A-Rank Mission

After returning home and changing into a formal black outfit, Kagura stood solemnly at the door.

Konohagakure had entered winter. Though it was still afternoon, the sky was covered in Dark Cloud.

Before he had even left the house, snowflakes slowly began to drift down from the sky.

Kagura had never been able to figure out what part of Blue Star this place corresponded to.

The summers were clearly long and hot, yet it still snowed in winter.

He cupped his hands before his mouth and breathed warm air into them, then took a black umbrella from beside the door and opened it.

Beneath the dark, oppressive clouds, the glistening snowflakes grew larger, adding a touch of gloom to the scene.

After walking for barely more than ten minutes, he arrived at his destination.

It was a funeral hall. When the family members outside saw Kagura arrive, they bowed neatly to him.

Kagura put away his umbrella and returned the bow before slowly walking inside.

Staring blankly at the black-and-white Mourning Photo in the center of the hall, Kagura felt sadness for the first time since crossing over.

The person in the photo was Kagami Uchiha, the man who had always taken care of him.

Perhaps because he had heard the news of Kinkaku and Ginkaku's deaths, his already frail body, weakened by severe injuries the year before, had finally failed to endure this year.

Looking at that familiar face, Kagura recalled the moments they had shared.

During the first few days after crossing over, perhaps because he feared the changed environment, or perhaps because he worried about his future,

Kagura had practically locked himself in his room for days.

In the end, Kagami Uchiha had burst in and carried out his nearly starved, unconscious body.

When he finally accepted reality and began training diligently, Kagami had also been the one to teach him how to cultivate.

Kagami was like an anomaly within the Uchiha Clan. He was not as proud as the other clan members; instead, he was like the sun, warming those around him.

So even though Kagura had deliberately kept his distance from the Uchiha Clan, Kagami alone had become a special Friend to him.

After respectfully bowing three times toward the front, Kagura Looked Towards the family members beside him.

Kagami's wife wore traditional Japanese White Clothes. Her eyes were slightly swollen and red, as though she had cried not long ago.

Beside her, a Boy of only three or four knelt at her side.

Looking at the Boy, he knew this was Kagami's son, the father of Shisui Uchiha, the original owner of the Kotoamatsukami ninjutsu.

After bowing to the Mother and Son, Kagura left.

Walking out of the funeral hall and Looking at the darkened sky, Kagura let out a deep breath.

Only then did he feel that he had begun to integrate into this world, experiencing the joys and sorrows brought to him by people who had once existed only in manga.

He shook his head, as if trying to drive the sadness from his mind.

Kagura opened his umbrella again and headed home.

But when he had just reached his front door, he unexpectedly discovered that the lights inside were already on.

"Did I forget to turn off the lights when I left?"

Muttering in confusion, Kagura opened the door.

"Happy birthday!"

The moment he stepped inside, as that congratulatory voice rang out, a shower of Ribbons burst before him.

Brushing the scraps from his head, he looked blankly at the familiar three people.

They were his Team 7 Companions: Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.

He asked in confusion:

"How did you get into my house? And what birthday?"

Tsunade answered with a smile:

"Oh, you didn't lock the door when you left, so we came right in.

Of course we're celebrating your ninth birthday!"

"My birthday?"

This was the first time Kagura had learned the date of his own birthday.

It couldn't be helped. By the time he had crossed over, this body's Parents had long since passed away.

He had instinctively rejected the other clan members, while Kagami Uchiha, the only person close to him, did not know when his birthday was either.

Thus, ever since crossing over, he had tragically never celebrated a birthday even once.

As time passed, he had even forgotten his actual birthday.

This time, Tsunade had only learned the date because she had recorded his information back when they were at the academy.

So starting yesterday, she had joined forces with Orochimaru and Jiraiya to prepare a surprise for him.

But she had never expected Kagura to give her so little face today. After refusing, he had not even given them a chance to speak before leaving just like that.

Tsunade, unwilling to give up, naturally did not let it end there. She still brought the prepared items to Kagura's home.

Fortunately, Kagura had forgotten to lock the door because of the snow. Otherwise, Tsunade's original plan had been to force the door open...

Looking at the smiling Three Companions and the table behind them covered in Food and Cake,

a smile slowly appeared on Kagura's previously blank face. He looked at the three of them sincerely and said:

"Thank you. Thank you for everything you prepared for me."

Hearing that, Tsunade smiled happily, stepped forward, took his hand, and led him toward the back.

As she walked, she said:

"Come on, blow out the candles first, then try the food.

We bought all this with the rewards from our missions. We had to wait in line for ages to get it."

"The food was obviously bought with my money."

"What do you mean? Didn't I buy the cake?"

Amid everyone's noisy bickering, Kagura looked at the cake before him, covered in candles, and blew them out with all his strength.

Seeing the delighted looks in his companions' eyes, he felt a Warm Current seem to rise within his heart.

"Mr. Kagami, it seems I have a group of pretty wonderful Companions too."

Parties always passed especially quickly. After eating and drinking their fill, the three left.

Looking at the room, now somewhat empty after being cleaned up, Kagura no longer felt the loneliness he once had.

Looking at the remaining slice of cake Before eyes, he began thinking about something else.

With his knowledge of the plot, perhaps he could change the Tragic Luck of these three.

At that thought, a trace of determination flashed through his Eyes.

However, if he wanted to change fate, the most important thing was still his own strength.

With that thought, he summoned the One-Tails within his body.

After Two Months, he had successfully raised the One-Tails' Cultivation Progress from 43% to 56%.

Once the progress had exceeded 50%, he had sensed that he could summon the Tailed Beast inside him outside his body.

Looking at the round One-Tails Shukaku before him, which was about the size of a Pet Dog, Kagura smiled and pushed the remaining slice of cake toward him.

"Come on, try this cake. I saved it especially for you."

Pure White One-Tails let out a delighted howl, then lay beside the cake and began gnawing on it.

Though this Cute Thing before him was completely different from the ferocious Shukaku in his memories,

it had neither Evil Chakra nor the savage urge to destroy everything at the slightest provocation.

The One-Tails that emerged from his body was like a pure white Little Angel. If he could take him outside, he would probably win the hearts of countless Girls.

Even so, Kagura only dared to let him out when he was alone.

It couldn't be helped. His appearance was still identical to the One-Tails.

Moreover, that abundant Chakra would be difficult to hide from the notice of people like Danzo.

After feeding him the cake, Kagura played with him for a while before taking him back into his body.

Standing up and stretching lazily, Kagura began making his bed and preparing to Fall Asleep.

It couldn't be helped. In this place without much entertainment, he had long developed the habit of going to bed early and rising early.

In the Deep Night, Kagura, who was lying in bed, suddenly Opened his Eyes.

His Eyes changed rapidly, directly transforming into the Sharingan.

He did not get up immediately, but warily looked toward the window.

Suddenly, a voice sounded Outside Window:

"Don't be nervous. It's me."

Yet upon hearing that familiar voice, Kagura, who had merely been wary before, grew tense.

Because he Recognized the owner of That Voice. It was Danzo, their Team Leader Teacher.

Seeing no response from inside, Danzo continued without concern:

"Kagura, get up immediately and prepare your gear.

Gather at the Village Gate in 15 Minutes.

This is an Emergency Event. The mission we're carrying out this time is an A-Rank Mission!"