Back home, Chōza's father crept quietly into the bedroom, moving on tiptoe as he carefully opened the wardrobe to reveal a hidden safe.
With a soft click, the door swung open, exposing more than a dozen neatly arranged scrolls, each about the length of an arm.
Labels in bold brushstrokes marked them: "Recipes," "Secret Techniques," "Property Deeds," and more.
Staring at this trove of family secrets, Chōza's father hesitated.
His own son could learn Rinjin's secret jutsu without a second thought, but if they just sat back and took without giving...
That wasn't right.
Even without Shikaku's reminder, he'd already planned to prepare a proper gift for Rinjin as thanks.
The three Ino-Shika-Chō clans had always thrived together, and by Chōza's generation, this tradition ran deep.
They weren't as mighty as the Hyūga or Uchiha, but respect and courtesy were non-negotiable.
After a meeting of the three fathers, they'd decided: the Earring Oath would be witnessed by the Sarutobi clan, but the teacher's gift—well, that was their own responsibility.
They'd explain everything in person when they visited Rinjin with their presents.
But as Chōza's father surveyed the safe, he found himself in a bind.
First, the secret family barbecue seasoning recipe—absolutely out of the question as a gift.
That was the clan's lifeblood! Their entire big-eating family depended on the barbecue shop.
Then there were the family secret techniques:
Expansion Jutsu, Super Expansion Jutsu, Partial Expansion Jutsu...
No way he could give those away either.
Even if others had taught his son secret jutsu, handing over the Akimichi's own core techniques just wasn't done.
It was only human nature—these were the foundations of their clan.
As he wrestled with his dilemma, suddenly, a massive hand wrapped in gray mist materialized from nowhere, gently brushing the inside wall of the safe.
Behind him, Rinjin stood up with a sly grin, vanishing as quietly as he'd appeared.
Expansion Jutsu!
Heh—I'll just take that!
...
As night deepened, Rinjin lounged in his courtyard, rolling an arm-length scroll in his hands, a look of pure satisfaction on his face.
He'd set his sights on the Akimichi clan's secret techniques ever since he started teaching Chōza the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
For him, piloting a Gundam had always been a dream.
But chakra limitations and blood toxicity had nearly killed that dream.
Add in his reluctance to overwork his beloved cats, and the hope of "going full Gundam" seemed all but gone.
So, a wild idea had taken root:
If I can't pilot a Gundam, then I'll become Ultraman!
Super Expansion Jutsu—activate! Power-Type Tiga!
Lightning Release Chakra Mode—activate! Speed-Type Tiga!
Holy sh*t!
I'm unstoppable!
When the time comes, won't I be able to smack the Gedo Statue until it's black and blue?
And those puny Susanoo users—can they turn into light? I don't think so!
The thought made Rinjin grin so wide his cheeks hurt.
Tomorrow, he'd hit up the tailor for a custom Tiga suit, and maybe get himself a Spark Lens too.
Perfect!
When the Fourth Great Ninja War rolls around, he'd give Madara and the Gedo Statue a taste of reality!
Wait—
Something was still missing!
He didn't know how to go "pew pew pew" and fire a Zeperion Ray!
What now?
Dust Release?
Iwagakure?
At that, Rinjin couldn't help but picture Ōnoki and his giant nose.
Alright, time to pay him a visit—maybe dig up the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, while he's at it.
Just as he was plotting a scouting trip to Iwagakure, he suddenly froze.
Wait, what? Why is Black Zetsu in Iwagakure?
Old man Ōnoki's genjutsu resistance is off the charts!
What's he doing there—learning to drive an excavator?
But before Rinjin could investigate further, a strange switch flipped in his mind.
In Kirigakure, the Flying Thunder God formula he'd left for Meika had just been destroyed!
...
Kirigakure, several hours earlier.
Meika finished work and headed home as usual.
A year and a half ago, his modest home—maybe seventy square meters—had welcomed a tiny angel.
Since then, every day after work, his first thought was to rush home.
Beautiful wife, adorable daughter—why would he want to waste time at some izakaya with a bunch of single guys?
But today, the usual aroma of home-cooked food was missing. The house was dark, stripped of its usual warmth.
He slipped off his shoes and flicked on the living room light.
Only then did he see his wife sitting on the sofa, cradling their year-old daughter.
"What's wrong? Why didn't you turn on the lights?" he asked.
At his voice, his wife snapped out of her daze, turning to him with a forced smile.
"No… nothing. Just a little tired. Wanted to rest for a bit."
The harsh light made their daughter blink sleepily awake.
When she saw her father, her face instantly broke into a radiant smile, showing off two tiny front teeth.
"Daddy, hug!" she chirped.
Meika's face melted with affection. He hurried over, scooping his chubby daughter into his arms.
"Were you a good girl today?"
"Good!" the little girl replied, beaming.
Off to the side, his wife watched the scene, her eyes brimming with warmth and something deeper—an unspoken longing.
Just as she was about to get up and start dinner, the front door suddenly exploded inward.
At the same time, the living room window shattered. Three masked figures leapt in through the broken glass.
Instinctively, Meika placed his daughter back in her mother's arms and shielded them behind him.
"Who are you?!"
"ANBU!" came the cold, clipped reply.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway, drawing closer.
Seconds later, a man in a bird-mask, cloaked head-to-toe in black, strode into the room.
"We've been waiting for you."
Meika's eyes went wide.
He recognized that mask—this was one of the ANBU directly protecting the Third Mizukage!
Narrowing his eyes, Meika's mind raced.
Had his cover been blown?
It shouldn't be—he'd passed every undercover check so far.
He didn't dare waste a second.
"ANBU-san, you must have the wrong person! I'm Meika, deputy squad leader of the village's Outer Defense Unit, Team 16.
This is my home—maybe you're looking for someone else?"
Sinister laughter echoed from behind the mask.
"No, Meika-san, we're not mistaken. We've been waiting for you. And also…"
The bird-masked ANBU's gaze slid past Meika to the woman behind him, who was feigning fear.
"…your wife."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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