After Kiseki's first birthday, many things had happened. While reflecting on the events that could unfold in the future, he had an idea: convincing his parents that he wanted a little sister. He believed that by doing so, he could keep the storyline as close as possible to the original and better use his knowledge of the future.
As he thought about this, something caught his attention. His parents had given him a necklace, something he hadn't expected to receive at such a young age. Intrigued, he carefully examined the crystal and recalled a strange sensation he had felt toward it in the past. However, it now seemed different.
"I used to feel something odd about this necklace," Kiseki thought. "But now, it's as if it's no longer empty. It's strange, like something has changed in it."
Trying to observe it more closely, he noticed how sturdy it seemed. He recalled a recent incident that had surprised him:
A few days earlier, his father had left the necklace on a chair in the dining room, and Kiseki, curious, tried to reach it. Although crawling and climbing was a challenge, he managed to get to the chair, but it wobbled and ended up falling to the floor along with the necklace. Kiseki barely managed to roll away in time to avoid the impact, but the necklace wasn't as lucky: the chair fell directly onto it. However, to his amazement, the crystal remained intact. Even the wood of the chair was marked by the impact, leaving a hole shaped like the necklace.
"It's incredibly tough… This isn't an ordinary crystal," Kiseki concluded as he ran his tiny fingers over the smooth surface.
However, he didn't have much time to analyze it. His mother, Mebuki, entered the room in a rush.
"Kiseki! Where are you? Are you okay?" she asked in alarm.
Upon seeing him on the floor, she quickly picked him up. Her eyes noticed Kiseki's fixed gaze on the necklace, and with a small sigh, she put it away out of his reach.
"You're too curious, little one," she said as she carried him back to his crib.
Now, back in the present, Kiseki set the necklace aside. He knew he would need more time to investigate what made it so special. For now, he had another challenge: walking.
With effort, he stood up, wobbling slightly. He took one step, then another.
"This is simple…" he thought enthusiastically before losing his balance and falling face-first to the ground.
The noise alerted Mebuki and Kizashi, who rushed into the room.
"Kiseki! Are you okay?" his mother exclaimed, quickly picking him up.
Frustrated by his clumsiness, Kiseki said with determination:
"I can do it!"
Mebuki and Kizashi were left speechless. Their one-year-old baby not only attempted to walk but seemed to understand them perfectly. Kiseki stood up again, this time more carefully. He took a few steps toward his mother as Kizashi cheered him on:
"That's it, Kiseki! You can do it!"
Finally, he reached Mebuki, who hugged him excitedly.
"You did it, sweetheart!" she exclaimed tenderly.
Kizashi, proud, ruffled his hair gently.
"You're my son, after all. As sharp as your father."
Mebuki couldn't help but laugh.
"Your son? But as I recall, you didn't start walking until you were two years old, didn't you?" she said teasingly, as Kiseki laughed along with her.
Kizashi, embarrassed, replied:
"You always make me look bad in front of our son…"
Mebuki kissed his cheek softly.
"It's to boost our baby's ego. Besides, he's incredibly smart for his age."
Kizashi nodded with a smile.
"Alright, alright. Anyway, lunch is ready. Let's eat."
While they were eating, Mebuki was feeding Kiseki some baby food when a loud noise outside the house interrupted the peace.
"Dear, I'll go see what's happening," Mebuki said, standing up.
"Okay, be careful," Kizashi replied.
However, Kiseki, annoyed by the interruption, began pointing to his mouth while saying:
"Pa, pa!"
Kizashi laughed nervously.
"You're right, son. Let's finish your food."
A few minutes later, Mebuki returned, running.
"It's the Hokage-sama! He's holding a parade through the village. Come and see!"
Kizashi, excited, picked up Kiseki and went out with his wife. Outside, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, walked the streets surrounded by several high-ranking jōnin. As he walked, he greeted the villagers with a warm smile.
As Minato passed through Konoha's streets, he saw how everyone greeted him happily. Internally, he thought: "Taking a stroll through the village always helps boost morale. Even though the Third Shinobi War is over, the village is still restless and grieving the loss of loved ones. My goal with this parade is to demonstrate Konoha's strength to its citizens so they can feel secure as they face future challenges."
"It's impressive…" Kiseki thought, observing Minato's imposing figure. "That man exudes an aura of security and strength."
As Minato walked, he sensed something unusual and turned his head, as if he had felt something. His gaze fell on Kiseki, and for a moment, the Hokage frowned internally, intrigued.
"That baby…?" Minato thought as he focused his chakra perception on Kiseki. "His chakra is incredibly strong… and pink!"
Although it was rare, Minato knew that chakra color could vary in individuals with unusually large reserves or special qualities.
"It will be interesting to see what this child is capable of in the future," Minato reflected, smiling at Kiseki before turning back to focus on the parade.
Kiseki, for his part, was astonished.
"Did he look at me? And smile? It can't be…" he thought, trying to convince himself it was a coincidence.
When the parade ended, the Haruno family returned home. That night, as they tucked him into bed, Kiseki reflected:
"Konoha is impressive… The number of ninjas I saw today is amazing. But if this is the level now, what must it have been like before the Third Shinobi War?"
With that thought in mind, he made a promise to himself:
"I must become a ninja to protect myself and my family."
That determination stayed with him as he drifted into a deep sleep.