With a simple question, a bright smile bloomed on the little girl's face.
Standing up from behind the rocky pillar, she faced the sunlight.
That genuine smile of hers was pure and beautiful.
It was only then that Kei Yamanaka noticed—Nii's hair wasn't golden like his own, but more of a light sandy-yellow shade.
Not as dazzling as gold, but softer and more calming.
"Nii's hair looks really nice," Kei genuinely praised her.
"Th-thank you!"
Nii's cheeks flushed slightly, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected compliment.
Since becoming a Jinchuriki, she'd rarely received any kindness from others.
Even when some people were kind to her at first—before they knew who she was—their attitudes quickly turned to deep disgust and fear once they found out her identity.
A simple breakfast: two fried eggs, a small Land of Lightning specialty steak, corn noodles, toast, and a glass of sweet-and-sour juice.
Kei hadn't even taken ten minutes to make it, yet it amazed Nii how delicious it was.
Watching the little girl eat with her eyes squinted in delight,
Kei casually sensed the presence of two Anbu ninjas outside—different from yesterday's pair.
Instead of taking immediate action, he picked up a glass of juice and took a slow sip, then started asking Nii about her daily life.
Perhaps it was because the Eight-Tails often went wild while the Two-Tails was relatively well-behaved,
or maybe because the Kumogakure leadership believed the Eight-Tails' power surpassed that of the Two-Tails?
In any case, within the village, Nii clearly lacked the level of attention and care given to B.
The way they were educated was completely different.
Since becoming a Jinchuriki, B had always trained under A, the son of the Third Raikage and future Fourth Raikage.
Nii, however, followed the standard path into the Ninja Academy.
Only occasionally would an Anbu member bring her scrolls detailing methods for training and strengthening Jinchuriki powers.
Kei could roughly guess the Third Raikage's reasoning.
Most likely, the elder Raikage thought that as a young girl, Nii needed companionship from her peers.
And the exclusion or isolation kids subjected her to was simply because she wasn't strong enough yet—after all, children naturally admire strength.
In one sentence: The Third Raikage tried to be thoughtful—but didn't quite make it.
Among most people in Kumogakure, the belief that power reigns supreme applied broadly.
But the kids at the Ninja Academy hadn't yet been exposed to the ninja world's harsh realities—they wouldn't think too deeply about it.
But forced companionship only made Nii lonelier and more anxious.
"Thank you for the meal!"
After finishing her breakfast, Nii wore a happy smile and politely clasped her hands together in gratitude.
"How about a game of chess? Or cards? Do you have better ideas?"
Kei casually gathered up the dishes on the table and tossed them into the sink in the kitchen.
That brat Musai ran off early this morning with just a piece of bread—he deserves to do the dishes!
That's just how the ninja world works—cruel as always.
If you're not strong enough, someone will take advantage of your family, hurt your child, and squander your money!
"I'm... not very good at these."
Yugito Nii awkwardly scratched her fingers.
She had never played these games before. She had only seen them a few times from afar while her classmates were playing and barely understood the rules.
"It's fine, I'll teach you. Hmm... Then let's try everything and see what you like."
Kei Yamanaka smiled to ease Yugito's embarrassment.
He pulled out a shogi board, an Othello set, Sugoroku, flower cards, and playing cards from a small box beneath the table.
The little girl listened eagerly to how each game was played.
Just like Futaba, the future Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails from Hidden Waterfall Village.
After briefly hearing the rules once, the little girl chose Sugoroku, a more fun game that remained entertaining even for just two players.
This was a game similar to the Monopoly Kei remembered from his past life—players rolled dice to determine their moves and advanced spaces on the board accordingly.
Various events occurred depending on where a player landed, and whoever reached the end first won.
Although Yugito didn't seem to have much luck with the dice.
She constantly landed on unexpected situations, such as having to bark like a dog, spin ten circles blindfolded in both directions, cry then laugh repeatedly for five seconds each time, or balance a book on her head while walking like a noblewoman.
Yet every time, she laughed cheerfully.
In the small room, the sound of her bell-like laughter filled the space.
Such moments were too precious for her, making her feel as if it were a dream—unreal and fragile.
Outside the house, the two Anbu observing the scene seemed stunned.
Joyful, lively, playful, and with an air of innocent bewilderment.
Could this really be the same Jinchuriki they knew—the cold and haughty Yugito Nii who once turned up her nose in indifference at the Ninja Academy?
Lunch at noon was still prepared by Kei Yamanaka.
After eating a simple meal, the two switched between several different games, and Yugito never seemed bored at all.
It wasn't until nearly eight o'clock in the evening, after another dinner, did the Anbu in charge of surveillance knock on the door to remind Yugito to return home early. Tomorrow, she still had to attend the Ninja Academy.
Reluctantly leaving with heavy steps, the little girl said goodbye.
Leaning slightly against the railing, Kei looked at the Anbu who hadn't left his side yet and let out a helpless sigh before speaking first.
"Should I come down to the Anbu headquarters for debriefing?"
"No one suspects you. Lord Raikage is pleased to see someone welcoming the Jinchuriki."
Anbu shifts were always on a two-team rotation; the Anbu officer standing before Kei now had already changed from the night before and became the squad leader from last night.
"Then...?"
"I heard you want to retire your kid from being a ninja?"
"Life is about accepting things. Acknowledging your parents' ordinariness, accepting your own mediocrity, and finally recognizing your child's average abilities... recently... Well, I just don't want him dying on the battlefield."
Kei fabricated a lie effortlessly.
Looking along Kei's gaze, the Anbu squad leader watched the houses and flickering lights of Kumogakure suspended among the clouds.
Hearing the sigh in those words, he suddenly felt an unexpected pang of understanding.
Nodded slightly, he vanished in a flash.
"...Do yourself in on the way out. Otherwise, it's just not fair to everyone else."
Watching the other walk away, Kei Yamanaka was beginning to understand why spies couldn't last long in the field.
When lives intersect, new emotions are bound to emerge.
Although he couldn't sense intentions, good or malicious, he could guess that someone must have put their word in to keep him from being hauled in for Anbu questioning.
Even though he knew very well that mercy toward enemies meant cruelty toward oneself...
But...
Whether for Nii or something else, maybe biting the bullet once was actually the best move?
Deng deng deng—
Musai burst through the door like a gust of wind, his footsteps echoing behind him.
Spotting his 'old man' staring off into the sky, clearly lost in thought, Musai kicked off his shoes and barreled into the living room. Chugging water from the tap, he bellowed,
"Dad! What's for dinner tonight?"
"It's whatever's in the kitchen."
"Dad, am I even your real son? Just leftover rice again?"
"Kid, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Actually, I'm your stepdad. That year during a heavy snowstorm, you were barely alive in the snow..."
"No wonder I get smacked around six times every three days! You old— Ow, no, no! Dad, I'm sorry!"
Peng peng pa—peng peng pa—
After enduring a round of paternal discipline, Musai sat obediently with a bowl of cold leftovers.
"Dad, this morning I asked about retirement papers. Turns out I can fill them out myself. I also told my teammates I might retire to raise pigs, but they suggested cattle instead."
"...Fine. Then we'll raise both."
Hearing this, Kei Yamanaka looked at Musai with an increasingly strange expression.
These days, a kid this earnest? Pretty rare.
"Dad, how many cows and pigs can we afford? Renting space ain't free either. Do we even have enough?"
"You really want to quit being a Ninja?"
"...Dad, my teammate saw you buying flowers this morning. Calla lilies are used for mourning the dead, right?"
"Good."
"What?"
"Hand in your resignation tomorrow. Then I'll find us land and buy some head."
"Dad, you didn't even tell me how much money we have! If we're only talking one or two cows, that ain't gonna keep us alive."
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