Perception

It was rare for Mizuki to return to the Ninja Academy. Holding little Miyuki's hand, he stood inconspicuously among the parents, watching the soon-to-graduate children perform nervously.

With Mizuki's strength, it was far too easy to make these people—most of whom were not even ninja—ignore his presence.

Unable to see ahead because of her height, little Miyuki grew anxious and kept tugging at Mizuki's hand, trying to squeeze forward.

Mizuki smiled faintly, lifted little Miyuki onto his shoulders, made sure she was steady, and then slowly moved forward.

"Can you see clearly now?"

"Mm-hm!"

Little Miyuki nodded happily. Not only was her father accompanying her for once today, but he had also brought her out to watch the excitement. She was overjoyed.

"Are those older brothers and sisters up ahead ninja too? Why are they so much worse than Father and Mother?"

They could not compare to Mizuki's high-flying ninjutsu. Even Tsubaki's techniques, with their dazzling lights and effects, were more eye-catching, not to mention all kinds of summoned beasts.

Desert scorpions that crossed mountains and valleys as though walking on level ground, giant desert ants skilled at cutting through soil and building sandcastles, the immensely strong Bota-kun...

As though recalling something, little Miyuki reached into her clothes and pulled out a crystal-clear little water ball.

"Father, look. None of them have a pet like Sea Monk. Does that mean I'm better than them?"

"You can't be proud..."

Mizuki waved a hand, concealing Sea Monk's chakra aura.

"Don't bully your little friends in the future. They might help you someday. If you aren't nicer to them, they'd be too pitiful..."

"Got it!"

Little Miyuki answered in her childish voice.

"I want to become a ninja too!"

"Oh... Why do you want to become a ninja? Whatever you want, your mother