Naruto:This Time, I, Kotetsu Hagane, Will No Longer Be Lazy

Kotetsu sat across from Ayane in the mission room, flipping through the stack of paperwork he had just finished organizing. His eyes lingered on the window, where the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over Konoha. His stomach growled in protest, reminding him that he hadn't had a proper meal all day.

"Hey, Ayane," he began, tilting his head toward her. "Do you know of any good restaurants around here that serve crab?"

Ayane looked up from her own paperwork, her Byakugan activated as she scanned the room briefly, then narrowed her eyes at Kotetsu. "Crab?" she asked, her tone cool and indifferent as ever. "There are plenty of places that serve it, but what's so special about it?"

Kotetsu grinned mischievously, leaning back in his chair. "It's not the same when it's served in a restaurant. I want to catch some myself. Fresh, right out of the water. You can't beat that kind of taste."

Ayane blinked, her brow furrowing. "You want to catch crab? By hand?" Her voice carried a hint of disbelief, a typical response from the ever-proud Hyuga.

"Exactly," Kotetsu said, his grin widening. "Why settle for what someone else catches when you can do it yourself? It's more fun that way, and I'm pretty sure it tastes better too."

"Fun?" Ayane's lips curled into a half-smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It sounds more like a hassle."

Kotetsu chuckled, unfazed by her dismissive attitude. "Well, that's the thing, isn't it? You have to get your hands dirty to appreciate the real thing."

Ayane's eyes narrowed slightly as she set down the paper she was holding. "Hmph, I don't see the point. If I wanted crab, I'd go to a proper restaurant."

Kotetsu leaned forward, his tone playful but persistent. "Come on, Ayane. You've got nothing better to do, right? I could use a partner in this."

Ayane looked at him, clearly not impressed, then glanced at the door as if already considering her exit. "I'm not interested in chasing crabs around in some filthy river," she said with a dismissive flick of her hand.

Kotetsu raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Well, you've gotta be a little more adventurous than that! If we get lucky, I might even share the spoils with you."

Ayane's expression remained as cold as ever, but Kotetsu could see the slightest hint of curiosity flicker in her gaze. "I don't need your 'spoils,' Kotetsu. But... if you're going to be so persistent, I'll humor you. I'll come with you, but only because you're being ridiculous."

Kotetsu blinked, surprised at how quickly she'd agreed. He hadn't expected her to actually come along, but now that she had, he felt a small flicker of satisfaction. Looks like we're starting to bond as colleagues, he thought to himself.

"Great!" Kotetsu stood up, grabbing his gear. "We'll head to the river with Izuno. It has Freshwater so that means crabs should be found near there. I'll bet we can catch enough to make it worth the trouble."

Ayane gave a nonchalant shrug, but there was a subtle change in her demeanor. Perhaps it was just her usual way of hiding any kind of enthusiasm, but Kotetsu noticed it. As the three of them set off toward the river, Ayane walked slightly behind him, her posture as stiff as ever, but something about the way she moved made Kotetsu think this little adventure might not be so bad after all.

Even Ayane, with all her pride, couldn't hide the small, unspoken shift between them. They were becoming something more than just teammates. He was certain of it.

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The trio arrived at the freshwater river as the evening light began to fade, the sky painted with hues of orange and purple. Izumo, ever the strategist, wasted no time in setting up their little crab-catching operation. He quickly began arranging various traps, laying out bait—pieces of chicken and other small morsels crabs loved to nibble on—along the riverbank. 

"You really think this will work?" Ayane asked, folding her arms and watching with a raised eyebrow as Izumo set the last trap into place.

"Of course it will," Izumo replied, grinning. "Crabs are sneaky, but with the right bait and setup, we'll have them in no time."

Ayane was skeptical but didn't say anything more as Izumo gestured toward the water. "Now that the traps are ready, let's get them in. Kotetsu, you wanna show Ayane how to do it?"

Kotetsu nodded, a smirk creeping across his face. "Sure thing." He motioned for Ayane to follow him as he took one of the traps and waded into the shallow water. He demonstrated how to carefully submerge it, showing her the correct angle and position to keep the bait enticing for any crabs nearby.

Ayane watched, her usual detached demeanor firmly in place. "Seems simple enough," she said, her voice flat.

Kotetsu chuckled, setting the trap into place before turning toward her. "Yeah, but it takes patience. You've got to know exactly where to drop them, and sometimes crabs can be sneaky."

As they finished setting their traps, Kotetsu handed Ayane a fishing rod. "Here," he said. "Let me show you how to set this up."

Ayane looked at the rod with some confusion. "I thought we were catching crabs, not fish."

"We are," Kotetsu said, grinning. "But it could take a while to catch anything, or we might not catch anything at all. So, I figured we might as well have a backup plan. Fish are more likely to bite."

Ayane blinked, clearly not expecting such a sensible answer. "You're planning for failure?"

Kotetsu shrugged. "Not failure. Just... options. You can't always get what you want the first time."

He quickly showed her how to prepare the rod, adjusting the line and showing her the best technique for casting it into the water. Ayane, while still unimpressed, followed his instructions, casting her line out with a practiced motion. "This better be worth it," she muttered, glancing at Kotetsu, who only smiled in response.

Izumo, now back on the shore, cast his own line out and joined in the banter. "So, what's the plan if we catch nothing at all, Kotetsu? You gonna get all moody and blame the crabs for being too clever?"

Kotetsu shot him a playful glare. "If we don't catch anything, then I guess we'll just have to call it a day. But I wouldn't blame the crabs for being clever. You've got to respect their intelligence."

Ayane rolled her eyes, muttering, "Respecting crabs. This is ridiculous."

Kotetsu's lips twitched in amusement. "Well, maybe you'll learn something today. Patience, Ayane. That's how you catch crabs—and fish."

"I don't need to learn patience," she shot back, a touch of irritation creeping into her voice.

Izumo, who had been quietly fishing, piped in, "It's not just patience. It's also knowing when to stop being stubborn. You two should try it sometime."

Kotetsu grinned and glanced at Ayane. "Says the guy who's spent the last ten minutes trying to get a crab to bite." 

"Hey, that's strategy," Izumo replied. "Patience with a plan."

The lighthearted argument between Kotetsu and Ayane began, as usual, to devolve into something more playful. They bickered over trivial things—the placement of the traps, the way they cast their lines, even the angle at which the bait floated in the water. Every now and then, Izumo jumped into the conversation, offering his own two cents on what they were doing wrong. 

Izumo leaned back on a rock, watching the two of them interact. It was always a little funny to him how Ayane, despite her reserved nature, couldn't help but engage in these little back-and-forths. And Kotetsu, true to form, was quick to add fuel to the fire with his own sarcastic commentary.

"I swear," Kotetsu muttered under his breath as Ayane gave him an exasperated look after one of their latest disagreements.

Izumo cut in, "the two of you are like a walking time bomb."

Ayane's cold gaze met his, and she shot back, "You started it."

Izumo laughed. "And that, my friends, is why we'll never catch anything if we keep arguing like this. Crabs are smart, but they're not dumb enough to fall for all this noise."

Kotetsu chuckled. "Maybe you're right. But it's better than sitting around in silence, don't you think?"

Ayane, for a split second, looked like she might retort, but instead, she just shook her head. "I should've stayed home."

Kotetsu just smirked, watching her fish. "You're having fun, I can tell."

Ayane didn't respond, but Kotetsu could feel the growing camaraderie between them, despite the bickering. It was a small thing, but it was something. They were, perhaps, starting to understand each other a little more.

The trio's patience was tested, but none of them seemed particularly concerned with catching the perfect meal. The banter kept them entertained, and the peaceful sounds of the river flowing beneath the clear blue sky were enough to make the evening feel fun then they let on.

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The evening passed, and the trio continued fishing, their banter never quite slowing down. It wasn't long before Ayane's line twitched, and a sudden tug sent a sharp shock through her. Her eyes widened, and her hands instinctively jerked the rod, causing the line to go slack for a moment.

"Wait, wait!" Izumo called out, noticing her panic. "Relax, just steady yourself. Hold the rod with both hands and feel the pull. Reel in slowly, but don't rush it."

Ayane's hands tightened around the rod, trying to remember his instructions as her heart raced. Kotetsu watched, entertained by her struggle.

"Don't overdo it," Izumo continued, his voice calm and steady. "You need to reel it in smoothly. Pull up when it tugs, then reel it in."

Ayane, with a deep breath, did as Izumo suggested. Slowly, cautiously, she reeled in the line, feeling a resistance that grew stronger with each turn. Finally, the fish broke the surface, and she gasped slightly when she saw the shiny silver body of a trout flopping helplessly on the line.

"Nice!" Izumo grinned, giving her an approving thumbs-up. Kotetsu nodded in agreement, though his grin was wide with surprise. "I didn't think you had it in you, Ayane."

Ayane's expression remained impassive, but there was a flicker in her eyes—pride, maybe, or perhaps just a hint of satisfaction. "It was nothing," she muttered, trying to brush off the compliment, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

She quickly returned to her rod, and after a few more minutes of waiting, she felt another pull. This time, she reacted more confidently, pulling in the line smoothly. This time, it wasn't a trout, but a hefty catfish, its whiskers twitching in the water as it was reeled in.

"Another one!" Kotetsu said, genuinely impressed. "Looks like you've got the hang of this."

Izumo chuckled. "Maybe you'll out-fish us both."

Ayane didn't respond right away, instead casting a glance over at Kotetsu, who was still fiddling with his traps. "Well, someone has to do the work around here."

Izumo caught a bass a few moments later, earning another congratulatory pat on the back from Kotetsu. But then came the real test—pulling up their traps. Izumo grinned and yanked his first trap from the water. "Ah, look at that," he said, eyes glinting. "Five crabs."

Ayane's expression flickered—whether it was envy or just an acknowledgment of the competition, Kotetsu wasn't sure.

Then it was Ayane's turn to pull up her trap. She heaved it with a bit of effort, only to find three crabs clinging to the bait. Kotetsu couldn't help but be impressed. "Well done," he said. "Looks like you might actually be the best fisherman here."

Ayane gave a small, satisfied nod, but her face quickly returned to its usual stone mask.

Finally, Kotetsu pulled up his trap, only to find it utterly empty, save for a few scraps of remaining bait. His brow furrowed as he checked it again, just to be sure. Nothing. Not a single crab.

"Looks like I'm the one who failed," he said, mock-sighing as he tossed the empty trap back into the water.

Ayane, seeing an opportunity to tease, couldn't resist. "Maybe you didn't bait it properly," she said, her voice carrying that unmistakable tone of smugness. "Or maybe the crabs just don't like you."

Kotetsu's face twisted in mock offense, and he shot back, "Oh, so you're claiming that the crabs have standards now? You think they've got taste?"

"Clearly more than you do," she retorted, her lips curling up slightly.

Kotetsu's eyes narrowed with a playful glint. "Fine, if you're so proud of your haul, how about you share some of those crabs with me? You know, since I didn't catch any."

Ayane raised an eyebrow. "Share with you? Why would I do that?"

Kotetsu tilted his head, eyes twinkling. "Well, maybe if I beg, you'll have mercy on me."

Ayane blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in his tone. "Beg?" she repeated, incredulity lacing her voice. "You really want me to believe that you'll beg for crabs?"

Without missing a beat, Kotetsu dropped to his knees dramatically, his hands clasped together in exaggerated prayer. "Please, Ayane," he said, his voice mock-pleading. "I'm hungry. Please, have mercy on me. I need those crabs!"

Izumo snorted, laughing loudly. Ayane froze, staring at Kotetsu for a long moment, her mind racing. She'd been expecting a joke, maybe a playful refusal—but not this. The look on his face, so genuine in its ridiculousness, had her taken aback.

She couldn't help but feel a tiny flicker of amusement at the sight of him kneeling before her, so earnestly playing the fool. Still, her pride won't let her just hand over the crabs without making him squirm a little more.

Kotetsu, still kneeling, grinned up at her. "I'll do anything. Just name it."

Ayane's eyes widened ever so slightly, her brain quickly running through the implications of his words. A Hyuga, begging like that—to her? Even in jest, it was unheard of. She'd been raised in a clan where begging was reserved for the most extreme cases—usually, only when one had made a serious misstep, or if it was directed toward the Clan Head.

She glanced at Kotetsu, then back at the crabs, feeling an uncharacteristic twist of uncertainty. Should she push this further? She almost felt like she'd missed an opportunity to ask something more... humiliating, maybe. Something more befitting the situation.

But instead, she shook her head, her lips curling into a slight smirk. "Fine," she said, tossing him one of her crabs. "You can have one. But you're not getting any more. Don't get used to it."

Kotetsu caught it with ease, still grinning. "Thanks, Ayane. I knew you had a soft spot for me."

Ayane gave him a blank stare, her mask firmly back in place. "Don't get too comfortable."

Izumo, still snickering at the exchange, nudged Ayane with his elbow. "I think you just found out what Kotetsu's weaknesses are."

Ayane didn't respond, but inside, she was already pondering that strange moment. She wasn't sure what it meant yet, but something about Kotetsu's willingness to play the fool for her... made her reconsider a lot of things about their partnership.

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The sun had long since set, leaving the sky a deep indigo as the trio finished their last pulls on their lines. Kotetsu, Ayane, and Izumo gathered their catches, each feeling the quiet satisfaction of the night's effort. The quiet was a welcome change after their back-and-forth bickering, and they were about to start preparing their meal when a voice called out to them from behind.

"Well, looks like you three made a good haul," an elderly man said, stepping from the shadows of the trees. His presence was calm, his gaze sharp despite the age etched in his face. His once-black hair had grayed over the years and was tied into a short ponytail, and his clothing, though worn and practical, had a quiet dignity about it—a sleeveless brown kimono over mesh armor, paired with grey pants. A wok was slung over his shoulder, and a ladle hung from his belt, along with a sword sheathed horizontally across his lower back.

Kotetsu, ever the friendly type, waved the old man over. "Well, you're welcome to join us! We were just about to cook up our catch."

The man smiled and, with a slow but steady gait, walked over to them, his eyes flicking over the catches as he took a seat nearby. "I didn't mean to intrude," he said, his voice gravelly but kind. "But it's rare to see a group of shinobi out here, especially ones with such good taste in food."

Izumo looked at the old man and raised an eyebrow. "Guessing from the headbands, we gave it away?"

The old man chuckled softly. "It's the flak jackets, mostly. And a shinobi's air is hard to miss, even if you try to hide it."

Ayane studied the old man with a more reserved eye, still unsure about his presence but offering a polite nod in return. Izumo, ever the sociable one, smiled. "So, you're a cook or something?"

"More than that," the old man said, his eyes twinkling with a hidden amusement. "A cook, a fighter, a wanderer. These hands have seen a lot of work, both in the kitchen and on the battlefield. This wok here—" he tapped it with his fingers, "—has been with me longer than I care to admit."

Ayane raised an eyebrow at the wok, her gaze flickering over the ladle and the sword. "Seems like you've got your... specialties."

The old man grinned, nodding. "You could say that. But enough about me. How about I join in on cooking? Looks like you've got a good haul of crabs, fish, and such. Let's see if I can help turn that into a meal."

Kotetsu glanced at Ayane and Izumo, then shrugged. "Why not? We could use some help."

Izumo grinned and nudged Ayane. "Looks like our impromptu fishing trip just turned into a full-on cookout."

"Alright, then," Kotetsu said, getting to work. He and Izumo quickly set up a fire using some dry wood they'd gathered nearby, the crackling flames adding warmth to the evening air. As they prepared the crabs, fish, and trout, the old man took charge of the wok. He moved with surprising agility for his age, chopping vegetables and seasoning the seafood in a way that made the others watch in quiet appreciation.

Ayane, as she cleaned the crabs and prepared the fish, couldn't help but glance over at the old man, noting the way he handled everything with such care. Despite his age, he moved with confidence and experience. It was clear he wasn't just any old traveler.

"Alright, it's ready," the old man said after a short while, holding up a wooden spoon and smiling broadly. "Gather 'round, everyone."

The meal was served on a mix of makeshift plates—mostly large leaves, but no one complained. The crabs had been boiled to perfection, their sweet meat complemented by the stir-fried vegetables and trout. Even Ayane, who typically kept a cool demeanor, had to admit it tasted better than anything she'd had in a long time.

Kotetsu looked at her, his mouth full of crab. "See? Told you it's worth it to catch your own food."

Ayane glared at him but couldn't stop herself from taking a bite of crab. It was warm, juicy, and flavorful—the taste of victory, as Kotetsu would say. She swallowed, still not wanting to admit he was right. "I suppose... it's better than eating something you didn't work for," she muttered, but the faintest of smiles tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Izumo laughed at their exchange, his mouth full as well. "You two are something else. The last time I saw someone so stubborn about food, they were arguing over a simple bowl of ramen."

As they ate, the conversation shifted to other matters, though it remained light. The old man, who introduced himself as Kosuke, began telling stories about his past—about his travels across the land, his missions as a shinobi, and the odd jobs he had taken. He spoke of a time long ago when he had fought in battles that had shaped the landscape of the world, his eyes distant and thoughtful.

But then, as the conversation shifted to the present, the mood turned more serious. 

"I heard some unsettling things about the village," Kosuke said, breaking a long silence. "The Uchiha clan... and the growing tensions. It seems like a storm is coming."

Ayane stiffened slightly, but Kotetsu and Izumo didn't seem surprised by the old man's insight. Izumo cleared his throat. "It's been tough, yeah. The village is... changing. There's a lot of pressure with everything going on, especially with the recent incidents."

Kosuke nodded thoughtfully, stirring the last of the stir-fried vegetables. "Pressure always creates cracks in the surface. And where there are cracks, the world will find a way in. You young ones, you're on the front lines of it all, aren't you?"

Kotetsu was quiet for a moment, then gave a small shrug. "I've got my hands full with some personal matters, but yeah... things are heating up."

Ayane stayed silent, though her mind was clearly occupied with the mention of the Uchiha clan. The old man's words were a reminder of how much was at stake in Konoha, and how little time there seemed to be before everything exploded.

Kosuke broke the silence again, his voice soft. "The future's in your hands. Be careful. The world doesn't owe anyone anything."

Kotetsu gave a short nod, understanding the weight of the old man's words. Izumo, however, seemed to find comfort in the advice. "We'll handle it. Konoha's strong, and we won't back down."

With the night continuing on, the trio and Takashi enjoyed the meal in peaceful camaraderie, for a moment forgetting the complex world they were part of. But even as they laughed and shared stories, the quiet tension of the world's problems hung in the air—a reminder that, for all the joys of simple moments, the next challenge was never far behind.