Time passed day by day as Higashino Makoto immersed himself in training.
During this period, his father, Higashino Jirō, took another turn rotating duties and finally had time again to accompany his son's training. However, he only lasted at this job for a little over ten days before making a quick exit.
This was because he was surprised to discover that he was increasingly unable to keep up with the rapid growth of his son's strength.
Regarding this matter, he felt both happy and dejected.
What made him happy was that his son truly was a genius—a genius not inferior to Hatake Kakashi. With his own perspective, the only genius he could imagine was Kakashi.
What made him dejected was that, as a father, his authority was about to be lost.
In order to preserve the powerful image of a father in his son's heart, he decisively slipped away.
After the final spar ended, he turned his body, looked toward the rising sun in the east, crossed his arms over his chest, and while quietly rubbing his arms to ease the pain, said in a low voice: "Makoto, your progress is truly astonishing. I believe that in just a few years, you'll be able to surpass me, won't you?"
"It really is moving. I never imagined you would have such capacity. You truly are worthy of being my son. But I no longer have anything left that I can teach you."
"From here on, the road ahead is something you must explore on your own. Work hard, my son. I'll be waiting for the day you catch up to me and stand by my side."
After saying this, Higashino Jirō left, leaving Higashino Makoto with a broad, resolute, solitary impression, as if he were invincible in the world.
Higashino Makoto watched that figure depart while bathed in the morning light and felt somewhat emotional. This father of his truly had nothing to criticize—strong, humorous, never putting on airs, giving whatever was needed, and no matter how busy he was with missions, always rushing back on his birthday.
It was just that, occasionally, he was a bit embarrassingly dramatic.
Did you forget that your own son has abnormal sensory perception? If Higashino Makoto had not sensed the small movements of his father's hands behind his back, he might actually have believed it.
Old man, you're just not able to cough up gold coins anymore—that's all. You don't need to be so dejected, do you?
Oh, right—his father is still young, not even 26 yet. He's not an old man. No wonder that chunibyo soul of his still hasn't completely faded away.
He really is a cute and charming young father.
...
The old year ended and the new year began. Higashino Makoto was six years old, which was just the right age to attend the ninja academy.
But before that, only a few months after the new year had just passed, a major event occurred in the ninja world—an event that Higashino Makoto had long since known would happen.
The Kazekage of Sunagakure in the Land of Wind—the Third, known as the strongest Kazekage—had gone missing.
No one knew when he had gone missing. It was only that, according to Higashino Jirō, in the past few days, large groups of Sunagakure ninja had often been frequently active at the border, seeming to be planning some major action.
But before the investigation results from the spies of various countries in the Land of Wind came out, the news was exposed by people inside Sunagakure itself.
The Third Kazekage had gone missing—alive, no one could find him; dead, no one could find his body.
The ninja world was not ancient times. Although it had not yet entered the information age, the speed at which news spread was still quite fast. Before long, this matter spread throughout the ninja villages of all sizes.
Seeing that the news could not be concealed, Sunagakure simply decided to go all-in. Whether it was to divert the boiling pressure among the village's ninja, or to prevent several factions within the village from exhausting themselves first and fighting each other to the brink of death over the position of Kazekage, an external war was unavoidable.
Who to fight? Of course, fight the fattest one—would they fight the poor Rain Village instead? That way, even if they couldn't win, they could at least bite off a few chunks of meat and get a full meal. And so, Sunagakure started a war against Konoha. Large groups of ninja crossed the Land of Rivers and invaded the territory of the Land of Fire.
The reason? That thing was too easy to find. Sunagakure tossed a pot at Konoha, claiming that it was Konoha's plot that had caused the death of their Third Kazekage. This war was a war of revenge.
After all, Konoha has a "darkness of the ninja world." First, pin this matter on him. Whether it was true or not was not important—so long as the Sunagakure ninja believed it. Then wouldn't morale be there?
Danzō: "???"
Damn it, this really has nothing to do with me.
Inside the underground base of the Root organization, Shimura Danzō truly wanted to shout something like that. But he was a mature ninja, so he restrained the impulse.
Because it was simple: whether it was him truly didn't matter. They just needed a reason to start a war. What mattered was that the war had already begun. What should be considered next was how to kill those bastard Sunagakure ninja, and vent this evil anger of being framed.
There had always only been him setting others up; no one dared to set him up. Sunagakure was as good as dead—he, Shimura Danzō, said it. Even if the Sage of Six Paths came, he wouldn't be able to save them.
...
Higashino Makoto had already lived in the ninja world for nearly six years, and at last, he experienced for the first time what it was like when war arrived.
The ninja forces stationed at the border barely managed to hold off Sunagakure's attack, becoming entangled along the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire. But that was still not enough. The entirety of Konoha immediately switched out of mission mode.
Large numbers of ninja who had been dispatched elsewhere were recalled, formed into large units, and marched toward the front lines.
The village shed its usual peaceful atmosphere, becoming permeated with tension.
Villagers stood on both sides of the roads, watching the departing units, their expressions far from good.
Among them were their fathers, husbands, and sons. All of them stepped onto the battlefield without hesitation to protect the Land of Fire and to protect Konoha.
But how many would be able to return safely? No one knew.
On one hand, the upper leadership sent people to the Capital of Fire to meet the daimyō, requesting funds to respond to a wartime state. On the other hand, they convened representatives from all major and minor clans as well as civilian ninja, holding meetings day after day to discuss plans for dealing with the war.
Everyone knew that once a war began, it could not remain a matter between just two countries. Before long, the major military powers would all be drawn into it.
The Fire–Wind border had to be defended, and the other borders could not be relaxed either. Manpower likewise had to be increased as a precaution.
After the previous two great wars, this was all familiar routine.
Time quietly slipped by amid this tense atmosphere, and Higashino Makoto welcomed his sixth birthday.
That evening, Higashino Megumi and Higashino Jirō smiled as they watched their son close his eyes and silently make a wish in front of the cake.
In fact, in the past, Higashino Makoto had always just gone through the motions. The ninja world didn't have Dragon Balls anyway—what use was making wishes?
But today was different. Because of the war, he made his wish seriously.
Higashino Jirō smiled and asked, "Makoto, what wish did you make this year?"
"If I say it out loud, it won't come true."
"That's right, that's right." Higashino Megumi took out a thick notebook. "Here—this is the gift I prepared. It contains the key points I summarized and organized for studying medical ninjutsu."
"This one is mine." Higashino Jirō took out a short ninja blade. It was the same style as the black ironwood one he had given before, but this time it was the real thing.
"Before, it was because you were too young, and I was afraid you might accidentally injure yourself or others, so I didn't give you a real blade. But I know you've already grown up. You're not as naïve as other children—your mind is very mature. So it's time to give it to you."
"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother." Higashino Makoto put the notebook away, then casually drew the blade slightly and took a look at it.
This was not a new blade. Both the hilt and the scabbard bore signs of wear, clearly showing that it had been around for some years. However, the blade itself was snow-bright and looked as new, without the slightest trace of wear. On it were engraved the two characters "Higashino."
Higashino Jirō explained, "This was once your grandfather's sidearm. The blade is mixed with chakra metal. Back then, it cost our family all of its cash."
"Your grandfather used this blade, and your uncle used it as well. Later, it was damaged, and it was kept at home as a family token."
"Recently, I asked a craftsman to repair it. Now, I pass it on to you. I hope it can make a name in your hands. I believe that, with your ability, you can do it."
Higashino Makoto did have an uncle. Otherwise, his father wouldn't be called Jirō, but Tarō. It was just that both his uncle and grandfather had died in the previous two great wars, and his grandmother had also passed away after the Second War.
As for his mother's family, there was no one either. Higashino Megumi had been a war orphan since she was very young.
"I will, Father." Higashino Makoto sheathed the blade and asked, "When are you leaving? Which direction?"
The couple fell silent for a moment. Finally, Higashino Jirō said, "The day after tomorrow. Iwagakure's forces have appeared in the Land of Grass. That direction needs more manpower."
Yes. Not long after Sunagakure and Konoha went to war, Iwagakure was also preparing to join in.
Originally, Higashino Jirō had just been transferred back from the border of the Land of Rivers, neatly avoiding the war. But now, he once again had to accept orders and prepare to be stationed toward the Land of Grass.
"Be careful, Father. If you run into large enemy forces, don't force yourself. Stay alive. Mom and I will be waiting for you at home."
Higashino Jirō patted his son's head. "Don't worry. You know my strength. I'm not that easy to kill.
Unlike Sunagakure, which had relatively fewer ninja and specialized in poison and puppets, Iwagakure followed a mass-deployment route. Although they didn't have many top experts, their mid- and lower-level ninja were densely packed. As a result, in wartime they rarely sent out elite squads to operate independently. Generally, they moved as a company, or even a battalion.
When they encountered top-tier experts—someone like Namikaze Minato, for example—they would be treated as easy targets for farming military merit. But for ordinary Konoha ninja, running into them would be very troublesome. A moment of carelessness could lead to being surrounded and beaten to death.
Two days later, another ninja force set out. The difference this time was that Higashino Makoto had also joined the send-off crowd lining the sides of the road.
This was war.
Higashino Makoto knew that, for now, Konoha still appeared to be handling things with ease. But once Kumogakure joined in, and later Kirigakure also inserted itself into the conflict, that would be the point when Konoha would truly be stretched thin—forced to graduate ninja academy students early to replenish manpower.
Judging by the current timeline, he was very likely to be one of them.
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---