Ken the Bounty Hunter EP. 1: The legacy.

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This story plays in an alternative universe where Ken grew up without knowing who his father is. He is an unaffiliated mercenary ninja.

Corrected English translation by Isukeuchihaa

Corrected English translation by steviekins96

 

animation soon…

 

Ken: I finally found you, Hatake Kakashi.

 

Ken: As expected. After he leaves his position, there will be no more protection.

[Ken, unaffiliated ninja, 16 years old]

 

 

 

Ken: Eh, you really gave me a lot. Thanks. You’re beautiful… and kind, too.

Girl: Aww, you’re sweet! Come back anytime, okay?

Ken: Of course—I will.

Girl 1: Are you a tourist? We could show you around, if you want?

Ken: Wow, that’s really kind of you. Thanks a lot!

 

 

Kakashi: I’m curious… what’s a tourist like you doing buzzing around me? This can’t be a coincidence, can it?

 

Ken: What’s your deal? Give me back my camera! Why would I follow you?

Kakashi: That’s what I’m wondering. Mind showing me the picture you took?

Ken: Are you out of your mind? That’s rude!

 

Ken: I said give it back!

 

Kakashi: Sorry, looks like it was a misunderstanding.

Ken: I told you already!

 

Kakashi: Why is a tourist like you, with a weapon, following me around? I’m curious.

 

Ken: What are you talking about? How could I bring a weapon into Konoha? I’m not even a ninja.

Kakashi: Then what’s under your hoodie? Looks like a sword to me.

 

Ken: (This old man..!)

 

 

 

Kakashi: What?! An explosive tag? When did he put this on me?!

 

Villager: Explosion!!?

Villager: What happened!!?

 

 

 

 

 

Kakashi: Stop!

 

Ken: Eh, he’s not following me?

 

 

 

Ken: It hurts! This old man is moving way too fast.

 

Ken: Wait, I’m sorry! Please forgive me! I’m just here to test your skills—don’t go all out on me. I’m just a cute kid.

Kakashi: You think saying that will make everything just go away? Get up!

 

 

Ken: Alright~

 

 

 

Kakashi: A trap!!?

 

 

Kakashi: This kid set a two-step trap?!

 

 

 

Ken: Come on, I almost had him. This old man’s way too quick.

 

Kakashi: This kid… Everything’s going according to his plan. He let me get close on purpose, giving him the chance to plant an explosive tag on me without me noticing, and to lure me into his trap. How long has he been planning this?

 

Kakashi: We’ve never held grudges against each other. Why do you want to kill me? Can you give me a reason?

Ken: If I told you, would you be willing to die for me?

Kakashi: Probably not. I can’t do that.

 

Ken: Then don’t ask.

 

 

Kakashi: That short sword!? Where did you get it?

Ken: Hmm, you know about it?

Kakashi: Give it to me!

Ken: Eh, I’m guessing it’s worth a pretty good price?

 

Ken: If you want it, come and get it.

 

Kakashi: Yeah, I will.

Ken: Wow!

 

[Purple Electricity]

 

[Lightning Mesh]

 

 

 

 

 

Ken: This old man’s really good at dodging.

 

Kakashi: Where did he go?

 

 

Kakashi: Another trap!?

 

 

Kakashi: …Or is it?

 

 

Kakashi: (Underground!?)

 

 

 

Ken: (This old man… He stumbled into my trap, but still managed to dodge my attack.)

 

Kakashi: This kid’s not bad at all. Plus, he’s sharp. I can’t afford to underestimate him.

 

Ken: This is crazy—this old man is awesome! I’ve never met anyone with this level of skill before!

Ken: Lightning Barrier!

 

 

 

 

Kakashi: His Lightning technique is so fast!

 

Kakashi: Earth Style: Multi Mud Wall!

 

 

Ken: Finished.

 

 

 

Kakashi: Your lightning barrier’s not bad at all. It’s even able to pierce my earthen walls.

 

Kakashi: But it still has a weak point, you know?

 

Kakashi: Answer my question. Where did you get this sword?

Ken: Give it back!!

 

Kakashi: Get up!

Ken: Damn it!

 

 

Kakashi: (…I feel like I’ve seen his face before.)

 

 

Ken: Please… give me back that sword.

Kakashi: If I hand you over to the authorities for attempting to murder the Hokage, you’ll be sentenced to death. No matter what, you’ll never get it back.

 

Kakashi: We can settle this like adults. If you tell me where you got this sword, I won’t turn you over to the authorities. What do you think?

Ken: Fine, I’ll tell you! I bought it somewhere. I can find the trading info for you.

 

Kakashi: If you just bought it recently, why does it seem so important to you? Would you be willing to sell it to me?

Ken: I’m not selling it. It’s just… I’ve been using it for a long time. I don’t want to give it to anyone, that’s all.

 

Kakashi: You know, this sword used to be mine. I got it from my father.

Ken: !

[White Light Chakra Sabre]

 

Kakashi: I gave this sword to a girl over ten years ago.

 

Kakashi: Blue hair, red eyes. Have you seen her?

 

Kakashi: However, her face… it looks very similar to yours.

 

Ken: I’ve never seen a girl with the characteristics you described.

Kakashi: Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.

 

Ken: Hey, you said you’d let me go!?

Kakashi: I’ll let you go once I get the information I need. But since you keep lying to me, I’ll have to call in other ninjas to take you in for interrogation.

Ken: Wait! I’m not lying—I’m going to get you the intel!

Kakashi: I can’t risk letting someone as cunning as you go. I’d rather have my ninjas search for it later.

 

Ken: Shit! What should I do? That sword is my most important possession… It used to be his? How could that be?

 

Ken: (Wait, hold on. I need to keep a clear mind. This is a big deal, isn’t it?)

 

Ken: (No, no, no! I’ll think about this later. First, I need to get out of here before the other ninjas arrive.)

 

 

 

Kakashi: He’s gone!? How did he untie the rope!?

 

Ninja: Lord Six, we’ve checked everywhere. There’s no sign of him at all.

Kakashi: Expand the search to the border. He must have found a way to escape the village.

Ninja: Understood!

 

Ninja: We examined the rope you used to bind him. It had gunpowder on it. We think he used the gunpowder hidden in his gloves to cause a small explosion, burning and tearing the rope. He probably also injured his hand.

Kakashi: Got it

 

Ninja: You’re bleeding!? You told us the boy just stole from you!?

Kakashi: There’s nothing to worry about. It’s not that deep.

Ninja: But—

Kakashi: You can leave.

 

Ninja: Is he kidding? This boy caused the Sixth Hokage to get wounded? This isn’t just a simple robbery!

 

Ken: Damn… I managed to escape, but that old man still has the sword. What should I do now?

 

Ken: That sword… what’s the full story behind it?

 

 

Girl: I… I’m sorry. I saw you were hurt and got worried. You’re bleeding a lot… do you need help?

 

Ken: Eh… you’re the girl I met in the village. (Damn, I was so focused on the sword, I didn’t even notice someone was following me. Though… she doesn’t have any killing intent.)

Girl: I’m glad you remember me. What happened to you?

 

Girl: Let me help you treat that wound. My house is nearby—don’t be afraid.

 

Ken: (This is really strange… How come the villagers don’t know what happened? Shouldn’t there be a warrant out for me by now? Maybe they’re just trying to avoid causing a panic.)

 

Girl: Come this way.

Ken: Uh, y..yes…

 

 

Girl: Can you tell me what happened?

Ken: …….

 

Ken: This morning, I was walking through the village when a group of strangers approached me. They attacked me and took everything I had. Luckily, I managed to escape.

Girl: What? That’s awful! How could something like that happen here!?

Ken: I’m really scared… I didn’t think a big city like Konoha could be so dangerous.

 

Girl: I’ll take you to the police station so you can file a report. They need to catch those guys and make them pay for what they did.

Ken: I’d rather wait until my wound heals a bit. I don’t want to see anyone right now.

Girl: You must be really shaken… I’m so sorry. Please, stay here until you feel safe again.

 

Ken: Eh, really? Won’t your parents mind?

Girl: It’s just me and my mom. Don’t worry—she’s really kind.

Ken: Oh, thank you so much!

 

Ken: You’re so kind. I’m really lucky I met you. What’s your name?

Girl: My name’s Ami. What about you?

 

Ken: My name’s Ken. Nice to meet you.

Ami: Ken-san, nice to meet you too! Make yourself at home. You can stay here as long as you need.

Ken: Thank you so much. I’m sorry for causing trouble.

Ami: Don’t worry about it.

 

Ami’s Mom: Your name’s Ken, right? Welcome.

Ken: Hello, I’m really sorry to bother you.

Ami’s Mom: Oh, don’t worry! You can stay with us as long as you need. You’re as handsome as a celebrity.

Ken: Thank you so much. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.

 

Ami’s Mom: You’re such a good boy. You should rest until your hand heals.

Ken: Don’t worry, I’m really strong.

Ami’s Mom: Haha, you’re so cute. It would be wonderful if we had a cute boy like you in our house. Would you want to live here with us?

Ami: Oh my gosh, Mom! What are you saying?

Ken: Eh… can I?

Ami’s Mom: Of course! Hahaha.

 

Ken: Ami-chan, what are you doing? You’re so diligent. Let me help you.

Ami: Oh, but your hand still hurts.

Ken: Don’t worry, I still have the other one.

Ami: Oh, you don’t have to do that.

Ken: Come on, I want to.

Ami: Oh my, alright.

 

Ken: You live with just your mom? You two seem really close.

Ami: Yes, it’s just the two of us. I haven’t seen my dad since I was a kid.

Ken: Wow, we’re exactly the same.

Ami: Eh, really?

 

Ken: Hmm, I’ve lived with just my mom since I was born. I don’t know who my dad is. All I’ve had is my mom, who’s loved and taken care of me since I was a child. So, I’ll do everything I can to make her happy.

Ami: You’re such a good person.

Ken: Oh, I think we’re pretty alike.

Ami: I see.

 

 

 

Ninja: Please open the door. We are Konoha ninjas, and we need your cooperation to check a few things.

Ami’s Mother: Eh, ninjas? What’s going on?

 

Ken: (Shit! They followed me here? That was fast!)

Ami: Ninjas? What are they doing here?

 

Ami: Ken-san!?

 

 

Ken: Damn, can’t you just let me rest for one day?

 

Ninja: We’ve encountered a suspicious person here!

Ken: What? Why are there so many of them!?

 

Ken: Guess I’ll have to break through them!

 

Ami: Ken san, what happened? Why are you rushing out like this!?

Ken: Hey, why are you following me!?

 

Ninja: Lord Six. He’s here!

 

Ken: Back off, or this girl will definitely die!

 

Ami: K-Ken san, what’s going on? Are you the villain!

Ken: Sorry, but you shouldn’t be trusting strangers like this.

 

Ami: So everything you said was a lie? You don’t just live with your mother and take care of her?

 

Ken: Yes, I lied about everything.

 

Ken: Alright, everyone, get out of here!

 

Ami: Why did you do this!? I tried to help you!

Ken: Hey, what do you think you’re doing!?

 

Ken: Let go of it! It’s dangerous!

 

 

Ken: What are you doing? Back off! Do you want this girl to die!?

 

Kakashi: If you’re worried the kunai will cut her, then don’t hold it like that.

 

 

Ken: Damn it!

 

Ken: Back off! I won’t let you catch me. I won’t die here, I swear!

Kakashi: You won’t be killed just for trying to steal from me. Don’t worry.

Ken: What do you mean!?

 

Kakashi: Even though you haven’t committed a serious crime, I have to use so many ninjas to catch you. I know I won’t see you again if I let you escape today.

Ken: I haven’t committed a serious crime!?

 

Kakashi: Can you trust me? I just want to talk… just the two of us.

 

 

 

Kakashi: I returned your bag and your sword. Looks like this short sword is really important to you, isn’t it?

Ken: !

 

Kakashi Kakashi: I know you need to keep your personal information private, but just tell me—is the person who gave you this sword still alive?

 

Ken: …Yes, still alive.

Kakashi: Well, that’s a relief.

 

Ken: Why did you help me?

Kakashi: I don’t know…

 

Kakashi: I feel like the look in your eyes is exactly the same as mine from before. You’re a smart boy, but it seems like you’ve taken the wrong path.

Ken: …..

 

Kakashi: Can you tell me your name?

Ken: Ken… Just Ken.

Kakashi: Ken?

 

Ken: As you already know, the person who gave me this sword is my mom. I fixed it until it worked properly again.

Kakashi: I see…

 

Kakashi: What about your father?

Ken: I don’t know who my father is, and I never wanted to.

Kakashi: R-right.

 

Ken: How do you know my mom?

Kakashi: It’s a long story.

Ken: Well, you don’t have to tell me. I might get upset if I hear it.

Kakashi: ….. (He wants to know, but at the same time, he doesn’t.)

 

Ken: My mom is going to be really angry if she finds out what kind of mission I took. The Hokage’s bounty is high, you know? If I can kill you, I can take my mom somewhere better. We could finally have a real home.

 

Kakashi: You’re a good boy, but I don’t think your mom would be happy knowing how you got the money, you know?

Ken: I know. Up until now, I feel really stupid. This is the first time I’ve ever been cornered like this. If something happens to me, I don’t know what my mom would do. It’s just the two of us.

 

Ken: …I must be crazy, talking so much about myself to someone like you.

 

 

Kakashi: Well, that’s it… Maybe if you’re looking for a better place to live, Konoha could be the right place for you. I might not be able to pay off your bounty, but I promise I’ll help you with whatever I can.

 

Kakashi: Just think about my offer. But promise me you’ll come back here, alright?

 

Ken: Well, I promise.

Kakashi: I’ll trust you.

 

 

Ken: If I move here, are you going to tell me what my weak point in my lightning barrier is?

Kakashi: Alright, but only if you don’t try to kill me again.

Ken: I really don’t want to promise that.

Kakashi: Come on…

 

 

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