Destiny

The enrollment process was wrapped up in a single morning.

The afternoon was technically a day off, but in reality, it was time for the admitted students to go back and prepare their study materials—or enjoy their last bit of freedom.

Starting tomorrow, they would officially be Ninja Academy students, future ninja reserves, soldiers who would one day wield supernatural power.

Maybe Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha's original intention in founding the ninja village was to give everyone a stable place, to stop killing each other, to unite, and to protect their children—so that minors wouldn't be dragged onto the battlefield by their elders under all sorts of excuses.

But once the ninja village merged with a nation, establishing the one-country-one-village system, the nature of it changed. That original dream could never come true.

What had once been small-scale conflicts between ninja clans over mercenary missions turned into military competition between nations, between ninja villages.

In the Warring States period, ninja clans still had a sliver of freedom to choose, the right to refuse an employer. But once they formed a village and got strapped to the monster that was the state, they lost all control.

When war broke out, it was only bigger than the Warring States era, longer-lasting, with more brutal casualties.

When adult ninja casualties piled up, the young juniors still had to go to the battlefield. Nothing really changed.

Maybe Madara Uchiha saw that clearly back then, realized that his and Hashirama's childhood dream was too naive. Ninja still couldn't escape their predetermined fate.

So he chose another path, wanting to go further, to unite the entire shinobi world with Hashirama once and for all, ending the thousand years of chaos, letting everyone break free from this cycle of destiny.

Unfortunately, Hashirama Senju was already lost in the illusion of peace he'd built, stubbornly refusing to let anyone destroy it.

For that, whoever threatened the village, he killed—whether it was his best friend Madara Uchiha or his own relatives.

As long as he lived, there was peace. But the moment he died, the First Shinobi War broke out, then the Second, and now the Third was underway.

Madara Uchiha watched from underground, coldly observing it all, more convinced than ever that his thinking was right. But he was already battered and scarred, and Hashirama, the only one who could have worked with him, was dead.

To achieve his ideal, he had to use other methods. And then he fell into another trap, becoming the number-one project manager for Black Zetsu, the CEO of the conspiracy city of nested schemes.

Still, he hadn't escaped the fate of being controlled.

At noon, Higashino Megumi and Uzuki Sakura took their respective kids, planning to grab a quick bite outside.

At this hour, neither felt like going home to cook.

At the school gate, the four of them saw Hayate Gekko and Uchiha Shisui walking out with the crowd.

Hayate was naturally looking to mooch a meal.

Shisui was planning to head back to his clan.

Uzuki Yugao waved her small, pale hand: "Over here, Hayate Brother, we're over here! And Shisui, want to come eat with us?"

Uchiha Shisui, who was about to say goodbye, paused, surprised: "Huh, is that okay? Won't it be too much trouble for everyone?"

Higashino Megumi smiled gently: "Child, what trouble is there? Aren't you friends with Makoto and the others? Or is someone at home already cooking for you?"

The three little ones had been hanging out with Shisui often over the past year or two, and the adults of the three families naturally knew about it, but they didn't object.

It was certain people in the high levels who were hostile to the Uchiha. Regular ninja or villagers mostly just thought the clan was aloof or hard to get along with, feeling a bit of dislike.

After all, as the family in charge of Konoha's Police Force, the Uchiha Clan dealt with the Konoha populace constantly. And because they always held themselves high with the pride of the top clan, distant and unfeeling, it had indeed stirred up widespread dissatisfaction.

In truth, if you ever teamed up with someone from this clan, you'd find they were pretty reliable. At least, with their clan's typical attitude, they'd never throw a comrade under the bus.

As for whether the Uchiha Clan had bastards—of course they did. But which clan didn't have those?

When Shisui heard Higashino Megumi mention family, he lowered his head and said quietly: "My parents are gone. It's just me at home."

Uzuki Sakura: "What an independent and sensible good kid. Come on, join us!"

Originally, the two women planned to take the three little ones to some random set meal shop for lunch, but since their kids' friend had joined in, they naturally had to eat something better.

Yakiniku Q it was.

During the meal, seeing his two friends being cared for by their relatives, a trace of envy and longing flickered in his eyes. But he was a smart kid, keeping his head down so no one would notice.

Suddenly, several large pieces of grilled meat appeared on his plate, giving off an enticing aroma.

Higashino Megumi: "Eat more. You too, Hayate. You're both a bit too thin. You need to bulk up like Makoto."

Shisui looked up, a happy smile spreading across his face: "Mm, thank you, Aunt Hui."

Hayate glanced at Higashino Makoto's sturdy build and silently complained in his head: I'd like to, but my body just won't let me.

Higashino Makoto had no idea how Hayate Brother managed it. His strength had improved quite a bit, but he just couldn't put on weight. Was he secretly using Tōton to sneak into the women's bathhouse every day?

No, that couldn't be right. This buddy didn't have that kind of divine technique yet.

After the meal, everyone parted ways.

Higashino Megumi watched Shisui's retreating figure and murmured: "Actually, the Uchiha always take heavy losses in every war, but it seems like no one ever publicizes that. The village only lets them onto the battlefield when troops are running low. I don't know why things ended up like this between them and the village."

Being a ninja was a profession that demanded secrecy in everything, and a ninja village was even more so. The grudges between the Uchiha and the village, including the final battle between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, were all classified as confidential.

The Higashino Family was just a commoner clan—how could they know the ins and outs?

"What, Mother, you want to know the reason?"

Higashino Megumi was a bit surprised: "Do you know? That's not something someone your age could understand."

"Because of fear, those in power are most afraid of forces they cannot control. Some fear another Madara Uchiha will emerge, since Konoha no longer has a God of Shinobi."

Higashino Megumi had thought her son was just precocious, but she suddenly realized she didn't understand him well enough. A flicker of unease crept in, and she instinctively glanced left and right.

"Makoto, those words don't align with the Will of Fire at all. Don't say them again."

"Don't worry, Mother. No one's eavesdropping. But please, don't discuss such things outside the house either—not even at home. It'll cause trouble."

"Oh? Now you're lecturing me? Fine, fine, I understand."

"So, are we going home now?"

"No. Come with me."

Higashino Megumi took Higashino Makoto to a flower shop, bought several bouquets, and then they headed together to the Konoha Cemetery on the rear mountain.

They placed a bouquet on two graves that weren't adjacent to each other.

Buried here were all the ninjas who had died in service to Konoha, their names engraved on the Memorial Stone—including Higashino Makoto's grandfather and uncle.

The commoners' cemetery wasn't here.

In the Land of Fire, among the many festivals each year, three were for ancestor worship, so Higashino Makoto had visited this place quite often.

As Higashino Megumi used a tool to sweep dust off the gravestone, she said, "Your grandfather died at the end of the First Shinobi War, and your uncle died at the end of the Second Shinobi War.

Both passed away just as the wars were ending. Your uncle had planned to marry after the war, to use the rare peace to expand the Higashino Family. But he couldn't escape it.

When I saw you growing up and so clever, your father and I planned to give you a little sister or brother. Then the war came again.

It seems the Higashino Family's luck has always been just a bit off.

Now, your father has gone to the Frontline, and whether he lives or dies is uncertain. The Higashino Family has only you left, Makoto."

"Is Mother worried about something?"

"Your father told me about your strength. You're a true Genius, son. But if possible, don't follow Kakashi's example and graduate early. Stay quietly in the academy for a few more years."

"No problem. But sometimes, that's not for us to decide. If this war drags on for years and the village suffers heavy losses, our generation will eventually have to go to the Frontline."

"I know. Perhaps this is the fate ninjas can never escape."

"Fate? Maybe. If ninjas, as wielders of Supernatural Power, willingly reduce themselves to tools and weapons, then that fate truly can't be escaped."

Higashino Megumi, after all, was a traditional ninja. She didn't quite understand her son's words. "Aren't ninjas just weapons? It's been that way for a thousand years."

"No, Mother. Just because it's always been that way doesn't mean it's right. That's what you call a 'thought brand.'"

"Then, Makoto, why do you still become a ninja?"

"Because I've never experienced it, so I want to see the excitement of this profession. But that doesn't mean I agree that the current state of ninjas is reasonable."