This Flag Was Not One to Raise!

[Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu: I could have just burned that cataract to death, but you had to miss on purpose... I'm so mad! It's all because weaklings like you kept me from showing my true power, and those guys even mocked me as the "Kindness Technique"! Hmph! Don't come looking for me again for the next few days!]

[Transformation Technique: Little Mikami, the tactics you used just now were wonderful. You used intelligence and ninjutsu together so well that even a Chunin suffered for it. But next time, try not to do anything so dangerous, okay? We'll worry about you.]

[Substitution Technique: Mikami... It's good that you're okay... (｡ŏ_ŏ)]

[Substitution Technique Affinity +1]

It seemed that because Mikami Yu had used these jutsu during the spar, the Gala System had identified it as the "appearance of a conquest target," prompting the Transformation Technique and Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu to show themselves. Only...

[Clone Technique: Hey, what do you mean by that? Why didn't you call me when you were fighting? You only called Big Sis and Little Sis? And that redhead was there too!]

"...?"

No...

Didn't it know why he hadn't used the Clone Technique?

Before the Byakugan, the Transformation Technique and Substitution Technique could still be useful, but what was the point of an E-rank Clone Technique that could only create illusions...?

Though that was what he thought, Mikami Yu definitely couldn't say it out loud. He could only sigh helplessly and say things like, "There's no need to use every jutsu in this kind of match." Then, with the Transformation Technique, as the "eldest sister," helping smooth things over, he finally managed to placate the Clone Technique.

As for Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu...

This one seemed genuinely angry. No matter how Mikami Yu tried to [talk] to it, it refused to say a word. He could only sigh and plan to try again later.

How should he put it...? Their degree of anthropomorphism was extremely high. It was pretty interesting, but also rather troublesome.

Still, it probably wasn't a big deal.

After all that training and sparring, it was already getting late.

The sun was sinking westward.

Mikami Yu had originally wanted to find Might Duy and discuss the Eight Gates with him, but considering the time, he could only change his plans and head back first.

"Huh, Yu, you're back? What a coincidence."

As he neared the residential district,

Mikami Yu saw Nohara Rin and Mikami Aoi walking toward him from the opposite direction.

Nohara Rin had books in her arms, while Mikami Aoi carried two bags of fruit and vegetables. The two chatted and laughed along the way, then smiled and greeted him in turn when they saw him.

"Mom, Rin."

Mikami Yu obediently walked over, took the bags from his mother, and glanced inside. "Huh, why did you buy so much fruit? Isn't this stuff pretty expensive? Are we not going to live anymore?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Mikami Aoi smiled. "Your father sent a letter home today, along with the village allowance. And Rin happened to tell me about how well you've been doing at the Ninja Academy, so I bought some extra food to reward you properly tonight.

"By the way, Rin, come eat with us later too. You can invite your parents as well."

"Okay!"

Nohara Rin nodded.

Beside them, Mikami Yu raised an eyebrow. So his father wasn't dead yet?

Looks like he hadn't gotten his Gala System by sacrificing both parents. That was good.

Very soon,

the three of them returned home.

After putting her things down, Nohara Rin went back to her own house, saying she would come over later for dinner. Meanwhile, while his mother was cooking, Mikami Yu picked up the letter on the table and gave it a look.

The Mikami Family's dad was named Mikami Tajima. Coincidentally, he shared a name with Uchiha Madara's father. But his background and strength were both ordinary; he was merely an average Chunin. In the letter, Mikami Tajima reported that he was safe and said that in another two months, he could hand over his post to the next group of ninja and return to Konoha.

Come on, man...

That was not a flag one should raise!

Mikami Yu grumbled inwardly.

This wasn't a time of peace. It was the eve of the Third Shinobi World War. Judging from the conversations he had heard at Konoha Hospital today, it was probably very close. If some conflict happened to break out at the border over the next two months...

Mikami Tajima might very well end up as cannon fodder!

Then what would happen to the Mikami Family's finances? Mikami Yu wasn't even a ninja yet!

To be fair, the average income for ninja was pretty good.

Genin might have it worse, since they could only take jobs like catching cats and dogs, with limited income. But starting from Chunin, the reward for a C-rank Mission was tens of thousands of ryo. After the village took its share, teammates split the rest, and necessary expenses like food, equipment, and so on were deducted, they could still save up some money.

Ninja like Mikami Tajima, who had been stationed at the border long-term, also received extra allowances. The amount wasn't particularly high, but it was enough to let the family live a fairly comfortable life.

Of course,

that comfort was only compared to civilians. It was nothing compared to those Ninja Clans.

It was said that the children of certain great clans ate delicacies from the mountains and seas from childhood, with deer antler and bear paw on the table, plus medicinal baths and massages when they had nothing else to do. Their bodies were raised to be incredibly sturdy. Add a Kekkei Genkai on top of that, and they were basically Konoha's little superhumans.

Mikami Yu thought that if Mikami Tajima returned safely this time, he would discuss it with him and see if they could find some lucrative side business. After all, the Third Shinobi World War was approaching. A ninja with Mikami Tajima's level of strength was practically pure cannon fodder, so he might as well switch careers.

That evening,

the Nohara family came to visit the Mikami Family.

Nohara Rin's father was named Nohara Hiroshi. He was also a Chunin, though he was somewhat stronger than Mikami Tajima. If Mikami Tajima was at the early Chunin level, then he was at the peak of mid-Chunin. He was still pretty weak, but if he worked hard, he might have a chance of becoming a Special Jonin within his lifetime.

What was even more noteworthy was his name.

When he had first learned that this man was named Hiroshi, Mikami Yu had briefly suspected that Nohara Rin might have a younger brother named Nohara Shinnosuke. But after actually getting to know him, he discovered that Uncle Hiroshi was nothing like the person he had imagined. He was steady in both speech and conduct, and he did not have decades of mortgage payments to make.

During dinner,

Nohara Hiroshi said cheerfully that once Mikami Tajima returned, they should have a few drinks together.

Great, another flag.

Mikami Yu muttered a few words inwardly, but his face remained perfectly calm. He merely exchanged polite pleasantries, making Nohara Hiroshi burst into laughter. "Ha, little Yu from your family really knows how to talk. Unlike my Rin, who only knows how to eat."

"?"

Nohara Rin, who was taking small sips of soup, looked up as a question mark slowly appeared over her head.

Mikami Aoi smiled and said at just the right moment, "What are you saying, Big Brother Hiroshi? Rin is excellent too. She even helped me carry things home today. I wonder which lucky boy will get to walk through life hand in hand with Rin in the future."

"Cough, cough..."

Nohara Rin choked.

Mikami Yu casually handed her a tissue, then offered the elders a slightly awkward yet polite smile before lowering his head and continuing to eat.

The meal lasted a little over half an hour.

Everyone enjoyed themselves.

Once they were full and satisfied, Mikami Aoi saw the Nohara family to the door, then returned to clear the dishes. As if she had suddenly remembered something, she took out a bag of grapes and a bag of oranges from the refrigerator and placed them on the table.

"Look at my memory. I originally said I would share some of the fruit we bought today with the Nohara family, but I forgot to mention it... Yu, take these two bags of fruit to Uncle Hiroshi."

"Oh, okay."

Had she really forgotten? Why did it seem deliberate...?