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With their wallets pleasantly heavier, everyone was in high spirits.
Watanabe Shinichi decided to give the team a half-day break, letting them enjoy some leisure time on Harajuku Street.
Nonō bought several unique treats that couldn't be found in Konoha. Without asking, Hirito could tell they were meant for the children at the orphanage.
Minato, on the other hand, was behaving a little sneakily. He created a Shadow Clone, used the Transformation Technique, and then disappeared for a while, only to return empty-handed. He didn't reveal what he had bought, and no one could guess.
"Hirito, don't you dare use your Byakugan to peek!" Minato said sternly, his blue eyes filled with seriousness.
Tsk! Hirito thought, unimpressed. As if I didn't already know who you bought it for.
Hirito mouthed silently, "Blood…red…hot…pepper…"
Minato's face flushed, his eyes wide with embarrassment as he looked away, avoiding Hirito's gaze.
Hmph. Still trying to deny it? Hirito thought to himself. So, things are progressing nicely between them after all.
Knowing his own role and place in the larger scheme of things, Hirito always kept a respectful distance from Uzumaki Kushina. From the first day at the academy, he had sensed an almost watchful gaze on Kushina, a sense that hinted at silent observers—possibly Anbu or even the Third Hokage himself.
---
On the journey back to the village, the four of them moved faster, no longer needing to escort anyone. If Hirito were traveling alone, he could have gone even faster by flying with his Bluebird summoning.
In fact, the Bluebird proved helpful on their way back, serving as a temporary "courier" and carrying Nonō's collection of gifts purchased for the children.
When the "Konoha" symbol appeared on the horizon, a sense of relief washed over them.
In Hokage's office, they submitted their mission report. Since this was just a standard C-rank mission, there were no unexpected complications or sudden rank escalations.
Outside, Shinichi glanced at the team.
"Alright," he clapped his hands, "you all deserve a couple of days' rest. Take it easy before we start the next mission."
"Dismissed!"
The three young shinobi relaxed slightly. While the actual battle time in their mission had been short, they'd spent the entire journey in a state of heightened vigilance, mentally preparing for possible danger. Shinichi, seeing this, gave them two days to rest. If it had been up to him alone, he might have assigned them another mission the next day, but he understood the importance of recovery.
Time was short. The signs of war were clear, and with tensions rising, Shinichi knew he had limited time to train them thoroughly.
---
After separating from Minato and Nonō, Hirito returned home briefly before heading out to visit Hyuga Kenjiro with a gift in hand.
When Kenjiro saw the package, his eyebrows raised slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile.
"Is this Kiku Masamune? You've got a good eye."
"Pour some for me," he added, his tone more relaxed than usual. "I'd like to have a taste."
Kiku Masamune was a renowned sake brand in the Land of Fire, known for its bold aroma. Its strong scent had earned it the title, "The Sake of Men."
Hirito knew well that Kenjiro enjoyed a good drink now and then.
"Let me get some cups, then," Hirito offered.
"What cups? You don't drink Kiku Masamune out of a cup! Bring a bowl!"
As the crystal-clear sake flowed into the bowl, its rich aroma filled the room. Kenjiro took a long breath, his face showing a look of contentment.
"Interesting," he remarked, "the aroma seems smoother than usual."
"This is a new version of Kiku Masamune," Hirito explained. "They age it in cedar barrels before bottling. Once the flavor's at its peak, it's bottled and sold."
"Typically, it takes about ten days to mature this way."
"The sake takes on a slight cedar fragrance from the barrels, giving it a unique taste."
Kenjiro's expression shifted to one of understanding.
"No wonder. There's a subtle cedar aroma…"
Suddenly, Kenjiro's gaze sharpened as he looked directly at Hirito. "Wait a minute… Have you been drinking sake secretly? How do you know so much about this?"
"Or have you forgotten that shinobi have taboos about drinking?"
"You're not even twenty years old yet!"
It took a few minutes for Hirito to deflect Kenjiro's suspicions, explaining his knowledge was purely from information gathering. Kenjiro eventually let it go, though his expression remained skeptical.
Mostly, it was Hirito's demeanor—like that of an experienced drinker—that had given him pause.
As Kenjiro sipped the sake, he asked Hirito about his experiences on the mission. Hirito shared the details, including how they had visited the underground money exchange and taken on the bounty mission.
Rather than being surprised, Kenjiro nodded thoughtfully, asking Hirito to recount the battle in detail. Together, they broke down and analyzed the encounter, discussing Hirito's strengths, weaknesses, and strategies.
Having a knowledgeable elder in the family was indeed an advantage.
---
The following day, Hirito paid a visit to the head elder, bringing gifts for him and Hyuga Hirika.
The main family had no shortage of wealth, so Hirito's gifts were chosen more for their sentiment than their value.
The elder gave Hirito an approving nod. He's a thoughtful child, he noted silently.
When it was Hirika's turn, she noticed her gift was a thin, boxy item, reminiscent of a book. She glanced at her grandfather for approval, and when he nodded, she carefully opened the package.
"Bashō's Collection of Haiku," she read aloud.
"This book is written by Matsuo Bashō, a well-regarded haiku poet," Hirito explained. "I've heard from people at the publisher that his haiku is especially popular among the nobility of the Land of Fire."
Hirito hadn't chosen the book randomly. He knew Hirika's affinity for refined art, and Bashō's work was highly respected.
Hirika was silent as she opened the book to a random page.
She read aloud:
"Ancient Pond"
"Beside the ancient pond,
The frog leaps into the water—
Plop."
Hirika's eyes widened slightly.
For a moment, it felt as though she stood beside an ancient pond herself. She could picture a solitary figure standing quietly by the water, lost in thought. Then, a frog jumped, breaking the stillness with a gentle plop, symbolizing life's quiet vitality. The ripples faded, and the pond returned to calm.
In that blend of silence and movement, the simple word "plop" seemed to capture something timeless, touching Hirika's heart. She felt a sudden, unexpected resonance.
After a moment, she looked up at Hirito and said sincerely, "Thank you, Brother Hirito. I love this book."
The elder, who had been watching, smiled approvingly. "Since you're here, Hirito, why don't you help teach Hirika some Gentle Fist techniques?"
Hirito responded immediately, "Of course, Elder."
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