Naruto Side Story Hatake Ken Gaiden EP. 1: Hatake Ken, the cunning Ninja.

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Corrected English translation by	isukeuchihaa
Corrected English translation by	steviekins96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enemy: You’re Fast, but i’ve finally cornered you. Now, stop running and hand over the scroll.

 

Enemy: “Ken, The Cunning Ninja of the Leaf”.

[Ken, a shinobi from Konohagakure, 16 years old]

 

Ken: Hah, you think I got cornered? Did it ever cross your minds that I lured you here on purpose? You knew my name, didn’t you?

 

Ken: That I am “Ken, The Cunning Ninja of the Leaf”.

 

Enemy 1: …Boss, he’s right. I heard he once took down an entire group of bandits without even lifting a finger.

Enemy 2: Tch, so what? Just because he calls himself ‘cunning’ doesn’t mean we should be scared of him!

 

Ken: Then tell me… what will you do? Retreat, or die here?

 

Enemy Leader: Tsk, you couldn’t even dodge that kunai. And your wound isn’t stopping the bleeding… Are you still trying to trick us?

 

Enemy Leader: And if this was really your plan, why would you tell us? Do you think I’m stupid enough to fall for such a shallow trick?

 

Enemy Leader: Look at you—so pathetic! Hand over the scroll right now, and maybe we’ll let you walk away.

 

Ken: Eh… really? You guys aren’t lying, are you?

Enemy: Hahaha! Don’t worry, we always keep our promises.

 

Ken: Then take it. Now, you’ll let me go, right?

 

Enemy Leader: Hahaha! I almost feel bad for your father. He built a name for himself, only to have a fool for a son. And you’re the so-called “Cunning Ninja”? What a joke!

 

 

Enemy: Shit! A gas burst. Watch out!!

 

Ken: Heh…losers! The real one is right here! Come and get it! Even though I like to play around, I still have my pride.

Enemy: You—! Damn it!!

 

Enemy: Damn you!!

 

 

Enemy Leader: Tsk, you idiot. You sacrificed yourself along with the scroll? Do you really think I won’t be able to find your body—and the scroll?

 

Enemy Leader: There’s the rushing torrent. Go down and find his body quickly!

Enemy: Yes, sir!

 

 

Ken: Losers… I know the landscape better than you. Sorry, my shadow clone.

 

 

Ken: This fake blood is so sticky… I need to find a place to take a shower and get my shirt sewn before I head back to the village.

 

Ken: Speaking of which… shouldn’t my nickname be “The Genius of the Leaf”? Who the heck gave me that ridiculous name “The Cunning of the Leaf”? That’s not cool at all. They better watch out!

 

 

 

 

Ken: (The weather is so nice.)

 

Girl: Oh, I’m sorry!

 

Ken: Oh, I’m sorry. Are you alright?

 

Girl: Ahh, I’m totally alright~

Ken: That’s good.

 

Girl: Excuse me. Are you a tourist like us?

Ken: No, I live here. I just got back from running errands today.

Girl: Oh, really? That’s great. I’ve never been to Konoha before. Can you show me around?

Ken: Sure, I just happen to be free.

Girl: Yay! I’m so happy~ What’s your name?

 

Ken: I…

Man: Sorry, but he’s very busy. He doesn’t have time to be your tour guide.

 

Ken: Oi…

Girls: E..eh!?

 

Ken: D..Dad!!

 

Girls: Eh…?

 

 

 

Girls: H.. Hokage-sama!!?

Kakashi: Haha, welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village! Hope you’re enjoying your trip. Let me just take my son back to work first.

 

Girl 1: Oh my, he’s the Hokage’s son!

Girl 2: He’s so damn handsome!

Ken: Come on, Dad. Didn’t you say you were busy? Why did you have time to come find me?

Kakashi: It’s because I’m busy that I had to hurry and drag you back.

Ken: When will I finally be able to sense your chakra before you get to me!?

Kakashi: You’re a hundred years too early for that, boy.

 

 

Kakashi: You delivered the scroll without getting a scratch? Well done! Your skills never fail me.

Ken: Of course!

 

Kakashi: The name I gave you really suits you. Hatake Ken, the Cunning Ninja of the Leaf.

Ken: What?! That was you?! You’re the idiot who gave me this ridiculous name?!

 

Kakashi: Alright, for your next mission… which one should I give you first? This one is urgent, and this one is important.

Ken: Too much!! Your lovely son just got back from a dangerous mission, and you’re already throwing another one at me!? How cruel!

 

Kakashi: I can’t help it. There are a ton of missions that need to be done. You finishing them this fast actually helps me a lot.

Ken: Honestly, I’m not free today. I still have some business to take care of, okay?

 

Kakashi: Oh? You mean you’re going on a date with a girl? Is that the “business” you need to finish?

Ken: Oh! Y-You know? … Actually, it’s a mission to strengthen our relationship with the villagers.

 

Kakashi: Sigh… Ken, you know what…

Ken: (Come on… He’s about to start complaining again. I better make my exit.)

 

 

Kakashi: Not so fast, young man. You may be a playful ninja who’s great at running away but you can’t use the same escaping tricks on me. Do you understand?

Ken: I wasn’t going to!! I just wanted to scratch my nose…

 

Eh, that voice…

 

[Knock Knock]

Honey, May I come in.

 

Mina: Oh! Ken-chan! You’re back! What are you guys playing?

Ken: Mom!

 

Ken: Help me, Dad will kill me!

Kakashi: He’s driving me crazy… Maybe I should tie him up so we can actually have a normal conversation for once.

Mina: Haha, you two always act like children. I missed you so much, my boy.

 

Ken: Dad always gives me so much work. Every time I come back from a mission, he already has another one waiting for me!

Mina: It’s because you’re so smart. Using that talent to help him is only natural.

 

Mina: Your dad spoiled you too much. That’s why you turned into such a lazy person. You only come home once a month, so I think it’s fair that your dad gives you so much work… Bento, Kakashi.

Ken: Come on… You’re helping Dad with the complaining now?

Kakashi: Ken gets this habit from you.

 

Ken: I wasn’t playing around. I’m exploring the world. The reason I finish my missions so quickly is because I know the landscapes. Plus, I’m always strengthening relations with other villages.

Mina: Oi! You’re getting heavy! You’re not a kid anymore.

 

Kakashi: Or to put it another way—you finish your missions quickly, then wander off to flirt with girls instead of rushing back to the village because you’re too lazy to take on new assignments. Am I wrong?

Ken: Wait… Have you been spying on me this whole time?! I already come home every month like I promised!

 

Kakashi: Ken, you’re smart. Every time you take on a mission, you find the best solution to complete it without a scratch. That’s exactly why I need your help. You’ve been away for over two years, and while you were gone, I handled everything on my own. Do you have any idea how much work that was?

 

Kakashi: But I don’t want to force you. I can always hand it over to another Chunin. I just want to get all the work out of the way so we can actually spend some time together while you’re in the Leaf. It’s rare for the three of us to be in one place.

 

Kakashi: Then how about, just this once, we all go to the same restaurant for dinner tonight?

Mina: Oh, that’s a great idea!

 

Ken: Actually, I came back this time planning to stay in the village for a while—to help you out until you step down as Hokage.

 

Mina: Eh? Are you serious? You’re really going to stay here from now on?

Ken: …Yes.

 

Ken: If you promise that once you step down, we’ll go on a long trip together, I’ll help you clear all your work.

 

 

Kakashi: Of course! I promise!

 

 

 

 

 

Chunin: Excuse me, Hokage-sama.

Kakashi: Come in.

 

Kakashi: Go ahead and report the situation.

 

Chūnin: We broke through the enemy hideout and rescued all the hostages, but a few of them managed to escape. We split into teams and searched for several days, but we couldn’t track them down. So, we decided to return and report to you first.

Kakashi: Understood. I’ll have other units continue the pursuit. You all should get some rest.

Chūnin: Yes, sir!

 

 

Kakashi: What’s wrong?

Tsukune: Uh…

 

Tsukune: N–nothing…excuse me.

 

Kakashi: ……

 

Ken: Dad, I’ve finished these documents.

Kakashi: Why don’t you walk through the door properly, kid?

 

Kakashi: Hey, Ken…

Ken: Yes?

 

Kakashi: Your friends have started taking on big team missions. Don’t you want to join them?

Ken: No way. You know my skills are terrible. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone.

Kakashi: What are you talking about?

 

Ken: So, what should I do next? If there’s nothing else, I’ll head home and keep playing games.

 

 

 

Tsukune: Excuse me again, Hokage-sama!

 

Kakashi: What’s wrong, Tsukune?

Tsukune: I know I’ve asked this many times, but…

 

Tsukune: Ken, he really hasn’t said anything about us?

 

Tsukune: And he’ll be back soon, right? Anyway, he should be at Naruto-sensei’s Hokage ceremony, right?

 

Kakashi: Uh…

 

 

[The day Naruto was appointed Hokage]

 

 

 

Ken: Haha, that’s awesome, Naruto-nii chan! 

 

 

 

Ken: …It’s not that I don’t want to see my friends, but if I were still here, I’d have to join their team, and we wouldn’t be as lucky as we were that day. This is the best way.

 

Ken: I always do my best, so I won’t regret it later if I don’t give it my all.

 

Ken: But now… where did things go wrong?

 

 

 

103 Page