Shin left the school grounds and walked toward his home.
The streets of Konoha were lively at dusk, with ninja returning from missions, students leaving the academy, and civilians moving through the crowds in an everyday rhythm.
After a short walk, he reached his home. Shin pushed open the front door. "I'm back."
Warm light filled the entryway, and the scent of food drifted out from the kitchen.
"Welcome home, Shin." A gentle voice responded. Morisaki Aoi leaned out from the kitchen, still holding a ladle.
Her expression was soft, though traces of her former strength could still be seen in her eyes.
Long-term recovery had left her complexion slightly pale, but it did nothing to diminish her presence.
Wearing an apron, her long hair loosely tied back, she smiled at Kagutsuchi Shin.
At that moment, a figure rushed out from the living room and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Oh, look who's back. My top student son!"
Kagutsuchi Hiroshi had black hair similar to his son's, though far messier, and a wide, energetic grin on his face.
It was hard to believe this man was the same calm and composed medical chunin known at the hospital. Here, at home, he was loud and expressive.
Shin raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "You're home early," he said, glancing at him. "No overtime today?"
Hiroshi puffed out his chest proudly.
"Of course not!" he declared without hesitation. "Tomorrow's your graduation exam. My son's big day. And not just that, you're going to walk out as the top student."
His grin widened even further, pride practically radiating off him. "How could I not come back early for something like that? There's no way I'd miss it."
Shin's mouth twitched slightly.
"I see." He shifted the topic without hesitation. "Then spar with me. It's been a while. My combat instincts are getting dull."
The reaction was immediate.
Hiroshi's smile froze. He slowly let go of Shin's shoulder and took a subtle step back, his gaze drifting off.
"Well… ah… you see…"
He rubbed his nose, then scratched the back of his head, suddenly finding himself very occupied with absolutely nothing.
"Training is good, very good, but you've got your exam tomorrow, right? You should rest tonight and recover your energy. That's what matters most. And your mom made a lot of food… it wouldn't be good if it got cold."
As he spoke, he slowly edged toward the kitchen, avoiding Shin's gaze.
Shin watched him in silence, his expression calm. His chunin father had stopped being a match for him two years ago.
The last time they sparred, Hiroshi had been buried underground by an Earth Release technique and had needed quite some effort to dig himself out. Ever since then, he had become remarkably skilled at finding excuses.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Shin's lips.
"Oh? Resting?" he said lightly. "Or are you just scared? Afraid of losing again, so you'd rather avoid fighting me?"
That hit its mark.
Hiroshi stiffened at once, straightening up as a flush crept across his face.
"Nonsense! Who's scared?" he shot back, his voice rising a notch. "I'm thinking about you. Tomorrow's your exam. Your condition matters most!"
He waved his hands, trying his best to look serious.
"And I'm a medical ninja. My job is saving lives, not fighting on training grounds. Combat isn't my specialty."
The more he spoke, the more confident he sounded, nodding as if convincing himself.
"That's right. Exactly. And I'm your father. What kind of son keeps trying to beat up his own father? That's not appropriate."
Shin simply looked at him, his expression saying everything without a word.
Aoi watched from the kitchen doorway, unable to hold back a soft laugh. "Hiroshi, we know you're amazing. Now come help me serve the food."
"Coming!" Hiroshi seized the opportunity and quickly slipped into the kitchen.
Shin watched him go but didn't pursue the matter. He changed into his slippers and walked toward his room to set down his bag.
His carefree father, his gentle mother, and the warmth of home surrounded him.
It was an atmosphere he truly cherished.
---
The atmosphere at the Kagutsuchi family's dining table was warm and relaxed. The dishes were simple, yet prepared with care, giving off a comforting, homey aroma.
Morisaki Aoi carefully placed a piece of tender, slow-cooked meat into her son's bowl, her eyes filled with gentle affection.
Kagutsuchi Hiroshi, on the other hand, happily took out a small sake flask and poured himself a cup, his face already slightly flushed, looking completely at ease.
"Hehe, just thinking about Shin graduating as the top student tomorrow makes my heart swell with pride!" He took a sip of sake, his tone full of certainty. "There's absolutely no suspense! With my son stepping in, which of those brats could possibly match him?"
Hearing this, Aoi gently set down her chopsticks, her tone carrying a trace of helplessness.
"Hiroshi, don't get carried away. A ninja should remain vigilant at all times. The graduation exam isn't something to take lightly."
"Oh, Aoi, you're being too cautious!" Hiroshi waved his hand dismissively. "You've seen our Shin's strength for yourself. He's long surpassed the level of an ordinary genin. Forget genin, even an average chunin…"
His words abruptly trailed off, as if he had suddenly choked on them.
The smug expression on his face froze for a moment, as though he had just recalled something deeply unpleasant—like the time he had been buried underground by his own son's Earth Release and had struggled for quite a while just to crawl back out.
Hiroshi quickly took another sip of sake, cleared his throat to cover it up, and continued in an even more confident tone:
"In short! I have complete confidence in Shin! Top student is guaranteed! In the future, he might even surpass me!"
As he spoke, Hiroshi looked at Shin again with a wide smile, his eyes full of emotion.
"But speaking of which, Shin's talent and chakra reserves must take after you. If he were like me, just an ordinary medical chunin, that would be a problem."
Aoi's eyes softened slightly at his words.
"That's only natural." She lifted her chin a little, a faint trace of pride in her voice. "Back then, I was only one step away from becoming a jonin."
Hiroshi immediately nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, Aoi-sama." He smiled as he placed a piece of food into his wife's bowl. "If you hadn't retired, you'd probably already be a jonin by now."
Then he turned toward Shin and gave a playful wink. "So, kid, that massive chakra of yours definitely comes from your mother's excellent bloodline!"
Aoi shook her head gently, her tone softening. "That's all in the past. Things are… quite good as they are now."