Naruto: From Novice to Grave

After breakfast, Higashino Megumi went to work as usual.

Higashino Makoto was only 4 years old. With adults at home, he didn't need to do housework, so the task of washing dishes naturally fell to Higashino Jiro.

Fortunately, although the ninja world's system was relatively backward, the ninja community as a whole had a much more advanced mindset, and men and women were relatively equal.

The Higashino family were just commoners, not some great ninja clan. Higashino Jiro wasn't the type to act like the head of a household, and he was quite skilled at housework.

"Seriously, are we still studying at home today?"

"Yes, Father, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Well... it's not really anything. Since it was your birthday yesterday, I went straight home without reporting to the village."

Aside from that, everything else is personal, but I might not be back by noon.

In theory, ninjas are supposed to report back to the village after completing a mission, but the village doesn't hold ninjas accountable for returning home first because of their son's birthday, like Higashino Jiro.

After all, it's not wartime now, and Higashino Jiro isn't the Jonin in charge of his ninja team, so he doesn't need to report detailed intelligence during his deployment.

On the contrary, this deep love for her son is also a manifestation of the Will of Fire, and belongs to a kind of political correctness.

"Don't worry about me, you know, Father, I'll take good care of myself."

"I completely believe that, but I think you're too withdrawn. You should go out more, meet some friends your age, and play ninja games. I think that would be good for your mental health."

Did you play this when you were a kid? Was it fun?

"..."

It was so much fun; thinking about it now brings back so many childhood memories.

But now he was a mature ninja, and also a father. After seeing his son's disdainful look at him as a child, he suddenly didn't want to answer.

Precocious children are both a relief and a source of frustration for parents.

----------

After his father left, Makoto Higashino sat alone in the study, quietly pondering the problem.

The fatigue he felt while cultivating chakra was completely different from the weakness he experienced when his chakra was depleted. Currently, his chakra reserves are limited, and he should avoid this situation from happening again. Otherwise, if it happens too often, it may affect his physical growth.

Another matter is the direction of my future cultivation.

Now that you have chakra, do you want to train the useless Three Body Techniques and the ninjutsu at home?

Higashino quickly dismissed the idea, saying there was no need to rush; only a clueless brat would be so eager to learn powerful ninjutsu.

Regarding chakra, first train the refining technique until it becomes second nature. It's too rudimentary to have to sit cross-legged and form hand seals every time you need to use it.

At the same time, you can practice chakra control, which is the most important foundation. As long as you can master it accurately, you will be able to learn any ninjutsu more easily, including medical ninjutsu.

Yes, although Higashino Makoto won't become a full-time medical ninja, medical ninjutsu is still part of his learning plan, since he has a special medical jonin in his family.

With a teacher readily available, we can't afford to waste the opportunity.

This is also why he started learning basic human anatomy.

Medical ninjutsu cannot be used simply by learning it; one must also master a great deal of prerequisite knowledge, including understanding the workings of various tissues in the human body, the mechanism of medical chakra, the effects of contact with different tissues, the pharmacology of medicines, and the mechanisms of action of various common poisons and their mixtures, etc.

Of all the ninjutsu in the ninja world, medical ninjutsu probably requires the most prior knowledge.

After determining the direction, Makoto Higashino immediately began studying.

He first refined his chakra, and before the chakra in his meridians naturally dissipated, he could read a book.

This cycle repeats continuously, making the most of the time in between.

As for training in chakra control, such as climbing trees and wading through water, that can be scheduled to begin soon.

----------

As expected, Jiro Higashino did not return at noon, so Makoto Higashino moved a stool to the kitchen and cooked himself a meal.

If the couple were to suddenly return at this moment, they would surely find that the food their son cooked was completely different from their own, and even from the style of the world.

Because he cooks Chinese food, his culinary skills were quite good in his previous life.

As for the ninja cuisine here, it's the same as the Japanese cuisine from his previous life. He actually knows a little bit about it, but since he's cooking for himself, he misses the flavors from his past life more.

After dinner, he became completely engrossed in cultivation and reading.

Time flies, and the sky gradually darkens.

Higashino looked up at the window and suddenly realized that his parents hadn't returned yet. Were they hiding from him and going on a date?

Just then, there was an unusual knock on the door.

Inside Konoha Village, Higashino Shin wasn't afraid of any danger. He opened the door with some doubt and saw two little ones standing there.

A man and a woman, both about the same age as him.

The girl had medium-length purple hair, was very cute, and her chubby face made her look like a steamed bun. She was also a little short.

The boy had black hair that covered his ears, with a strand falling across his forehead. He was about the same height as Higashino Makoto, but he was rather thin and his complexion didn't look very healthy.

"Hello, this is the Higashino family home. Who are you looking for?"

The little girl stood behind the boy, her face flushed, but not shyly, and she did not avoid Higashino's scrutinizing gaze.

The boy, much more at ease, asked, "Are you Higashino Makoto?"

"I am, and who are you?"

"My name is Moonlight Gale."

"My name is Uzuki Yugao."

Higashino was stunned for a moment. It turned out to be these two. He had actually encountered the legendary characters from the story. He hadn't recognized them at first.

After all, there are still big differences between anime and real people.

"Oh, hello, what can I do for you?"

"Ahem," Moonlight Gale coughed lightly twice and said, "Uncle Higashino asked us to come and tell you to go to BBQ Q for dinner."

"Okay, thank you for your help. Please wait a moment while I change my clothes and then I'll leave."

Walking down the street, Higashino looked at Gekko Hayate with curiosity, wondering if this guy had been sick since childhood? How could he still become a Special Jonin in his early twenties? He must have some talent.

Feeling embarrassed by his gaze, Moonlight Gale, being rather shy and somewhat traditional, worried that he might have done something impolite and timidly asked, "Is there something wrong with me?"

"No, no." After replying, Higashino looked at the two curiously and asked with a mischievous grin, "Hey Hayate, is that your girlfriend next to you?"

Little Gale blushed: "Huh? How is that possible? Xiyan is only 4 years old, and I'm only 5."

Uzuki Yugao stared with her innocent, wide eyes: "Hey, Hayate-nii, what's a girlfriend?"

Moonlight Gale: "..."

Makoto Higashino: "So you're a year older than me?"

"Hey you two, you still haven't said what a girlfriend is?"

Makoto Higashino: "She's the wife I'll have when I grow up."

"Huh? Ah?" Uzuki Yugao was stunned, her face turning as red as if steam were about to rise from it.

As expected, children in the ninja world are generally precocious; it's truly a tragedy.

For the rest of the journey, the two children stopped talking to Higashino Makoto.

It wasn't that they disliked each other, but rather that although the other person was about the same age, their tone of voice was like that of an adult, making them unsure how to communicate.

Soon, the three of them arrived at BBQ Q.

Higashino looked up at the sign and thought to himself that this was also a famous landmark in Konoha. It was a pity that he hadn't awakened the check-in system, otherwise he would have definitely unleashed an S-rank ninjutsu.