Two Little Ones

After breakfast, Higashino Megumi went to work as usual.

Higashino Shinichi was only just four years old, and with an adult at home, he didn't need to do chores. The task of washing dishes naturally fell to Higashino Jiro.

Fortunately, although the Shinobi World's systems were relatively backward, the ninja community was generally more progressive in thought, with relative equality between men and women.

The Higashino Family were just commoners, not a major ninja clan. Higashino Jiro wasn't the type of patriarch at home; he was an expert at household chores.

"Shinichi, are you still studying at home today?"

"Yes, Father. Do you need my help with something?"

"Well... it's not really something. Since yesterday was your birthday, I came straight home and haven't reported to the village yet.

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Besides that, everything else is private matters, but I might not be back by noon."

In theory, a ninja returning from a mission should report to the village first. However, for someone like Higashino Jiro, who came home first for his son's birthday, the village wouldn't be too strict about it.

After all, it wasn't wartime, and Higashino Jiro wasn't the jonin in charge of a ninja squad, so he didn't need to report detailed intelligence from his garrison duty.

On the contrary, this deep care for his son was also a manifestation of the Will of Fire, a form of political correctness.

"Don't worry about me. You know, Father, I can take care of myself."

"I believe that completely, but I think you're too withdrawn. You should go out more, meet some kids your age, play some ninja games. I think it would be good for your mental health."

"Did you play those when you were little? Were they fun?"

"..."

Fun, now that he thought about it, it was full of childhood memories.

But he was a mature ninja now, and even more so a father. After seeing the look of disdain for childish ghosts on his own son's face, he suddenly didn't want to answer.

Having a precocious child was both a relief and a headache for a parent.

After his father left, Higashino Shinichi sat alone in the study, quietly pondering his problems.

The fatigue from training chakra was completely different from the weakness he felt after chakra depletion. His current chakra amount was limited, and he should avoid this happening again. Otherwise, if it happened too often, it might affect his physical growth.

Another matter was the direction of his future training.

Now that he had chakra, should he train in the useless Three Body Techniques and the family's ninjutsu?

Higashino Shinichi quickly dismissed this idea. There was no need to rush. Only a clueless kid would be desperate to learn powerful ninjutsu.

As for chakra, he should first train the Refinement Technique until it became a bodily instinct. He couldn't have to sit down and form the Unfinished Seal every time he needed to use it—that was too low-class.

At the same time, he could start practicing chakra control. This was the most important foundation. If he could achieve precise control, learning any ninjutsu would yield twice the result with half the effort, including medical ninjutsu.

Yes, although Higashino Shinichi wouldn't become a full-time medical ninja, medical ninjutsu was still on his study plan. After all, there was a Medical Special Jonin in the family.

A ready-made teacher was right in front of him; he couldn't waste the opportunity.

This was also why he had started learning basic knowledge of the human body earlier.

Medical ninjutsu wasn't something you could just learn and use. You had to master enough prerequisite knowledge: understanding the operating mechanisms of various body tissues, the mechanism of medical chakra, the effects of contact with different body tissues, pharmacology, the mechanisms of various common poisons and their mixtures, and so on.

Among all ninjutsu in the Shinobi World, medical ninjutsu probably required the most prerequisite knowledge.

After setting his direction, Higashino Shinichi immediately began studying.

First, he refined chakra. Before the chakra in his meridians naturally dissipated, he could read books.

He alternated like this, not wasting any time in between.

As for training chakra control through tree-climbing and water-walking, he could arrange that to start practicing soon.

At noon, Higashino Jiro indeed didn't return. Higashino Shinichi moved a stool into the kitchen and cooked a meal for himself.

If the couple had suddenly come back at this moment, they would have definitely discovered that the food their son made was different from theirs, and even from the style of this world.

Because he was making Chinese cuisine. In his previous life, his cooking skills were quite good.

As for the Shinobi World cuisine here, it was the same as Japanese cuisine. He actually knew a bit of that too, but since he was cooking for himself, the flavors he once knew were what he missed more.

After eating, he continued to immerse himself in studying and reading, unable to tear himself away.

Time flew by, and the sky grew dark.

Higashino Shinichi looked up at the window and suddenly noticed his parents still hadn't returned. Could they be out on a date, avoiding him?

Just then, a rare knock sounded at the door.

Inside Konoha, Higashino Shinichi wasn't afraid of any danger. He opened the door with curiosity and saw two little brats standing there.

One boy and one girl, both about his age.

The girl had shoulder-length purple hair and was very cute. The baby fat on her face made her look like a steamed bun, and she was a bit shorter.

The boy had black hair that covered his ears, with a strand hanging over his forehead. He was about the same height as Higashino Shinichi, but looked a bit thin and weak, and his complexion wasn't very healthy.

"Hello, is this the Higashino Family? Who are you looking for?"

The little girl stood behind the boy, her cheeks flushed red, but not from shyness—she didn't avoid Higashino Makoto's appraising gaze.

The boy was much more at ease and asked, "Are you Higashino Makoto?"

"I am. And you are?"

"My name is Hayate Gekko."

"I'm Uzuki Yugao."

Higashino Makoto paused for a moment. So it was these two. He'd actually run into legendary canon characters and hadn't recognized them at first.

After all, the difference between anime and real people was huge.

"Oh, hello. Is there something you need from me?"

Cough, cough. Hayate Gekko cleared his throat lightly and said, "Uncle Higashino told us to come get you for dinner at Yakiniku Q."

"Oh, okay. Thanks for the trouble. Give me a sec—I'll change clothes and we'll go."

Walking along the road, Higashino Makoto studied Hayate Gekko with curiosity, thinking to himself, Did this guy have some chronic illness even as a kid? And he still made Special Jonin in his early twenties? Pretty talented.

Hayate Gekko felt awkward under the scrutiny. His personality was shy and somewhat traditional, and he worried he might be doing something rude, so he asked weakly, "Is there something wrong with me?"

"No, not at all." After answering, Higashino Makoto looked at them both with a mischievous grin and asked, "Hey, Younger Brother Hayate, is the girl next to you your girlfriend?"

Little Hayate's face turned red. "Huh? No way. Yugao's only four, and I'm only five."

Uzuki Yugao stared with innocent, wide eyes. "Hey, Hayate Brother, what's a girlfriend?"

Hayate Gekko: "..."

Higashino Makoto: "So you're a year older than me?"

"Hey, you two, you still haven't told me what a girlfriend is!"

Higashino Makoto: "It's what you call your wife when you grow up."

"Eh? Huh?" Uzuki Yugao froze, then her face turned so red it looked like steam was about to puff out.

Sure enough, kids in the Shinobi World matured early. What a tragedy.

For the rest of the walk, the Two Little Ones refused to talk to Higashino Makoto anymore.

It wasn't out of dislike—they just felt that even though he was about their age, he talked like an adult, and they didn't know how to keep up the conversation.

Soon, the three of them arrived at Yakiniku Q.

Higashino Makoto looked up at the sign and thought, This is another famous Konoha landmark. Too bad I didn't awaken a check-in system—otherwise I'd definitely have pulled out an S-Rank jutsu by now.