August 18th.
Gojo Yoru woke up early, feeling as energetic as if he had been injected with chicken blood.
While washing up, he looked at himself in the mirror, his eyes full of anticipation.
Today was Gojo Yoru's birthday. Before he was three, his parents in this life would spend it with him.
After Gojo Hayate and Gojo Mio sacrificed themselves, Gojo Yoru never celebrated his birthday again.
Until the year he turned six, making him look forward to this day every year after.
Four years ago today was the time of Gojo Yoru's first evolution.
That evolution, delivered right on time, was called a gift of space-time by Gojo Yoru.
If such a gift were to come again, Gojo Yoru believed the timing should still be his birthday.
So every year on August 18th, Gojo Yoru would secretly anticipate it.
Unfortunately, for the next three years, that kind of evolution hadn't come. He didn't know if it would come this year.
After washing up, Gojo Yoru began to prepare breakfast.
"Yoru, I'm here."
Just as he filled two glasses of milk, the girl's voice reached Gojo Yoru's ears.
The voice was so loud it seemed to echo throughout the entire small Western-style house.
Then Uzumaki Kushina trotted up the stairs, wearing slippers, making thump thump thump sounds.
Looking at Uzumaki Kushina, who arrived right on time, Gojo Yoru couldn't help but tease, "I woke up early today specifically to cook, yet you managed to be so punctual. Did you secretly install surveillance in my house?"
Although it was only Konoha Year 34, scientists and computers already existed, and surveillance wasn't an unfamiliar term.
"Hehe, I woke up early today too. It shows our tacit understanding is getting stronger."
Uzumaki Kushina went to wash her hands first, then pulled out a chair and sat down, picking up a sandwich Gojo Yoru made and eating it, not knowing what politeness meant at all.
Placing a glass of milk in front of Uzumaki Kushina, Gojo Yoru habitually rubbed her head but saw white powder on her bangs. He couldn't help but mock again, "What, did you wake up so early today just to tear down your house? You didn't even clean the dust off your hair before coming over. How much of a hurry were you in?"
Saying this, Gojo Yoru was about to help Uzumaki Kushina brush off the dust from her hair.
Unexpectedly, Uzumaki Kushina, with the sandwich in her mouth, covered her head with both hands, not letting Gojo Yoru touch her hair.
If the sandwich in her mouth were a bone and her hands covering her head were shaped like paws, Uzumaki Kushina would look even more like a puppy.
"No... no need for your help, I'll do it myself." Uzumaki Kushina finished the sandwich in a few bites, then got up and ran into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water came from inside.
Gojo Yoru was a bit puzzled as to why this tomato suddenly became so reactive.
But he didn't pay much attention to it.
After breakfast, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina went together to the abandoned training ground.
Orochimaru hadn't arrived yet, so Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina played a game of tag.
One hid, one sought; being touched meant losing.
Any Ninjutsu could be used during the game.
After so many survival exercises with Orochimaru, neither of them cared for Taijutsu duels or no-rules duels anymore; they simply couldn't trigger an adrenaline rush.
On the contrary, their little game could train their respective characteristics very well.
The two trained until 10:00 AM, when Orochimaru finally appeared.
Orochimaru first guided them in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu for over an hour, then gave them some time for a lunch break.
Afterward, as usual, he separated the two. His Shadow Clone took Uzumaki Kushina for sensing training, while his main body took Gojo Yoru on missions.
More than a month had passed, and Orochimaru still had no intention of taking Gojo Yoru out of the village for missions.
Gojo Yoru didn't actively ask either.
He did whatever Orochimaru asked him to do, interpreting the ninja as an obedient tool.
This composure, which didn't require tempering, made Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was observing in secret, very satisfied.
At dusk.
Orochimaru looked at Gojo Yoru with a somewhat meaningful smile and said, "That's it for today's training. Go back and rest well. By the way, happy birthday."
Gojo Yoru was slightly stunned.
When he recovered his senses, he found that Orochimaru had already disappeared.
Gojo Yoru wasn't surprised that Orochimaru knew his birthday; the other party must have seen his file.
However, Gojo Yoru couldn't help but complain in his heart.
Not even a gift? Did he just remember it suddenly?
Finishing today's mission, Gojo Yoru didn't go home immediately but returned to the abandoned training ground.
Uzumaki Kushina had finished training earlier and was waiting for Gojo Yoru by the wooden dummy.
"Let's go. No picnic outside today; let's eat at my place," Gojo Yoru beckoned.
However, Uzumaki Kushina didn't cling to him as usual.
Instead, she stood there, looking bashful, and said, "Um... I have to go back today. I might not be able to eat with you."
Gojo Yoru was somewhat surprised but still smiled, "That's a good thing. It means you're getting closer to them. You didn't wait for me here just for this, did you?"
"...Mhm." Uzumaki Kushina scratched her face, averting her gaze.
"Alright, hurry back then. See you tomorrow."
Knowing the girl must be feeling awkward, Gojo Yoru didn't say anything more.
"Mhm, see you tomorrow."
Uzumaki Kushina waved to Gojo Yoru, then turned into a cloud of white smoke and disappeared on the spot.
Gojo Yoru regretted it instantly. If he had known, he would have mocked her just now.
To think he actually thought Uzumaki Kushina felt awkward. That girl was probably already eating a big meal in the mansion.
Not leaving with Uzumaki Kushina for the first time, Gojo Yoru felt a rare discomfort.
Returning to the central street, Gojo Yoru initially wanted to find a place to make do for dinner.
But after thinking about it, he dismissed the idea.
For the sake of his health, he had gotten used to cooking for himself.
Buying some fresh fruit and milk, Gojo Yoru carried the bag back home.
"Hmm?"
Just after taking off his shoes, Gojo Yoru immediately noticed something wrong.
A pair of slippers was missing from the entrance.
Gojo Yoru raised an eyebrow, then opened the shoe cabinet. Sure enough, he saw a pair of familiar ninja shoes hidden inside.
"This Tomato-na..."
Gojo Yoru vaguely guessed something and couldn't help but smile as he walked up to the second floor.
By now, the sun had set, leaving only the red glow of twilight.
Without the lights on, the second floor was slightly dim.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle...
As soon as Gojo Yoru went upstairs, he heard the sound of sparking.
Looking in the direction of the sound.
He saw a familiar figure walking out of the kitchen, holding a cake with sparkling candles in both hands, walking towards Gojo Yoru.
"Tada... are you surprised why I'm here?"
Uzumaki Kushina handed the cake to Gojo Yoru, smiling brightly: "Happy birthday, Foul-mouthed Yoru!"
Although he had vaguely guessed it and was somewhat mentally prepared, looking at the cake in front of him, Gojo Yoru was still deeply moved.
The cake in Uzumaki Kushina's hands wasn't big, not even enough for her to eat alone, and it was oddly shaped, unable to maintain a perfect circle.
However, the flour, cream, and egg liquid on the girl's face, hair, and apron made Gojo Yoru feel a heavy sentiment.
He finally understood why the girl acted so abnormally during the day.
So the white powder on her hair wasn't dust, but flour that hadn't been cleaned off yet.
For this cake, Uzumaki Kushina had started preparing very early, even though she still couldn't make it well.
Calming the surging emotions in his heart, Gojo Yoru grinned: "Tomato-na, you're trespassing on a private residence. Aren't you afraid I'll throw you in jail?"
Uzumaki Kushina was about to retort but immediately urged, "Never mind that for now, hurry up and blow out the candles."
"Do I need to make a wish?" Gojo Yoru asked with a smile.
"Of course, otherwise the birthday is wasted. Remember to make a praying gesture."
"Alright."
Looking at the girl with sparkling eyes, Gojo Yoru put down the bag, made a praying gesture with both hands, and closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and blew out the candles around the sparkling firework on the cake.
In previous years, he prayed for the evolution to come again. This time, Gojo Yoru rarely amended his wish.
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