That evening, the group returned to Konoha.
Like everyone else, Makoto first went to the village's administrative department to register.
After returning home, he noticed that above his front gate hung a pattern woven from coarse hemp rope.
It looked somewhat similar to the one Orochimaru would later tie around his waist.
But this was not that snake's exclusive item—it was a tradition of the shinobi world, called shimenawa, typically hung before the New Year to ward off evil spirits and protect the household's safety.
There were also similar customs, such as hanging pine and bamboo to ensure the family's health, or putting up pictures of turtles and cranes to symbolize longevity—each carrying different blessings.
Many traditions in the shinobi world resembled those of his previous life in Japan.
Different from previous years, the Higashino household had gained a new member this year.
After this period of familiarity, Yamato had already integrated into the family. The initial restraint had faded, and his personality was gradually shifting in a more normal direction.
This was within Makoto's expectations. Yamato had never been someone with an extreme personality; he was naturally kind, with the temperament of a good-natured person.
During dinner, Higashino Megumi sighed, "After the New Year, you'll be eleven. The war has ended… it should be over now, right, Makoto?"
Makoto: "Yes, Mom. You're right."
Higashino Jirō: "Oh? Makoto, tell me your thoughts on the future situation."
"My thoughts? This conflict with Kumogakure shows that Konoha's strength is still formidable. That will dispel any improper thoughts from certain forces. In the future, the intensity of friction among the Five Great Nations will keep decreasing."
"Of course, complete peace is impossible. The shinobi villages of smaller nations will continue causing trouble, but they won't affect the overall situation. No one will care about their survival. Overall, the shinobi world will return to peace."
"Is that so? I just hope this peace can last a bit longer."
Jirō only said hope. As an experienced shinobi, he understood that peace was merely temporary. Once everyone accumulated enough strength, war would break out again. It seemed to have become a cycle of the shinobi world.
Megumi: "Who knows about the future? At least for now, there's peace, and the children have a stable environment to grow up safely."
"But, Makoto? Haven't you grown a bit too much? You're about the same height as those fourteen- or fifteen-year-olds, aren't you?"
Jirō nodded. "Indeed. But that's a good thing—it means he'll definitely grow tall in the future. He might even surpass me, his father, in physique."
Makoto: "…"
So growing fast is my fault, huh.
Nourished by natural energy, his physical development had always been ahead of others. Combined with the Higashino family's tall genetics, surpassing Higashino Jirō in the future shouldn't be a problem.
Unfortunately, he had inherited his mother's looks, so he couldn't be plain-looking.
Fortunately, after merging with Ice Release, he hadn't awakened any "pretty boy" traits. Although handsome, he still had plenty of masculine presence—so he couldn't rely on his looks to sneak into women's bathhouses.
But in the shinobi world, some things were hard to predict. Even Ōnoki could have a son two meters tall. Makoto might suddenly stop growing and end up short.
On paper, Yamato was the same age as Makoto. Looking at his height, Yamato couldn't help but feel envious. "Makoto, do you have any secret to growing taller?"
Makoto stuffed a few pieces of meat into his bowl. "Eat more meat and drink more milk."
"That's it?"
"That's right!"
Yamato looked at the meat in his bowl and immediately began eating with full focus.
...
The next day, Jirō and Yamato went to work as usual.
The hospital where Megumi worked had begun its rotating holiday schedule. She decided to thoroughly clean the house inside and out, which was also a pre–New Year tradition in the shinobi world.
Since Makoto had just returned from the northern front, he didn't need to report back to the Anbu and could stay on break until after the New Year.
After breakfast, Megumi refused her son's help and, citing the amount of dust, drove him out of the house so she could begin the deep cleaning.
As a shinobi capable of running across rooftops, these tasks were easy for her.
Makoto carried his blade and headed to the ninja tools shop.
"Yo, Tetsuen-nii-san, finally see you again."
Tetsuen was Tenten's father, a strongly built man. He could actually refine chakra, but it was said he lacked talent as a shinobi.
When he saw Makoto, his eyes lit up. "Oh? Isn't this Konoha's hero? Who would've thought that the serious-faced kid from a few years ago would grow into Konoha's pillar?"
"Can't be helped—I'm just too much of a genius."
"Hahaha, that's a good thing. Konoha needs more geniuses so we can live more safely. So, what brings you here today?"
Makoto handed over his family's heirloom short blade. "I'm here to upgrade the weapon."
Shinobi weapons were consumables. Even though the Higashino family's blade had chakra metal mixed into it during forging, it couldn't remain unworn forever.
He wondered how durable the legendary Kusanagi Sword really was.
Tetsuen drew the blade and examined the damage along its edge. "It does need reforging. Do you have materials prepared, or should I provide them?"
"I've got them."
Makoto placed several pieces of raw chakra metal on the counter.
Tetsuen picked one up, took a look, and was immediately captivated. "Good stuff. This is the chakra metal you found at the Sakama mine?"
"Yes."
This information had already been leaked by Kumogakure, so it couldn't be kept secret. It was an enormous fortune—who knew how many shady figures would be drawn to it.
To protect the raw ore, Konoha had directly ordered Nara Suzaku to move the northern command headquarters to near the Sakama mine. Anyone caught privately entering the mine tunnels from the outskirts would be executed on the spot.
"No problem with the materials. In fact, they can raise this blade's quality by several tiers. But it might take some time—you're not in a hurry to use it, right?"
"No rush. Take your time."
It was the end of the year—Makoto couldn't expect someone to forge a weapon for him during the New Year.
Besides, whether he had a weapon or not didn't matter much to him now. The Anbu provided standard short blades anyway. But this blade was a family heirloom, so its meaning to him was different.
At that moment, Suzune entered the shop holding a little girl's hand.
Tetsuen was a weapon-forging craftsman, but his wife usually managed the shop.
"Makoto, it's been a long time since you came by. Look—Tenten doesn't even recognize you anymore," Suzune greeted him, then guided her daughter forward. "Come on, Tenten, call him Makoto-niichan."
The little girl had grown up in the shop and wasn't shy at all. Her eyes were full of curiosity. "Hello, Makoto-niichan. My name is Tenten."
Since joining the Anbu, Makoto rarely needed personal weapons, so he hadn't visited the shop. From the time Tenten could remember things, she indeed hadn't seen him before.
"Tenten, you've grown so much."
One of the future Konoha Twelve, she had been born in early March last year. Now she was nearly two years old.
Children in the shinobi world grew quickly. She could already help her mother watch the shop and fetch items for customers like a little manager.
Her hair was still short, though—not yet styled into the twin buns like her mother's.
Tetsuen smiled from the side. "Makoto, I hope Tenten can become a strong shinobi like you in the future."
Makoto: "You plan to let her become a shinobi?"
Suzune: "Someone here didn't have the talent to be a shinobi and had to switch to forging. Now he's hoping his daughter can fulfill his dream. Hmph. Whether she becomes a shinobi should be Tenten's own choice."
Tetsuen scratched his head. "Hahaha, that's true. It depends on whether she has the talent. But if she does want to become a shinobi in the future, she might as well take Makoto as her sensei."
Makoto was a bit surprised. "Take me as her sensei? That's fine."
Tetsuen froze. That had just been a joke. He knew very well Makoto's strength and status in Konoha.
Someone like that would be very particular about taking disciples—yet he had agreed immediately.
Suzune, unlike her husband, wasn't so slow to react. She quickly followed up, "Makoto, then it's settled. As Tenten's sensei, all your ninja tool needs will be covered by our family from now on."
Tetsuen: "…"
It seemed that, by accident, he had just secured an incredibly thick thigh for his daughter—probably the thickest one in Konoha.
So sometimes, how far you can go doesn't depend on how hard you work, but on whether your parents managed to connect you with powerful people when you were young.
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