V.2 Chapter 4

The sun was setting, lighting all of Konoha in orange colour. It was the time of the Red Lantern festival again.

Yukan was now holding his purse in his pocket and regretting bringing Kakashi to eat on this day.

When Kakashi and Yukan sat down in a restaurant, Yukan spoke before Kakashi could place an order.

"Now, don't you dare order the Red Lantern festival special or I'll make your training sessions even lovelier ones."

Kakashi gulped. Although he did not have wounds visible on his body, he felt pain in a lot of his bones and did not want to be thrown like today ever again.

"Please do two rounds of meat and.." Kakashi placed an order. Much cheaper than the Red Lantern festival special one.

After a while, the first serving was made. As Yukan and Kakashi were eating, Yukan felt as if someone was gazing at him.

When he turned in its direction, he saw no one.

The feeling did not disappear but since it had no malicious intent, Yukan took no action.

Yukan and Kakashi finished their food slowly and after paying, they both walked out again.

Now, Yukan was going to drop off Kakashi no matter what happened.

'What the hell is this? It is annoying.' Yukan thought as he could still feel the gaze.

He dropped Kakashi right in front of his house and hurried in the direction of the gaze.

When he finally reached there, he saw a blonde kid a little younger than himself looking in the direction of where he previously was.

"What are you looking for?" Yukan asked as he put his hand on the shoulder of the blonde kid.

The kid got scared and jumped out of fright.

He then looked at Yukan, tidied his upper and spoke," Mr, I saw you and that grey-haired kid train together. I was wondering whether I could train together with you?"

Yukan at that moment remembered that this blonde kid in front of him was the one who was training in the training ground other than them.

"Why should I?" Yukan asked in response.

Teaching Kakashi was already something he was doing because he was close with Kakashi since day one.

"I-I am determined to get strong." The boy said.

"Everyone is," Yukan answered. Even a normal genin was once determined to be as strong as a jonin.

".. I am honest."

"Where does that help in being a ninja?" Yukan asked.

The boy got quiet.

"Done? I'll go then." Yukan said and disappeared.

The boy clenched his fists and gritted his teeth and said in a weird voice," I am going to become your student, no matter what."

That was something that happened a month ago.

Today was August 14th, the birthday of Yukan.

Yukan walked to the main hall after doing the morning routine of washing himself up.

Right when he entered the hall, he saw his mother holding a box.

Aayu saw Yukan getting down. As soon as he got down, she hugged him and wished him.

"Happy Birthday, Cutie Pie. Here, this is your birthday gift." Aayu said and handed Yukan the box she was holding.

Yukan held the box and was about to open it but was stopped by Aayu.

"Open it when you turn 24. I have something else for you too." Aayu said and moved into the living room.

There, she handed Yukan a sheet and on it, a long list was made.

"What is this, mom?" Yukan asked.

"Oh, this is our mother and son's day-out plan. By the way, what about Minato, when is he coming back?" Aayu asked while packing some food in a lunchbox.

"He is on a mission. He said that it will take him around a month or more." Yukan answered.

"Then you have to wait for some time for his gift, huh?"

"No, I don't think so. He gave me a box of chocolates before leaving."

Aayu and Yukan then went out and spent the whole day roaming around.

By the time of sunset, Aayu and Yukan had finished the list and had nothing more to do.

"You know, I'll take you to a secret place I discovered when I was young," Aayu said and started to walk towards the forest.

After walking for a long time, the two finally reached a clear spot in between the mountains.

The area had a pond-like water body in the middle and it was surrounded by trees. (A/N: Somewhat like this.)

Yukan went forward and looked around at the beautiful scenery.

After a while, Aayu sat while leaning on a tree and Yukan lay his head on her lap as she caressed his hair.

"You know, this is where I used to come when I was frustrated or anything. This used to be a kind of personal space of mine. No one was allowed to come here, but, from now on, I permit you to enter this area." Aayu said.

Yukan still lay in her lap with his eyes closed and giggled.

Aayu and Yukan spent some time talking to each other before going back to the village.

As they reached right outside their house, they saw Kushina standing right outside the house.

Aayu looked at her and saw her holding an upper.

Aayu held Yuakan's shoulder and pulled him down a little to reach his ear. By now, Yukan had grown to a height of 1.79 meters (5 feet 10 inches).

"I am going to buy some veggies. You talk to her." She said and disappeared faster than Yukan.

When Yukan heard his mother, he looked toward his house and saw Kushina.

He went forward and said," Hey toma- I mean, Kushina."

"Hey, Happy birthday Yukan." Kushina wished him.

A moment of awkward silence fell.

Yukan stood right there with a smile on his face and Kushina was turning red while thinking about how to give Yukan the upper in her hands.

After gathering a lot of courage, she punched Yukan with the upper in her hands and said," H-H-Here, this is y-your bir-birthday gift."

Yukan gently stopped her fist and took the upper from her hands and said," Thank you Kushina. By the way, did you buy this upper while thinking of yourself?"

The upper that Kushina had given was completely red, just like Kushina's hair.

As Yukan looked toward Kushina, he noticed her gone from sight.

All he could hear was a shout from a far away distance," I did not buy it, I made it, you idiot."