Chapter 63 Good Brothers

On Sunday evening, while preparing dinner, Makoto shared the news of his newly acquired one-finger seal.

"Have you already learned it? Let me calculate; it's been exactly seven days," Kushina commented as she counted on her fingers, confirming that Makoto had indeed mastered it in a week.

"You've learned it in just seven days, which shows you have an impressive talent for sealing," Kushina said with a warm smile, genuinely pleased for Makoto.

With such a natural aptitude for sealing, Makoto could easily aspire to become a special jounin by specializing in Fuinjutsu.

"I believe I've learned it so quickly because of Kushina-sensei's excellent guidance, as well as Minato-sensei's. You both are remarkable teachers," Makoto said, beaming as he set the dishes on the table.

In a way, this felt like a comeback. Minato and Kushina would sometimes jokingly refer to him as "Makoto-sensei."

"Hehe, well, I did teach Minato Fuinjutsu step by step," Kushina stated proudly.

As her relationship with Minato improved, Kushina was determined to help him grow stronger. She frequently practiced Fuinjutsu with Minato, and under her diligent instruction, he evolved into a true master of the art, proficient in advanced sealing techniques.

"I might have a talent for teaching," Kushina mused, acknowledging her gift as an instructor.

Having educated both Minato and Makoto in Fuinjutsu, she had watched Minato transform into a sealing master and witnessed Makoto grasp a new technique in a mere week.

"Kushina-sensei, enough chit-chat; it's time to eat," Minato teased as he helped Kushina serve the rice.

"Minato, as your teacher, you ought to show some respect. Address me properly or serve your teacher as a punishment," Kushina playfully admonished, mimicking her former ninja school teacher's tone.

"Alright," Minato agreed with a smile, participating in Kushina's little performance as he assisted with the meal.

Meanwhile, Makoto, sitting nearby, couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. Even though he was in his own home, he contemplated escaping with a bowl in hand to eat his dinner somewhere more private.

"If you keep this up, I'll devour everything before you can blink," Makoto jokingly noted as he quickly served the dishes and commenced eating at a brisk pace, methodically combining vegetables and rice, repeating the process.

As the plates steadily emptied, both Kushina and Minato abandoned their role-play and focused on the meal.

Afterward, the trio efficiently cleared the table and washed the dishes. Since they shared meals regularly, they often assisted Makoto with various household chores, such as preparing vegetables and doing the dishes. In return, Makoto would lend a hand when they dined together.

With the dishes washed, Kushina suggested that Makoto familiarize himself with the one-finger seal and begin studying the new sealing techniques from the scroll. In a few days, she planned to introduce Makoto to the three-finger seal.

"The three-finger seal is an advanced version of the one-finger seal. With your talent, you should be able to master it within a month," Kushina explained.

"Is there a four-finger seal or even a five-finger seal?" Makoto asked, finding the naming conventions curious.

"There isn't a four-finger seal, only a five-finger seal," Kushina clarified.

Makoto found this somewhat amusing.

"If you can master the five-finger seal, you'll find it easier to learn most sealing techniques. Moreover, the five-finger seal is itself a part of advanced sealing techniques," Kushina elaborated.

With these insights, Makoto grasped the significance of the one-finger and three-finger seals.

"For tomorrow's meal, just let me know what you'd like to cook, and I'll prepare the ingredients in advance," Makoto offered.

Though they were already close, Makoto felt it was important to show appreciation for the time and effort Kushina and Minato had invested in teaching him the art of sealing.

"Baked meat," Kushina replied promptly.

"Sautéed mushrooms," Minato responded after brief consideration.

Makoto had expected that answer from Kushina, but he felt the need to remind Minato to ensure the mushrooms were thoroughly cooked and not to forget to leave a Flying Thunder God mark at Konoha Hospital.

On Monday, Kotetsu arrived at school early. With great skill, he placed his novel on the desk and 'continued' reading it. It is the last week of school, with the final exams scheduled for the following Monday. After three days of exams, the well-earned vacation would begin.

As Kamizuki Izumo approached, Kotetsu closed the book and greeted him with a smile.

"Reading another novel?" Kamizuki Izumo inquired as he noticed the book on Kotetsu's desk, relieved to see it was just a work of fiction.

"Yes, the exams are just a week away. Studying at this point would only make me anxious, so it's better to relax," Kotetsu explained with a cheerful smile.

"By the way, Izumo, I recently discovered a great game. Come and see if you like it," Kotetsu suggested, pulling a small box from his bag.

He had heard about the popular game Backgammon, which was said to be highly addictive. Once you started playing, you couldn't stop.

Since Kamizuki Izumo seemed to enjoy games, Kotetsu believed this was a game worthy of his time.

"Backgammon? I played it once at a relative's house, and it was a lot of fun. Kotetsu, you're really considerate," Kamizuki Izumo said, touched by Kotetsu's thoughtfulness.

Surprisingly, the excuses he'd made to cover up his studies had been remembered by Kotetsu. It left Kamizuki Izumo feeling somewhat guilty.

Kotetsu's kindness took him by surprise. How could he...

"I've recently collected numerous great novels that I can't seem to finish. I'll give you three copies, Izumo," Kamizuki Izumo said, smiling as he handed over the books.

While brotherly love was important, he was determined to win the heart of the girl next door.

Seeing the novels, Kotetsu was deeply moved. It appeared that his usual disguises were taken quite seriously by Kamizuki Izumo, who was even willing to use his flimsy excuses to give him a gift.

"I've a list of various games that are hot lately, Izumo. Take a look," Kotetsu suggested, giving a piece of paper to Kamizuki Izumo. On it were listed over a dozen games, suitable for both indoor and outdoor play.

"For Masumi's sake, I apologize, Izumo," Kotetsu said in his heart.

"Do you want to read a novel, Shisui, to relax? I can see you're exhausted from your daily studies, and I can't finish all these books in one go," Kotetsu asked Shisui, who was sitting behind him.

"I also have a lot of games and can share if you want," Kamizuki Izumo added quickly.

Unfortunately, Shisui declined their offers by shaking his head.

"Aren't we supposed to be good brothers? Why ask Shisui instead of me?" Anko questioned with a hand on her hip.

Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo exchanged looks, concerned that Anko's current attitude might adversely affect her academic performance.

"Well, Anko, perhaps you should review your study materials," Kotetsu suggested.

Anko did not pose a legitimate threat to his grades, instead his primary concern was that she might not perform well on the upcoming exams.

"Why bother with studying? Didn't you say it's better not to review? Have you reviewed yourself?" Anko asked skeptically.

Naturally, Kotetsu dared not admit that he had studied, so he simply shook his head.

"Have you reviewed, Izumo?" Anko turned her attention to Kamizuki Izumo.

"No," Kamizuki Izumo replied, shaking his head in unison.

"Good, that's enough," Anko stated, her expression revealing her satisfaction.

Kotetsu and Izumo looked at each other, eventually sharing the novels and games with Anko, complying with her wishes.

"That's how good brothers should be," Anko concluded with a smile, patting them both on the shoulders and expressing her happiness.