Time passed into Konoha Year 55.
As always, the New Year repeated the traditions of the one before. The tides of the world could shift in countless ways, and people grew older with the passing years, but some things seemed as though they would never change.
People used unchanging traditions to face the unstoppable passage of time.
After all, only by feeling those inscrutable changes within familiar memories could one prove that they had truly lived through them. This was especially true for older people.
Although Makoto was nominally fifteen, on the level of the soul, he was no longer young.
Fortunately, a person's mind was shaped not only by time, but also by the hormones of the body. There was none of that withered old air about him; he was still full of vitality.
By now, he was already a well-known handsome young man both inside and outside the village.
On the last night of the three-day New Year celebration, everyone gathered at the Uzuki household for dinner as usual.
This had become a tradition over the past few years, and ever since Kushina pulled Kaori, her daughter, and Honoka into the circle, the gatherings had become even livelier.
Karin and Naruto ran all over the yard, enjoying their carefree childhood, but their good days would not last much longer.
Before long, when the new term at the Ninja Academy began, even though they would not be attending school, they would still have to begin their training as shinobi. For that, Makoto, Minato, and Kushina—three expert representatives from different fields of Konoha—had already prepared a complete study plan waiting for them ahead.
Happiness was important, but strength was even more important. Otherwise, they would only end up as experience points for someone else in the future.
Little brother Uzuki Shige would be entering sixth grade in April. By the end of March next year, he would graduate and become a freshly minted genin. He was no longer as jumpy as he had been as a child. Whenever he saw Makoto these days, he barely dared to breathe, and his obedient gaze was filled with admiration.
But at school, he was very much the big boss type. Besides his own solid strength, the main reason was that he could share intelligence about Higashino Makoto with his little friends.
Being close to the source gave him the advantage. He held firsthand bragging material.
At the dinner table, everyone watched Makoto's situation with meaningful looks.
It could not be helped. He had it rough.
Yūgao sat on his left, while Honoka sat on his right. The two girls had launched a silent war.
Yūgao's personality was more direct, but when her sharp gaze struck Honoka, it was like spring snow meeting the warm sun, easily dissolved by her gentle aura.
Honoka kept a serene expression as she quietly added grilled meat to Makoto's bowl.
"Makoto, fighting enemies must be exhausting. You should eat a little more."
Yūgao: 'Fine, fine. Using vegetables from my house to feed my man—your skill at staking your claim is seriously impressive!'
She also placed a piece of meat into Makoto's bowl, but her eyes were fixed on her rival. "Don't you know how strong Makoto-nii is? It's not hard for him at all, okay?"
Honoka smiled at her gently, while giving herself a little victory sign in her heart. 'My fated rival, does it even matter whether it's hard or not? You really don't understand at all.'
Yūgao immediately felt like she had punched cotton. It was awful.
Uzuki Shige: 'Very good. After school starts, I'll have new bragging material again.'
Yamato: 'Women really are terrifying. Makoto must be suffering.'
Makoto: 'Bullshit. My happiness is beyond your imagination!'
Uzuki Sakura felt a little helpless. It seemed it was finally time to pay attention to her daughter's little thoughts.
Higashino Megumi looked left, then right. 'Ah, this is such a hard choice. The Uzumaki bloodline is excellent, but if I think that way... wouldn't I be letting down my good sister of so many years?'
All the adult men: choosing? Choosing my ass. Higashino Makoto carried far too many outstanding bloodlines—Ice Release, Wood Release, and most recently, a Kekkei Tōta on the same level as the Third Tsuchikage's.
Although everyone supported monogamy, this was simply too wasteful. Just like Konoha's F3, they all hoped Higashino Makoto would have several more children.
Shinobi were often not all that bound by rules. They were very practical.
...
While chatting after dinner, Kushina said unhappily, "That old man, the Third, seriously—why did he have to give Makoto that kind of order? None of those Kumogakure bastards are any good. It would've been better to kill them all."
She had every right to speak on this matter. After all, when she was little, she had been kidnapped by them too, just like Hinata later would be. If not for Minato rescuing her, she did not even dare imagine what her future might have become.
Maybe by now she would have had a whole litter of dark-skinned brats.
Minato comforted her, "Kushina, the Third was right. If we killed them all, it would reignite a shinobi war. And the worst part is, by then, every force in the shinobi world would unite to attack Konoha. We might still win, but at what cost?"
Gekkō Kumomi said, "That's indeed a possibility. People can tolerate a gentle First Hokage, but they would never tolerate a Higashino Makoto who kills at will."
Kushina refused to accept it. "Then just beat them all into submission."
Minato said, "It's not that simple. They may not be able to deal with Makoto himself, but they will target the people around him. Do you want everyone to spend the rest of their lives living under endless assassination attempts?"
Makoto also agreed with this.
Right now, he was far more terrifying than so-called Tailed Beasts—he was a truly controllable nuclear weapon.
When was a nuclear weapon most threatening?
The answer was: when others knew you actually had it.
Most importantly, his goal had never changed. Having been reborn into this life, he was here to properly enjoy it. Even all his hard training existed to serve that purpose.
Becoming a public enemy of the entire shinobi world did not align with his interests.
Makoto comforted her, "Alright, sensei. Like today—being able to live peacefully and happily together is what matters most."
"Also, let me share some good news with you. Because of my increase in strength, I can now fully perform the Two Forms Seal. From now on, you'll be just like a normal person."
Kushina blinked. "Huh? Really?"
"Of course it's real. But right now, you have two choices."
"What two choices dattebane?"
"One, I can immediately readjust your seal. Two, you can wait a bit longer. The Two Forms Seal itself already has the function of absorbing and regulating the body's chakra, rebuilding the balance of Yin and Yang."
"I plan to research and simplify the Yin Seal, and eventually integrate it into the Two Forms Seal—to collect and store the body's excess chakra over time, achieving the effect of slowing aging and preserving youth, just like Tsunade-sama."
The moment they thought about how Tsunade was already over forty, yet still looked like a woman in her twenties, vivid images immediately formed in the women's minds, and their eyes lit up with intense excitement.
Especially for women like Higashino Megumi and Uzuki Sakura, who were nearing forty—the appeal was practically fatal.
Kushina waved her hand decisively. "No need to say more. I choose the second option—and I'll develop it together with you."
In truth, she already knew the Yin Seal, but that particular sealing technique was troublesome both to train and to inscribe. When she was younger, she hadn't needed it; later, she relied on the Two Forms Seal to stay alive, which made it unsuitable.
Now, it was perfect. As long as the two could be successfully integrated, all problems would be solved.
"Alright. With sensei's help, progress will definitely speed up." After saying that, Makoto looked toward Minato. "Sorry, Fourth Hokage-sama. Aside from researching sealing techniques, I want to spend more of my time on training from now on. I won't be able to respond to summons like before."
Minato smiled. "That's nothing. With your talent, Makoto, you should be spending your time on training in the first place. As for the village's affairs, we are more than enough."
"Besides, the shinobi world is basically at peace now. There's no need to send you out on missions in normal circumstances. Just do what you like."
"You said it."
"Of course. In the name of the Fourth Hokage, I grant you the authority to act freely." "However, there is one matter that will likely still require your involvement."
"Is it about what we promised the clans before?"
"Yes. Recently, quite a few people have come to me, hoping to send their next generation to you for training."
"That was already part of our plan. Just handle it as you see fit. I already have one disciple anyway—teaching one is teaching, teaching a group is also teaching."
"Also, the dojo already has water and electricity connected, so it's fully livable now. After the New Year, I plan to move there."
Megumi said in distress, "What? Could it be that my son is going to leave us and live independently at such a young age?"
"Mom, what are you worrying about? That place is also our home. There are plenty of rooms—if everyone wants, you can all move there too."
Jirō said, "Exactly, exactly. From now on, the dojo will be our Higashino family's ancestral residence."
Megumi said, "Then who will take care of you in your daily life?"
Honoka said, "Um… Megumi-obasan, I think I can do it. Right now, aside from learning sealing techniques from Kushina-nee, I have plenty of free time."
Kushina said, "Good idea. Anyway, everything I know, Makoto also knows. It doesn't matter who you learn from."
Honoka once again made a little victory sign in her heart. 'Neesan, what a perfect assist. You really get me.'
Yūgao said, "Why you?"
"Because I'm not like you—I'm not a ninja. I don't have missions to go on, so I have free time."
Yūgao immediately wanted to say that she could also stop being a ninja, that she could also make time.
But becoming a ninja had been her dream since childhood.
The girl instantly fell into a dilemma.
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