The next morning, Arima was still sound asleep when his mother ca in early to wake him. As she approached his bed, she noticed his body felt unusually warm.
Concerned he might have a fever, she stepped out to fetch a towel and so cold water.
But when she returned, his temperature had returned to normal.
It struck her as odd, but she brushed it off for the mont, making a ntal note to ntion it to a dical ninja later.
She then gently woke Arima and took him to the washroom to freshen up.
After waking up and freshening he raced to the dining table, shouted a quick "Let's eat." and began devouring his al.
Naomi, reassured that Arima was healthy and back to his normal self, watched him fondly as he played with the cat outside.
Outside, the sun blazed and cicadas droned in the distance. Arima lay comfortably on a bamboo mat indoors, happily munching on an ice pop.
His mother had even made him cakes. It was the perfect day.
But suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
[System notice: A good deed a day, never think a kindness is too small.]
Startled, Arima nearly jumped, knocking over his cake.
Hearing the commotion, Naomi rushed in and found the source of the sound to be her son accidentally knocking over his snack.
Still, after everything strange that had happened that day, she felt constantly on edge, her nerves stretched thin.
Arima looked up at her, wide-eyed. "Mother, did you hear soone talking just now?"
Of course Naomi hadn't heard the voice in her son's mind.
But seeing him talking nonsense about mysterious voices, she imdiately picked him up and dashed toward the main family house.
Arima didn't understand what was happening. He only saw his mother racing through the sun with him in her arms, sweat dripping steadily from her brow.
Her worried expression made his heart ache.
He reached up and wiped the sweat from her face with his sleeve, then gave her a bright smile.
Naomi lted at his expression. Her anxiety softened.
They soon arrived at the main family house. Hashirama and Tobirama were both still at the Hokage's office, so only Mito was ho.
Naomi recounted all the strange events in detail to Mito.
After hearing everything, Mito curiously lifted Arima into her arms and began examining him from head to toe.
She slled of fresh oranges, a warm, comforting scent that cald Arima imdiately.
He curiously studied his gentle grandma. She was just as pretty as his mother, and the ornants by her ears swayed lightly in the sumr breeze, catching his attention.
After a thorough check, Mito found Arima's body in perfect condition, perhaps too perfect.
His cell activity was unusually high, nearly rivaling that of her husband. Intrigued, she wondered what kind of transformation he had undergone overnight.
While observing him, she noticed his gaze fixed on her earrings, completely entranced. His delicate and adorable face stirred a deep maternal affection in her.
Mito playfully tapped Arima's forehead with her finger and smiled.
"Arima, rember, when you grow up, don't stare at girls like that. You're going to be such a handso young man one day. If you look at girls like that, they might fall for you by accident."
Arima was enchanted by her sweet voice and blurted out.
"Grandma Mito, your voice is so pretty. And you sll so nice. Why didn't I notice before? Grandma, are you hiding sothing yummy from ?"
Mito laughed at the innocent complint and kissed his forehead, eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Arima, when Grandma has a granddaughter soday, you'll have to take good care of her for , okay?"
Arima didn't really understand, but his sharp mind stored every word she said.
Just then, Mito noticed sothing missing, Hashirama's birthday gift to Arima, a precious necklace, wasn't around his neck.
"Where's Arima's necklace?" she asked Naomi.
Only then did Naomi realize it was gone. She rembered clearly seeing it on him while bathing him the night before. But when she cleaned him that morning, it had vanished.
She asked urgently, "Arima, where did you put your necklace before you went to sleep last night?"
Arima quickly lowered his head. All that remained on his neck was a bare cord.
He panicked, jumping down from Mito's lap and frantically turning out every pocket, even emptying the candy Hashirama had given him onto the table.
But no matter how hard he looked, the necklace was nowhere to be found. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Mito, running through the day's events in her mind, suddenly had a theory. If she was right, then this child might really be the prophesied savior Hashirama had once ntioned.
She gently pulled the flustered Arima back into her lap and smoothed his clothes. She put the candy back into his pocket one by one.
Her gentle movents cald him down. A warm feeling settled in his chest.
Looking at him kindly, Mito said, "Arima, Grandma thinks she knows where the necklace went. But I need your help to confirm it."
Arima's eyes lit up. "Really? What do I need to do, Grandma Mito?"
Mito winked. "Just follow my instructions. If we're lucky, we'll find it soon."
Arima nodded earnestly. "I promise I'll do my best."
Mito then began teaching him how to gather chakra.
Naomi, listening from the side, was worried that Arima might be too young. But Mito was a top-tier dical ninja. If she thought it was okay, it probably was.
Arima sat cross-legged beside her, forming the hand signs she described. Slowly, he entered a calm ditative state.
He didn't know how much ti had passed, but soon he felt his body becoming lighter, a warm sensation spreading from within.
Then, a voice echoed again in his mind.
[First chakra training complete. All chakra natures unlocked.]
Before he could process that, another voice followed.
[Special Kekkei Genkai 'Wood Release' detected in body.
Activation requires 1000 Virtue Points.
Early activation possible with credit. One-year repaynt term.
Activate?]
Arima rembered his mother telling him about his grandfather Hashirama's legendary Wood Release, the powerful technique that could summon trees and even towering wooden giants.
Without hesitation, he responded, 'Activate.'
The voice replied.
[Authorization complete.
1000 Virtue Points deducted. 990 currently owed.
Failure to repay in ti will result in revocation of Wood Release and chakra attributes.]
Before Arima could say anything else, he felt the chakra in his body change. He didn't know what exactly had happened, but his body felt even warr.
From the outside, only a mont had passed.
Mito watched closely. As soon as Arima entered his ditative state, it took only a small ti before she sensed chakra erging from his body.
She smiled in satisfaction, his talent was extraordinary.
But what happened next still took her by surprise.
Green sprouts began to push up through the bamboo mat beneath Arima. They were tiny and fragile, but their aning was undeniable.
Naomi stood frozen. She had never hoped for much, just that her son would live a safe, peaceful life.
Even if he never beca a shinobi, she would have been content.
But now, the scene before her told her that her son was destined for greatness, a path filled with trials and thorns. Though frightened, her shinobi instincts helped her accept the truth.
Mito imdiately sent guards to summon Hashirama back ho.
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