Nono's words carried a hint of solemnity. "This is all your hard-earned money, Kiyoshi. The orphanage is short on funds, but it's not so bad that you have to bear the burden."
"It's fine, I'm very capable. If this money is gone, I can earn more." Kiyoshi shook his head.
He also took out some pastries and handed them to Nono.
"Nono-sensei, try these. You probably haven't had them in a long time."
Nono looked at the dango in Kiyoshi's hand and fell into thought. Indeed, she hadn't eaten these in a long time. She wouldn't buy them herself. It was only when she was in Konoha that Kiyoshi would occasionally buy them for her. Now that she was at the orphanage, worrying about daily expenses, it was even more impossible to buy them.
"Kiyoshi, you are still young. Earning money now doesn't mean you'll always be able to earn it."
The ninja profession was unstable. Each mission had its pay, but success in one mission didn't guarantee success in the next. Once a mission failed, wasting effort was a minor matter; more often, it meant death or permanent disability.
Nono knew of a "Eternal Genin" named Kosuke Maruboshi. During the Second Hokage's reign, as a young man, he was too eager for success on a mission, rashly giving orders that led to the deaths of two comrades. Under the psychological shadow, he swore to remain a Genin forever as atonement.
Later, during the Third Hokage's reign, Maruboshi, in his middle age, unfortunately suffered a permanent disability to his left eye while on a mission.
This was a microcosm of the Ninja World. In fact, Maruboshi's strength was considered elite among Jonin.
As for actual Chunin and Genin, countless of them faded from the ninja profession, leaving behind lifelong sequelae.
To put it bluntly, if something unexpected happened to Kiyoshi, this money would only be enough for his own retirement.
As the Wandering Miko, Nono had traveled many places and seen many things. These examples were countless, so numerous that they became a norm.
"Isn't that the fate of a ninja?"
Far from being sentimental, Kiyoshi's eyes burned even brighter.
"It's precisely because of this that I want to try more things. After all, I don't know when I'll die, so I just want to experience more beauty while I'm alive."
Kiyoshi's words left Nono at a loss for how to refute them.
Live in the present?
For a ninja, especially a ninja in wartime, that was indeed how one should think.
"Don't say such inauspicious things."
Nono didn't even look at the money on the table, her gaze fixed on Kiyoshi. No matter what, Kiyoshi was her first disciple. This position naturally held some special significance.
Before him, she was the cold, top agent of Root's intelligence division. Kiyoshi happened to enter her life just as her human side began to grow, leaving more of a mark.
"Nono-sensei, after the next mission's reward arrives, I will continue to support the orphanage, because I don't want to see you looking worried."
"…You."
Nono felt both touched and guilty.
Touched that this child knew gratitude.
Guilty that she hadn't taught him well.
Perhaps Kiyoshi's impracticality was due to the influence of his childhood trauma.
The other children were fortunate to have everyone at the orphanage with them. Kiyoshi, an orphan, had to live alone in the Land of Lightning, relying on the kindness of strangers, and even when he came to Konoha, the Uchiha clan initially didn't welcome him much.
"Nono-sensei… have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"No." Nono gently shook her head.
She hadn't even had a fake identity for spy missions. She always worked alone, and the only identity she could use was that of a single person.
"A ninja's life is so short, Nono-sensei, why don't you try?"
"I… try who?" Nono frowned slightly.
Then she understood. Kiyoshi's gaze was constantly sweeping over her. Come to think of it, their teacher-student relationship was never formally established. Their interactions were more like friends.
The only thing that stood between them was age, she was much older than Kiyoshi.
"Just once, just let me experience it."
In the room where only the two of them were present, the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat strange.
Whoosh…
A stack of money fell from the table to the floor, the binding string broke, and the banknotes scattered everywhere.
After repeated deliberation, consideration, and continuous struggle and hesitation.
Nono sighed deeply.
What one cannot obtain in youth will torment them for a lifetime. A child lacking love will spend a lifetime searching for it, and what's more, the Uchiha are a clan of love. It was understandable that Kiyoshi would inadvertently stray down the wrong path.
She was the one who made the mistake. She hadn't fulfilled her proper responsibility. Perhaps if Kiyoshi obtained what he desired, he would realize it was nothing special. Just like a child's nature, always preferring novelty.
She needed to provide Kiyoshi with proper guidance.
Starting with a correct understanding of their relationship.
She squatted down.
It seemed to be to pick up the scattered money on the floor, or perhaps the broken string?
The midday sun gradually intensified, and the warm light cast from the window became scorching.
The bright white sunlight cast a large area of light and shadow. In the corners untouched by the sunlight, in the shadows, a beast's figure vaguely descended. It was towering and ferocious, unrivaled.
…
"Isn't director coming out to eat?"
"Perhaps she finished her discussion with her disciple and went to rest early."
"That must be it."
The old caretaker, and a group of children began to clear the dishes.
Nono sometimes just slept face down on her office desk because she was too tired.
"Alright, you all go back to sleep quickly."
After tidying up, the caretaker called out to the children.
The ninjas in the tent area had their own people to look after them. There wasn't much the orphanage could do, only help with odd jobs, as they were, after all, just a group of young children. Their main reliance was still on Nono for medical treatment.
Today, with the arrival of Nono's disciple, many people had been treated, greatly reducing the pressure.
"Understood." Kabuto nodded.
He followed Urushi and a group of friends to the sleeping room.
"Urushi, did you hear any swallowing sounds?" Kabuto's ears twitched slightly.
His talent in Chakra control was excellent. At the same age, the Chakra he extracted was much better than other children's. Therefore, his body was also better than others, and he vaguely heard some sounds coming from somewhere. It was like a traveler, parched in the middle of summer, grabbing an ice pop and devouring it to cool down.
"Did I?" Urushi was stunned.
"Hey, did you guys hear anything?" Urushi asked the others.
"Sounds? What sounds?"
"Kabuto, are you exhausted?"
No one else besides Kabuto heard anything.
'Am I really just too tired?' Kabuto thought to himself.
Inside the office.
Kiyoshi looked up and gazed into the distance, where the fierce sun illuminated the mountains, as if plating them with a golden glow.
His ocular power was constantly increasing. It was like a wide river, with new tributaries constantly flowing into it, adding more water to the river.
In this state, Kiyoshi's thoughts became more active. Some difficult points that he hadn't understood before now became clear.
'Has the progress reached 99%?'
Kiyoshi closed the trait panel.
Tonight, perhaps, the Fire Release Jonin trait could reach one hundred percent.
Other basic traits, such as Swordsmanship Jonin, Wind Release Jonin, and Earth Release Jonin, all had progress bars exceeding 70%.
Kiyoshi categorized these traits obtained through profession as "Basic," and traits that required triggering certain events as "Special."
Thinking of this, he looked down at Nono. Nono's golden hair, under her nun's hat, cascaded down her back, smooth and soft. Kiyoshi couldn't help but caress it a few more times, his fingertips entwined in her hair.