It was a dinner that was far from lavish, but warm enough.
For Kei, who had been an orphan in both his lives, Kiko Minazuki was undoubtedly something close to a mother.
He trained so hard not only for himself, but also for Aunt Kiko, who sat before him with a gentle expression, quietly watching him eat. After all, in the original story, the Yuki Clan had suffered a catastrophe just like the Uchiha Clan a little over a decade later, nearly vanishing from the entire Shinobi World. In this life, Kei had no intention of letting his clan repeat that fate!
He therefore had to possess tremendous individual strength, and preferably become one of the people with the greatest prestige and highest standing within the clan, or even Kirigakure. Only then would he truly have the opportunity and qualifications to take control of his own destiny!
"I'm full! Your cooking is as delicious as ever, Aunt Kiko!"
Kei patted his little belly, leaned back, and lay straight down on the tatami, speaking with a thoroughly satisfied smile.
"You little rascal, all you ever do is sweet-talk your aunt to make her happy!"
Kiko Minazuki laughed in fond reproach.
"No, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, Aunt Kiko!"
Kei lifted his little head and said with a grin.
"Oh, you!"
Kiko lightly tapped Kei's forehead with a slender finger, her beautiful eyes full of affection. Just as Kei regarded Kiko as his mother, Kiko truly regarded Kei as her own son.
After all, she and Kei's mother had truly been the closest of friends, sharing everything with one another. Besides, Kei was so sensible that it made her heart ache.
Especially compared with her own little rascal, Kei truly gave her very little to worry about. Had he not been so utterly adamant a little over a year ago, Kiko would never have agreed to let him return home and live alone.
After Kiko Minazuki finished clearing away the dishes, utensils, and food boxes, she sat back down at the dining table with a somewhat serious expression. Seeing the look on his Aunt Kiko's face, Kei sat up as well.
"Kei, have you really made up your mind to enroll next year? You'll only be five next year, you know. You could easily wait until you're six. There's no need to enter the Ninja Academy so early, is there? Most importantly, the war hasn't ended yet. I'm sure Suzune wouldn't want to see you enroll this early either!"
Kiko Minazuki spoke in an extremely earnest tone, looking deeply worried.
Suzune was Kei's mother in this life, and the "war" Kiko mentioned was none other than the Second Shinobi World War, which had been mentioned only briefly in the original story and had engulfed nearly every country's shinobi village!
Being a ninja was a dangerous profession to begin with. Injuries and even deaths were frequent on high-ranking missions, let alone in war. Of the three Shinobi World Wars mentioned in the original story, along with that final decisive battle, when had the major shinobi villages not suffered thousands of casualties!?
Although Kei would only be five next year, and it seemed that, as a newly enrolled student, he would have to wait several years until graduation before actually going to war, one thing had to be remembered: anything could happen during wartime!
When the fighting grew desperate, it was hardly unprecedented for Ninja Academy students to be "volunteered" for early graduation. Unlike the world-destroying combat power seen later in the original story, cannon fodder could still play a considerable role in the Shinobi World as it was now!
Kiko truly worried that if Kei entered the Ninja Academy too early, he might be called up ahead of time if the war went badly. If that happened, his safety would become a serious concern!
Kiko did not think a child only a few years old stood much chance of surviving the battlefield. Four or five thousand of the village's ninja had already died in this war, and their Yuki no Minazuki Clan had likewise lost dozens of living, breathing people!
Among them had been Kei's father!
Of course, Kiko could not stop Kei from becoming a ninja. It would be more accurate to call it the destiny ordained from birth for those born into prestigious shinobi clans, unless they were unable to extract chakra and become ninja. Yet such a life within a shinobi clan was undoubtedly even crueler and more sorrowful!
Even for her own son, who was currently only a little over two, Kiko certainly hoped everything would go smoothly in his chakra extraction test at three. In this world, ninja represented status and strength; they were the ones who controlled everything.
As someone born into the Yuki Clan herself, Kiko naturally understood this all too well. She merely hoped that both Kei and her own son could spend their childhoods as peacefully as possible and have more time to grow!
Rather than setting foot in that incredibly dangerous, cruel world so early.
"Heh, I knew you must have had something else to discuss when you came over today, Aunt Kiko. You don't need to persuade me anymore. I've already spoken to Uncle Takuya in the clan. I'm going to the Ninja Academy next year. You should understand very well that, for people like us, time is everything!"
Kei gave a soft laugh, a look of absolute determination appearing on his face, exactly like the time a little over a year ago when he had firmly insisted on moving back to his own home and living alone!
Looking at Kei like this, Kiko could not help a flicker of abstraction entering her beautiful eyes, a faint, bitter smile appearing on her face.
Still, she understood what Kei meant by those words.
Being born into a prestigious shinobi clan.
It was a form of help, but in a certain sense, it was also a shackle!
Whatever one wanted to obtain.
One had to fight for it with one's own hands!
This was one of this world's rules of survival.
"You really are exactly like your father in that regard, Kei. All right, since you've made up your mind, there's not much more I can say. I only hope you'll be sure to protect yourself. No matter when it is, never, ever be impatient!"
Kiko looked steadily at Kei, each word she spoke brimming with concern.
"Yes, Aunt Kiko. Don't worry. I still have a dream I absolutely have to fulfill. I won't die that easily!"
Kei patted his chest and spoke in a thoroughly confident tone.
"Pah, pah, pah! What's all this talk of dying? You're so young, yet you keep spouting nonsense!"
Kiko's expression changed. She gave Kei's little head a somewhat firm smack and scolded him.
"Ahaha, I know I was wrong, Aunt Kiko. I'll be careful from now on!"
Kei gave an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head as he replied.
"Hmph, you little rascal. All right, it's getting late, so I'll head home now. Wash up and get some rest early too, okay? Remember, don't overwork yourself!"
Looking as though there was simply nothing she could do about Kei, Kiko shook her head with a little helplessness as she spoke.
"Yes, Aunt Kiko!"