Hirohiko's Gift

Keiko was a little thrown off. Her emotions had been worked up to this point, only for him to ask such everyday questions? I thought the village needed me to make some kind of sacrifice...

After composing herself, Morita Keiko answered, "It's actually been all right. It was a little difficult to adjust at first, but once I got used to it, it didn't feel so hard anymore. And I like children. Aiko is very sensible too. Sometimes, I even feel lucky that I have a child. Otherwise, I might not have had even the last shred of hope for living."

Next, Dada looked over Morita Keiko's questionnaire while asking several more questions, including bizarre things like what foods children aged one to seven should eat to ensure health and nutrition, and what precautions were necessary.

In the end, Morita Keiko came with questions and left with even more questions, only being told to keep an eye out for village notices over the next few days.

After Morita Keiko left, Dada wrote the word "excellent" on her file, then turned to Dodai beside him. "What do you think? So far, she may be the most suitable candidate."

Dodai nodded. "I trust your judgment, Young Master Dada."

"Why do I feel like Uncle Dodai's attitude toward me has changed over the past few days... Did I do something wrong?" Dada asked suspiciously.

It felt like the way this guy spoke to him was gradually becoming the way he spoke to Father... polite and formal...

"Not at all, Young Master Dada. That is merely your imagination." Dodai smiled, though the burning look in his eyes still made Dada feel awkward.

The other candidates Dada met afterward all had one problem or another. Some were overly obsessed with the ninja creed, at least as they understood it, making them unsuitable as educators. Others still harbored ambitions for the ninja path and might not be willing to remain at the Orphanage long-term.

Overall, Dada still favored Morita Keiko. One old employee at the Orphanage would be transferred away—though she had actually only worked there for a week—and another would likely be reassigned after completing the handover. By then, his plans for the Orphanage could finally get on track.

Sometimes, Dada felt there was no need for him to do all this. Wasn't being the Yotsuki Clan's second young master good enough? But as a transmigrator, he still could not suppress the urge to accomplish something. Since he had been reborn as the Raikage's son and had the means, naturally he had to give it a try.

It was not tiring anyway. He was still young, and he usually had nothing much to do.

The Orphanage reforms had already begun, and his plans had received preliminary approval. With Father's and Dodai's certain support, he was no longer some invisible little nobody in the village. He had gotten off to a good start.

We all had a bright future.

After finishing all that, Dada returned to the Yotsuki Clan Territory and spotted a familiar head of red hair at the entrance.

Uzumaki Hirohiko stood at the corner, staring blankly at the Yotsuki Clan's towering gates and plaque.

Uzumaki Hirohiko had come to play with Dada. Hirohiko valued Dada greatly as his first friend in Kumogakure, and the huge bag of candy Dada had given him earlier had earned praise from his whole family. His little sister had even cheered all night.

Though he did not have much money, Hirohiko felt he should return the favor. So he pestered his mother into making some gifts, then followed the address Dada had left behind. Yet the imposing grandeur of the Yotsuki Clan Territory overwhelmed him from afar. He did not dare go inside and could only stand blankly at the entrance.

"Did I come to the wrong place... Does Dada really live somewhere like this???"

Hirohiko's calves went weak. Having long struggled just to keep himself fed and clothed, the sight of such a grand estate made him feel as though his soul was being oppressed by something called money. Even his Chakra seemed to stagnate...

The return gift his mother had carefully made—two fish rice balls—now felt as heavy as two rocks in his hands...

Two little figures appeared in Hirohiko's mind. One said, "How about eating the rice balls yourself and pretending you were never here?"

The other little figure said, "Sounds good!"

Just as Hirohiko was about to slink home in disgrace, he turned and saw Dada returning with a group of people.

"Well, if it isn't Uzumaki Hirohiko. Did you come to play with me?" That conspicuous red hair was impossible to miss, and Dada greeted him happily.

"Ahaha, well, I was just passing by..." Hirohiko scratched the back of his head, his smile painfully fake.

Naturally, Dada was not about to let Hirohiko leave. He invited him home for dinner without giving him any chance to object. This tongue-tied, shy Uzumaki boy never found an opportunity to refuse, and he was basically dragged into the Yotsuki Clan Territory in a daze.

"What? Why is there a mountain inside the house...?"

"What? Why is there a tree in the hallway...?"

Along the way, Uzumaki Hirohiko witnessed one spectacle of wealth after another, gradually going from shock to numbness.

Dada led Hirohiko deeper into the clan territory, occasionally introducing things along the way. But judging by Hirohiko's expression, he was not listening carefully at all. Even if Dada told him the toilets in the Yotsuki Clan Territory were inlaid with gold, he would find it perfectly reasonable now.

As soon as they entered the clan territory, Dada had already sent someone to inform his mother that a friend was visiting today. So when he saw his mother, Satomi, at the dining table, Dada introduced him openly.

"Good evening, Mother. This is the friend I just made, Uzumaki Hirohiko. He has come as a guest."

Hirohiko immediately sprang up like a coiled spring, bowed ninety degrees, and shouted, "A-A-A... Auntie, hello! It's our first meeting! Please treat me kindly!"

Dada dug at his ear and said awkwardly, "Um, Mother isn't deaf. You don't need to be so loud."

"My deepest apologies, Auntie!" His voice was even louder this time.

"Don't be so nervous. I didn't know Dada would bring a friend home, so I was not prepared. I had the kitchen make a few more dishes at the last minute. I hope you like them."

Dada did not say anything else. At a time like this, he should not deliberately do anything extra. The more natural things were, the less nervous Hirohiko would be.

Hirohiko stared blankly at the exquisite and lavish dinner.

Satomi was also curious that Dada had actually brought a friend home. After all, Dada had never had friends his own age before. She asked a few simple questions, and Hirohiko answered honestly. She did not pry any further, only watching him gently.

Neither Dada nor his mother did anything unnecessary. They simply acted as normally as possible, and that approach was clearly correct. Hirohiko gradually became less nervous, drawn in by the delicious food on the table as he cautiously began to taste it.

It was roughly like this: one bite, his pupils widened; another bite, his pupils widened again.

Just when Uzumaki Hirohiko had finally managed to calm down, Third Raikage A returned.

Hirohiko's eyes went wide when he saw A wearing the Raikage's hat. Even though he had only been here for a few days, he still recognized it...

"Th-This... um... ah, I..."

Dada ignored Hirohiko and got down from the table. "Father, welcome back."

"F-F-Father!! Dada, you're the Raikage's son?!" Hirohiko looked utterly incredulous, even stammering as he spoke.

Dada smiled. "I never had the chance to mention it before. Besides, I can't exactly go around showing off that my father is the Raikage, can I...?"

Seeing that red hair, A understood at once. As the Raikage, he naturally knew about the Uzumaki remnant family that had come to the village.

Because of the Raikage's busy work, the family never needed to wait specifically for him before eating. So today, he naturally took a seat at the dining table and began his meal.

In the end, A's appearance completely shattered Uzumaki Hirohiko's sanity. From the moment A sat down at the table, Uzumaki Hirohiko did not take another bite...

Dada tried persuading him a few times, but Hirohiko repeatedly stuck his chopsticks into his own nostrils. He could only give up.

After finishing his meal, A wiped his mouth and said, "Dada, come to the Training Ground later. I want to assess your recent training progress."

After a pause, A added, "You too, red-haired brat."

"Ah? Y-Yes!" Hirohiko quickly responded.

Dada merely curled his lip. If I'd known, I wouldn't have eaten so much...