A Promise Made Had to Be Kept

As the sun sank in the west, the first day at the Ninja Academy was finally drawing to a close.

Teacher Ibuki stood at the front of the classroom and closed the Roll Call Book. "All right, that's it for today. Remember to bring everything you need tomorrow, and don't be late."

The classroom immediately erupted into noise.

Shin-chan sprang out of his seat, his eyes shining like two stars, and dashed out of the classroom at astonishing speed.

"Xin Dian, Xin Dian~"

He chanted under his breath as his red figure streaked through the corridor, across the schoolyard, and out through the School Entrance. He was moving even faster than he had that afternoon when chasing Asagi-sensei.

At the School Entrance, the gatekeeper uncle saw a blur and thought something had just gone past.

"Was that a kid running out just now?"

"Looks like it," someone beside him replied with a nod.

"What's he running so fast for?"

"Probably rushing home."

The uncle fell silent for two seconds, then shook his head. "Must be nice to be young."

By then, that "young" figure had already run dozens of meters farther.

Then Shin-chan suddenly stopped by the roadside, tilting his head as he gazed at the setting sun ahead.

"Hm?"

He seemed to have forgotten something.

Shin-chan furrowed his brow and tried hard to remember.

Miya had dragged him along that morning... He'd met Thick-Eyebrow Uncle... Refined Chakra... The green peppers at lunch... Asagi-sensei that afternoon...

Everything seemed normal.

What had he forgotten?

After thinking for a full two seconds, Shin-chan gave up.

"Never mind. If I can't remember, it probably wasn't important."

He continued running.

"Xin Dian, I'm coming!"

Might Guy hadn't expected Shin-chan to be so fast. When he saw that Shin-chan wasn't in the classroom, he decided to wait by the School Entrance, keeping his eyes fixed on every student who came out.

Shin-chan had promised they would go training together after school. That boy who had charged into the crowd that morning and shouted "Youth!" alongside them surely wouldn't break his promise.

The setting sun shone on his Green Spandex, casting his shadow long across the ground.

One student after another walked past him.

No red.

Two.

No.

A group.

Still no sign of him.

Guy's eyebrows gradually drooped, but he still didn't leave. "I'll wait a little longer..."

Meanwhile, Shin-chan ran like the wind, with only two words on his mind: Xin Dian.

He hadn't gotten to eat a Chocolate Stick that morning, then he'd run into those nasty green peppers at lunch, and he'd run so many laps that afternoon. Now he desperately needed some Xin Dian to replenish his energy.

He pushed open the House Door, kicked off his shoes, and charged inside.

"I'm home!" Shin-chan called out automatically.

"You're supposed to say, 'I'm home!'" Miya's voice came from the kitchen. "Wash your hands first. Your snack's on the table."

Shin-chan's eyes lit up. He quickly washed his hands and rushed to the table.

There was a plate of little cakes and a glass of milk waiting for him.

Shin-chan grabbed a spoon, scooped up some cake, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Miya came out of the kitchen and untied her apron. Watching her son wolf down the food, she couldn't help smiling. "Slow down. No one's going to steal it."

"Mmph, mmph~" Shin-chan replied indistinctly, his mouth full.

Miya sat down across from him, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, didn't you say you were going training with that uncle in the Green Spandex after school today?"

Shin-chan stopped chewing and looked up, blinking.

Then he blinked again.

"..."

Seeing his expression, Miya's heart sank. "You didn't forget, did you?"

Shin-chan slowly pulled the spoon out of his mouth. His expression shifted from confusion to dawning realization, then from realization to guilt.

"I guess... I did say something like that..."

"You guess?" A cross popped up on Miya's forehead. "You made the promise this morning, and that uncle was so happy. He kept going on about 'youth, youth'!"

Shin-chan lowered his head and looked at the snacks on the table.

"But..." he muttered quietly, "I want to eat Xin Dian."

Miya took a deep breath, got up, and went over to Shin-chan. She crouched beside him, looked into his eyes, and softened her tone.

"Shin-chan, let me ask you something. If you promised someone you'd do something and then didn't, how would that person feel?"

Shin-chan thought about it. "Disappointed?"

"Exactly." Miya nodded. "And not just disappointed. He'd think Shin-chan didn't keep his word—that you weren't someone he could trust."

Shin-chan fell silent.

Miya continued, "I know you want a snack, and I know you've had a tiring day at school. But when you make a promise, you have to keep it. That's what being a man is about, right?"

Shin-chan looked up at his mother.

Miya wore a gentle smile. She wasn't angry; she was simply earnestly explaining something to him.

Shin-chan was quiet for a few seconds, then slid off his chair.

"Mom."

"Yeah?"

"Save me some cake." Shin-chan put on his shoes. "I'm going to find them."

Miya smiled. "All right. I'll save you some."

Shin-chan opened the door, then suddenly turned back. "By the way, Mom."

"What is it?"

"Those things you just said—did you learn them from a book?"

Miya's smile stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"They sounded really impressive," Shin-chan said seriously. "Was it some book like Mom's Collection of Famous Quotes?"

"Quit talking and get going!" Miya roared.

Shin-chan ran outside for a few steps, then suddenly stopped in the setting sun and tilted his head thoughtfully.

"What was that thick-eyebrow guy's name again?"

"Never mind. I remember what he looks like."

Then he took off running.

Meanwhile, by the School Entrance,

Guy was still standing there.

The sun had sunk a little farther, and his shadow had grown a little longer.

Guy lowered his head, drawing circles in the dirt with the tip of his shoe.

"Maybe he really did forget," he murmured. "Maybe he doesn't actually want to come."

"Maybe he's on his way."

A voice suddenly sounded beside him.

Guy jerked his head up.

A bright smile appeared before him. Shin-chan had run over so quickly that fine beads of sweat covered his forehead.

"Sorry for the wait." Shin-chan put his Hands on hips. "I'm here to burn with youth!"

Guy froze, and large tears welled up in his eyes.

"Shin-chan!" Guy rushed forward and threw his arms around him. "I thought you weren't coming. I waited so, so long."

"Um..." Shin-chan wheezed, squeezed tight in his arms. "I just went home to eat Xin Dian."

"It's all right." Guy let him go, wiped his tears, and gave him a thumbs-up. "You came, and that's what matters. That's youth! Waiting as long as it takes for you is worth it!"

"Then let's go." Shin-chan copied Guy and gave him a thumbs-up. "Let's burn with youth."

The two little figures ran side by side beneath the setting sun.

One red, one green.

In the distance, Might Duy was walking on his hands across the Training Ground. When he saw the two children running toward him, tears immediately filled his eyes.

"Youth!" Duy cried to the heavens. "My son has made a true friend!"

Then he landed from a backflip and opened his arms to welcome them. "Come on, let's begin our training in the spirit of youth!"