After breakfast, Megumi left for work as usual.
Shin was, after all, only four years old. With an adult still at home, there was no need for him to do any chores, so the task of washing the dishes naturally fell to Higashino Jiro.
Fortunately, although the overall system of the Ninja World was relatively backward, the mindset within the shinobi community was far more progressive. Gender roles were not rigid, and equality was largely taken for granted.
The Higashino family was ordinary civilians, not a great ninja clan. Jiro didn't behave like some lofty patriarch at home and was quite competent at housework.
"Shin, are you planning to study at home again today?" Jiro asked.
"Yes, Father. Do you need my help with something?"
"Well… not exactly." Jiro hesitated briefly. "Since yesterday was your birthday, I came straight home and haven't officially reported back to the village yet."
"Besides that, I have a few personal matters to take care of. I probably won't be back by noon."
Strictly speaking, a ninja returning from a mission was supposed to report to the village first. However, Konoha would hardly reprimand someone like Jiro for going home to celebrate his son's birthday.
It wasn't wartime, and Jiro wasn't a jōnin responsible for troop deployments, so there was no urgent need for a detailed report.
On the contrary, prioritizing family was seen as a manifestation of the Will of Fire—politically correct, even.
"Don't worry about me," Shin replied calmly. "You know I can take care of myself."
"I believe that completely," Jiro said, then added with a hint of concern, "but I still think you're too solitary. You should go out more, meet kids your age, and play ninja games. It'd be good for your mental health."
"Did you play them when you were young?" Shin asked. "Were they fun?"
"..."
They were fun. Even now, the memories were vivid.
But he was a grown ninja now—and a father. Seeing the faint look of disdain on his son's face, Jiro suddenly found himself unwilling to answer.
Precocious children really did make parents feel both relieved and helpless.
After his father left, Shin sat alone in the study, quietly organizing his thoughts.
The fatigue from chakra cultivation was completely different from the weakness he experienced when his chakra was fully exhausted earlier.
His chakra reserves were still limited, and he needed to avoid repeating that situation too often. If it became frequent, it could affect his physical development.
More importantly, there was the matter of his future cultivation path.
Now that he could use chakra, should he immediately begin practicing the Three Basic E-rank Jutsu or delve into the family's ninjutsu?
Shin dismissed the idea almost instantly.
There was no need to rush. Only children who knew nothing would be desperate to learn powerful techniques as soon as possible.
For now, his priority with chakra was refinement—cultivating it until extraction became a bodily instinct. Having to sit cross-legged and form the Ram Seal every time he wanted to use chakra was unacceptable.
At the same time, he could begin training in chakra control. This was the true foundation.
With precise control, learning any ninjutsu would become far more efficient—including Medical Ninjutsu.
Yes, although Shin had no intention of becoming a full-time medical ninja, medical techniques were still part of his long-term plan.
After all, there was a Tokubetsu Jōnin specializing in medical ninjutsu living under the same roof.
A ready-made teacher like that couldn't be wasted. That was also why he had started studying basic human anatomy early on.
Medical ninjutsu wasn't something you could use simply by learning a technique.
It required extensive foundational knowledge—understanding how different tissues functioned, how medical chakra interacted with them, pharmacology, common poisons, and how various substances combined and reacted.
Among all ninjutsu disciplines, medical ninjutsu likely required the most prerequisite knowledge.
Once his direction was clear, Shin immediately began studying.
He refined the chakra first, then read while the chakra in his meridians gradually dissipated. By alternating between the two, he wasted no time.
As for chakra control exercises like Tree Climbing and Water Walking, he planned to start those soon as well.
As expected, Jiro didn't return by noon. Shin dragged a stool into the kitchen and prepared a meal for himself.
If his parents had suddenly returned, they would immediately notice that the food he made differed not only from their cooking but from the cuisine of this world entirely.
That was because he was cooking dishes from his previous life.
His cooking skills back then had been quite good.
As for the food of the Ninja World, it closely resembled the Japanese-style cuisine he was already familiar with. He knew how to make it too—but since he was cooking for himself, he indulged in flavors he missed.
After eating, he returned to cultivation and reading.
---
Time passed quietly, and the sky gradually darkened.
Looking out the window, Shin realized his parents still hadn't returned. Were they hiding somewhere on a date?
Just then, a knock sounded at the door—rare, but not alarming.
Inside Konoha, Shin wasn't worried about danger. He opened the door out of curiosity.
Two children stood outside.
A boy and a girl, both around his age.
The girl had medium-length purple hair and an adorably round face, her baby fat making her look like a soft bun. She was slightly shorter than the boys.
The boy had black hair long enough to cover his ears, with a single strand hanging over his forehead. He was about the same height as Shin, but thinner, and his complexion looked somewhat unhealthy.
"Hello," Shin said politely. "This is the Higashino residence. Who are you looking for?"
The girl stood behind the boy, her face flushed—not from shyness, but excitement. She didn't avoid Shin's gaze at all.
The boy, however, was much more composed. "Are you Higashino Shin?"
"I am. And you are?"
"My name is Gekkō Hayate."
"And I'm Yūgao Uzuki."
Shin froze for a moment. So it's them.
He had just run into future figures from the story—he simply hadn't recognized them immediately.
After all, anime and real people looked very different.
"Oh, hello," he said calmly. "Do you need something?"
"Cough, cough." Hayate cleared his throat lightly. "Uncle Higashino asked us to tell you to come to Yakiniku Q for dinner."
"Oh, I see. Thank you for letting me know. Give me a moment to change clothes, and then we can go together."
As they walked, Shin quietly observed Hayate. So the root of his illness really was there from childhood…
Even so, he would still become a Tokubetsu Jōnin in his early twenties. His talent was undeniable.
Hayate noticed the stare and became visibly uncomfortable. Shy and traditional by nature, he asked hesitantly, "Is… is there something wrong with me?"
"No, nothing," Shin replied, then grinned mischievously. "Brother Hayate, is the girl next to you your girlfriend?"
Hayate's face turned red instantly. "W-What? Of course not! Yūgao is only four, and I'm only five!"
Yūgao widened her innocent eyes. "Hey, Brother Hayate, what's a girlfriend?"
Hayate: "..."
Shin tilted his head. "So you're a year older than me?"
"Hey! You still haven't explained what a girlfriend is!" Yūgao insisted.
"It's a wife for when you grow up," Shin replied casually.
"Eh? Ah?!" Yūgao froze, her face turning so red it looked like steam might come out.
As expected, children in the Ninja World were generally precocious. What a crime.
For the rest of the walk, neither of the two spoke to Shin again.
It wasn't dislike—just confusion. Although he was their age, the way he spoke felt more like an adult, leaving them unsure how to respond.
Before long, the three arrived at Yakiniku Q.
Shin looked up at the signboard, thinking that this place was also a famous Konoha landmark.
Too bad I don't have a check-in system, he thought. Otherwise, I might've gotten an S-rank ninjutsu just for showing up.