Time quietly slipped by for more than half a month. Higashino Makoto meticulously carried out his own training and study plan, only occasionally going downstairs to stroll around the village, enjoy the scenery, and relax his mood a little.
After all, visiting famous scenic spots and eating a bowl of the renowned Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku was also one of the great pleasures of coming to the Naruto world.
Konohagakure was the same as ever. The villagers lived their daily lives, the ninjas each went about their own duties, and there was no sense of tension—no signs yet of an impending ninja war.
Higashino Makoto also basically had no interaction with children of the same age in the village.
This seemed like an abnormal childhood, but he did not mind. In his previous life, his childhood had actually been quite good, with no psychological trauma that needed to be made up for.
Having lived again, he devoted almost all of his time to his own efforts.
On this day, Higashino Makoto, as usual, got up early to train at the training ground, then returned home to eat and study.
Higashino Megumi generally worked at the hospital until evening before coming home, so she would prepare the meals in the morning and put them in the refrigerator. Higashino Makoto only needed to take them out and heat them up at mealtimes.
In fact, Higashino Makoto had said that he could cook for himself, but Higashino Megumi insisted on doing it this way, giving it the nice-sounding reason that she could not be deprived of the joy of being a mother.
In response, Higashino Makoto did not persist, and it had been like this for the past two years.
It was just that today was a bit unexpected.
When Higashino Makoto finished his morning studies and prepared to eat lunch, he opened the refrigerator and discovered that there was only enough food for a single meal inside, with the rest being ingredients.
Had his mother forgotten?
As a Medical Special Jōnin, Higashino Megumi naturally could not have made such a mistake.
Higashino Makoto glanced at the calendar on the wall and quickly guessed the reason.
At a little past seven in the evening, a sudden knock sounded outside the house.
Higashino Makoto put down the scroll in his hand, stood up, and went to open the front door. Standing outside was a young man of tall build and ordinary appearance, with black hair tied into a half-high short ponytail.
The man carried a ninjatō on his back and wore Konohagakure's standard green flak jacket, not very clean, with the look of someone travel-worn and dusty.
When he saw Higashino Makoto opening the door, his serious expression immediately turned into a sunny smile. He raised his right hand in a thumbs-up, a flash of light glinting across his bright white teeth.
"Yo, kid—happy? Surprised?"
Higashino Makoto: "…"
"Hey, kid, what kind of expression is that?"
"Welcome home, Father."
"Don't keep such a straight face, kid. Can't you look a little happier and give me some sense of accomplishment?"
"Like this?" Higashino Makoto thought seriously for a moment, then replied, "Alright. If it's just that kind of request, I can satisfy you!"
After saying that, with a bang, he shut the front door again.
Outside, the man slapped a hand against his forehead, let out a long sigh, and helplessly knocked on the door once more.
The door opened again. Higashino Makoto wore an innocent, pleasantly surprised expression and said in astonishment, "Father, you're back!"
"There's absolutely no sense of accomplishment anymore, hey." Higashino Jirō said expressionlessly, then punched Higashino Makoto on the head. "What an unlovable son."
"What a hard-to-please father."
Higashino Jirō was not surprised by this response, as if he were already used to it. He walked straight into the house and asked curiously, "Makoto, you seemed to know I'd be back today?"
"Mm, more or less."
"Did your mother tell you?"
"She didn't say anything. I guessed."
"Oh? Then tell me your basis."
"First, today is March 25. Second, based on the timing pattern of the missions you've carried out over the past year, I figured there was a high probability you'd get home today."
"Still as smart and sharp as ever, Makoto." Higashino Jirō gave his son an appreciative look, then suddenly thought of another question. "Did you also guess what mission I was carrying out?"
"More or less."
"Oh my, oh my—beyond Dad's expectations." Higashino Jirō happily rubbed Higashino Makoto's head. "Well then, I'll go wash up first. Your mother should be back soon as well."
Higashino Makoto watched the young man walk toward the bathroom, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
This was his biological father in the Naruto world—Higashino Jirō.
As for what mission he had been carrying out, Higashino Makoto really could guess it.
It was most likely a border patrol mission.
Aside from ANBU personnel, ordinary ninjas' routine in-village duties were like clocking in for work and did not require leaving home. Client-commissioned missions outside the village, on the other hand, varied in duration and had no fixed pattern.
Only this kind of border garrison duty had standardized rotation periods.
Although no war had broken out at present, the borders were not safe. Combining what Higashino Makoto knew from online Naruto information in his previous life, he understood that the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars were essentially continuous, that the so-called peace between them was not truly peaceful, and that border frictions had always existed. After coming to this world, he had also confirmed this situation from his parents.
Apart from Kirigakure, Konohagakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure all maintained considerable troop deployments along their borders with one another. At this point, only a single fuse was missing before war would erupt.
Higashino Makoto knew this was waiting for a sacrificial banner to be raised—yes, it was talking about you, a certain strongest Third Kazekage.
And the regular main force stationed at the borders was primarily made up of civilian ninjas like those from his family.
When Higashino Megumi returned home, she was carrying several large boxes.
Very quickly, the table was filled with food and a birthday cake.
The lights were turned off, and the candles were lit.
After Higashino Makoto finished making his wish and blew out the candles, the lights came back on.
"Makoto, happy birthday!"
"Thank you—thank you both, Father, Mother!"
Today was Higashino Makoto's fourth birthday. Looking at his young parents in front of him, he felt genuinely happy.
His soul age was already forty. He had long since passed the age of hot-blooded idealism and had neither much interest nor the ability to pursue ninja-world peace or change the tragedies of the original story's characters.
But this complete and happy family was his spiritual harbor in this world, an existence that had to be protected.
So the thanks he had just given were very sincere, without his usual bit of mischief.
Higashino Jirō took a sip of wine and sighed. "Our Makoto is good in every way, just a bit too precocious—no friends at all. Even on his birthday, there aren't any same-age friends coming to celebrate."
Higashino Megumi nodded in agreement. "He probably thinks those little kids are too childish. After all, he's not even willing to go to preschool."
"There will be," Higashino Makoto could only say this much. "Once I attend the Ninja Academy, there will be."
Konohagakure did have preschools, similar to kindergartens, and there was more than one. They were generally set up for children from civilian families, especially when some parents were busy with work and had no time to look after their children.
There would also be many children from small and medium ninja clans inside, such as the Yamanaka and Nara—those aligned with the Hokage faction.
As for traditional large clans with sizable populations, like the Uchiha and the Hyūga, the preschool education of children of appropriate age was all completed within their clans.
The preschools established by Konohagakure generally allowed enrollment from the age of three. In addition to providing basic introductory education, they also bore the responsibility of screening students for the Ninja Academy.
After all, not every child had the talent to become a ninja. Many observations began even before enrollment; otherwise, if someone studied for six years and still could not extract chakra, would that not be a waste of their own time and the village's educational resources?
"Makoto, this is Mom's gift for you!"
Higashino Megumi took out a brand-new leg-mounted ninja tool pouch.
"Thank you, Mom!"
Higashino Makoto accepted it with a smile, without ceremony. He already had two ninja tool pouches, though those were waist-mounted.
"Here—this is my gift."
Higashino Jirō took out a short blade and handed it over.
After taking it, Higashino Makoto drew it to take a look. It was an entirely black, straight short blade, similar to standard ANBU issue.
Unlike Kumogakure ninjas, in Konohagakure—aside from clans like the Gekkō family that specialized in sword techniques—not many ninjas used long tachi.
That was not a problem. The length was suitable for his age. The problem was that this was a wooden sword. Although it felt solidly weighted in the hand and looked densely made—not something that would break with a single chop—it was still made of wood.
Higashino Makoto looked at his father with an expressionless face.
"What are you looking at, kid? Are you dissatisfied with something? This is made from Black Ironwood of the Land of Iron. It's hard in texture and perfect for practice. Don't tell me you want a real blade? That would be far too dangerous for you right now."
"Your father is right. It's still too early to want a real blade."
"No, I'm very satisfied. Thank you, Father." After expressing his thanks, Higashino Makoto continued, "What I want to say is that you should teach me how to extract chakra."
There were many books and scrolls in the Higashino family's study, but they were all basic materials and theory. There was no chakra extraction method, and certainly no ninjutsu scrolls.
Recklessly extracting chakra or practicing ninjutsu without guidance was extremely dangerous. Obviously, the couple had thought of this long ago and had put all such materials away.
Hearing this, the husband and wife exchanged glances. They had originally intended to refuse, planning to begin instruction a year later.
But thinking of their son's precociousness, and recalling that similarly precocious genius in the village years ago—who graduated from the Ninja Academy at five and became a chūnin at six—they ultimately made a decision.
Higashino Jirō nodded seriously. "Alright."
Joy surged in Higashino Makoto's heart. "Yes! Finally, I'm about to take the most important step of my ninja career."
Then he saw his father hand him a key. "On the condition that you can find them."
Higashino Makoto: "…"
At this point, he might as well eat first.