https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-114-The-God-of-Shinobi-Has-Some-Bad-Luck/12553342/
Chapter 115: Everyday Life in Fetters-Lock Village
Chapter 115: Everyday Life in Fetters-Lock Village
In the Land of Spoons, within the secluded hamlet of Fetters-Lock Village, tendrils of smoke curled upward from the morning fires, signaling the start of another day in this hidden corner of the realm. The rhythmic clanging of a blacksmith's hammer, a recent addition to the village's soundtrack, accompanied the laughter of children already at play in the streets.
Dressed in the distinctive blue attire of the Uchiha clan, Sasuke Uchiha stepped out from his family's modest courtyard and onto the main thoroughfare. Patiently awaiting the passing of a pack of young ninja-in-training engaged in a lively game of tag, he continued on his way toward the source of the metallic clatter.
"Sasuke," a familiar female voice suddenly called out, interrupting his thoughts.
Sasuke turned to see Mikoto Uchiha, owner of the local dango shop, waving at him with a warm smile. "Come and try these three-colored dango that I made myself."
"Three-colored dango?" Sasuke echoed, his curiosity piqued. Obediently, he approached and accepted the skewer of dumplings from Mikoto, popping one into his mouth and nodding in approval. "They're good."
"Really?" Mikoto asked eagerly. "How do they compare to the ones from the shop in Konoha?"
Sasuke, who rarely indulged in dango, nonetheless offered his honest opinion with a serious expression. "They're probably about the same."
Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief. Noticing Sasuke's puzzled expression regarding her new occupation, she glanced at the shop's interior, which resembled the Konoha dango shop in every detail, and offered an explanation tinged with nostalgia. "After arriving in Fetters-Lock Village, I realized that aside from missing my mother, grandmother, and clan members, what I longed for the most were the three-colored dango from Konoha. But no one here sold them, and no one knew how to make them."
"On a whim during my training, I decided to try making them myself to see if I could replicate the taste. Now that you've given your seal of approval, Sasuke, it seems my experiment was a success." Mikoto's words were filled with joy, but Sasuke listened in silence, knowing all too well the reason behind her need to recreate this particular treat.
It was because of that man—the one with whom he shared a close blood tie.
"Sasuke? Sasuke?" Mikoto's voice snapped him back to the present.
Sasuke immediately apologized. "Sorry, I zoned out for a moment there."
Such a display of manners would have been unthinkable during his time in Konoha. Only in the presence of his "lost and regained" clan members did he allow his true gentleness to surface.
Unbothered by his momentary lapse, Mikoto took a step back and appraised the young man before her, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "It's been a while since we last saw each other, and now I notice you've grown quite a bit taller, Sasuke."
At the age of twelve or thirteen, one tends to experience growth spurts, and Sasuke's rigorous training regimen had only accelerated the process, making him appear noticeably taller and more robust than when he had first arrived in the village.
However, Sasuke himself was oblivious to these changes, and he sincerely thanked Mikoto when she offered to have the clan tailor a new set of larger-sized Uchiha garments for him to accommodate his future growth.
"Where are you off to, Sasuke? I don't often see you wandering around this part of the village," Mikoto inquired, handing him a few more skewers of dango and urging him to eat his fill before continuing.
To be honest, Sasuke wasn't particularly fond of sweets.
The dango Mikoto had made were generously brushed with a sweet sauce.
He could only force a strained smile as he quickly devoured them, not wanting to disappoint Mikoto, who had become a "sisterly mother figure" to him. "I ordered a ninja sword from the captive blacksmiths in Craftsman Ninja Village, and today's the day I go to collect it," he replied.
Unlike the other clan members who eagerly anticipated Sasuke's future role in their quest for vengeance, Izumi had different hopes when she first saw him in that dark room. She wished for this boy, whose eyes were clouded by hatred and on the brink of being completely engulfed by it, to find something or someone else to dedicate himself to.
With a sincere tone, she advised, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Sasuke. Your life is not just about revenge; you have a long future ahead of you. Sometimes, think about living a life with a girl you like."
"Sasuke, you should have a girl you like, right?" Izumi asked.
"No," Sasuke shook his head decisively, his heart devoid of any romantic inclinations.
He understood Izumi's good intentions, but his resolve would not waver.
"I'm off, Izumi-nee," Sasuke said as he saw Izumi about to offer him more skewers of dango. He quickly took his leave with determined strides.
"Wait! There's one more thing I forgot to tell you. Aburame Shino is getting married the day after tomorrow, remember to come," Izumi called out from behind.
"Shino-niisan?!" Sasuke stopped in his tracks and turned back, his curiosity piqued. "Who is he marrying?"
Sasuke had a favorable impression of Aburame Shino, a straightforward speaker who loved combat and was always willing to help the clan.
In the past six months, Sasuke had sparred and trained with Shino frequently.
However, he had never heard about Shino having a girlfriend, let alone an upcoming marriage.
"A beautiful girl from the Feather Cloak Clan. That guy, Shino, is so lucky," Izumi replied.
"A girl from the Feather Cloak Clan?" Sasuke inquired, his interest piqued now that he knew the meaning of "Feather Cloak."
Thanks to the high esteem in which he held Feather Cloak Gennosuke, Sasuke had even considered the possibility of marrying a girl from the Feather Cloak Clan himself after achieving revenge and if he couldn't return to Konoha.
As for the Uchiha girls who were still alive, they were all significantly older than him, and he had no interest in them.
However, such thoughts were ultimately too contrary to his character, and Sasuke soon cast them aside.
"I'll definitely be there the day after tomorrow," Sasuke assured her, waving his hand to indicate that he had heard the message. Then, he swiftly departed.
Seeing Sasuke's promise, Izumi returned to the shop in a good mood. She devoured the freshly made three-colored dumplings in a few bites, her eyes sparkling as she exclaimed, "They're indeed delicious!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of blacksmithing resonated ceaselessly within the newly established ninja tool shop.
If one approached even closer, they could hear a series of repetitive, listless chants:
"I am the Ultimate Ninja Tool! I was supposed to conquer the ninja world... I am the Ultimate Ninja Tool! I was supposed to conquer the ninja world..."
When Sasuke entered the ninja tool shop, he saw a peculiar young man who appeared to be the master craftsman. With artistic grace in his movements, he effortlessly crafted one ninja tool after another, captivating onlookers with his skill. However, his eyes were vacant, and he spoke in a depressed tone, uttering those neurotic words.
"Is this guy the founder of Takumi Ninja Village, Seimei?" Sasuke wondered.
As a disciple of Feather Cloak Gennosuke, Sasuke held a high status in Fetters-Lock Village and had access to a wealth of information.
Sure enough, when Sasuke arrived, one of the Four Divine Beasts of Heaven and Earth who had narrowly escaped death, the peacock, immediately approached him respectfully.
"Lord Sasuke, your ninja sword has been forged," the peacock informed him.
(End of Chapter)
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