"Hagoromo, do you know what day it is today?"
Several months earlier, the Third Hokage had officially stepped back into an advisory role, and Namikaze Minato had formally taken office. The Yellow Flash had finally beco the Fourth Hokage—even faster than Minato himself had expected.
After all, he was only twenty-four years old.
Even so, although Minato now stood at the forefront, the Third Hokage's influence had by no ans faded.
"Today?" Hagoromo replied.
"Kushina-sensei, there's nothing special about today, is there?"
Not long after this, Kushina would give birth to a boy nad Naruto.
Of course, the couple themselves didn't yet know the baby's gender.
"There's no denying you're very smart," Kushina said with a gentle smile,
"but why do your reflexes and mory sotis just… drop offline? It really makes wonder if sothing's wrong."
That smile—soft, warm—was sothing Kushina in the past would never have worn so naturally.
People change. You can see it with your own eyes, especially when they're close to you.
"Hagoromo," she said,
"happy sixteenth birthday."
"..."
"Oh. So it's today?"
And so, Ueshira Hagoromo turned sixteen.
But at this mont, and for this reason, it simply didn't matter much to him.
There were too many things occupying his mind. Rembering his own birthday didn't even make the list.
"What kind of reaction is that?" Kushina scolded lightly.
"Sixteen is an important milestone. You should look happier."
In the past, she would've criticized him more harshly for his lack of self-concern.
Now, it was just a gentle reminder.
"I'm happy enough," Hagoromo replied honestly.
"Thank you, Kushina-sensei."
He truly was happy.
Because soone rembered his birthday—and wished him well—even when he himself had forgotten.
"Here," she said.
"…What is it?"
"A present. A birthday present. Honestly, what are you so busy with every day? You've been spacing out a lot lately. Middle-aged burnout? You're only sixteen and you're already turning into an old man?"
"I've just been thinking about life," Hagoromo said casually as he accepted the gift.
Sixteen was technically the first step on the long road to becoming an old man.
There was no need for Kushina to know what he'd really been thinking about.
"…Even this kind of technique can be sealed away?"
It was a very practical gift—unsurprising, considering both giver and receiver were ninja.
"Of course it can," Kushina replied.
"It took quite a bit of effort, though."
After all, Hagoromo's sealing arts had been taught by Kushina herself.
As a mber of the Uzumaki clan, her expertise hardly needed explanation. Things impossible for others rely took her so extra work.
"With this," she continued,
"you'll be more composed when facing certain enemies. Given your… suspicious tendency to attract trouble, I figured you'd need it."
"It'll be a huge help," Hagoromo said sincerely.
"But… it's about ti, sensei. We should go for a walk."
Which neatly ended the birthday discussion—because, to him, it really wasn't that important.
Seeing this, Kushina didn't push the matter further.
She assud—incorrectly—that as an orphan, Hagoromo simply didn't like dwelling on birthdays.
She felt empathy.
Even though it wasn't truly applicable.
"You're too rigid," she said instead.
"Try not to live every day like a checklist."
Even as she spoke, she began to stand.
Her visibly rounded belly made movent awkward now, and Hagoromo imdiately reached out to steady her.
"This isn't rigidity," he said seriously.
"According to Professional Ninja Prenatal and Postnatal Care, moderate exercise is recomnded during this stage."
"…There's a book like that?" Kushina blinked.
"Why have I never heard of it? And what kind of books do you even read?"
"Actually… that book doesn't exist yet," Hagoromo admitted.
"But based on my experience caring for pregnant won, I plan to write one in the future—for the benefit of Konoha's many won."
"That's one of my life goals."
"…Your life goals are impressively strange," Kushina said dryly.
"But if a book like that ever gets published, make sure the woman you cared for is anonymous. I don't want to beco a role model for all of Konoha."
"Understood. I deeply respect ninja privacy."
They joked as they left the house—Kushina in front, Hagoromo just behind.
Hagoromo's current assignnt was to serve as Kushina's personal guard during her pregnancy, a role no one was better suited for than her own student.
Yet he wore casual clothes, not the attire of a vigilant bodyguard—almost lazy in appearance.
Any tension he felt stayed internal. He never allowed it to show, especially not in front of Kushina.
The streets were lively at this hour. Kushina walked slowly, stopping often.
Things that never used to catch her attention now did.
For pregnant won, children—especially babies—were irresistible.
She occasionally struck up conversations with parents.
Most of the ti, Hagoromo simply followed quietly, never interrupting.
If soone glanced at him, he returned a polite smile.
Just like now.
"So, what's this child's na?" soone asked.
"Oh, I haven't introduced him yet," the woman replied warmly.
"His na is Sasuke."
…Wait.
What?
"Sasuke-kun, huh? He's adorable," Kushina said.
True enough. Hard to imagine he'd grow into a full-blown chunni soday.
"He has an older brother—five years older. He really loves his little brother."
"A big brother," Kushina smiled.
"When my child is born, he'll have one too."
A big brother who clearly did not look like the type to like kids.
That part was accurate.
"When is your due date?"
Kushina was about to answer—
"I'm sorry," Hagoromo said gently, cutting in.
"But the Fourth Hokage's wife's delivery date is classified information and cannot be disclosed."
He smiled softly. His tone was mild.
But the ssage—and the look in his eyes—was unmistakable.
The question may have been casual.
But if there was even a slight chance it wasn't, the due date could not be shared.
So disasters begin with innocent questions.
The weakening of the Nine-Tails seal was not information that could ever leak.
"…I understand. I'm sorry—my mistake," Uchiha Mikoto said sincerely.
Her expression was natural, without obvious ulterior motive.
Still, Hagoromo remained cautious.
Statistically speaking, around forty percent of ninja were exceptional actors.
Appearances ant nothing.
Especially when the person in question was an Uchiha—a clan known, at least in theory, to possess the power to control tailed beasts.
And within Konoha, the Uchiha were far from trusted.
What lay hidden in the darkness, Hagoromo didn't know.
But he knew it was a lot.
After a little more conversation, Mikoto left with her dark-eyed child.
Kushina and Hagoromo continued on their walk.
"Hagoromo," Kushina said,
"weren't you a bit too cautious just now?"
Hagoromo remained silent.
Had he gone too far?
"When this child is born," she added suddenly,
"you'll be responsible for teaching him ninjutsu."
Hagoromo understood her intent imdiately, so she didn't dwell on his earlier reaction.
"…That depends," he said.
"On whether his learning ability is at least half of mine."
"That won't be a problem," Kushina said confidently.
"Genetically speaking, he'll be a smart child."
Her optimism was… dangerous.
Because in Hagoromo's mory, Naruto was not exactly quick on the uptake.
In any sense of the word.
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