Tetsusai looked uneasily at his father. "But under the Ninja Academy's current enrollment system, civilian children..."
"I'll find a way." Old Akita cut his son off and turned to Neji. "If you truly want to take this path, I'll help you. But remember, once you step into the world of ninja, there's no turning back."
Neji nodded solemnly. "I understand."
Old Akita let out a long sigh and took a sandalwood box from beneath the table. "In that case, this is for you."
Inside the box was an azure scroll, etched with patterns similar to the golden Ninja Talismans on the wall. The moment Neji took it, he felt a gentle pulse of chakra.
"This is..."
"These are the Ninja Talismans passed down through my family, along with the notes of every clan head," Old Akita explained. "Study them well. I hope that in my lifetime, I can see the path of Ninja Talismans renowned throughout the Ninja World once more!"
Neji gripped the scroll tightly, a long-forgotten warmth rising in his chest. In this unfamiliar world, this father and son had given him so much—food, shelter, knowledge, and now such a precious inheritance.
"Thank you." Just two simple words, yet they held all of Neji's gratitude.
Old Akita waved a hand. "Don't thank me yet. The enrollment matter still isn't settled." He turned to Tetsusai. "Tomorrow, pay Jonin Fujiwara a visit. Tell him we're willing to supply Explosive Tags at cost."
Tetsusai frowned. "That snob? Last year, he even—"
"Do as I say." Old Akita's tone allowed no argument.
Neji silently remembered this favor. He knew that at Akita Workshop's current scale, supplying Explosive Tags at cost would mean enormous financial losses.
By the time he left the storeroom, it was already late at night. The snow had stopped,