Summer noons were always unbearable, and the heat after lunch was especially unpleasant.
"Tsubaki, hurry up and learn Ice Release. You could make some ice and cool us down."
The technology tree in this world had taken a seriously bizarre turn. Its power systems were still at the level of steam boilers, yet it already had plenty of movies, and electricity was widely used. There were even a few small computers with limited functions, though their performance might not have matched the bulky vacuum-tube computers from his previous life. Still, various applications for surveillance, medicine, and the like were nothing too astonishing. But with technology at this level, the fact that air-conditioning hadn't even become common in homes was truly unbelievable.
"Without a Kekkei Genkai, learning Ice Release is too difficult," Tsubaki said, looking at the agitated Mizuki.
Ice Release was, in theory, the product of combining the nature transformations of Water Style and Wind Style. In practice, though, it was astonishingly difficult. Mizuki couldn't recall anyone who had mastered it through conventional training. It was already extremely challenging, and without a natural affinity for both Water and Wind chakra, the odds of learning it weren't much better than Mizuki's chances of becoming the Fifth Hokage. Tsubaki's chakra affinities were far better than Mizuki's ordinary Fire affinity. Wind, Water, and Lightning—if she weren't his fiancée, Mizuki would have been insanely jealous.
"Water makes sense, but what's with Wind and Lightning? I never thought Tsubaki had a violent streak."
While Mizuki worried that his fiancée might turn into a violent person, Tsubaki took a folding fan and alternated between fanning herself and cooling Mizuki down.
If you had to ask why the engaged couple didn't sit close together and fan each other, all you could say was that Mizuki, who'd been born with a lifelong-singles aura in his previous life, was making a rather obvious miscalculation.
"Without air-conditioning, sitting close together would just make us roast!"
"The flower shop's barely been open for the last two or three days. Since we're free today, let's go check on it this afternoon."
"Huh? It's so hot. I doubt many people will come by." Mizuki didn't really want to go. "You can look at me all you want, I'm staying home to beat the heat."
"If we don't go soon, the flowers will wilt. I'm going."
"Fine, fine, let's go take a look." Seeing Tsubaki's pleading, dewy eyes, Mizuki finally gave in.
"Maybe it's just me, but ever since Tsubaki came back injured from the Land of Waves, she's been even stricter with me."
Mizuki was lamenting that his fiancée wasn't as obedient as she used to be when Tsubaki said, "If we have some free time over the next few days, don't hire a shop assistant. The two of us can manage."
At that, Mizuki knew he was only going to sink deeper into the life of a flower shop owner. But then a thought suddenly struck him.
"Tsubaki, we can hire a temporary worker. Someone who won't ask for wages."
"Free help is free help." Mizuki couldn't help feeling pleased with his own cleverness.
In the afternoon, plenty of villagers were reluctant to go out in the heat, but there were still plenty of people on the streets. During the Chunin Ninja Exams, the number of outsiders kept growing. Ever since word got out that the third stage of the exams would be held a month later, people interested in attending had been streaming into Konoha, making its streets even more bustling. The ones who suffered, though, were the ninjas assigned to patrol.
"Surrounded by all these flowers, it doesn't feel quite so hot."
To Mizuki's surprise, business was unusually good. Tsubaki bustled around, and Mizuki stepped in now and then to help. He watched her work, wiping away sweat from time to time, a smile on her face.
"This must be the life Tsubaki wants: peaceful and simple. An ordinary flower shop, a family living happily together, working hard to make ends meet."
This world had been deeply scarred by frequent wars and social upheaval. Even in relatively peaceful Konoha, most people longed for peace. It was easy to understand why so many people who had suffered tirelessly searched for ways to achieve it, even if the peace they sought was as illusory as a dream.
To be honest, ever since he'd crossed over, the hardest thing to endure—aside from feeling awkward in his own body—was the sense of alienation. He'd suddenly found himself in an unfamiliar place, and on top of that, he had to clean up the mess his predecessor had made. His resentment had been hard to shake. But once everything settled down, Mizuki finally had the time to take a closer look at the world around him. Tsubaki, who had spent the most time with him and had always taken care of him, was like a spiritual tether connecting him to this world, drawing him back from his detached, spectator-like state of mind.
"And Tsubaki isn't as weak as she looks, either. She's a strong, intelligent woman. Maybe she noticed something wrong with my state of mind and has been trying to help me in her own way."
Just like before, whenever he and Tsubaki did something together, his heart felt especially peaceful. Only then could he set aside all his worries and quietly enjoy a little time without a care in the world.
Sometimes Mizuki wondered how people with the ability to foresee the future managed to go about their days without losing their minds. If he didn't know what lay ahead, he could easily have been content with his life as it was. His skills weren't exceptional, but he'd still achieved a little. A quiet life as an ordinary ninja would have been enough.
"Sometimes, knowing too much is what gives you all your worries."
By the time evening came, Mizuki had finished a busy day and returned home. No one had come to ask him about what happened that morning, so he decided to put it out of his mind and focus on his own affairs.
Early the next morning, Mizuki was woken by a knock at the door. Still groggy and irritable, he had no choice but to go answer it.
"Didn't I tell Tsubaki not to come so early?" Mizuki grumbled. But when he opened the door, he saw Hatake Kakashi standing outside with Sakura Haruno.
"Yo, good morning," Kakashi greeted him. Beside him, Sakura bowed politely in apology.
"Why are you here already?" Mizuki asked with a yawn. "I thought you'd take another couple of days to rest. Come in."
"No need. I'll be off once I've dropped her here. I've got other things to take care of." Kakashi looked ready to leave. He took out a scroll and handed it to Mizuki. "Here's what you asked for. Once you've finished reading it, just have Sakura bring it back to me."
"That was quick. Thanks, then." Mizuki accepted it without hesitation.
"I'll leave Sakura in your hands." With that, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished.
"In a hurry, huh?" Mizuki glanced at what he was holding, then turned to Sakura. "Come on in. You can have breakfast once Tsubaki gets here."
"No need to trouble yourself, Mizuki-sensei," Sakura said. "I brought some pastries as a gift. Please have some, if you don't mind."
"Put them on the table. Find a place to sit for now. I'll be right back."
Before you continue