Parents

"What rank?"

"A-rank!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued:

"The original plan was for five jonin to lead twenty chunin and sixty genin. Since you've returned from training, I'll give you another spot. Remember not to let your guard down—an ambush could come at any time."

"This will be your first mission as a jonin."

After leaving the Hokage Building and confirming his upcoming mission, Yūske found himself looking forward to it.

The situation on the Front Lines was urgent, and supplies desperately needed replenishing. Soldier Pills were in particularly high demand, and the Akimichi Clan was working overtime to make them. They were expected to be finished in four days. In other words, he would be heading to the Front Lines in at least five days.

By the time he returned home, it was already dark. Seeing his parents busy around the house, Yūske thought about how he had only just returned and would soon be leaving again—this time for the Front Lines. His parents would worry again. He quickly pulled himself together and went into the kitchen to help.

Once they were done, Yūske's Dad brought out dinner.

At the table, Mom noticed that Yūske seemed to have something on his mind and asked him about it with concern.

Looking at his parents, Yūske figured they would find out sooner or later, so he decided to come clean. "In a few days, I'll be going with a team to deliver supplies to the Front Lines."

Yūske spoke slowly as he looked at them.

"You're leaving again right after coming back?" Mom was reluctant to see him go. But she knew her son was a ninja, and that he had to carry out missions when assigned. Since she had chosen to let him walk this path, she had prepared herself to part with him at any time.

"Then spend these next few days at home with your mom." Dad placed a piece of meat in Yūske's bowl.

"It's fine, Dad, Mom. Your son is really strong now. I'm a jonin of Konoha!" After saying that, Yūske flexed his muscles.

Mom tapped him on the head with her chopsticks. "When did you become a jonin? How come I didn't know? You're not lying to us, are you?"

To ordinary civilians, ninja were already incredibly impressive, let alone jonin, who stood above the vast majority of ninja.

"Yesterday!"

Under the assault of Mom's "loving iron chopsticks," Yūske promptly told the truth.

"After I came back from my mission yesterday, Teacher Hiruzen officially promoted me to jonin of Konoha."

"All right, your son is a jonin of Konoha now. Who knows how many eyes are on him?" Dad hurriedly stopped Mom's chopsticks from striking Yūske again.

"Hmph. He's still my son." Mom snorted dismissively.

"Yes, yes. Heaven and earth may be vast, but Mom is the greatest." Yūske quickly put some food into Mom's bowl.

"What about Dad?" Dad rarely joked around with his son.

"I don't know. Anyway, not greater than Mom."

"Hahaha..."

The family finished dinner amid laughter and conversation, casting their earlier reluctance and worries far from their minds.

After dinner, Mom made an exception and stayed in the kitchen to wash the dishes. Yūske and Dad took out the tea set and brewed some tea.

"Have any strangers come looking for you lately, asking about our family history?" Yūske suddenly recalled what had happened before. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had said he would handle it, Yūske was still a little worried.

"No. Didn't you say the village was conducting a census? Why are you asking again?" Dad looked puzzled.

"It's nothing. Teacher Hiruzen just mentioned it." Yūske spoke casually.

"Don't blame your mom for nagging. She's just worried about you."

Dad glanced toward the kitchen. The busy figure there had her back to them. Then he took out a pack of cigarettes and pulled out two—one he put between his lips, the other he held out to Yūske. Seeing Yūske's puzzled look, he said, "You were still young before, so I wouldn't let you touch grown-up things like this. Even though you're already eighteen, you'll always be a child in your dad and mom's eyes."

As he spoke, he put the cigarette between Yūske's lips and lit it for him.

"Now, you've grown up."

Yūske's eyes grew slightly moist. He took a deep drag, only to start coughing from the thick smoke.

Mom came out of the kitchen and saw her son smoking. She grabbed a spatula and charged at Dad, cursing, "You old fool! Of all things to teach him, you taught your son to smoke!"

With a cigarette between his fingers, Yūske stopped Mom. Then he suddenly hugged her.

At that moment, the emotions of Wang Dalu and Watanabe Yūske truly merged.

In another space, Wang Dalu and Watanabe Yūske stood facing each other. They quietly gazed at one another, as though they could see themselves through the other's eyes.

Their gazes met, as if they were having a silent conversation. I don't know why I became you, but from now on, I am you, and you are me.

After saying that, Watanabe Yūske nodded to Wang Dalu and closed his eyes. In that instant, their hearts connected and their emotions intertwined.

Suddenly, Wang Dalu noticed that Watanabe Yūske's feet were slowly dissolving at a visible rate, until his entire body disappeared from that space.

As Wang Dalu watched Watanabe Yūske vanish completely, a wave of emotion rose in his heart. He knew that although Watanabe Yūske had disappeared, the bond between their emotions would remain forever.

"Goodbye!"