After breakfast, Higashino Megumi went to work as usual.
Higashino Shin was, after all, only four years old. With an adult at home, there was no need for him to do chores, so the task of washing dishes naturally fell to Higashino Jiro.
Fortunately, although the system in the Ninja World was relatively backward, the thinking of the Ninja community was comparatively advanced, and gender equality was relatively high.
The Higashino Clan were just commoners, not some great Ninja clan. Higashino Jiro didn't act like a grand patriarch at home and was quite skilled at housework.
"Shin, are you still going to study at home today?"
"Yes, Father. Is there something you need my help with?"
"Well... not exactly. Since yesterday was your birthday, I came straight home and haven't reported to the Village yet."
"Besides that, the rest are private matters, but I might not be back by noon."
Theoretically, a Ninja returning to the Village after a mission should report first, but the Village wouldn't be harsh on someone like Higashino Jiro for coming home first for his son's birthday.
After all, it wasn't wartime, and Higashino Jiro wasn't the Jonin in charge of the Ninja squad, so he didn't need to report detailed information about the deployment period.
On the contrary, this deep love for his son was also a manifestation of the will of fire, a form of political correctness.
"Don't worry about me. You know, Father, I can take care of myself."
"I believe that completely, but I think you're too solitary. You should go out more, meet friends your age, and play Ninja games. I think it would be good for your mental health."
"Did you play them when you were little? Was it fun?"
"..."
It was fun; thinking about it now, it was full of childhood memories.
But he was a mature Ninja now, and a father. After seeing his son's expression of disdain for such childishness, he suddenly didn't want to answer.
Precocious children really make parents feel both relieved and helpless.
---
After his father left, Higashino Shin sat alone in the study, quietly thinking.
The fatigue from cultivating Chakra was completely different from the weakness when his Chakra was exhausted before. Currently, his Chakra capacity was limited, and he should avoid that situation happening again; otherwise, if it happened too often, it might affect his physical growth.
Another thing was the direction of his future cultivation.
Now that he had Chakra, should he go Cultivate the useless Three Basic Jutsu and the clan's Ninjutsu?
Higashino Shin quickly dismissed the idea. There was no need to rush; only kids who knew nothing would be desperate to learn powerful Ninjutsu.
Regarding Chakra, he would first Cultivate the refinement technique until it became a physical instinct. He couldn't have to sit cross-legged and form the Ram Seal every time he wanted to use it; that was too low-class.
At the same time, he could start practicing Chakra control. This was the most important foundation; as long as he could achieve precise control, learning any Ninjutsu would yield twice the result with half the effort, including Medical Ninjutsu.
Yes, although Higashino Shin wouldn't become a full-time Medical Ninja, Medical Ninjutsu was also in his study plan. After all, there was a Medical Tokubetsu Jōnin at home.
A ready-made teacher was right in front of him; he couldn't waste the opportunity.
This was also why he had started learning basic human anatomy before.
Medical Ninjutsu isn't something you can use just by learning it; you must also master a lot of prerequisite knowledge: understanding the operating mechanisms of various human tissues, the mechanism of medical Chakra, the effects of contact with different tissues, pharmacology, common toxins and their combined mechanisms, and so on.
Among all Ninjutsu in the Ninja World, Medical Ninjutsu probably requires the most prerequisite knowledge.
After determining his direction, Higashino Shin immediately began his studies.
He would first refine Chakra, and before the Chakra in his Meridians naturally dissipated, he could read.
Alternating like this, he wouldn't waste any time in between.
As for exercises like Tree Climbing and Water Walking to train Chakra control, he could arrange to start practicing them soon.
---
As expected, Higashino Jiro didn't return at noon. Higashino Shin moved a stool into the kitchen and made a meal for himself.
If the couple suddenly returned now, they would surely find that the food their son made was different in style from theirs, and even from this world.
Because he was making Chinese food; his cooking skills in his past life were quite good.
As for the cuisine here in the Ninja World, it was the same as the Japanese style of his past life. He actually knew a bit of that too, but since he was cooking for himself, he missed his former flavors more.
After the meal, he continued to immerse himself in cultivation and reading.
Time flew by, and the sky gradually darkened.
Higashino Shin looked out the window and suddenly realized his parents hadn't returned yet. Were they hiding away on a date?
Just then, a rare knock sounded at the door.
Inside Konoha Village, Higashino Shin wasn't afraid of any danger. He opened the door with curiosity and saw two little kids standing there.
A boy and a girl, both about his age.
The girl had medium-length purple hair and was very cute. The baby fat on her face made her look like a bun, and she was slightly shorter.
The boy's hair was black, long enough to cover his ears, with a strand hanging over his forehead. He was about the same height as Higashino Shin, but a bit thin and weak, and his complexion didn't look very healthy.
"Hello, this is the Higashino Clan residence. Who are you looking for?"
The little girl stood behind the boy, her face flushed, but not out of shyness; she didn't avoid Higashino Shin's gaze as he looked her over.
The boy was much more composed and asked, "Are you Higashino Shin?"
"I am. And you are?"
"My name is Gekkō Hayate."
"My name is Yūgao Uzuki."
Higashino Shin was stunned for a moment. So it was these two. He had actually encountered legendary plot characters; he just hadn't recognized them immediately.
After all, there was a big difference between anime and real-life humans.
"Oh, hello. Is there something you need?"
"Cough, cough," Gekkō Hayate coughed lightly and said, "Uncle Higashino asked us to come and tell you to go to Yakiniku Q for dinner."
"Oh, okay. Thanks for the trouble. Wait a moment, I'll go change my clothes and then we can go."
Walking on the road, Higashino Shin curiously observed Gekkō Hayate, thinking to himself: Does this guy have the roots of his illness since childhood? Even so, he could still become a Tokubetsu Jōnin in his early twenties. His talent is impressive.
Gekkō Hayate felt very embarrassed by his gaze. His personality was shy and somewhat traditional, and he worried he might be being rude. He asked weakly, "Is... is there something wrong with me?"
"No, nothing." After replying, Higashino Shin looked at the two of them curiously and asked with a mischievous grin, "Brother Hayate, is the girl next to you your girlfriend?"
Little Hayate's face turned red. "Ah? How is that possible? Yūgao is only four, and I'm only five."
Yūgao Uzuki widened her innocent eyes. "Hey, Brother Hayate, what's a girlfriend?"
Gekkō Hayate: "..."
Higashino Shin: "So you're a year older than me?"
"Hey, you two, you still haven't said what a girlfriend is!"
Higashino Shin: "It's a wife for when you grow up."
"Eh? Ah?" Yūgao Uzuki was stunned, and her face immediately turned so red it looked like steam was about to come out.
As expected, children in the Ninja World are generally precocious. What a sin.
For the rest of the way, the two little ones didn't speak to Higashino Shin again.
It wasn't that they disliked him, but they felt that although he was about their age, his way of speaking was like an adult's, making them not know how to communicate.
Soon, the three of them arrived at Yakiniku Q.
Higashino Shin looked up at the sign, thinking that this was also a famous Konoha landmark. Too bad he hadn't awakened a Check-in System; otherwise, he'd surely get an S-rank Ninjutsu out of it.