After discovering the ultimate ramen shop, Murasame relaxes from her travels at the inn she chose for her stay in Konoha Village.
Konoha Village is a nice place, the scenery of the inn and the food were good. And best of all, the hot springs were amazing.
She thinks that if it's such a nice place, Konoha Village should have been the first place she went to, but she realizes that if she hadn't made enough money in Sand Village, it would have been difficult to stay at the inn she's in now, and she feels confident that she's made the best choice.
Since she no longer needed to spend time searching for the person the next day, she decided to go around selling the sword she had prepared just in case.
I got permission from Sand Village to come here, so there's no problem, but it might not be well-received if I returned without any income. With that thought in mind, I put my sword on the back of my cart and walked around.
A few ninjas came to take a look with interest, but the swords from a general ninja tool shop were not particularly good, so there were not many buyers and time just passed by. --If possible, I would like to spread the word about the swords I made myself, which I have stored in a separate scroll. In particular, I wanted a female ninja I met along the way who seemed to have a strong interest in ninja tools to buy my prized swords.
Feeling depressed during such a lonely time, she decides that it would be better to deepen her own knowledge rather than peddling swords, so she begins sightseeing and exploring Konoha.
Although my meeting with the ramen shop manager was by chance, I had heard of his famous family since my time in the Water Country.
The Uchiha clan is a famous family in the village of Konoha. I had heard that there were some impressive craftsmen in the clan, so I asked someone nearby for directions, hoping to meet one.
-- I'd like to meet the craftsman behind this famous "Uchiha Senbei" crackers...
I asked the question lightly, but the answer I got was the cruel words, "The Uchiha clan has been wiped out."
I felt speechless at the fact that the skills that had been refined by the craftsmen had disappeared without being able to be passed on, and as if to distract myself from that, I spent the whole day looking around Nakazato.
And then the long-awaited day arrived.
At the thought of finally receiving a reply from the man named Hatake Kakashi, her body was trembling and the corners of her mouth were twisted up.
Of course, there is a chance that he won't meet with me, but in that case, I can just follow someone who is a regular at that store and find him. I feel bad about betraying the manager of that ramen shop, though.
As I continued running with these calculations in mind, the Ichiraku ramen shop came into view.
And standing in front of the store were two boys, one girl, and a white-haired man with most of his face hidden except for his left eye.
They must be customers of the ramen shop. The fact that they chose this place out of all the others suggests that they must have good taste. I've only been to the shop once, so I'll leave it at that to pretend I'm knowledgeable, but I greet the manager.
"Hello..."
"Oh my lady! You've come at just the right time, this is the Kakashi you've been looking for!"
"...?"
The unexpected words sent my mind into a state of confusion.
Today's purpose was simply to ask Kakashi if he would be willing to meet me, so there was no way things would go so conveniently as this.
"Hello, are you the young lady from Wind Country who I have business with?"
"Well, you were lucky, my lady. They had just finished their mission for today and were having lunch before the afternoon training."
That's an amazing coincidence.
Perhaps one of the three ninjas standing next to the man named Kakashi, a regular at the bar, had requested this place for the wrap-up party. If so, he is a benefactor to me.
But that's for later.
First of all, I want to talk to Kakashi.
"Y-Yes... I've always wanted to meet you."
Even though I'm not very good at talking, the nervousness makes me even more at a loss for words, and my face turns red with embarrassment and excitement.
--But why? A girl and a black-haired boy nearby were staring at Kakashi, who was supposed to be their teacher, as if they were a criminal.
Kakashi noticed their gaze and began talking to the two of them in a flustered state.
As I gazed upon him in curiosity, I suddenly realized that Kakashi was not carrying the essential beheading knife, something I hadn't noticed up until then because I had been so excited.
...I see, it is a ninja sword that the Hidden Kiri is proud of.
Even though it was a trophy he obtained by defeating Zabuza himself, he was probably thinking that if he showed it off carelessly, it might get taken by one of the village's superiors, so he hid it in a scroll or something.
The fact that someone is so thorough about this makes me feel happy, as it shows that they understand the value of a sword.
However, that doesn't mean I can back down. It won't be that easy, especially since he's avoiding exposing it to the public. The only way is to skillfully lead him to show me.
But I... have no speaking skills whatsoever.
Therefore, I cannot lead him astray, and can only ask sincerely.
With that determination, she bowed her head deeply.
"I'm Murasame from the Hidden Sand Village. I came here because I wanted to see what Mr. Kakashi had in store so I could improve my own work."
"Wow, it must've been hard to come all the way here from the Sand Village to Konoha."
After receiving an expression of admiration from the girl who was with Kakashi, she bowed slightly and faced Kakashi again.
I could see impatience in his expression. I assumed he had been hiding it so the people around him wouldn't find out, and though I felt bad that my request had been so rude, I couldn't back out now so I stared into his eyes.
Hatake Kakashi was anxious.
He had heard from his student and subordinate Naruto that someone wanted to meet him, so after finishing his mission for the day, he decided to meet the person before the afternoon training.
Then, a strange girl arrived. She seemed strangely excited, and I wondered what she wanted. She asked me to show her my things in order to help her with her own work.
However, there is nothing in my possession that would be of use to a craftsman. Just as I was wondering what on earth this girl wanted from me, I realized that the only thing I could think of was still sleeping in my pocket.
-- "Icha Icha Paradise" written by the none other than Jiraiya, one of the "Legendary Sannin"!
Could it be that this girl is a writer, and has come here from the village of sand to see this precious book?
Certainly, if that is the case, it would fit in with what the girl was talking about when talking about creating a work of art - but!
"...I'm sorry, I can't show that to you."
"--! What? Why can't I see it?!"
"No you can't, you're too young to see this!"
I admire the enthusiasm of this young girl called Murasame, but from the looks of it, she is still about the same age as his students.
There's no way I could make her read adult novels! He may be a chronic latecomer, but he's still a sensible adult!
"It's okay! I don't tell many people this, but---I've been shown that (the "Beheading Knife") a few times since I was about 5 years old!"
"At five years old?! That (Icha Icha Paradise)?!"
"I've been shown every nook and cranny! But I'm sure there are things I couldn't see back then! So I want to see that thing (the "beheading knife") just one more time!"
"Every nook... and corner?! --N-no... but-"
What on earth were the people around her thinking, making a 5 year old girl read a book like this?!
The terrifying words of this girl throw his usually calm and collected mind into great disarray.
But things can't go on like this. I have to calm down somehow, and try to talk her out of it. While I was thinking about this, I was surrounded by my own students.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're being childish! She said it's fine just to show her, so you shouldn't be so stingy!"
"Well, it's a bit sad to send her back without doing anything, even though she came all the way from Sand Village."
"...Just show it to her and start the training."
"N-no, you guys... but..."
This is bad, I'm being cornered by my students who don't understand the situation. In some ways, this is a worse pinch than what happened in Wave Country the other day... as a person...
"Sensei, I'll ask you to do the same. This girl is desperate to improve the things she creates. She certainly doesn't have any shady motives."
"Teuchi-san?! But--"
"Hurry up Kakashi, your habit of being late is already delaying my training!"
Teuchi-san and his students once again cornered him, and he realizes he has no way out.
If he pushed the girl away like this, his students' trust in him would plummet. So he should at least give the girl what she wanted. No matter what the outcome would be...
Having realized everything and reached a state of mind similar to that of a sage, he hands over the power that has been sleeping in his pocket to the girl.
That's right... an adult novel (Icha Icha Paradise) for an unknown underage girl.
"Ahhhhh!? What are you giving me, Kakashi-sensei!?"
"I know! That's something you shouldn't let kids read!!"
"...You're dead Kakashi-sensei."
Saying this all the students began to gang up on the Jounin in charge.
"...The book talks about the 'sacred sword of a man that cuts through the defenses of a woman's heart'..."
"Nooo!! No more with the explanation!" all the girls shouted at once.
Utter confusion!!
...
It took 30 minutes for the situation to calm down.
As Kakashi accepts the punches of his students, he sends a message to his long dead friend.
(If you were alive now... I wonder what you would say to me now... Hey... Obito...)
▼.....▼.....▼.....▼.....▼
"Um... so the young lady wasn't an artist, but a blacksmith who specialized in ninja tools."
"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't explain properly earlier."
"No no, I misunderstood too, sorry. Hahaha."
They both bow their heads and start the conversation anew.
Next to her, a girl who was one of Kakashi's students muttered, "No matter how much of a misunderstanding it is, what adult would give an adult novel to a minor?"
But the fault was probably on Murasame's side for not speaking up properly about the matter.
I feel really sorry, but I can't take up too much of his time, so I make up my mind and tell him my purpose.
"...I heard that you killed the demon Momochi Zabuza a few days ago, and I came here hoping to see the "beheading knife" that he used....I know it's a bold request, but could I please see that sword?"
He bowed his head sincerely, but all she received in return was a blank look from Kakashi and his students... and perhaps a bit of awkwardness.
"Well... it's very hard to say... I left it behind in the Land of Waves."
"--? --W-w-why!? You left the ninja sword that the Village of Mist is so proud of behind instead of taking it home? Don't you know how valuable that sword is!?"
"That's not it, but... I feel a bit reluctant to bring it home."
"In the first place, there was a sword from the Hidden Mist Ninja Sword right in front of you!? Didn't you want to use it!?"
She looked not only at Kakashi but also at his students.
They were just a little younger than me - around Suigetsu's age - and at that age, they should have a strong admiration for swords - and yet...
"No, you can't have something that big around your back."
"Just lifting it up to stab it into the grave was hard..."
"That's pointless... it's just a ninja tool after all."
I couldn't believe my ears at the words I heard.
It's true that it would be impossible for a child with little physical strength to handle that decapitation knife, but does that really warrant such a disinterested remark? The black-haired boy even lumped the Seven's ninja swords together with other ninja tools...
"We're done talking, right? Let's get started on the training, Kakashi."
"Hmm... I suppose so. I'm sorry, my lady. If Zabuza's sword hasn't been taken by anyone, it should be in the Land of Waves, so I don't think he'll be angry if you just take a look at it."
The black-haired boy said that the story was over, and Kakashi-san had no particular reason to scold him. He explained in a gentle tone, trying to be as considerate as possible to me.
--However, Wave Country is an island nation relatively close to the Hidden Mist Village.
For some reason travel to and from the country had been cut off for the past year, but entry into the country has recently become free again, so perhaps there are now many ninja from the Hidden Mist watching.
--Come to think of it, given the timing, that must be why these people fought Zabuza.
If that was the case, then several of the Hidden Mist Ninja Pursuits were likely inspecting Wave Country to eliminate the remnants of Zabuza's subordinates.
I appreciate the information, but unfortunately it is not possible for me to visit the Land of Waves.
"...Oh, so it's like that.. Th-thanks for the information.."
Though disappointed, Murasame thanked him for the information.
She can't tell him the reason why she can't get close to the Land of Waves, so the story ends here.
Although she found Kakashi, her efforts ended up being a waste of time, and even though she knew where the beheading knife she was looking for was, it was in an out-of-reach place, which really broke her heart.
--What on earth am I doing here for...?
"Wait a minute!"
To think that she was so shocked that she forgot her other purpose...there is still something I need to ask this person!
Yes, even if this person had no interest in swords, there is no doubt that he was a kind-hearted person who remembered his enemy Zabuza and did not take the sword. Therefore!! There is no way that he would treat the sword, which was a memento of his late father, carelessly!!
As the conversation drew to a close, she made one final request.
"Can you t-tell me about the White Fang of Konoha - the white light chakra sword-"
"Oh, about that one... it was broken quite a while ago."
"...I-is that so? Oh!...."
Murasame felt her heart sink further.
""What is this?! Oh my gosh!!!What am I even doing here?" she thought miserably, frustrated.