It had been a few weeks since Karma became Hashirama's student.
During that time, another major change had taken place.
Karma had moved out of the orphanage.
Since Hashirama had officially taken responsibility for his training, it made little sense for him to continue living there. So Karma had moved into Hashirama's house.
At first, the arrangement had felt strange.
Karma had spent his entire life in the orphanage, sharing a room with other children and getting used to having very little that was truly his.
Now he had a room in the Hokage's house.
He had his own bed.
His own small space.
And people who expected him to be there when they came home.
It didn't take long for the strangeness to disappear.
The house became home.
Hashirama would sometimes return late from his duties and find Karma already asleep.
Other times, Karma would still be awake, sitting at the table and reading or practicing chakra control.
Mito would scold him for staying up.
Hashirama would usually make things worse by joining him.
Tobirama would occasionally visit and end up training Karma for an hour.
Madara would appear every now and then, usually with the excuse that he had "nothing better to do."
Karma knew that was a lie.
He was enjoying himself.
For the first time since his reincarnation, he wasn't simply living somewhere.
He had a home.
Of course, that didn't mean he stopped training.
Karma's ambition hadn't changed.
He still wanted to become the strongest shinobi to ever live.
He still wanted to surpass Hashirama and Madara.
And more importantly…
He still wanted to become Hokage.
So he trained whenever he could.
Today was no different.
Karma woke up early.
He stretched, washed his face and walked into the main room.
"Good morning."
Mito looked up.
"Good morning, Karma."
Hashirama was already gone.
Tobirama wasn't there either.
Karma looked around.
"Hashirama-sensei already left?"
"He had an early meeting."
"And Tobirama-sensei?"
"Busy."
Karma nodded.
"Madara-sensei?"
Mito smiled.
"Not here."
Karma sighed.
"Everyone is busy."
Mito looked at him.
"You can take today easy."
Karma shook his head.
"I'll train by myself."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Karma smiled.
"But I want to."
Mito watched him leave.
She smiled softly.
He really was a hardworking child.
Karma walked toward the training ground.
It was quiet.
Perfect.
He picked up his wooden sword and began practicing.
He had barely finished his first set when Hashirama entered his office.
Tobirama was already there.
Mito joined them shortly afterward.
Hashirama dropped into his chair.
"Alright."
He looked at the calendar on his desk.
Then he froze.
"…Wait."
Tobirama looked at him.
"What?"
Hashirama pointed at the date.
"It's Karma's birthday."
Mito's eyes widened.
"Today?"
Hashirama nodded.
"He's five today."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mito smiled.
"We have to do something."
Hashirama's expression brightened.
"Definitely."
Tobirama nodded.
"I'll arrange the food."
Hashirama looked at him.
"You already have a present, don't you?"
Tobirama paused.
"Yes."
Madara entered the office at that exact moment.
"What are you three planning?"
Hashirama smiled.
"Karma's birthday."
Madara stopped.
"…Today?"
"Yes."
Madara thought for a moment.
"I suppose I should get him something."
Hashirama grinned.
"You mean you want to."
Madara frowned.
"Don't push it."
Mito smiled.
"We'll surprise him tonight."
Madara nodded.
"Fine."
Hashirama looked suspiciously at him.
"You're actually agreeing?"
Madara crossed his arms.
"It's his birthday."
There was no further explanation.
None was needed.
The preparations began.
Mito decided on new clothes.
She wanted to make them herself.
Tobirama had something more unusual in mind.
Hashirama spent far too long deciding what would actually be useful for Karma.
Madara disappeared for several hours.
Nobody asked where he went.
When he returned, he was carrying a carefully wrapped package.
Hashirama looked at it.
"What's that?"
"His gift."
"What's inside?"
"None of your business."
Hashirama narrowed his eyes.
"Mine is better."
Madara scoffed.
"You haven't even finished yours."
"I already know what I'm giving him."
"Then what is it?"
Hashirama smiled.
"A technique."
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"A technique?"
"A B-rank ninjutsu."
Madara looked impressed despite himself.
"Hm."
Hashirama grinned.
"Jealous?"
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Mito sighed.
"Please don't turn a child's birthday into another competition."
Tobirama quietly looked up from his work.
"They've already done that."
Madara and Hashirama looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
By evening, everything was ready.
Karma returned home after training.
The house was strangely quiet.
He opened the door.
"Hello?"
No answer.
Karma frowned.
"Hashirama-sensei?"
Nothing.
He walked inside.
He checked the main room.
Empty.
Kitchen.
Empty.
He looked around.
'Where did everyone go?'
He sighed.
"Whatever."
He sat down.
It had been a long day.
Then the lights came on.
"Surprise!"
Karma jumped.
"What the—"
Hashirama, Mito, Tobirama and Madara stepped out from behind the doorway.
A cake sat on the table.
Candles were lit.
Karma stared at them.
Nobody spoke for a moment.
Then Hashirama grinned.
"Happy birthday, Karma!"
Karma blinked.
"My…"
He looked at the cake.
"Birthday?"
Mito smiled.
"Your fifth birthday."
Karma stared at the candles.
Then at the four people standing in front of him.
He hadn't expected this.
Not even slightly.
He looked at Madara.
"You came."
Madara frowned.
"Of course I came."
Karma smiled.
"I thought you were busy."
"I was."
"Then why are you here?"
Madara looked away.
"It's your birthday."
Karma's smile grew.
"Aw."
"Don't make that face."
Karma laughed.
Hashirama walked over.
"Come on, kid. Make a wish."
Karma stood in front of the cake.
He looked at the flames.
For a moment, he didn't know what to wish for.
He already had everything he had wanted when he was reborn.
Strength.
Talent.
A second chance.
A path toward becoming Hokage.
But there was one thing he had never asked for.
Karma closed his eyes.
'Please let this family stay together.'
He blew out the candles.
Everyone clapped.
Karma laughed.
Then came the presents.
Hashirama went first.
"Mine."
Madara immediately frowned.
"Why are you going first?"
"Because I'm the Hokage."
"That's not how birthdays work."
"It is today."
Tobirama sighed.
Karma laughed.
Hashirama handed him a scroll.
Karma opened it.
His eyes widened.
"What's this?"
Hashirama smiled.
"A B-rank ninjutsu."
Karma stared at him.
"You're going to teach me one?"
"Yes."
"Which one?"
Hashirama smiled.
"You'll find out tomorrow."
Karma hugged the scroll.
"Thank you, Hashirama-sensei."
Madara clicked his tongue.
"That's not bad."
Hashirama grinned.
"Jealous?"
"No."
Tobirama stepped forward.
"My turn."
He handed Karma a carefully wrapped object.
Karma opened it.
Inside was a specially crafted kunai.
His eyes widened.
The weapon had a distinctive three-pronged design.
Karma looked at Tobirama.
"Tobirama-sensei…"
Tobirama nodded.
"It is suited to your current size."
Karma carefully held it.
"This is…"
"The kunai I use for the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Karma looked at it with genuine excitement.
"You made this for me?"
"Yes. Whenever you find yourself in danger just channel chakra into that kunai and I will be there as fast as I can."
Karma smiled.
"Thank you, sensei."
Madara immediately stepped forward.
"Mine."
Tobirama looked at him.
Madara ignored him and handed Karma his present.
Karma unwrapped it.
Inside was a beautiful tanto.
It was smaller than a standard weapon, designed specifically for Karma's current size.
He carefully pulled it from its sheath.
The blade was perfectly balanced in his small hand.
Karma looked at Madara.
"You got this for me?"
Madara nodded.
"You've been using that wooden sword long enough."
Karma smiled.
"I love it."
Madara looked away.
"Good."
Hashirama grinned.
"Mine is still better."
Madara glared at him.
"Yours is a promise."
"A very good promise."
"Mine is something he can actually use."
"Enough."
Mito walked forward carrying a neatly folded package.
Karma looked at her.
"Mito nee-san?"
"Here."
He opened it.
Inside were new clothes.
They were beautifully made, sewn specifically for him.
Karma ran his fingers over the fabric.
"You made these?"
Mito smiled.
"Of course."
Karma looked at the clothes.
Then at the kunai.
Then at the tanto.
Then at the scroll.
His chest tightened.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
He tried to smile.
"I…"
His voice cracked.
He quickly looked down.
"I'm fine."
A tear fell.
Karma wiped it away.
Another followed.
"I'm fine."
Mito immediately understood.
"Karma…"
She pulled him into her arms.
Karma froze for a moment.
Then his hands slowly grabbed onto her clothes.
The tears came.
He buried his face against her.
"I've never had this before."
Mito held him tighter.
"It's alright."
"My birthday…"
His voice shook.
"I never…"
He couldn't finish.
Hashirama stood silently.
Tobirama lowered his eyes.
Madara looked away.
They had known Karma was an orphan.
They had known he had grown up without parents.
But none of them had truly understood what that meant.
They had thought about the absence of parents.
They hadn't thought about the small things.
No one waiting for him on his birthday.
No one preparing a cake.
No one choosing a present.
No one remembering.
For five years, Karma had lived without those things.
And now four people had gone out of their way to make one day special for him.
Mito gently rubbed his back.
"You don't have to be alone anymore."
Karma's shoulders shook.
Hashirama walked over and placed a hand on his head.
"You're part of this family, Karma."
Karma looked up at him.
Hashirama smiled.
"You understand?"
Karma nodded.
"Yeah."
Tobirama spoke quietly.
"You have us."
Madara was silent for a moment.
Then he stepped forward and placed a hand on Karma's head.
"Don't cry over a few gifts."
Karma laughed through his tears.
"You're terrible at comforting people, Madara-sensei."
Madara snorted.
"I know."
Karma wiped his face.
"Thank you."
Madara nodded.
Karma looked at all four of them.
"Thank you, everyone."
Mito smiled.
"Happy birthday, Karma."
Karma smiled back.
For the rest of the evening, they simply enjoyed themselves.
They ate.
They talked.
Hashirama and Madara argued over whose gift was better.
Tobirama occasionally made comments that only made the argument worse.
Mito repeatedly told all three of them to stop.
Karma laughed until his stomach hurt.
Later that night, Karma sat alone in his room.
His new clothes were folded neatly beside his bed.
The special kunai rested carefully on the table.
The tanto was placed beside it.
And the scroll containing his promised B-rank technique sat at the center.
Karma stared at everything.
Then he smiled.
'So this is what having a family feels like.'
He had spent his first five years thinking about strength.
About becoming Hokage.
About changing the future.
About making his name impossible to ignore.
But tonight, something had changed.
He finally understood what he was fighting for.
Karma closed his eyes.
'I'm going to become Hokage.'
A small smile appeared on his face.
'And I'll protect this family.'
For the first time, the dream didn't feel like ambition alone.
It felt like a promise.