More than half a month slipped quietly by. Higashino Shin carried out his training and study schedule without the slightest lapse, only occasionally heading down to the Village to stroll around, enjoy the scenery, and relax.
After all, checking in at famous scenic spots and eating a bowl of the renowned Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku ramen is one of the great pleasures of arriving in the naruto world.
Unfortunately, the flavor of Ichiraku ramen is only so-so not some glowing, other-worldly cuisine.
Konoha was the same as ever: villagers lived ordinary lives, Ninjas went about their separate tasks, and there was no tense atmosphere; for the moment there was no sign of a Ninja war brewing.
Higashino Shin basically had zero interaction with children his own age in the Village.
It might seem like an abnormal childhood, but he didn't care. In his previous life his childhood had actually been pretty happy no psychological wounds that needed patching.
Given a second shot at life, he poured nearly every minute of it into self-improvement.
That day, Shin rose early as usual, trained at the practice field, then returned home to eat and study.
Higashino Megumi usually worked at the hospital until evening, so she cooked in the morning and left the food in the refrigerator; Shin only had to heat it up at mealtimes.
Shin had actually said he could cook, but Megumi insisted, calling it "not depriving a mother of her joy."
Shin didn't argue, and for two years it had stayed this way.
Only today was a little different.
When Shin finished his morning studies and went to prepare lunch, he opened the fridge to find just one portion of prepared food the rest was raw ingredients.
Had Mom forgotten?
A medical Tokubetsu Jōnin like Higashino Megumi would never make such a mistake.
Shin glanced at the wall calendar and quickly guessed the reason.
A little after seven in the evening, a sudden knock came at the door.
Shin set down the scroll in his hand, got up, and opened the door. Outside stood a tall young man of ordinary looks, his black hair tied in a half-height short ponytail.
He carried a Ninja sword on his back and wore Konoha's standard green flak vest, somewhat dirty and travel-worn.
When he saw Shin at the door, his stern face broke into a sunny grin; he raised his right thumb and a gleam flashed across his white teeth.
"Yo, kid surprised? Happy to see me?"
Shin: "..."
"Kid, what's with that look?"
"Welcome home, Father."
"Don't be so stone-faced. Can't you show a little joy give your old man some sense of accomplishment?"
"Like this?" Shin thought seriously for a second, then replied, "Fine. If that's all you want, I can oblige!"
With a "bang" he slammed the door shut again.
The man outside slapped a hand to his forehead, sighed, and resigned himself to knocking once more.
The door reopened; Shin wore an expression of innocent delight. "Dad, you're back!"
"There's zero sense of accomplishment now, geez." Higashino Jiro's face was deadpan; then he punched Shin on the head. "What an unlovable son."
"What a hard-to-please father."
Jiro wasn't surprised by the retort he seemed used to it. He walked straight inside and asked curiously, "Shin, you knew I was coming back today?"
"Pretty much."
"Mom told you?"
"Mom didn't say; I guessed."
"Oh? Let's hear your reasoning."
"First, today is March 25. Second, judging by your mission pattern over the past year, I figured you'd most likely arrive today."
"Sharp as ever, Shin!" Jiro gave his son an approving look, then suddenly thought of something. "Did you also guess what mission I was on?"
"More or less."
"Oh-ho, beyond Dad's expectations." Jiro ruffled Shin's hair happily. "Well, I'll go wash up; your mom should be back soon."
Shin watched the young man head for the bathroom, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
This was his biological father in the naruto world Higashino Jiro.
As for what mission he'd been on, Shin could indeed guess.
Most likely a Border Patrol rotation.
Apart from Anbu, ordinary Ninjas' routine in-Village missions are like clocking in at the office no need to leave home. Client missions outside the Village vary wildly in duration and show no pattern.
Only Border Garrison duties have fixed rotation schedules.
Although no war had broken out, the borders weren't safe. Combining intel he'd read online in his previous life, Shin knew the Second and Third Ninja Wars were essentially continuous; the interim "peace" was anything but calm, with constant border skirmishes. After arriving in this world, his parents had confirmed as much.
Apart from the Hidden Mist Village, Konoha, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and the Hidden Cloud Village all keep sizable forces on each other's borders only a spark is needed for war to erupt.
Higashino Shin knew they were waiting for someone to offer as a sacificial flag. That would be you, oh mighty Third Kazekage.
And the regular troops holding those borders were mostly civilian Ninja like his own Family.
When Higashino Megumi came home, she was carrying several large boxes.
Soon the table was laden with food and a birthday cake.
The lights were turned off and the candles lit.
After Shin made his wish and blew them out, the lights came on again.
"Shin, happy birthday!"
"Thank you thank you, Father, Mother!"
Today was Higashino Shin's fourth birthday. Looking at his young parents, he felt genuinely happy.
His Soul was already forty; he'd outgrown hot-blooded ideals long ago. Changing the tragedies of the original story or pursuing peace in the Ninja World no longer interested him he lacked the power anyway.
But this complete, warm Family was his Soul's safe harbor in this world, something he absolutely had to protect.
So his thanks were earnest, no playful teasing this time.
Higashino Jiro took a sip of sake and sighed. "Our Shin is perfect in every way, just a bit too precocious he hasn't a single friend. Not one peer came to celebrate his birthday."
Megumi nodded. "He probably finds the other kids too childish. He won't even attend Preschool."
"There will be friends once I enter the Ninja Academy," Shin could only reply.
Konoha ran preschools essentially kindergartens, several of them mostly for civilian families whose parents worked and had no time.
They also enrolled many children from smaller clans loyal to the Hokage, like the Yamanaka and Nara.
As for traditional, populous clans such as the Uchiha and Hyuga, Preschool education was handled within the Family.
These Preschools accepted children at three, providing basic education while screening candidates for the Ninja Academy.
After all, not every child has Ninja potential; many assessments begin before enrollment. Otherwise, six years spent only to fail at drawing out Chakra would waste both the child's time and the Village's resources.
"Shin, here's your present from Mom!"
Megumi produced a brand-new thigh-strap Ninja pouch.
"Thanks, Mom!"
Shin accepted it gladly; he already owned two pouches, but those were the back-waist type.
"Here, this is from me."
Jiro handed over a short sword.
Shin drew it and examined the blade straight, pitch-black, similar to an Anbu standard issue.
Unlike Kumogakure Ninja, Konoha except sword-specialist families like the Gekko rarely used long katana.
The length suited his age, but the problem was the blade: it was wood. Though heavy and dense, unlikely to split at a touch, it was still wooden.
Shin stared expressionlessly at his father.
"What? Brat, not satisfied? This is forged from Land of Iron Black-Iron Wood hard as iron, perfect for practice. You want a real blade? Too dangerous for you now."
"Your father's right; a real sword is still too early."
"No, I'm very satisfied thank you, Father." Shin added, "I was going to ask you to teach me to extract Chakra."
The Higashino study held many books and scrolls, but only basic data and theory no Chakra-extraction methods, let alone Ninjutsu scrolls.
Attempting to draw Chakra or train Ninjutsu without guidance is dangerous; clearly the couple had foreseen this and locked everything away.
They exchanged glances, originally intending to refuse they'd planned to begin teaching in another year.
But recalling their son's precocity and the Village's other prodigy who graduated the Ninja Academy at five and became Chunin at six they finally decided.
Jiro nodded solemnly. "Very well."
Shin's heart leapt. "Yes finally the most important step of my Ninja life."
Then he watched his father hand him a key. "Provided you can find them."
Shin: "..."
Since matters had reached this point he might as well eat first.