Time passed quietly. For more than half a month, Higashino Shinichi had diligently followed his training and study schedule, only occasionally going downstairs to take a walk around the village, admire the scenery, and relax.
After all, visiting famous scenic spots and trying a bowl of the renowned Otsutsuki Ichiraku Ramen were among the great pleasures of arriving in the Naruto World.
Unfortunately, Ichiraku Ramen tasted just so-so. It wasn't the kind of food that glowed.
Konoha was much as it had always been. The villagers went about their daily lives, and the ninjas each did their own thing. There was no tense atmosphere, and no sign yet of a shinobi war breaking out.
Higashino Shinichi had basically no interaction with the other children his age in the village.
It seemed like an abnormal childhood, but he didn't care. His childhood in his previous life had actually been pretty good; he had no psychological wounds that needed healing.
Having lived a second life, he devoted nearly all his time to working on himself.
That day, Higashino Shinichi got up early as usual to exercise at the Training Ground, then went home to eat and study.
Higashino Megumi usually worked at the hospital until evening, so she made the food in the morning and put it in the fridge. Higashino Shinichi only had to take it out and heat it up at mealtimes.
He had told Higashino Megumi that he could cook, but she insisted on doing things this way, saying it was important not to deprive her of the joy of being a mother.
Higashino Shinichi didn't press the matter. That was how things had been for the past two years.
But today was a little different.
After finishing his morning studies, Higashino Shinichi went to get lunch and discovered that the fridge held only enough food for one meal. Everything else was ingredients.
Had his mother forgotten?
As a Medical Special Jonin, Higashino Megumi certainly wouldn't make that kind of mistake.
Higashino Shinichi glanced at the calendar on the wall and quickly guessed the reason.
A little after seven that evening, someone suddenly knocked at the door.
Higashino Shinichi set down the scroll in his hands and got up to answer it. Standing outside was a tall young man with ordinary features and black hair tied into a short, half-up ponytail.
He had a ninja sword strapped to his back and wore a standard-issue Konoha flak jacket. It wasn't very clean, and he looked as though he'd been traveling for a long time.
When he saw Higashino Shinichi at the door, his stern face immediately broke into a sunny smile. He raised his right thumb, and a glint flashed across his bright white teeth.
"Hey, kid. Happy to see me? Surprised?"
Higashino Shinichi: "..."
"Kid, what's with that expression?"
"Welcome home, Father."
"Don't be so stiff, kid. Can't you look a little happier and make me feel like I've accomplished something?"
"Like this?" Higashino Shinichi thought it over seriously, then replied, "All right. If that's all you're asking, I can do that!"
With that, he shut the door with a bang.
Outside, the man smacked his palm against his forehead and let out a long, helpless sigh before knocking again.
The door opened once more. Higashino Shinichi put on an innocent, delighted expression and exclaimed in surprise, "Father, you're back!"
"I've completely lost any sense of accomplishment, you know." Higashino Jiro's face went blank. Then he punched Higashino Shinichi on the head. "You're such an unlovable son."
"You're such a demanding father."
Higashino Jiro wasn't surprised by the response. He seemed used to it. Walking straight into the house, he asked curiously, "Shinichi, did you know I'd be back today?"
"More or less."
"Did your mother tell you?"
"No, I guessed."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"First, today is March 25. Second, based on the pattern of your missions over the past year, I figured there was a good chance you'd be home today."
"Still as clever and perceptive as ever, Shinichi!" Higashino Jiro gave his son an approving look, then suddenly thought of another question. "Did you figure out what kind of mission I was on, too?"
"More or less."
"Oh, my, you've exceeded your old man's expectations." Higashino Jiro happily ruffled Higashino Shinichi's hair. "Anyway, I'll go wash up first. Your mother should be home soon, too."
Higashino Shinichi watched the young man heading toward the bathroom, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
This was his biological father in the Naruto World, Higashino Jiro.
As for what kind of mission he'd been on, Higashino Shinichi could indeed guess.
Most likely, it was a border patrol mission.
Apart from Anbu, ordinary ninjas' routine missions within the village were like clocking in at work; they didn't require leaving home. Client commissions outside the village, on the other hand, took unpredictable amounts of time and followed no pattern.
Only border garrison missions had a set rotation schedule.
Although war hadn't broken out yet, the borders weren't safe. Drawing on what he'd learned about Naruto on the internet in his previous life, Higashino Shinichi knew that the Second and Third Shinobi Wars were essentially continuous. The intervening Peace Period wasn't peaceful at all; border skirmishes had never stopped. Since arriving in this world, he'd confirmed as much through his parents.
Aside from Kirigakure, Konoha, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure all kept considerable forces stationed along their borders with one another. All that was needed for war to break out was a spark.
Higashino Shinichi knew they were waiting for someone to sacrifice as a flag. That would be you, Third Kazekage.
The regular forces stationed at the borders were mostly Commoner Ninjas like his family.
When Higashino Megumi came home, she was carrying several large boxes.
Before long, the table was covered with food, along with a birthday cake.
They turned off the lights and lit the candles.
After Higashino Shinichi made a wish and blew out the candles, the lights came back on.
"Shinichi, happy birthday!"
"Thank you, thank you, Father, Mother!"
Today was Higashino Shinichi's fourth birthday. As he looked at his young parents, he felt truly happy.
His soul was already forty years old. He was long past the age of youthful passion, and he no longer had much interest in making the Shinobi World peaceful or changing the tragic fates of characters in the original story. Besides, he didn't have the ability to do that.
But this happy, complete family was his Spiritual Harbor in this world, something he had to protect.
That was why he'd thanked them so sincerely just now, instead of cracking another joke as he usually did.
Higashino Jiro took a sip of wine and sighed. "Our Shinichi is wonderful in every way. He's just a little too mature for his age. He doesn't even have any friends, and none of his peers came to celebrate his birthday."
Higashino Megumi nodded in agreement. "Maybe he thinks the other kids are too childish. After all, he doesn't even want to go to preschool."
"I'll make some once I start at the Ninja Academy." Higashino Shinichi could only say that.
Konoha had preschools, much like kindergartens, and there was more than one. They were generally set up for children from civilian families, whose parents were often too busy working to look after them.
There were also children from many small and medium-sized Ninja Clans, such as the Yamanaka and Nara, both part of the Hokage Faction.
As for traditional clans with large populations, like the Uchiha and Hyuga, they handled the preschool education of their eligible children within their own clans.
Children could generally attend Konoha's preschools from the age of three. Besides providing early education, they also helped screen candidates for the Ninja Academy.
After all, not every child had what it took to become a ninja. The process of observing them began well before enrollment. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of their time and the village's educational resources if they spent six years in school and still couldn't even refine Chakra?
"Shinichi, here's your gift from Mom!"
Higashino Megumi took out a brand-new thigh holster Ninja Tool Bag.
"Thank you, Mom!"
Higashino Shinichi happily accepted it without hesitation. He already had two Ninja Tool Bags, but they were both worn at the lower back.
"Here, this is my gift."
Higashino Jiro took out a short blade and handed it over.
Higashino Shinichi took it and drew it to have a look. It was a straight, pitch-black short blade, similar to the standard-issue Anbu weapons.
Unlike Kumogakure Ninja, few Konoha shinobi used long tachi, except for those skilled in swordsmanship, like the Hayate Clan.
That wasn't the problem. The blade was the right length for someone his age. The problem was that it was a wooden sword. Though it felt heavy in his hand and looked tightly grained, not like something that would break with a single strike, it was still made of wood.
Higashino Shinichi stared at his father without expression.
"What are you looking at, kid? Not happy with it? It's made of Kurogane Wood from the Land of Iron. It's tough and perfect for practice. You're not expecting a real blade, are you? That'd be too dangerous for you right now."
"Your father's right. It's too early for you to have a real blade."
"No, I'm very happy with it. Thank you, Father." After thanking him, Higashino Shinichi added, "What I wanted to say was that you should teach me how to refine Chakra."
The Higashino Family Study was filled with books and scrolls, but they were all basic reference materials and theory. There was no Chakra Refining Method, let alone any Ninjutsu Scrolls.
Trying to refine Chakra or practice ninjutsu without guidance was dangerous. Clearly, the couple had already considered this and put all those materials away.
The husband and wife exchanged a glance at his words. They had originally planned to refuse and wait another year before teaching him.
But then they thought of how mature their son was, and remembered another precocious child in the village from a few years ago: a genius who graduated from the Ninja Academy at five and became a Chunin at six. In the end, they made up their minds.
Higashino Jiro nodded seriously. "All right."
Higashino Shinichi was delighted. "Yes! I'm finally about to take the most important first step in my ninja career."
Then his father handed him a key. "But first, you have to find them."
Higashino Shinichi: "..."
Well, in that case, he might as well eat first.
Before you continue