Enrollment matters were resolved in a single morning.
The afternoon was declared a holiday, which was essentially time for the admitted students to go home and prepare their school supplies, or to enjoy their final moments of leisure.
From tomorrow onwards, they would be official Ninja Academy students, the reserve force for future Ninjas, and soldiers who would one day wield extraordinary power.
Perhaps Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara's original intention in founding the hidden Village was for everyone to have a stable place, to stop killing one another, to unite, and to protect their descendants so that underage children wouldn't be coerced onto the battlefield by their elders for various reasons.
However, when the hidden Villages merged with nations to establish the 'One Country, One Village' system, the nature of things changed, and that original intention became impossible to realize.
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Small-scale conflicts between Ninja clans over employment missions transformed into military competition between nations and hidden Villages.
During the Sengoku period, Ninja clans still possessed a small degree of freedom and the right to refuse employers. But once they formed hidden Villages and were tied to the monster that is the State, they were no longer masters of their own fate.
Once war broke out, it would only be on a larger scale, last longer, and result in more tragic casualties than during the Sengoku period.
When adult Ninjas suffered too many casualties, the young juniors still had to go to the battlefield; nothing had truly changed.
Perhaps Uchiha Madara saw this clearly back then, realizing that the dreams he and Hashirama shared as boys were too naive; Ninjas still couldn't escape their predetermined destiny.
Thus, he chose another path, wanting to go a step further and completely unify the Ninja World with Hashirama to end a thousand years of war and lead everyone out of this chaotic destiny.
Unfortunately, Senju Hashirama had already fallen into the illusion of peace he had constructed, stubbornly refusing to allow anyone to disrupt it.
To that end, he would kill anyone who threatened the Village, whether it was his best friend Uchiha Madara or his own kin.
While he lived, there was naturally peace. But as soon as he died, the First Ninja World War immediately broke out, followed by the second, and now the third is underway.
Uchiha Madara watched all this coldly from his hiding place underground, becoming even more certain that his ideas were correct, but he was already scarred and weary, and Hashirama—the only one who could have joined forces with him—had already passed away.
To realize his ideals, he could only use other methods. Then he fell into another trap, becoming the top project manager for Black Zetsu, the CEO of the 'Conspiracy Within a Conspiracy' City.
He still hadn't escaped the destiny of being controlled.
---
At noon, Higashino Megumi and Uzuki Sakura took their respective children, intending to grab a casual bite to eat.
At this hour, neither of them felt like going back to cook.
At the school gate, the four of them saw Gekkō Hayate and Uchiha Shisui walking out with the crowd.
Hayate, naturally, was looking to score a free meal.
Shisui, on the other hand, was preparing to return to his clan.
Yūgao Uzuki waved her fair, chubby little hand: "Over here, Hayate-niichan! We're over here! And Shisui-kun, do you want to come eat with us?"
Uchiha Shisui, who was about to say his goodbyes, was taken aback. He said in surprise, "Eh? Is it okay? I won't be too much trouble for everyone, will I?"
Higashino Megumi smiled gently: "Child, what trouble could it be? Aren't you friends with Shin and the others? Or is someone at home already making lunch?"
Higashino Shin and the other two had been hanging out with Shisui frequently over the past year or two, so the adults of the three families naturally knew about it and didn't object.
Those who held hostility toward the Uchiha were certain high-ranking officials. Ordinary Ninjas or villagers, at most, found the Uchiha Clan a bit aloof or difficult to get along with, perhaps harboring a slight dislike.
After all, as the clan in charge of the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha frequently dealt with the people of Konoha. Because they always held themselves in high regard due to the glory of being the 'number one clan' and were often cold and impersonal, they did indeed cause widespread dissatisfaction.
In fact, if one ever teamed up with members of this clan, they would find them quite reliable. At the very least, given their clan's temperament, they would never dream of using a comrade as a scapegoat.
As for whether there were bastards in the Uchiha Clan, of course there were—but then again, which clan didn't have people like that?
When Shisui heard Higashino Megumi mention his Family, he lowered his head and said softly, "My parents are no longer around. I'm the only one at home."
Uzuki Sakura: "What an independent and sensible child. Come along with us!"
The two women had originally intended to take the three little ones to a random set-meal restaurant for lunch, but since the children's friend had joined, they naturally had to go somewhere better.
Off to Yakiniku Q.
During the meal, seeing his two friends being looked after by their relatives, a flicker of envy and longing appeared in Shisui's eyes. But he was a smart child and kept his head down so no one would notice.
Suddenly, several large pieces of grilled meat appeared on his plate, emitting an enticing aroma.
Higashino Megumi: "Eat more. You too, Hayate. Both of you are a bit thin; you need to grow as sturdy as Shin."
Shisui looked up with a happy smile: "Mm, thank you, Auntie Megumi."
Hayate looked at Higashino Shin's solid build and silently complained in his heart: 'I want to, but my body just won't allow it.'
Higashino Shin didn't know what was up with Hayate. His strength had improved quite a bit, but he just wouldn't put on weight. Could he be using his Transparency Technique to visit the women's bathhouse every day?
That didn't seem right; the guy didn't even have that god-tier technique yet.
---
After the meal, everyone parted ways.
Higashino Megumi watched Shisui's departing figure and whispered, "Actually, in every war, the Uchiha's sacrifices are quite significant, but it seems no one ever publicizes it. The Village also only sends them to the battlefield when troop strength is insufficient. I don't know why things between them and the Village ended up like this."
Ninja is a profession that emphasizes secrecy everywhere, and hidden Villages are even more so. The grievances between the Uchiha and the Village, including the final battle between Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, were all classified as secrets.
The Higashino Family was just a civilian Ninja Family; how could they know the twists and turns involved?
"Why, Mom? Do you want to know the reason?"
Higashino Megumi was a bit surprised: "Do you actually know? This isn't something someone your age should understand."
"It's because of fear. Those in power fear power they cannot control most of all. Some are afraid another Uchiha Madara will appear, because Konoha no longer has a God of Shinobi."
Higashino Megumi had originally thought her son was just precocious, but she suddenly realized she didn't know him well enough. She felt a flicker of fear and looked around unnaturally.
"Shin, those words don't align with the will of fire at all. Don't say things like that again."
"Don't worry, Mom, no one is eavesdropping. But please, don't discuss things like this outside in the future. Not even at home; it'll cause trouble."
"Are you lecturing me now? Fine, fine, I get it."
"So, are we going home next?"
"No, come with me."
Higashino Megumi took Higashino Shin to a flower shop to buy a few bouquets, then they went together to the Konoha Cemetery located on the back mountain.
They placed a bouquet of fresh flowers on two non-adjacent graves.
Buried here were Ninjas who died in the line of duty for Konoha. Their names were carved on the Memorial Stone, including Higashino Shin's grandfather and uncle.
The cemetery for ordinary people was not here.
Among the many festivals in the Land of Fire each year, three involve ancestor worship, so Higashino Shin came here quite often.
As Higashino Megumi cleaned the dust off the graves with tools, she said, "Your grandfather died at the end of the First War, and your uncle died at the end of the Second War."
Both passed away just as the wars were about to end. Your uncle had originally planned to get married after the war and work hard to expand the Higashino Family during the rare period of peace, but in the end, he couldn't escape it.
Seeing you grow up so smart, your father and I were planning to have a younger sister or brother for you, but then the war came again.
The Higashino Family's luck always seems to be a bit lacking.
Now, your father has gone to the battlefield, and his fate is uncertain. There's only you left for the Higashino Family, Shin."
"Is Mom worried about something?"
"Your father told me about your strength. You're a true Genius, son. But if possible, don't graduate early like Kakashi. Stay in school for a few more quiet years."
"No problem. But sometimes, it's not up to us to decide. If this war becomes too tragic and lasts several more years, causing the Village's strength to suffer too much, our generation will eventually have to go to the front lines."
"I know. Perhaps this is the destiny Ninjas can never escape."
"Destiny? Perhaps. If Ninjas, as people who possess extraordinary power, are willing to be reduced to tools and weapons, then this destiny indeed cannot be escaped."
Higashino Megumi was a traditional Ninja after all, and she didn't quite understand her son's words: "Aren't Ninjas weapons? It's been this way for a thousand years."
"No, Mom. Just because it's always been this way doesn't mean it's right. That's what you call a mental seal."
"Then, Shin, why do you still want to be a Ninja?"
"Because I haven't experienced it, I want to taste the excitement of this profession. But that doesn't mean I agree that the current state of Ninjas is reasonable."