There were still several months to go before Shinichi's coming-of-age ceremony.
What had originally been a celebration belonging to the Uchiha Clan had already drawn considerable attention behind the scenes, both in Konoha and throughout the shinobi world. The various powers were quietly turning their eyes toward it, all waiting for that day to arrive.
But to Shinichi himself, the ceremony handing over the position of clan head was simply the natural next step. Instead, another "major matter" occupied his thoughts and gave him quite a headache.
That day was not only his coming-of-age ceremony, but also Tsunade's birthday.
Very few people knew about this.
Tsunade had always made little of her birthday and rarely publicized it. Whenever anyone brought it up, she would brush it aside with a casual reply, as though she did not care at all.
Shinichi was different. He remembered perfectly well what that day meant.
Late at night, when everything was quiet, he would always find himself pondering it: that day, he would stand at the pinnacle of his clan, the center of everyone's attention, amid a grand ceremony. Yet Tsunade would quietly celebrate her birthday on that very same day.
What could he give her on such an important day that would truly stay in her heart?
For once, this question stumped Shinichi, who prided himself on his composure and wisdom.
Gold and jewels? Rare ninja tools? A one-of-a-kind secret technique?
He could obtain and give her any of those, yet they all seemed far too clichéd.
Besides, he understood Tsunade better than anyone. If he gave her something practical, she might accept it with a smile, but it would not necessarily mean much to her.
What she truly valued had never been the gift itself, but the thought behind it.
So, over those