In the deepest part of the ocean.
Right now, Kōmei Uzumaki was still digesting what he'd just seen. Half-buried in the mud was a giant clam thirty-odd meters long and more than ten meters tall.
You call this a clam? What clam grows that big?
More importantly… "Father, I'm back did you miss me?"
Hmph!
"Yahiko!"
Yahiko, who'd been worrying about the Shinkai, turned when he heard Kōmei call.
"You jerk!"
Yahiko: "…"
"Hey, what are you saying? Kōmei, you can't ruin my image in front of Otō-san!"
He swam over, grabbed Kōmei's arm, turned to the Shinkai and grinned.
"Heh, Otō-san, let me introduce you. This is the friend who came with me actually, forget it, that's not important. What matters is that he can prove my dad is awesome."
Then he looked back at Kōmei: your cue.
Kōmei got the hint. He itched to string Yahiko up, but he knew what mattered. Namely… red pearls.
"Ahem, Senior Clam…"
"Shinkai."
"I know!" Kōmei muttered, then rephrased. "Senior Shinkai, I can prove Yahiko's father is a great, powerful, rich man."
He shut up and glanced at Yahiko: satisfied?
Yahiko understood perfectly. He flashed a hand signal and stepped forward.
"Heh, Otō-san, believe me now?"
"Mm."
At the Shinkai's yes, Yahiko practically glowed.
"Great! Then let's sign the contract. Otō-san, where's the Kuchiyose scroll?"
"Hold on one more condition."
"Ah~ what else?"
"I want you to take me out and show me the world."
"Ah~ after the contract I can summon you anywhere you want."
"Not the same. Kuchiyose is fleeting. This time I want to see it all even if I'm tricked again, at least I'll die chasing the dream."
For once, Yahiko dropped the grin and spoke seriously.
"Mm. I understand."
He turned to Kōmei, who was absent-mindedly poking a crab. Seeing Yahiko swim over, Kōmei asked hurriedly, "Well?"
Because the Shinkai spoke only in their minds, Kōmei had no idea what had been said.
"Er… tiny snag might need your help."
"More help? What now prove your mum's awesome too?"
"Er… no need."
"Then what?"
"Er… any chance you can tie him up with Kongō Fūsa and drag him back to camp?"
Kōmei stared at the giant crab under the Shinkai. "You mean that crab?"
"No!"
"Hey, hey don't swim off!"
Yahiko grabbed Kōmei, who was already heading up.
"Relax you won't be dragging him alone. You've got the chains, people on shore just have to pull."
"Easy for you to say. That clam's huge tying it up will cost tons of Chakra. You know how exhausting it is to bear eight thousand jin under all that water pressure? Kōan's 'I do' is one step away are you really going to quit now?"
"Risk it and a bike becomes a motorbike!"
[Ding! Yahiko the Life-Coach is online!]
"Then… I'll try?"
Hearing Kōmei Uzumaki's words, Yahiko clenched his right hand, thumped his chest, and pointed at Kōmei.
"Trust your brother he'd never do you wrong."
..."Ready?"
"Ready!"
Seeing Kōmei wrap the Shinkai in two coils of Kongō Fūsa and flash him an OK sign, Yahiko swam over to the rope. He gripped it and yanked three hard pulls, telling the shore crew to haul in.
Onshore, under some clever Ninjutsu, the beach had already returned to normal. But the fishing rod was now being watched by Ebizō.
After casting, Might Duy released the Hachimon and led the other Kappa off to train on the sea cliffs. Normal training, of course. Casting and retrieving he was in his element. Not that Duy did it all, his job was the casting. Retrieving was the medics' job. After all, how much strength does it take to reel in? It's not like playing a fish Kappa come back on their own.
So why was Ebizō watching Kōmei's rod? Mainly because he was bored. Ever since his big sister arrived, the two women had been chatting nonstop, leaving him no room to speak. So he wandered over to check the rod, he liked fishing anyway might as well imagine he was fishing now. And maybe figure out what to do about this marriage proposal what a headache!
Right then the rod gave three deliberate twitches. At that, Ebizō perked up. If he remembered right, that meant... a catch no, time to haul no, pull up.
"Heh, since I'm stuck worrying, might as well see what it feels like to 'land' a person."
He gripped the rod and yanked hard. ...Nothing budged. That only excited him more.
"Oh-ho! Trying to give the old man a real fishing experience on purpose? Fine! Let's see if decades of skill can't outdo some rookie! Up we go!"
Ebizō dropped into a horse stance, unified waist and arm, and heaved. Still no movement.
"Huh snagged on the bottom?"
He summoned three Kage Bunshin, and all four pulled together.
"Again heave!"
Four crimson faces, eight bulging eyes, veins popping.
Pop! Pop! Pop! three sharp bursts. His three clones had yanked themselves apart. Still no response.
"Hah won't beat the old man!"
He planted the rod and dashed off. Soon a truck backed in until its hitch kissed the rod butt. With the line secured to the tail hook, Ebizō climbed back in and floored the accelerator.
Gravel flew yet the truck didn't budge. Three seconds later it even rolled back a hair, and Ebizō, watching through the rear window, turned dead serious.
"Heh strong kid, aren't you?"
He left one clone on the gas while he leapt out, grabbed the hawser, and started a tug-of-war with whoever was down there.
"Good lad! Knowing I'm worried sick, you play the fish to cheer me up I get it! One... two... three pull! Easy on the brakes let him run a bit! Hit the gas keep revving!"
Ebizō's shouts carried down the beach, catching Chiyo's ear. She turned to see what her fool brother was up to. The next second she gasped and sprinted over.
"Ah Ebizō! Let go that signal means let go!"
"Ah!" At his sister's yell he released the rod, hands up in innocent surrender. "Sis... he should still be alive, right?"
"Sh-should be... but it's close!"
Would you like me to translate the moment Kōmei and the giant clam are finally hauled onto the beach?