Fate

The enrollment process was settled in one morning.

The afternoon was called a holiday, but really it was time for the newly admitted students to go home and prepare their school supplies, or enjoy their last bit of free time.

Starting tomorrow, they would be official Ninja Academy students—and Ninja reserves for the future, soldiers who would one day wield Supernatural Power.

Perhaps Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had established the Ninja Villages so everyone could have a stable place to live, stop slaughtering one another, and unite to protect their descendants—so that children wouldn't be dragged onto the battlefield by their elders for one reason or another.

But once the Ninja Villages became intertwined with the nations and the One Country One Village system took shape, everything changed. That original dream could never come true.

Originally, the small-scale skirmishes between Ninja Clans over commissioned missions had been limited to clan against clan. They became military rivalries between nations and Ninja Villages.

During the Warring States period, Ninja Clans still had a little freedom to choose. They could refuse employers. But once the clans formed Ninja Villages and were bound to the monstrous beast that was the state, they were no longer masters of their own fate.

Once war broke out, it would only be larger in scale, longer-lasting, and more devastating than it had been during the Warring States period.

When too many adult Ninjas fell, the younger generation still had to go to the battlefield. Nothing had really changed.

Perhaps Madara Uchiha had seen this clearly from the start and realized that the dreams he and Hashirama had shared as boys were far too naïve. Ninjas still couldn't escape their predetermined fate.

So he chose another path, seeking to go further and unite the Shinobi World once and for all with Hashirama, ending a thousand years of warfare and freeing everyone from this chaotic fate.

Unfortunately, Hashirama Senju had already fallen into the illusion of peace he'd created for himself, stubbornly refusing to let anyone shatter it.

To that end, he would kill anyone who threatened the village, whether it was his dear friend Madara Uchiha or his own family.

While he was alive, there was peace. But as soon as he died, the First Shinobi World War broke out, followed by the Second, and now the Third.

Madara Uchiha watched it all coldly from underground, even more convinced that he'd been right. But he was already battered and broken, and Hashirama, the only person who might have joined forces with him, was dead.

To achieve his ideal, he had to find another way. Then he fell into yet another trap, becoming the top project manager for Black Zetsu, CEO of a conspiracy city built from plots within plots.

He still hadn't escaped the fate of being controlled.

It was lunchtime. Higashino Megumi and Uzuki Sakura had brought their children along and planned to grab a casual meal outside.

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

As they stood outside the school, the four of them saw Gekko Hayate and Uchiha Shisui come out with the crowd.

Hayate had naturally come out hoping to score himself a free meal.

Shisui, meanwhile, was heading back to his clan.

Uzuki Yugao waved her little pale hand. "Over here, Hayate Brother! We're right here! Shisui, do you want to come eat with us?"

Uchiha Shisui, who'd been about to say goodbye to them, paused in surprise. "Huh, would that be okay? I wouldn't be troubling everyone, would I?"

Higashino Megumi smiled warmly. "Dear, what's there to trouble us about? Aren't you friends with Makoto and the others? Or has someone at home already made dinner?"

Higashino Makoto and the other two had spent a lot of time hanging out with Shisui over the past year or two, so the adults from all three families knew about it. They hadn't objected.

It was certain higher-ups who were hostile toward the Uchiha. Ordinary Ninjas and villagers, at most, thought the Uchiha Clan was a bit aloof or difficult to get along with. They might not have liked them much, but that was all.

After all, as the family in charge of Konoha's Police Force, the Uchiha Clan often dealt with the villagers. They were also always holding themselves above others with the pride of being the number-one clan, and their cold, impersonal manner had naturally earned them widespread resentment.

In fact, if you'd been teamed up with members of the clan, you'd have found them quite reliable. At least, given the way their clan operated, they'd never use a comrade as a shield.

Of course, the Uchiha Clan had its share of scoundrels. But what clan didn't?

When Shisui heard Higashino Megumi mention his family, he lowered his head and said quietly, "My parents are gone. I'm the only one at home."

Uzuki Sakura said, "What a good, independent boy. Come along with us!"

The two women had originally planned to take the three kids to some casual diner for lunch. But now that their children's friend had joined them, they naturally had to go somewhere nicer.

Yakiniku Q it was.

As they ate, he saw that both his friends had family looking after them. A hint of envy and longing appeared in his eyes, but he was a clever boy. He kept his head down so no one would notice.

Suddenly, several big slices of grilled meat appeared on his plate, their delicious aroma wafting up.

Higashino Megumi said, "Eat up. Hayate, you too. You're both a bit on the thin side. You should put on some weight, like Makoto."

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

Hayate glanced at Higashino Makoto's sturdy build and grumbled to himself, I wish I could, but my body won't cooperate.

Higashino Makoto couldn't figure out how Hayate Brother managed it. His strength had improved quite a bit, but he still hadn't gained any weight. Was he using Tōton all the time to sneak into the women's bathhouse?

No, that couldn't be it. The guy didn't have that kind of secret technique yet.

After the meal, they went their separate ways.

Higashino Megumi watched Shisui walk away and said quietly, "The Uchiha have lost a lot of people in every war, but it seems like no one ever talks about it. The village only sends them to the battlefield when it's short on troops. I wonder why things have turned out so badly between them and the village."

Ninja work demanded secrecy in every aspect, and the Ninja Villages were even more secretive. The grievances between the Uchiha and the village, including Madara Uchiha's final battle with Hashirama Senju, had all been classified.

The Higashino Family was just an ordinary civilian family. How could they know what had happened?

"Mom, do you want to know why?"

Higashino Megumi looked surprised. "You know? This isn't something someone your age should know about."

"Fear. Those in power are most afraid of strength they can't control. Some people are afraid another Madara Uchiha will appear, because Konoha no longer has the God of Shinobi."

Higashino Megumi had thought her son was merely precocious, but she suddenly realized there was still so much she didn't understand. Then a trace of fear crept over her, and she glanced around uneasily.

"Makoto, that's not the Will of Fire at all. Don't say things like that again."

"Don't worry, Mom. No one's listening in. But please don't discuss this kind of thing outside again. Not even at home. It could get us into trouble."

"Oh, look at you lecturing me now. All right, all right. I understand."

"So, are we going home now?"

"No. Come with me."

Higashino Megumi took Higashino Makoto to a flower shop and bought several bouquets. Then they went together to Konoha Cemetery, which was located on the Back Mountain.

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

Those buried here were Ninjas who'd died in service to Konoha. Their names were all carved into the Memorial Stone, including Higashino Makoto's grandfather and uncle.

Ordinary people weren't buried here.

Of all the many annual holidays in the Land of Fire, three were set aside for honoring the ancestors, so Higashino Makoto had been here quite a few times.

As Higashino Megumi brushed the dust from the graves with a tool, she said, "Your grandfather died near the end of the First Shinobi War. Your uncle died near the end of the Second.

"They both died just as the wars were about to end. Your uncle had planned to get married once the war was over and use the rare period of peace to strengthen the Higashino Family. In the end, he couldn't escape his fate.

"After seeing you grow up and turn out so clever, your father and I planned to have another child, a little sister or brother for you. Then war broke out again.

"The Higashino Family's luck always seems to be just a little short.

"Now your father has gone to the battlefield, and no one knows whether he'll live or die. The Higashino Family has only you left, Makoto."

"Mom, what are you worried about?"

"Your father told me about your abilities. You're a true genius, son. But if you can, don't graduate early like Kakashi. Stay quietly at school for a few more years."

"No problem. But sometimes it isn't up to us. If this war is too brutal and drags on for years, costing the village too much of its strength, then our generation will still have to go to the front lines."

"I know. Maybe this is the fate Ninjas can never escape."

"Fate? Maybe. Ninjas have Supernatural Power, yet willingly let themselves be reduced to tools and weapons. If that's the case, then they really can't escape this fate."

Higashino Megumi was a traditional Ninja, after all. She didn't quite understand what her son meant. "Aren't Ninjas weapons? That's how it's been for a thousand years."

"No, Mom. Just because it's always been this way doesn't mean it's right. That's called indoctrination."

"Then why do you still want to be a Ninja, Makoto?"

"Because I've never experienced it, and I want to find out what's exciting about this profession. But that doesn't mean I agree that the way Ninjas are treated now is right."