Evening, Star City.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a brilliant orange-red, casting a warm glow over this modern city.
On the streets, people finishing their day's work hurried home to enjoy a warm dinner.
Menma, having returned to the Star City, first left a shadow clone at the Administration Center to handle some administrative affairs that required his attention. His main body then walked unhurriedly along the familiar streets towards home.
Although he could have gone directly home, this slow walk back made him feel particularly at ease.
The shops lining the streets still had their lights on, there weren't many pedestrians, and the evening breeze carried the scent of the Yuga River.
As he walked, Menma sorted through the Land of Stars' reserve of Genin in his mind.
Since Hiruzen wanted to hold a joint Chunin Exam, why not add fuel to the fire and create an even larger joint Chunin Exam?
Kumogakure was going, so shouldn't the Land of Stars join in the fun and help fill out the venue?
However, the Land of Stars' Ninja education system was different from that of other Ninja Villages. The Ninja School in the Star City alone graduated over three hundred students who became Genin each year. Most of them would directly enter the Star Ninja's military upon graduating, undergoing at least three more years of specialized military training and skills training before being assigned to various units.
Some Ninja would also enter the medical system, intelligence system, Ninja Teaching system, research system, and other various professions, becoming components of the Land of Stars' state machinery.
Moreover, the Land of Stars' Ninja School was gradually transitioning from the original six-year system to a nine-year system. This meant that a child with Ninja Talent would enter the Ninja School at age six, graduate at fifteen as a novice rookie, join the Star Ninja's military for military training, and officially become an experienced Ninja around the age of eighteen upon reaching adulthood.
Although this meant a longer training period for a Ninja, during the first nine years, they would not only be taught various Chakra Basics and fundamental training but also more important cultural and ideological classes. The three years in the Star Ninja's military would then focus on combat techniques and even more rigorous training.
Ninja nurtured this way were not only much stronger in combat ability than Jonin from other villages but also stronger culturally and ideologically.
Such a Ninja, placed in any other Ninja Village, would be qualified to lead a squad.
Of course, the Star Ninja School also allowed early graduation, but the assessment criteria were very difficult.
This year, the genius Ninja who could graduate early from the Star Ninja School were only a few: Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, Karin, Kurotsuchi, and the even younger Ranmaru.
"M-Menma-nii?"
A slightly hesitant voice came from nearby.
Menma turned his head and saw Ajisai walking from the direction of the Ninja School.
Her short purple hair swayed gently in the evening breeze. She still carried several lesson plans in her arms, and her face showed the fatigue of a long day, but upon seeing Menma, her eyes instantly lit up.
"Ajisai." Menma stopped, waiting for the girl to approach. "Just getting off work?"
"Yes." Ajisai nodded, quickly walked to his side, then kept a small, somewhat shy distance. "There was a school meeting today, organizing next semester's teaching plan, so I'm a bit late."
The two walked side by side towards home.
The streetlights stretched and shortened their shadows.
"Getting used to school life?" Menma asked casually.
Ajisai's steps lightened a bit.
She turned her head to look at Menma, a faint blush appearing on her face, quickly concealed by the dim yellow of the streetlights.
"Y-yes, very used to it." She said softly, her voice carrying undisguised happiness. "All the teachers at school are very kind and help each other. Principal Nono takes special care of me, arranging many teaching training sessions for me..."
She began talking about interesting things at school, her words gradually becoming more fluent.
Which class had particularly naughty kids who always liked to play tricks during class, which child was exceptionally talented, and those who, though average in talent, worked especially hard, staying after school every day to practice on the training ground...
Menma listened quietly, occasionally nodding.
Night gradually enveloped the city. A breeze blew through the streets, carrying the scent of food from distant restaurants.
He could feel the vitality in Ajisai's words… the state of someone who had truly stepped out of the shadows and found direction in life.
When he had first met this girl in Amegakure five years ago, she was still an orphan immersed in the grief of losing her companions.
Now, she is a teacher at the Star Ninja School, passing on her knowledge and experiences to the next generation.
This change made Menma feel a sense of satisfaction.
Menma smiled slightly. "Sounds like you really like this job."
"Yes!" Ajisai nodded firmly, her eyes sparkling under the streetlights. "Being able to teach children things, watching them improve little by little... this feeling... it's wonderful."
The two turned the corner, and the lights of home were already shining ahead.
It was a three-story building, not particularly conspicuous compared to the neighboring Uchiha clan grounds, but the warmth emanating from it felt especially genuine.
"Oh, right!" Ajisai suddenly remembered something. "I just recalled, Aunt Kushina said today that Aunt Mikoto and Gaara and the others are all coming over for oden."
Sure enough, when the two reached the front door, they could see figures moving inside through the window.
Menma opened the door. Several pairs of shoes were already lined up in the entranceway… those of the three Sand Siblings, Mikoto's, and Minato's and Hikari's.
"You're back just in time!"
Kushina's head popped out of the kitchen, her long red hair tied back with a hairband, her green apron stained with a bit of sauce, her smile radiant. "Go sit in the living room, dinner will be ready soon! Ajisai, come help me bring out that plate of pickled radish."
"Coming!" Ajisai responded, quickly changing into her indoor shoes and trotting into the kitchen.
Her eagerness to help clearly showed that she had come to regard this place as her home.
Menma smiled and changed into his slippers as well.
As he passed the kitchen, he glanced in and saw a bustling scene.
Kushina and Mikoto were busy at the stove, one watching the large pot of oden broth, the one preparing dipping sauces and side dishes, working in perfect harmony.
Ajisai flitted between them like a happy little butterfly, helping to fetch bowls, chopsticks, and arrange the dishes.
The air was filled with the rich, savory warmth of the oden broth, mixed with the scent of home, bringing a sense of peace.
Menma didn't disturb them and walked straight to the living room.
In the living room, the atmosphere was slightly... delicate.
The three siblings, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, sat on the long sofa.
Gaara was relatively composed, just sitting quietly with his hands on his knees, but his gaze seemed unfocused, lost in thought.
Temari and Kankuro, however, were clearly uneasy. Their backs were ramrod straight, their hands nervously gripping their pants, their eyes occasionally darting glances toward the armchair.
Over there, Hikari sat quietly in the armchair.
She wore a simple dark blue set of loungewear today, her long black hair falling softly over her shoulders, her posture elegant.
She held a cup of hot tea in her hands, deliberately not releasing any aura, but merely sitting there, the intangible presence of a transcendent Kage-level powerhouse and the Uchiha Clan's innate cool, aloof disposition was enough to make the three teenage siblings feel immense pressure, not daring to breathe loudly.
Menma's appearance was like a warm current, instantly breaking the somewhat stagnant atmosphere in the living room.
"Menma-nii!" The three Sand Siblings almost simultaneously sighed with relief and greeted him, as if they had found their pillar of support.
Even Minato put down his newspaper, stood up from the sofa, and said to Menma with a smile, "Just in time. Come help me move the table. With so many people tonight, one table won't be enough."
"Okay." Menma responded and walked with Minato towards the storage room.
"Don't be so formal," Menma said to the three Sand Siblings as he helped move the table. "Just treat this place like your own home."
These words relaxed Temari and Kankuro a little.
Gaara stood up. "Menma-nii, let us help too."
Temari and Kankuro also got up and came over to move chairs.
Soon, a spare long table was brought out and joined with the dining table, forming a large table large enough for eight or nine people. The chairs were also arranged neatly.
Just then, the women came out of the kitchen carrying the food. Kushina and Mikoto carried the large oden pot together. Ajisai followed behind, holding several dishes: pickled radish, cold spinach salad, tamagoyaki.
After placing them on the table, Ajisai went back to the kitchen and brought out: chrysanthemum greens tossed with shredded tofu, tempura, teriyaki okra and pork rolls...
The steaming oden pot was placed in the center of the table, and a rich aroma immediately filled the air.
The pot was filled with various ingredients: daikon radish simmered until transparent and flavorful, tofu that had absorbed the broth, fish balls, chikuwa, konnyaku, eggs... each one looked tempting.
"Come, come, come! Dinner's ready! Everyone sit down, sit down!" Kushina warmly welcomed everyone, like a busy and happy hostess.
Bowls, chopsticks, and dishes were distributed, and everyone took their seats.
Minato sat at the head. Menma sat to his left, with Hikari beside Menma.
Kushina sat to Minato's right, next to Mikoto, followed by the three Sand Siblings and Ajisai.
"Itadakimasu!"
With the synchronized chorus, dinner officially began.
The soft clinking of chopsticks and dishes, exclamations of delight at the delicious food, and the sound of relaxed conversation intertwined, creating a warm, familial atmosphere.
Kankuro tried the radish first, and his eyes immediately lit up. "So delicious! Way better than the cafeteria's oden!"
"Of course," Kushina said proudly. "I simmered this broth with kombu and katsuobushi for three hours, and I added a secret ingredient too."
Temari carefully blew on a fish ball before putting it in her mouth, a look of enjoyment appearing on her face.
Gaara ate quietly, but he wasn't slow.
The atmosphere gradually became more relaxed.
Everyone chatted about daily life as they ate… topics ranging from school teaching to recent missions, to the exciting moments of the Ninja Sword Tournament.
Halfway through the meal, Menma put down his chopsticks and said to Minato beside him in a casual tone, "Father, regarding Konoha's joint Chunin Exam this year, I have an idea. Arrange for the diplomatic team tomorrow to formally approach the Land of Fire's Daimyo's office, to see if we can have our Land of Stars, as well as Iwagakure, also send teams to participate."
Although his voice wasn't loud, the casual conversation at the table immediately fell silent.
Minato and Hikari almost simultaneously stopped their motions of picking up food, looking at Menma with some surprise.
"The Third Hokage probably won't agree, right?" Minato mused, his brow furrowing slightly, his tone carrying a hint of doubt. "After all, the relationship between our two countries isn't good right now."
After the departure of the Hyuga branch family and the Uchiha Clan, relations between Konoha and the Land of Stars had reached a freezing point.
After the Land of Stars became the overlord of the western part of the Ninja World, it was separated from the Land of Fire only by the Land of Rivers. Over the years, conflicts between Konoha's Ninja and Star Ninja upon encountering each other in various small countries and regions had also intensified.
Menma picked up a piece of tofu, rolled it in the dipping sauce, and said, "Go directly to the Land of Fire's Daimyo's office, start from there. Konoha probably won't be able to refuse."
Although the Land of Stars had tense relations with the Ninja Villages of several great nations, private commercial exchanges had never ceased.
Although various countries publicly prohibited Land of Stars' goods from flowing into their domestic markets, the Land of Stars' luxury goods, high-tech products, and rare ingredients were extremely popular among the noble circles of various countries.
The Land of Fire's Daimyo's office secretly purchased large quantities of goods from the Land of Stars every year, and private exchanges between merchants of the two countries were even more frequent.
The Daimyo and nobles of various countries turned a blind eye, as long as they could amass wealth, anything went.
The Land of Stars' intelligence network also infiltrated various countries, even the Daimyo's offices themselves, through these commercial channels.