Chapter 22

In Konoha, there hasn't been anything like that since the Uzukage recalled all the clan members, leaving Mito in relative solitude. And her relationship with her granddaughter had been strained since Kushina's arrival for obvious reasons. It's no surprise that she feels lonely. Of course, I know that Mito regularly exchanges letters with relatives through summoning, but that can't replace personal interaction and the warmth of a loved one.

Sighing, I glanced at the darkening window and gently stroked the sleeping kunoichi's shoulder.

— "Mito-chan, I have to go."

— "What? Already?"

— "I'm afraid so," — I said with a sad smile, caressing her cheek and giving her a kiss on the lips. — "As much as I'd like to stay, I still have a lot to do today."

Finding my scattered clothes on the floor, I quickly began to dress, but paused for a moment, glancing at the slightly open door — didn't we close it? After rifling through my memory, I couldn't recall a specific answer and dismissed the fleeting curiosity, continuing to put on my clothes. The last items were the mask and glasses, after which I blew a kiss to the yawning red-haired beauty and quickly left the house, making sure to close the door firmly behind me.

***

— "Well, how have we been behaving? Did we listen to Mommy?"

— "Udyah!"

— "Listened? What a good girl!"

— "Gyahahaha!"

Throwing the happily squealing little one into the air, I broke into a blissful smile — even though I can't visit Katsumi and Linley as often as I'd like, holding my long-awaited daughter or playing with her every time makes me melt with delight. It was worth dying and being reborn in another world!

— "Ryo?"

— "Yes, yes," — turning to the slightly smiling Senju, I handed her the baby. — "I haven't found any deviations from the norm, and Keirakukei is developing without any anomalies, though somewhat faster than usual children of chakra-using parents. But given our genes, it's nothing unusual."

Sighing, Linley gently patted the now calm little one on the head and was about to place her in the crib, but Katsumi-chan had her own opinion on the matter as she began reaching out with her tiny, chubby hands toward her mother's chest.

— "Hungry?"

— "Ya!"

Even though she hasn't turned two yet, our daughter has already started trying to speak and even remembers a few short words, understanding simple sentences more or less, which makes me swell with pride and suppress the urge to boast to everyone I meet about how smart she is. She's as beautiful as her mother, but she's got her father's brains!

Although, the rate of development of shinobi children is astonishing compared to ordinary toddlers, if you don't know the reason for this phenomenon. Still, remembering my own childhood, it wouldn't be surprising, but observing it from the outside, rather than experiencing it myself, makes the difference more apparent.

Not to mention that Katsumi learned to walk unassisted shortly after turning one. I'd bet she'll be zooming around like a meteor by the time she's two, much to her parents' dismay.

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