August 18.
Gojo Yoru woke up early, bursting with energy like he'd been injected with adrenaline.
While washing up, he stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes full of anticipation.
Today was Yoru's birthday. Before he turned three, his parents in this life would still celebrate with him.
After Gojo Sa and Gojo Mio sacrificed themselves, Yoru never celebrated his birthday again.
Not until the year he turned six—after which he began looking forward to this day every single year.
Four years ago, today was when Yoru experienced his first evolution.
That perfectly timed evolution, delivered right on cue, was what Yoru called a gift from space–time.
If that gift was going to come again, Yoru believed it would still come on his birthday.
So every year on August 18, Yoru quietly hoped.
Unfortunately, over the next three years, the evolution never returned. Would it come this year?
After washing up, Yoru started preparing breakfast.
"Yoru, I'm here!"
He had just poured two glasses of milk when the girl's voice reached his ears—loud enough to feel like it filled the whole little house.
Then Kushina came clomping up in slippers, thump-thump-thump.
Seeing Kushina arrive exactly on time, Yoru teased, "I got up early today to cook and you still show up this punctually. Don't tell me you secretly installed surveillance in my house?"
Even though it was only Konoha Year 34, scientists and computers already existed, so "surveillance" wasn't a strange word.
"Hehe. I got up early too. That means our chemistry is getting better and better," Kushina said.
She washed her hands, pulled out a chair, sat down, and started eating Yoru's sandwich—completely unfamiliar with the concept of "being polite."
Yoru set a glass of milk in front of her and, out of habit, ruffled her "dog head"—only to notice white powder stuck in her bangs. He immediately started running his mouth again.
"What—did you wake up early just to tear the house apart? You didn't even clean the dust out of your hair before you came. What are you in such a rush for?"
As he spoke, Yoru reached out to brush the "dust" from her hair.
Unexpectedly, Kushina, sandwich clenched between her teeth, covered her head with both hands to stop him from touching her hair.
If the sandwich were a bone and her hands were claws, she'd look even more like a puppy.
"N-no need, I can do it myself," Kushina said. She scarfed down the sandwich in a few bites, then ran into the bathroom. Water started running almost immediately.
Yoru was a bit confused. Why did this tomato suddenly get so jumpy?
But he didn't think much of it.
After breakfast, Yoru and Kushina went together to the abandoned training ground.
Orochimaru hadn't arrived yet, so Yoru and Kushina played a game of "hawk and chicks."
One hides, one searches. If you find and touch the other, you win.
Any ninjutsu was allowed.
After so many survival drills with Orochimaru, neither of them cared much for taijutsu duels or "no-rules" sparring anymore—it didn't even get their adrenaline going.
Their little game, on the other hand, was perfect for sharpening each person's strengths.
They trained until 10 a.m., and only then did Orochimaru appear.
He guided them for more than an hour on combined ninjutsu–taijutsu–genjutsu, then gave them time to rest for lunch.
After that, as usual, he split them up: his shadow clone took Kushina for sensory training, while his real body took Yoru to run missions.
Even after more than a month, Orochimaru still had no intention of taking Yoru outside the village for missions.
Yoru didn't bring it up either.
Whatever Orochimaru told him to do, he did—perfectly embodying the idea that a ninja was an obedient tool.
That calm, steady temperament—without needing "tempering"—made both Orochimaru and the secretly observing Sarutobi Hiruzen very satisfied.
At dusk…
Orochimaru looked at Yoru with a faintly meaningful smile and said, "That's enough training for today. Go back and rest well. Oh—and happy birthday."
Yoru froze slightly.
When he snapped back, Orochimaru was already gone.
Yoru wasn't surprised Orochimaru knew his birthday—he must have seen his file.
Still, Yoru couldn't help complaining internally.
Not even a present? Did he just suddenly remember?
After finishing today's mission, Yoru didn't go straight home. He returned to the abandoned training ground.
Kushina had ended earlier and was waiting near the wooden posts.
"Let's go. We're not doing a cookout tonight—come eat at my place," Yoru beckoned.
But Kushina didn't stick to him like usual.
She stayed where she was, awkward and fidgety. "Um… I'm going back today. I might not be able to eat with you."
Yoru was surprised, but he still smiled. "That's a good thing—it means you've gotten closer to them. You waited here just to tell me this?"
"…Yeah." Kushina scratched her cheek, eyes darting away.
"Alright. Go on then. See you tomorrow."
Knowing the girl was probably embarrassed, Yoru didn't press.
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Kushina waved at him—and then turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished.
Yoru instantly regretted it. He should've mocked her just now.
He actually thought Kushina was embarrassed—she was probably already back at the mansion eating a feast.
For the first time, Yoru didn't leave together with Kushina, and he felt oddly uncomfortable.
Back on Central Street, Yoru considered grabbing some quick dinner somewhere.
But after thinking about it, he abandoned the idea.
For health reasons, he'd gotten used to cooking for himself.
He bought some fresh fruit and milk, then carried the bags home.
"Hm?"
The moment he took off his shoes, Yoru sensed something was off.
There was one less pair of slippers at the entryway.
Yoru raised an eyebrow, opened the shoe cabinet, and sure enough saw a familiar pair of ninja shoes tucked inside.
"This Tomato-na…"
Yoru roughly guessed what was going on and smiled as he headed up to the second floor.
The sun had already set, leaving only a crimson glow in the sky.
With the lights off, the second floor was dim.
Szzzt… szzzt…
As soon as Yoru reached the top, he heard the crackle of sparklers.
Following the sound, he looked toward the kitchen—
And saw a familiar figure walking out, holding a cake with sparkler candles stuck into it, heading straight for him.
"Ta-da! Surprised why I'm here?"
Kushina offered the cake to Yoru, smiling brightly. "Happy birthday, stinky-mouth Yoru!"
Even though he'd half guessed it and had prepared himself a little, Yoru still felt a surge of emotion at the sight of the cake.
The cake in Kushina's hands wasn't big—probably not even enough for her to eat alone—and it was oddly shaped, barely even holding a proper circle.
But the flour, cream, and egg mixture smeared across the girl's face, hair, and apron made Yoru feel the weight of her effort.
He finally understood why she'd been acting so strange during the day.
That "dust" in her hair hadn't been dust at all—it was flour she hadn't cleaned off.
She'd been preparing for this cake from early morning, even if she still couldn't make it right.
After calming the emotions churning in his chest, Yoru grinned. "Tomato-na, this is breaking and entering. Aren't you afraid I'll throw you in jail?"
Kushina was about to snap back, but she immediately urged him instead. "Forget that—hurry up and blow out the candles!"
"Do I make a wish?" Yoru asked with a smile.
"Of course! Otherwise your birthday doesn't count. And remember—you have to put your hands together like you're praying."
"Alright."
Looking at the girl's sparkling eyes, Yoru set down his bags, clasped his hands in a prayer gesture, and closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and blew out the candles around the sparklers.
In past years, his wish was always for evolution to come again.
This time, however, Gojo Yoru—rarely—changed his wish.
~~~
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