In the wooded area of the training grounds, Higashino Makoto fired a kunai that severed a steel wire. The trap was triggered, and seven or eight shuriken were immediately launched from multiple angles.
Higashino Makoto dodged left and right, but was still hit twice. Of course, the shuriken were not sharpened.
Setting traps was a basic skill that every ninja was required to master, so naturally he knew how to do it. The traps here had previously been used to train reaction speed.
He had originally already adapted to the number of shuriken and had planned to double it, but today, after putting on weighted equipment, his movement speed was affected, and he was struck twice.
It seemed that only after adapting to the weight on his body would he be able to increase the number of shuriken in the traps.
From then on, once he adapted to the number of shuriken in the traps, he would increase the weight of the load; otherwise, he would do the reverse.
Higashino Makoto set the plan in his mind, reset the traps once more, and continued training his neural reactions.
In order for the shuriken and kunai to reach the throwing speed of an ordinary ninja, the traps Higashino Makoto constructed did not reduce their firing force. Although the weapons used were all unsharpened, after a short while, his body was still left covered in bruises, blue and purple all over.
However, this was not a major problem. Such superficial injuries were easy to deal with. Having a medical-nin mother really was that convenient.
After that, Higashino Makoto endured the pain from his injuries and continued his usual training routines while wearing the weighted clothing.
If this had been a four-year-old child in his previous life, doing this would have landed them in the ICU long ago.
...
Before he realized it, more than a month had already passed since the Yakiniku Q gathering that day.
It was now early summer. Konohagakure was located toward the southern part of the continent, and the weather was gradually growing hotter.
During the last few days of Higashino Jirō's vacation, he trained Higashino Makoto's combat abilities every day. But once the vacation ended, he returned to work.
This time, however, he was carrying out the village's routine missions—leaving early and returning late, just like clocking in for work. Even so, he still had time to provide combat instruction to his son.
It would only be when he was rotated to border garrison duty that he would be away from home for a long period.
Higashino Makoto also returned to his daily training and study.
Ever since he had trained chakra extraction into a bodily instinct, Higashino Makoto had begun training in fine control.
On this day, after breakfast, Higashino Makoto, as usual, studied at home the prerequisite knowledge related to medical ninjutsu.
A long-unheard knock suddenly sounded.
With a slight perception, he knew who it was.
At this moment, Higashino Makoto had his feet upward and his head downward, using chakra attached to the soles of his feet to cling himself to the thick wooden ceiling, while reading a book at the same time.
After hearing the sound, he could not be bothered to come down. Instead, he directly walked along the ceiling to the wall where the front door was, bent over, and opened the door.
The entire process flowed smoothly, as if walking on level ground, demonstrating quite impressive chakra control and bodily balance.
The visitors were Uzuki Yugao and Gekkō Hayate.
After the door was opened, the two small figures did not see the person who had opened it. Tilting their heads to look, they then saw Higashino Makoto standing on the wall to the side.
The purple-haired little bun Uzuki Yugao was startled, plopping down onto the ground and crying out in alarm, "Makoto, who stuck you into the wall?"
Gekkō Hayate was also somewhat surprised. "This is training chakra control, right? I've heard my father mention it before. Makoto, you little guy—I didn't expect you to already be this impressive."
"Yeah. With so much time every day, it would be a pity not to use it for training. Also, what did you come to see me for?" he replied.
Uzuki Yugao stood up and patted the nonexistent dust off her backside, letting out a sigh of relief. "Ah, ah, that was really scary. I thought you had run into a ghost, Makoto."
"As for us, of course we came to look for you to play. It's not easy to get some time to relax, so naturally we had to come out and get some fresh air."
"Speaking of that, after the last gathering, didn't you say you'd come to see me when you had time? How come you disappeared for so long? What did you all go off to do?"
At that, Uzuki Yugao got angry, her little face puffing up like a pufferfish that had washed ashore. "Isn't it all because of you?"
"Oh? Does it have something to do with me?"
Gekkō Hayate explained, "Ever since Uncle Yūya learned about you, after returning he decided together with my father to give us special training, and we've been kept at home lately."
"Oh, training—that's a good thing. We're all going to be ninja in the future, after all. Without strength, that won't do. Hayate, you also wouldn't want to see Yugao run into danger someday while you're powerless to rescue her, right?"
Gekkō Hayate glanced at the companion beside him and nodded seriously. "Yeah. You're right, Makoto. Only with strength can I protect my little sister properly."
Their two families had been close friends for generations, and their relationship was extremely good. At this point in time, Gekkō Hayate had always treated Uzuki Yugao as his younger sister.
As for how it later developed into them becoming lovers—childhood friends, you know. Those who understand, understand. As long as they don't run into some sudden blond interloper, it's basically unbeatable.
Uzuki Yugao panicked. "Hey, Brother Hayate—didn't you say we were coming out to find Brother Makoto and play together? You're not going to go back on your word, are you?"
"Ah, well…" Gekkō Hayate was a little conflicted. He wanted to play, but when he saw how hard Higashino Makoto worked, he also wanted to train.
After all, he was only a little kid a bit over five years old right now, not the Special Jōnin he would become later.
Higashino Makoto also did not mind going out to relax once in a while—life was not only training. "Going out for a walk is fine, but let's make it clear: I'm not going to play some damn ninja game with you."
Gekkō Hayate immediately waved his hand and patted the backpack behind him. "No, no. I don't like playing that stuff either. Our plan today is to go to the river, catch fish, and have a picnic. I brought the tools and seasonings."
"That's a good idea."
...
The central district of Konohagakure was still as bustling as ever. The surrounding forests were dense, and several rivers ran through the village along the outer area.
Among them, the largest river was the Naka River. It was said that the Uchiha shrine was located by the Naka River.
However, that river's terrain was too dangerous. The current was extremely swift, and a large section ran through a deep gorge. It was not suitable for recreation, though it was quite suitable for training.
Of course, if you did not want to live anymore, it was also a good place to jump in and commit suicide. Once a body entered the river, it would be swept away without a trace. After two days, once the fish were fed, you could be sure that not even a single hair would be found.
Higashino Makoto was living quite well at the moment and had not had his eyes gouged out, so he had no intention of jumping into the water.
The river they went to was one near the Naka River, considered a tributary of the Naka River.
After the three of them left the house, they passed through the residential area and headed toward their destination at an unhurried pace, chatting as they went while taking in the scenery of Konohagakure.
Although Higashino Makoto had been reborn in Konohagakure for several years now and was already thoroughly familiar with the village's environment, when it came to enjoying scenery, simply changing one's perspective of appreciation meant that even the same place could always offer different kinds of enjoyment.
Upon reaching the riverbank, Higashino Makoto asked, "What method did you originally plan to use to catch fish? Did you bring a portable net? Or are you planning to go into the river to scoop them up?
"Let me be clear first—going into the river is very dangerous. Where this river merges into the Naka River, the drop is extremely large. It's a waterfall. If you get swept down, you're definitely dead."
"Relax, Makoto. I came prepared," Gekkō Hayate said as he took off his backpack. "My father said this is also a good way to train patience." As he spoke, he pulled out several portable telescoping fishing rods and bait.
Higashino Makoto was somewhat surprised. He had not expected them to become fishermen instead, but was this really suitable for little kids of four or five years old?
Sure enough, next, the three little ones each took a rod and sat quietly by the riverbank, waiting for their planned lunch to bite on its own.
As it turned out, before even half an hour had passed, Uzuki Yugao was the first to lose patience.
"Where are the fish? This is such a waste of time."
The little girl tossed aside her rod and ran off on her own to pick wildflowers behind them, occasionally coming back to stick a few into the two boys' hair, and at the same time checking whether there was any hope for lunch.
Gekkō Hayate was still competing with Higashino Makoto, seemingly seeing who would be the first to be unable to endure the boredom.
With wildflowers haphazardly stuck on each of their heads, the two of them looked like flower baskets.
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