31

With clear goals for their future, their lives were now on a tight track. With their busy pursuit of these goals, time seemed to pass quickly. Mito couldn't help but sigh as she looked at her grandkids who had grown up a lot. Today, both Nawaki and Haru were graduating from the academy.

She looked at them with a smile and pride. Both of them were at the top of their class and to be honest, they were very eligible to graduate way earlier. But they both chose to take their time and she was happy with that. As a grandmother, she couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental and hope they would always be kids. But she knew how harsh the world could be and she was also very satisfied with how much they had grown. Once again, she sighed at how much she was contradicting herself. Age was really catching up to her mentally at the very least. Even now, she still looked far younger than her actual age.

Today after both Nawaki and Haru passed their exams they were rewarded with forehead protectors as recognition for their hard work over the years. In the evening the whole family celebrated the two. Mito Tsunade and even Kazuki were slightly emotional about it because from now on the two would be ninja and would have to face whatever challenges the future held.

Tsunade watched as they put on their forehead protectors signifying their graduation to genin. At 11 years old both Nawaki and Haru had grown a lot especially Nawaki. Even though he was still his usual energetic self she noticed a newfound calmness in him he had also undergone significant physical growth as one who had trained him whenever she could she knew he was very strong even if it wasn't immediately apparent from his appearance.

Haru had also changed a lot. Though not compared to Nawaki, his physical appearance had begun to affect how people perceived him. His cuteness had faded, replaced by handsome features that made him seem colder than before. His blue eyes in particular felt like pools of freezing water that left people feeling indifferent.

Haru hasn't changed much since the beginning. He has always been selective about the people he includes in his life and pays attention to. To the rest, he is indifferent and doesn't want to give them even a slight bit of attention. In the past, his childlike appearance masked this trait but now his true temperament is visible to all and he doesn't plan to hide it. As a grown-up by ninja world standards Haru wanted to be clear about his needs and personality. He didn't want to act a certain way or put up a facade as he would then be forced to conform to it. He found it far easier to simply be himself.

In the evening of that day after they had finished their small celebration Tsunade took Haru and Nawaki aside to give them their gifts. Nawaki's gift was still the same as Haru remembered: the First Hokage's necklace. Tsunade had given it to him because he dreams of becoming the next Hokage something that she and Haru hadn't planned for themselves.

Nawaki looked at the necklace with excitement and happiness Tsunade noticed this and playfully teased him "Why aren't you saying anything? If you don't like the present you might as well give it back I can give you something else you like." She stretched her hand out as she spoke.

Nawaki knew Tsunade was teasing him but he still puffed out his chest and confidently replied "I like it not just the necklace after all I'm the grandson of the First Hokage who built the Village Hidden in Leaves this village is Grandpa's treasure and I'm going to protect it all."

Hearing the confidence and determination in Nawaki's voice Tsunade's eyes welled up with tears as she hugged him tightly "Why are you saying all of this? You're still just a kid in my eyes no matter how much you grow besides the village hasn't fallen to the point where it needs a genin to protect it" she said trying to ease his fervor.

Her last remark only seemed to irritate Nawaki further as he broke away from her hug and declared "You just wait I'm not going to be a genin for long." Tsunade chuckled and ruffled his hair before turning to Haru who had been standing there watching them amusedly.

Tsunade approached Haru and unlike Nawaki she gave him a scroll. Haru didn't need to open it as he was certain it was mostly about medicine. Seeing him put her present aside without even a glance Tsunade's eye began to twitch "Why aren't you going to open it?" she asked.

Haru just shrugged and replied "I already know what's inside why should I open it now if I can't read it right away?" Tsunade rolled up her sleeve and said through gritted teeth "God I hate it even more now that you've grown up if you're going to be a cold know-it-all bastard you should at least be a cute one. You'd better not move or it will hurt even more when I get you."

Haru stood calmly with his hands in his pockets unperturbed by Tsunade's anger. She grew even more furious at his nonchalant attitude and punched him straight in the face. Haru remained still and did not attempt to dodge the blow but at the last moment Tsunade's fist stopped short of his face and transformed into a warm embrace.

Haru smiled and hugged Tsunade back saying "Well it seems I've finally grown up enough to not be hit by you this is the best gift ever." Suddenly Tsunade's grip tightened and she hugged him even harder "Ouch" Haru said playing along with her. Tsunade chuckled and replied "You'll never grow up enough for that you brat."

Haru simply hummed, and Tsunade patted his head. "Gosh, you two," she said, "why can't you just let me have a normal emotional moment like other sisters?"

Haru looked away and said nothing while Nawaki couldn't resist and said, "It's not our fault you're not as gentle as other girls."

Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense and Nawaki realized what he had just said. He tried to run away but no matter how much stronger he had become, he was no match for Tsunade especially when she was angry.

In the end, the whole thing ended in the usual way with Nawaki being beaten once again. After Tsunade finished with him she cleaned her hands and clothes of dust and left while muttering "It's all his fault. He just has to make me hit him."

Haru sighed at the familiar scene and went to heal Nawaki for tomorrow. It wouldn't look good if he showed up with bruises all over to his teammates. Even with his monstrous physique he couldn't heal from such a beating in just one night. What made Haru's mouth twitch was that Nawaki had fallen asleep. Maybe this was his way of coping after being beaten by Tsunade. Haru hoped so.

Nonetheless Haru still woke him up. Nawaki looked around and when he saw that Tsunade was not around he said "That violent woman. Why can't she just be gentle for once?" Haru ignored him and thought to himself "Then shouldn't you know not to irritate her by now?" In the end Haru sighed and went up to Nawaki before taking something out of his pocket and saying "Here this is my present for you Nawaki."

Nawaki took it and looked at it it was a small glass container with small pills inside of it. Nawaki looked at Haru with amazement and said "Is this what I think it is? Haru you're amazing! You really did it!" He was just too excited and hugged Haru with all of his strength.

Even though Haru appeared all cold and distant to others, to those he recognized as family he was still himself: caring and protective. He felt a little helpless at Nawaki's antics but he knew that Nawaki was still the same at least when he was around Haru. After a few seconds Haru broke the hug and said seriously "Nawaki I wasn't going to give you this but after I saw how much you've grown up I changed my mind. It's not complete and still has a lot of flaws so don't use it unless your life is in great danger."

Nawaki hearing the severity in Haru's tone nodded his head to show that he understood. Upon seeing this Haru breathed a sigh of relief before continuing "I'm still working on it and in the future I should be able to perfect it. But don't rely on it too much. I'm sure there's still a lot of potential in you that can be tapped. In the end your own strength is the most important not any external assistance."

Nawaki listened to Haru very seriously. As he grew up he realized how much help Haru had given him over the years. Without him he couldn't be even half as strong as he is now. He also realized that in his family he was the one they worried about the most even Haru who is younger than him was the same The least he could do is to show them that he had changed for the better to ease their worries a little.

As if remembering something Nawaki looked at Haru with embarrassment and said "I'm sorry I didn't prepare a gift for you." Haru patted him on the back and said "Well you don't need to feel sorry even if you prepared one I wouldn't like it unlike Tsunade you can't give me anything I need." Then he just flicked away thinking in his heart "You've given me a lot already."

Nawaki gritted his teeth in anger and shouted "Haru you bastard wait!" All that was left was a chuckle in air and Haru's voice from afar "Go to sleep tomorrow is a busy day."