Nearly a year had passed since the Fourth Hokage's parade, an event that had ignited a spark within Kiseki. He wanted to embody the same sense of security and protection that Minato had conveyed to the village. However, there was a glaring problem: Kiseki was just a toddler, barely shy of his second birthday. No matter how much he wanted to train and grow stronger, there wasn't much he could do as a one-year-old.
As Kiseki woke up to a new day, he thought to himself:
"Tomorrow is my birthday. I wonder what my parents have planned for me."
This thought quickly transitioned into another concern.
"If I'm not mistaken, when I turn three, I'll ask my parents for a little sister. That way, she'll be born before the Nine-Tails attack. I hope they agree. If not, who knows how the story will change without Sakura."
He sighed, resigning himself to hope for the best. Suddenly, he heard footsteps heading to the kitchen. Moments later, his door creaked open, and he saw his mother walking by.
"Mama!" Kiseki called out.
Mebuki, who was on her way to prepare breakfast for her son and husband, paused at the sound of her child's voice. She smiled warmly as she turned to look at him.
Kiseki had grown so quickly. She still remembered holding him in her arms as a newborn, and now, he was nearly two years old.
"What is it, sweetheart?" she asked tenderly, approaching him to plant a kiss on his forehead and pull him into a hug.
Kiseki, about to voice his thoughts, decided instead to simply enjoy the affection his mother was giving him. Once the hug ended, he asked,
"What are you doing, Mama?"
"I'm heading to the kitchen to make breakfast for you and your father," Mebuki replied.
"Can I come with you?" he asked cheerfully.
"Okay, sweetheart," she said with a smile, reaching out to carry him.
But before she could lift him, Kiseki climbed out of his crib and declared, "I can do it, Mama!" He began walking toward the kitchen at a snail's pace, his small legs carrying him with the unsteady determination of a toddler.
Mebuki watched her son with a mix of amusement and pride. She followed closely behind, ready to catch him if he stumbled.
By the time Kiseki reached the kitchen, he climbed onto his chair and sat down, watching as his mother began preparing scrambled eggs with bacon. His eyes followed her movements as she also picked up some vegetables, boiling them before blending them into a puree.
When he realized what she was making, Kiseki groaned.
"Mama, I don't want vegetables," he whined internally. "Why do I always have to eat so many vegetables? I hate being a baby."
Before Mebuki could respond, Kiseki blurted out,
"Mama, can I have eggs and bacon like you and Papa?"
"Did someone say my name?" came Kizashi's voice as he entered the kitchen, noticing his wife cooking and his son pouting over his breakfast.
Hearing Kiseki's request, Kizashi said, "Why not, dear? Why don't we let Kiseki have eggs and bacon? He's a big boy now, right, champ?"
Kiseki beamed with excitement, nodding enthusiastically.
But before he could celebrate, a plate flew past Kizashi's head, narrowly missing him. He turned to see Mebuki holding another plate, her expression stern.
"Kiseki is a baby," she said firmly. "He needs to eat healthy, or he'll end up like a little minion and won't grow properly. Tell me, Kiseki, do you want to be a minion?"
Kiseki paled, shaking his head quickly. "No, Mama! I love vegetables! In fact, I'll eat them all!"
He shot a nervous glance at his father, who sighed in defeat.
Kizashi, still shaken from the near-miss, added, "Yes, dear. If Kiseki doesn't eat his vegetables, he won't grow big and strong. Give me the bowl—I'll make sure he eats every bite."
Mebuki nodded in satisfaction and handed him the bowl. Watching Kizashi feed Kiseki the puree, her intimidating aura vanished, replaced by a soft smile.
Both Kiseki and Kizashi sighed in relief, grateful the storm had passed.
As the family finished breakfast, Kiseki asked, "Mama, Papa, what are we going to do tomorrow for my birthday?"
Mebuki and Kizashi exchanged glances before replying, "It'll just be a normal party, Kiseki. Why, what would you like to do?"
"I want to see the whole village and visit the Hokage Monument!" Kiseki said, his voice filled with excitement.
His parents hesitated. They were overprotective, having rarely let Kiseki leave the house since he was born. However, the puppy-dog eyes he gave them melted their resolve.
"Okay, sweetheart," they finally agreed with a sigh.
Overjoyed, Kiseki climbed into their arms and said, "I love you both!" He then darted toward his room to get dressed.
Before he could reach the door, Kizashi called after him, "Kiseki, where's your necklace?"
"Here," Kiseki replied, pulling the necklace from under his shirt.
"It's dirty," Kizashi noted. "Let me clean it for you, and I'll give it back tomorrow."
Without suspecting anything, Kiseki handed it over, not realizing his parents had other intentions.
Once Kiseki was out of sight, Mebuki spoke in a serious tone. "You're going to seal the necklace to hide his pink chakra, aren't you?"
Kizashi nodded gravely. "It's necessary. I still remember how the Fourth Hokage looked at Kiseki. We were so excited to see him that we didn't notice the necklace wasn't sealed. Thankfully, the Hokage didn't question it or request an audience with us."
"We can't let anyone sense his chakra. It would be too dangerous," Mebuki agreed.
Kizashi handed her the necklace. "You're better at Fūinjutsu than I am. Please take care of it."
"I'll have it ready in an hour," Mebuki replied, her expression determined.
Kizashi smiled. "I'll go play with Kiseki while you work. Take your time."
And so the day continued as Kiseki played with his father, while his mother put a seal on his necklace so that no one would suspect the unusual color of her son's chakra.