The New Year holiday ended.
Natsuki went back to work.
He had spent the holiday in a complete blur.
All day long, he had been exploring new ways to have fun with Uzumaki Kushina and Yakushi Nonō.
Now that he was back at work, he almost felt reborn.
Natsuki walked into the Hokage Office and saw Uchiha Mikoto.
She wore a black kimono, her long black hair pinned up. She looked more refined and dignified than usual, even more the picture of a devoted wife and mother.
"Happy New Year, Natsuki."
Uchiha Mikoto spoke with a gentle expression.
"Happy New Year."
Natsuki walked over and gave her bottom a couple of squeezes.
"This is a New Year gift the clan leader asked me to give you." Uchiha Mikoto took out a Summoning Storage Scroll.
"Thank you."
Natsuki opened the Summoning Storage Scroll to take a look and was rather surprised.
It contained a great many things, from medicinal herbs to various materials for forging ninja tools.
But what truly surprised him was a Fire Release Chakra Crystal.
The extraordinary value of a Chakra Crystal went without saying.
Aside from their Sharingan, the Uchiha Clan excelled at Fire Release.
It made sense that they could produce a Fire Release Chakra Crystal.
Even so, Fire Release Chakra Crystals were rare enough that this might be the Uchiha Clan's only one.
"Did your clan leader say anything else?"
Natsuki put away the Summoning Storage Scroll and asked.
"He said he hoped you wouldn't forget your agreement with him," Uchiha Mikoto replied.
Natsuki thought for a moment.
There was only one thing that could count as an agreement between him and Uchiha Fugaku: taking Uchiha Shisui as his student.
At that thought, Natsuki couldn't help laughing.
What was this?
*Losing both his wife and