August 18.
Gojo Yoru woke up early, brimming with energy as if he had been pumped full of stimulants.
While washing up, he looked at himself in the mirror with anticipation in his eyes.
Today was Gojo Yoru's birthday. Before he turned three, his parents in this life had still celebrated it with him.
After Gojo Sa and Gojo Mio died, Gojo Yoru never celebrated his birthday again.
That changed when he was six, making him look forward to this day every year afterward.
Four years ago today was when Gojo Yoru underwent his first evolution.
That evolution, which had arrived right on time, was called the Gift of Time and Space by Gojo Yoru.
If that gift came again, Gojo Yoru believed it would probably still arrive on his birthday.
So every August 18, Gojo Yoru secretly looked forward to it.
Unfortunately, that evolution had not come in the past three years. He wondered whether it would come this year.
After washing up, Gojo Yoru began preparing breakfast.
"Yoru, I'm here."
Just as he filled two glasses with milk, the girl's voice sounded beside his ear.
It was so loud that it seemed to echo through the entire little house.
Then Uzumaki Kushina came running upstairs in her slippers, thump thump thump.
Seeing Uzumaki Kushina arrive right on cue, Gojo Yoru could not help teasing her. "I got up especially early to cook today, yet you still showed up this precisely on time. Don't tell me you secretly installed surveillance in my house?"
Although it was only Konoha Year 34, scientists and computers already existed, and surveillance was not an unfamiliar term.
"Hehe, I got up early too today. That just means our chemistry is getting better and better."
Uzumaki Kushina washed her hands first, then pulled out a chair and sat down. She picked up the sandwich Gojo Yoru had made and started eating without the slightest idea of being polite.
After setting a glass of milk in front of Uzumaki Kushina, Gojo Yoru habitually rubbed her dog-like head. Then he noticed white powder on her bangs and could not resist mocking her again. "What, did you wake up so early today just to tear the house apart? You came over without even cleaning the dust out of your hair. How desperate were you?"
As he spoke, Gojo Yoru reached over to brush the dust from Uzumaki Kushina's hair.
Unexpectedly, with a sandwich clamped in her mouth, Uzumaki Kushina covered her head with both hands and refused to let Gojo Yoru touch her hair.
If the sandwich in her mouth had been a bone and her hands were curled into paws over her head, Uzumaki Kushina would have looked even more like a puppy.
"N-No need, I can do it myself." Uzumaki Kushina wolfed down the sandwich in a few bites, then got up and ran into the bathroom. The sound of running water soon came from inside.
Gojo Yoru was a little baffled. Why had this tomato suddenly become so jumpy?
But he did not think too much of it.
After breakfast, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina headed together to the abandoned training ground.
Orochimaru had not arrived yet, so Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina played Eagle Catching Chick.
One hid while the other searched. Whoever was found and touched lost.
Any ninjutsu could be used during the game.
After so many Survival Exercises with Orochimaru, neither of them cared much for Taijutsu Duels or No-Rules Duels anymore. Those could not stimulate their adrenaline at all.
Their little game, on the other hand, was excellent for training each of their strengths.
The two trained until ten in the morning before Orochimaru finally appeared.
Orochimaru first guided them through over an hour of Ninjutsu-Taijutsu-Genjutsu training, then gave them time for a lunch break.
After that, as usual, he split them apart. A Shadow Clone took Uzumaki Kushina for Perception Training, while the original body took Gojo Yoru on missions.
More than a month had already passed, yet Orochimaru still had no intention of taking Gojo Yoru outside the village for missions.
Gojo Yoru did not ask about it either.
Whatever Orochimaru told him to do, he did. He perfectly embodied the idea that a ninja was an obedient tool.
This temperament, able to remain patient without being tempered, greatly satisfied both Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been observing in secret.
At dusk.
Orochimaru looked at Gojo Yoru with a meaningful smile and said, "Today's training ends here. Go back and get some proper rest. Oh, and happy birthday."
Gojo Yoru was slightly stunned.
When he came back to himself, Orochimaru had already vanished.
Gojo Yoru was not surprised that Orochimaru knew his birthday. The man had probably read his file.
Still, Gojo Yoru could not help grumbling inwardly.
Not even a gift. Did he just suddenly remember?
After finishing today's mission, Gojo Yoru did not immediately return home. Instead, he went back to the abandoned training ground.
Uzumaki Kushina had finished training before him and was waiting for Gojo Yoru by the Wood Golem.
"Let's go. We won't have a picnic outside today. Come eat at my place," Gojo Yoru said, beckoning to her.
Yet Uzumaki Kushina did not stick herself to him as she usually did.
Instead, she stood where she was, looking awkward as she said, "Um... I have to go back today, so I probably can't have dinner with you."
Gojo Yoru was somewhat surprised, but he still smiled. "That's a good thing. It means you've gotten closer to them. You were waiting here just to tell me that?"
"...Yeah." Uzumaki Kushina avoided his gaze and scratched her cheek.
"All right, hurry back. See you tomorrow."
Knowing that the girl was probably embarrassed right now, Gojo Yoru did not say anything more.
"Mhm, see you tomorrow."
Uzumaki Kushina waved at Gojo Yoru, then turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished on the spot.
Gojo Yoru instantly regretted it. He should have mocked her just now.
He had actually thought Uzumaki Kushina felt embarrassed. That girl was probably already feasting in some mansion.
For the first time, Gojo Yoru did not leave with Uzumaki Kushina, and he felt an unusual sense of discomfort.
Back on Central Street, Gojo Yoru had originally planned to settle for something simple for dinner.
But after thinking about it, he abandoned the idea.
For the sake of his health, he had already gotten used to cooking for himself.
After buying some fresh fruit and milk, Gojo Yoru carried the bags home.
"Hm?"
The moment Gojo Yoru took off his shoes, he immediately sensed that something was wrong.
There was one pair of slippers missing from the entryway.
Gojo Yoru raised a brow, then opened the shoe cabinet. Sure enough, he found a familiar pair of ninja shoes hidden inside.
"This Tomato-Nai..."
Gojo Yoru vaguely guessed what was going on and smiled as he headed upstairs.
By then, the sun had long since set, leaving only crimson clouds in the sky.
The unlit second floor was somewhat dim.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...
As soon as Gojo Yoru went upstairs, he heard the sound of sparks crackling.
He looked toward where the sound was coming from.
A familiar figure emerged from the kitchen, carrying a cake with sparkler candles stuck into it in both hands as she walked toward Gojo Yoru.
"Ta-da... Surprised to see me here?"
Uzumaki Kushina held the cake out before Gojo Yoru and said with a beaming smile, "Happy birthday, Smelly-Mouth Night!"
Though he had vaguely guessed it and was somewhat prepared, seeing the cake in front of him still stirred Gojo Yoru deeply.
The cake in Uzumaki Kushina's hands was not large enough for even her to eat alone, and it was oddly shaped, unable even to maintain a complete circle.
Yet the flour, cream, and egg mixture on the girl's little face, hair, and apron made Gojo Yoru feel the weight of her feelings.
He finally understood why she had been acting so strangely during the day.
The stuff in her hair had not been dust. It was flour she had failed to clean out.
For this cake, Uzumaki Kushina had begun preparing very early, even though she still had not managed to make it properly.
After calming the emotions surging within him, Gojo Yoru grinned. "Tomato-Nai, this is breaking and entering. Aren't you afraid I'll throw you in prison?"
Just as Uzumaki Kushina was about to snap back, she hurriedly urged, "Forget that for now, hurry up and blow out the candles."
"Should I make a wish?" Gojo Yoru asked with a smile.
"Of course. Otherwise, the birthday would be wasted. Remember to put your hands together like you're praying."
"All right."
Looking at the girl's sparkling eyes, Gojo Yoru set down the bags, clasped his hands in prayer, and closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and blew out the candles around the cake's sparklers.
In past years, he had always wished for evolution to come again. This time, however, Gojo Yoru changed his wish for the first time.
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