After completing a long mission that kept him away from home for an extended period, Konoha usually granted two days off — a small but thoughtful gesture. While ninja in name remained detached from secular affairs and politics, they were in reality part of the upper class. The status gained through strength was always genuine and tangible. Unless it was an extremely urgent situation, Konoha generally didn't push its ninja too hard.
On the second day, after eating and drinking his fill, Mizuki saw Tsubaki off as she left home with a refreshed spirit. In Konoha, technical ninjas—like medical specialists, seal masters, barrier experts, or codebreakers—functioned much like ordinary office workers, except their livelihood revolved around chakra and ninjutsu. Many mid-level chunin who weren't particularly strong in battle also fell into this category—for example, Iruka Umino, the teacher at the Ninja Academy, rarely received combat missions.
Now, considering their household, Mizuki and Chiharu Tsubaki's life could be compared to that of a past existence. Tsubaki was a full-fledged white-collar worker while Mizuki resembled a freelancer whose work came infrequently but paid well enough to last years. Having the powerful backing of a ninja village gave him more options and greater security. The rewards for jonin-class missions, especially A-rank or S-rank ones, were exceptionally generous. That made sense, though—the higher a ninja rose in rank, the higher their expenses became. Not everyone was as lucky as Mizuki, who married a wife with excellent financial sense and even earned extra income through side jobs. Take Asuma Sarutobi's chakra blades called Flying Swallow, for example—if he hadn't been born into a noble clan with his father as Hokage, there was no way he could have afforded such expensive gear during his rebellious youth when he smoked and drank without restraint.
"So, where should I go next?"
The morning air at the end of summer and early autumn felt quite cool and pleasant. If he were still single, he might have sighed wistfully and gone back to bed for another nap. However, after enjoying a satisfying breakfast, his drowsiness had mostly faded.
Although there wasn't anything pressing on his schedule, it didn't mean he had nothing to do. After some thought, Mizuki decided to go see Karin. Truthfully, this would be the first time he tried actively changing someone else's predetermined fate—specifically Karin's. Even though Hayate Gekko's fate had changed earlier, this case left a deeper impression on him. Back then, the still-weak Mizuki had risked his life battling Orochimaru over this very matter.
"I'll just drop by and check in. Ignoring her completely isn't good either, and I can also see what she plans to do next."
Initially, he had assumed this would be about recruiting an ally, but now things looked different. He couldn't act recklessly anymore, and in fact, Karin had become somewhat of a redundant and insignificant piece. Ever since she willingly arrived in Konoha, Mizuki had abandoned any grand schemes regarding her. With so many eyes watching, many previously considered plans simply wouldn't work anymore.
...
As the first property acquired by Mizuki and Chiharu Tsubaki together, considerable effort went into building it up. Much of the interior décor had been personally arranged by Mizuki himself. Apart from their home, this modest little shop was the place where Mizuki spent the most time—even longer than he'd stayed inside hospitals.
It was right here that Mizuki quietly accumulated his knowledge of ninja arts, especially in sealing techniques. It was here he interacted with different people and where Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka came to study. Most importantly, this place held many memories shared between Mizuki and Tsubaki.
Looking at the handmade signboard he'd crafted himself, Mizuki couldn't help but smile slightly. Months had passed, yet no one had discovered the hidden secrets within it. Only Sakura might have sensed something, although uncovering these secrets was still beyond her ability.
Recalling those past events amused Mizuki about the pranks he once played. Casually dismantling the malicious genjutsu and barriers inside, he walked through the shop door.
It was still too early; there wasn't a single customer in the store. The floral scent filling the air, combined with the quiet atmosphere, gave off a refreshing coolness.
Unexpectedly, Mizuki didn't immediately spot that shy red-haired young girl. Even after he entered, nobody came forward to greet him.
"The door's open, so where did she go?"
With some confusion, Mizuki walked toward the counter, which was obscured by floral arrangements. There, he found Karin, with her fiery red hair, resting on her elbows, fast asleep.
Being a shop clerk can get pretty dull. With nothing to do during slow hours, she often unconsciously nodded off. Mizuki understood that keeping such a teenage girl seated all day wasn't ideal. Still, sleeping so early in the morning—what if a thief stole from the shop? Thinking this, Mizuki pulled open the drawer where he remembered the money was kept. Seeing a scattered but considerable amount of cash inside relieved him—it looked like his pocket money for the time being was safe.
However, his actions were somewhat noisy, quickly waking up the drowsy Karin.
"Oh no, a thief!" Shouting loudly, Karin grabbed Mizuki's hand and swung a punch at his face.
"Don't worry. It's me," Mizuki said calmly as he caught her fist. "Well then, are you awake now?"
Still groggy, Karin listened to the familiar voice, focused her eyes, and realized it was actually Teacher Mizuki. She immediately felt flustered.
"Ah, Teacher Mizuki... No, I mean Boss! I definitely didn't mean to hit you. I thought it was a robber! And I'm not slacking off—I was just catching a quick rest!" As she spoke, Karin hastily wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.
"I understand. Don't worry," Mizuki reassured with what he hoped was an amiable smile. "I only just got here myself. Just came over to check things out. If you're tired, feel free to take a break."
"No thanks, I'm not tired!"
"Oh really?" Mizuki didn't press further. This little girl was still very insecure. Now that she'd finally found a stable job, she wouldn't want to lose it easily.
"Okay then." Since she insisted, Mizuki decided not to argue. Standing up, he glanced around. Everything seemed clean and tidy, the decorations tastefully arranged without looking cluttered. Clearly, she had put real effort into it—she hadn't been lazy at all.
"That older sister named Shizune came looking for you the other day, didn't she? She asked you to become a medical ninja. What are your thoughts on becoming a medical ninja?"
"Want to go?"
To Mizuki's surprise, Karin declined directly: "I don't have much ninja ability. I've always been a burden and completely useless. I'd rather stay here — I feel more at home here."
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