"Mom, I'm back." A child knocked on the door and walked in, saying, "Dad, Mom!!"
"I heard you. Wash your hands right after coming back," a gentle voice replied. "We'll eat when your dad gets home."
"Okay!" The child put away their things and went to the bathroom.
Seeing this, the mother smiled and nodded, feeling a surge of emotion inside. Life in Uzushiogakure...
It's really nice!!
At the sink, she turned on the faucet and began washing vegetables.
Looking around at the surroundings...
Due to the clan's financial situation, three or four families usually lived in one building. But because the houses in Uzushiogakure were sturdy, comfortable, and spacious, it didn't feel crowded at all. In fact, it was even more comfortable than their previous home.
And it was very convenient too!
At least here, there were faucets and bathrooms, as well as her favorite...
Kitchen!
"Mom, Mom!" The child finished washing their hands and ran to the kitchen, looking at their mother and asking, "Where's Dad?"
"Your dad went out to look for a job today," the mother replied with a smile. "By then, we might have our own house."
It was said that Uzushiogakure made it easier for its citizens to buy homes by allowing them to pay a down payment first and then slowly repay the rest. Although living together wasn't cramped at all...
Just thinking about having a house of their own made her happy!!
"Really?" The child's eyes suddenly lit up. "Then can I have my own room too? Yoshio is so annoying. He always kicks the blanket when he sleeps!!" They complained to their mother. "It makes me sleep so badly!"
"Haha!" The mother chuckled helplessly. "You!!"
"Don't talk nonsense. Yoshio is such a good kid!!"
"It's true!!" The child frowned. "I'm not lying!"
"Alright, alright!" The mother said. "Set the table. Your dad should be back soon."
"Okay!!" The child happily jumped to their spot. "I want the room on the second floor!!"
...
"How's life at the academy?" Kamizuru Seihō looked at his daughter. Although Migi had already said the children were doing well at the academy, as the leader of the Kamizuru clan, he still cared deeply about the next generation.
"It's so much fun!" A little girl with brown hair nodded happily. "I've made lots of new friends!"
"Has anyone bullied you?" Kamizuru Seihō frowned and asked. Children were sensitive. If they couldn't fit in here, problems might arise later.
"No." The little girl shook her head, puzzled by her father's question. "No one bullied me. Everyone is happy!"
Is that so...
Kamizuru Seihō nodded. It seemed no one was being discriminated against. He sighed in relief. That was good...
"Father, can I bring some honey tomorrow?" The little girl asked eagerly. "For my new friends."
"Yes." Kamizuru Seihō nodded solemnly. "You can ask Migi for it."
"Thank you, Father!" The little girl immediately jumped for joy and ran to her room.
Seeing this, Kamizuru Seihō smiled faintly and murmured, "Perhaps..."
"This kind of life isn't bad either!!"
...
Uzushiogakure, Orphanage...
"Mom, Mom!" Uzumaki Jun arrived using the Flying Thunder God Technique. Recently, his parents rarely came home, or rather...
One became the director of the orphanage, and the other became the Minister of Land Resources. Both were so busy they'd gone crazy!!
They even forgot they had an eight-year-old child!!
Lately...
Uzumaki Jun had been cooking for himself!
Just thinking about it made him feel pitiful...
"Coming, coming!" Uzumaki Meirin, with her red hair, walked out and rubbed her child's head, sighing. "It's been so many days since I last did this. I really missed it!!"
"..."
Uzumaki Jun ignored his mother's antics and dodged her hand, asking helplessly, "Has the orphanage been busy lately?"
"Not really!" Uzumaki Meirin blinked. "It's just the start of the school term, so there are some things to handle!"
"And that's why you haven't come home for so many days?"
"Come home? I did come back!" Uzumaki Meirin said in surprise, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, I forgot to tell you."
"Your dad bought a house a few days ago. I've been staying there with him lately!"
"..."
Uzumaki Jun was speechless. Were they moving out because they thought their son was disturbing their honeymoon??
And...
They didn't even tell him!!
"You're not coming back?" Uzumaki Jun asked helplessly.
"You've grown up," Uzumaki Meirin said sentimentally, patting Uzumaki Jun's head. "You need to learn to live independently."
"..."
I'm only eight years old!!
Uzumaki Jun stared wide-eyed at his carefree parents. According to Uzushiogakure's laws, he was only in third grade!!
And they were already this relaxed about it!
"And..." Uzumaki Meirin narrowed her eyes at Uzumaki Jun and smiled. "Make sure to visit us more often!"
"..."
Uzumaki Jun decided to ignore his mother. She made it sound like they were retired and waiting for their child to visit...
But they were the ones who abandoned their son!!
So...
Since the orphanage was established, Uzumaki Jun hadn't visited. This time, he decided to take a look...
"Huh?" Uzumaki Jun's ears twitched. "This voice sounds familiar..."
...
"All of you, eat everything!" Uzumaki Kushina stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the children in front of her. "Eat it all up!"
"Please spare me!" One child looked at the pot of black substance in front of the red-haired little demon girl and begged. "This black stuff isn't fit for humans!"
"Yeah, yeah," another child agreed. "You should stop cooking."
But...
"I made noodles!" Kushina puffed out her cheeks and pointed at the pot of charcoal-like substance. "Not rice!"
"..."
Who cares what you made? It's inedible either way!!
But the children only dared to wail internally. Saying it out loud would earn them a beating!!
"No more excuses!" Kushina put her hands on her hips. "Eat it all up."
"I just remembered I haven't finished my homework," one child said expressionlessly as he stood up. "I've decided not to eat tonight. I'll stay up and finish my homework!!"
Then, he ran off without looking back.
Seeing this, all the other children stood up.
"I remember too..."
"My homework..."
"And mine..."
"..."
They all panicked and tried to leave...
But...
"All of you!!" Kushina, seeing this, immediately understood what was happening. Her hair flared as she roared, "Don't you dare..."
Before she could finish...
"Jun-nii!!"
Seeing the child who suddenly walked in, Kushina immediately clasped her hands behind her back, hiding the pot of noodles she had made, and lowered her head shyly.
The other children, seeing this, quickly fled. They had a feeling things were about to go very badly. Was it...
Just their imagination??
Uzumaki Jun looked at the pot of black charcoal behind Kushina and suddenly felt a stomachache. Was she going to make him eat all of it next??
But...
"Oh, oh." Kushina blocked the pot and said awkwardly, "This is for Shijō. He trains very late every day. As his big sister... ahem!! As their sister, I should take care of them."
Uzumaki Jun took another look at the black substance...
Shijō...
That name sounded familiar.
Would he still have an appetite after training? Or rather...
After eating this, would he even have the energy to train tomorrow??
Uzumaki Jun suddenly felt a little sorry for Shijō.