[Great Fireball Jutsu: You could've burned that "cataract" to death, but you had to aim off to the side… I'm so mad! It's all because you weaklings that my power can't be fully shown, and those guys even mock me as the "Kindness Jutsu"! Hmph! Don't come looking for me for the next few days!]
[Transformation Technique: Mikami-chan, that tactic you used just now was brilliant. Using intel and jutsu in combination—even a chūnin got caught off guard. But next time, don't try something that dangerous, okay? We'll worry.]
[Substitution Technique: Mikami-kun… it's good you're okay… (｡ŏ_ŏ)]
[Substitution Technique Affection +1]
It seemed that during the spar, Mikami Yuu had used these jutsu, and the system recognized it as "romance target appearing," so Transformation Technique and Great Fireball both came out to make their presence felt. Only…
[Clone Technique: Hey, what's your problem? Why didn't you call me for the fight—only big sis and little sis? And that red-haired one was there too!]
"…?"
No—
Why I didn't use Clone Technique… don't you know?
In front of the Byakugan, Transformation and Substitution could still do something, but what use was an E-rank Clone Technique that could only make illusions…
That's what Mikami Yuu thought, but of course he couldn't say it out loud. All he could do was sigh helplessly and say things like, "Not every jutsu is needed for every matchup." With "big sis" Transformation Technique also helping smooth things over, he finally managed to placate Clone Technique.
As for Great Fireball…
This one seemed genuinely angry. No matter how Mikami Yuu tried to [Talk], it refused to respond at all. He could only sigh and decide to try again later.
Honestly… the personification level was so high. It was entertaining, but also kind of a hassle.
Still, it shouldn't be a big deal.
After all that training and sparring, it was already getting late.
The sun was tilting west.
Mikami Yuu had originally planned to go find Might Duy and talk about the Eight Gates, but considering the time, he had to change plans and withdraw for now.
…
"Huh, Yuu-kun—you're back? What a coincidence."
When he was almost at the residential area,
Mikami Yuu saw Nohara Rin and Mikami Aoi walking toward him from the other side.
Rin was holding a book, while Mikami Aoi carried two bags of fruits and vegetables. The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked, and when they saw Mikami Yuu, they both smiled and greeted him.
"Mom. Rin."
Mikami Yuu obediently came over and took the bags from his mother's hands. He glanced inside.
"Huh? Why'd you buy so much fruit? Isn't this stuff expensive? Are we done living frugally?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
Mikami Aoi smiled. "Your father mailed a letter home today, along with the village subsidy, and it arrived with me. And I also heard from Rin about your excellent performance at the Ninja Academy, so I bought some extra food on purpose. Tonight we'll treat you properly.
"Oh right—Rin, come over and eat with us too. You can bring your parents."
"Okay!"
Rin nodded.
Beside them, Mikami Yuu lifted an eyebrow. So his dad… wasn't dead yet?
Looks like his galgame system didn't come from sacrificing his parents. Good.
Soon,
the three of them returned home.
After putting things down, Rin went back to her own place, saying she'd come over for dinner later. Mikami Yuu, meanwhile, took the letter from the table and read it while his mother cooked.
The Mikami family's father was named Mikami Tajima—funny enough, the same name as Madara's father. But unlike that one, he had an ordinary background and ordinary strength: just a regular chūnin. In the letter, Tajima reported he was safe and said that in two more months he could hand off to the next rotation and return to Konoha.
Bro…
That flag is not one you should be raising!
Mikami Yuu complained internally.
This wasn't peaceful times—it was the eve of the Third Great Ninja War. From what he'd overheard at Konoha Hospital today, it was probably very close. If there happened to be friction at the border during these two months…
Mikami Tajima might end up being sacrificed to the heavens!
Then what would happen to the Mikami family finances? Mikami Yuu wasn't even a ninja yet!
To be fair, average ninja income wasn't bad.
Genin had it rougher since they mostly did cat-and-dog errands with limited pay. But starting from chūnin, a single C-rank mission paid tens of thousands of ryō. After the village cut, splitting with teammates, and necessary expenses like food and equipment, you could still save up a decent amount.
And someone like Mikami Tajima, stationed long-term at the border, also got extra subsidies. They weren't huge, but they at least kept the household fairly comfortable.
Of course,
"comfortable" was relative to civilians—you couldn't compare them to the big clans.
Rumor had it some major-clan kids grew up on delicacies—venison, bear paw, herbal tonics—and got medicinal baths and massages for fun, building bodies tough as steel. Add a kekkei genkai on top, and they were basically little Konoha supermen.
Mikami Yuu figured that if Tajima came back safely, he'd talk to him about finding some better-paying side work. The Third Great Ninja War was approaching, and a ninja at Tajima's level was basically pure cannon fodder—it might be better to change careers.
That night,
Rin's family came to the Mikami house as guests.
Rin's father was named Nohara Hiroshi, also a chūnin, but a bit stronger than Mikami Tajima. If Tajima was early-stage chūnin, then Hiroshi was mid-stage chūnin at the peak—still not amazing, but if he worked hard, he might have a chance to become a tokubetsu jōnin in his lifetime.
During dinner,
Hiroshi laughed and said that when Mikami Tajima came back, they'd drink a couple rounds together.
Great—another flag.
Mikami Yuu muttered in his heart, but kept a perfectly composed face, speaking only polite, social lines. Hiroshi laughed loudly.
"Ha! Your little Yuu really knows how to talk. Unlike my Rin—she only knows how to eat!"
"…?"
Rin, sipping soup in small mouthfuls, looked up, and a question mark slowly rose over her head.
Mikami Aoi smiled and smoothly added, "Oh, come on, Brother Hiroshi. Rin is excellent too—she even helped me carry things home today. I wonder what boy will be blessed enough to walk through life hand-in-hand with Rin in the future."
"Cough—cough…"
Rin choked.
Mikami Yuu handed her a tissue, then gave the elders a slightly awkward but still polite smile, and went back to eating.
The meal lasted about half an hour.
Everyone had a great time.
After they ate and drank their fill, Mikami Aoi walked the Nohara family to the door, then came back to clean up the dishes. Halfway through, she seemed to remember something and took out a bag of grapes and a bag of mandarins from the fridge, setting them on the table.
"Look at my memory. I meant to share some of the fruit we bought today with the Nohara family, but I forgot to mention it… Yuu, go deliver these two bags to Uncle Hiroshi."
"Oh, okay."
Forgot? Somehow it looks… intentional.