"Today's training is over. It's already late, everyone should head back." Teacher Mokgetsu said warmly.
By this time, it was already 7 PM, and the sky had turned dark.
"Um, goodbye Teacher Mokgetsu." Obito said excitedly as he bid farewell to Mokgetsu.
"Goodbye Teacher Mokgetsu." Shisui also said goodbye to Mokgetsu.
"Shisui, I'm not going back with you today. Rin and I have some matters to attend to, you should head back alone." Obito said to Shisui.
If he was going to surprise Shisui, then of course they wouldn't head back together.
"Alright, I'll head back alone then." Shisui nodded, his expression unchanged.
After bidding farewell to everyone, Shisui walked alone in the direction of home.
The moon on October 19th was also full, and in the moonlight, Shisui's shadow stretched longer and longer, alongside the nearby trees, making it seem not so lonely.
"Just like usual..." Shisui reflected on the day, realizing it was no different from any other.
Thinking carefully, is the day of one's birth truly that special and worth celebrating?
For a ninja, isn't the day of mastering a powerful ninjutsu more worth commemorating?
After walking out of the Southern Border Forest, Shisui gradually entered the main city. The number of people around him gradually increased.
Even though it was wartime, the conflicting sides had not yet exerted full force, so Konoha wasn't too affected. The main city remained prosperous, despite being nighttime, the streets were still crowded, and various shops were brightly lit.
"Be good, don't cry. I'll buy you a toy for your birthday."
The child who had been crying for reasons unknown quickly broke into a smile after receiving comfort from his mother.
"Dad, I want to eat that!"
"No way, you just finished dinner."
"But I really want to eat it."
"Alright, but only one."
A child, upon seeing the alluring aroma of the fried food on the street, couldn't help but plead with his parents.
Some parents couldn't resist their child's pure, imploring face, while others managed through various techniques to get their child to voluntarily give up.
"That's too expensive, we're too poor to afford it."
"If you eat this, you'll be taken away by the legendary Uchiha Madara at night."
Hearing this, Shisui felt somewhat odd. Apparently, his ancestor had already reached the level of scaring children into silence at night.
Curious as to why so many kids would want to try it, Shisui bought a fried meat pie and took a bite.
To be honest, from the first bite, Shisui only felt it was ordinary, a far cry from the tempura made by Mokgetsu.
Not wanting to waste food, Shisui finished the entire thing.
As Shisui gradually approached the Uchiha's clan grounds, the surroundings grew quiet again.
Approaching home, Shisui felt a sense of relief that today had finally passed.
Although he knew Mokgetsu couldn't possibly celebrate his birthday, since he never told Mokgetsu when it was.
Yet, he couldn't help but hold a sliver of expectation, hoping the mysterious and powerful Teacher Mokgetsu would somehow know his birthday without him saying.
Honestly, Shisui slightly disliked himself for such thoughts, thinking that if it were Obito, he'd have happily and directly told Mokgetsu his birthday was coming up.
Since he didn't tell the other party, why hold on to expectations? Isn't it wishful thinking of something impossible?
"Shisui, you must learn from your grandfather, Uchiha Kagami, and become a strong and brave ninja inheriting the Will of Fire."
Shisui recalled what his uncle once told him, realizing his recent thoughts clearly didn't count as strong, even though he was just a six-year-old orphan.
"Don't overthink, just strengthen your skills. Let's practice the breathing technique for another two hours later." Shisui thought to himself.
In the ninja world, strength speaks volumes, and no amount of thought has value without strength.
Shisui skillfully reached his home, which appeared pitch-black from the outside.
After all, there was no one home, so if the lights were on, it would indeed be strange.
Though it was pitch-black, it was his home, and as soon as he stepped inside, without turning on the lights, Shisui keenly noticed something was off, some extra items seemed to be present.
He quietly took out a kunai from his ninja pouch, altered his breathing rhythm, and squinted his eyes, observing his surroundings.
Suddenly, the lights came on, and the blinding white light from the lamp turned the once dark room bright.
"Shisui, happy birthday!"
Shisui, with a kunai prepared for battle, stared dumbfounded at Mokgetsu, Obito, and the others who suddenly appeared, and with a clatter, the kunai fell to the ground.
"Shisui, happy birthday." Mokgetsu warmly congratulated.
"Sorry, we meant to surprise you; it seems it was more startling than expected." Mokgetsu appeared apologetic.
"Hehe, looks like even you can show that kind of expression, Shisui." Obito chuckled, looking at the wide-eyed, bewildered Shisui, regretting not having a camera to capture the moment.
"Shisui, happy birthday, your youth is constantly progressing." Might Guy gave a thumbs up to celebrate Shisui.
Shisui glanced around his home, observing the joyful decorations all around, feeling an indescribable joy.
As disappointed as he was along the way, Shisui was now equally happy.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, how did you know it was my birthday today?" Shisui couldn't help but smile, then asked.
Though he was excited, he was genuinely curious how Mokgetsu knew his birthday, surely not by asking his uncle?