsu as the last reliable form of attack. But did it really stand a chance? Against beings who had honed their bodies over millennia, even the best taijutsu masters would be outmatched.
Wandering past the training grounds, Ye Wen's steps carried him to an isolated part of the forest. Sensing an unseen gaze, he turned and locked eyes on a tree. "You there, you've been following me for a while now. Care to come out?"
The figure, masked with a fox symbol and sporting spiky hair, emerged from the branches. His signature hairstyle alone made it obvious: Kakashi Hatake.
Ye Wen couldn't help but think back to all he knew about Kakashi the son of Konoha's White Fang, a prodigy who'd achieved Jonin rank at just twelve, and a future Hokage with a rather tragic life. His name, which meant "scarecrow" in Japanese, had always foreshadowed his fate. Fitting, Ye Wen thought.
Ye Wen had already noticed the village's barriers scanning him but hadn't bothered hiding himself. In a place this weak, he hadn't expected to stay undetected, so he saw no need for caution as long as he kept his actions discreet.
Kakashi's eyes showed the shadows of his troubled past as he jumped down, pulling out a kunai. "Who are you, and why are you here in Konoha?" he demanded coldly.
Ye Wen glanced around, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding trees. "Why don't you all come out? Your hiding skills aren't that great."
Several figures, Konoha's finest ANBU operatives, reluctantly revealed themselves. Though displeased by Ye Wen's comment, they recognized they had indeed been spotted. They emerged from the shadows, all staring intently at him.
Kakashi, as team leader, was the most tense. He knew his sensory abilities were decent, but this man standing before them was a blank slate no chakra at all yet his instincts were screaming danger. He didn't know who he was dealing with, only that this figure was incredibly powerful.
End of Chapter
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