Konoha's seasons were very distinct; summer had just ended, and the autumn wind howled in.
The rustling autumn wind, falling leaves drifting.
With the change of season came a need for new clothes. Over a few months, Miki had grown quite a bit, about one centimeter.
At 111 cm, she was a little shorter than the average height for children her age. Considering a growth of six to seven centimeters per year, this data was quite grim.
She was considered to have delayed development.
But wanting new clothes had little to do with height.
Chiri also had new clothes, all three primary colors dyed black.
Miki was still dressed in white; it was easier to clean. Any dirt could be spotted immediately, and then the bugs would eat it.
The style remained the same.
A long robe with wide sleeves that reached her thighs. As an Aburame mother, she habitually added a hood.
Chiri's clothes were different; Yumi thoughtfully made them in Chiri's usual style.
"Aren't you cold?" Miki asked, looking at Chiri's feet. "Sandals."
Miki wore two-toothed wooden clogs with red straps and tabi socks, convenient for walking in rain or mud.
Chiri wore Shinobi sandals barefoot.
Shyly, Chiri drew back her small feet and said, "Everyone wears them like this."
"If it's for better Chakra transmission, biological steel socks are even better than bare feet. Didn't I give you several pairs?"
There were absolutely enough for daily changes, and they wouldn't wear out.
"They look so ugly," Chiri said.
"Then the shoes are ugly," Miki replied.
"But wooden clogs are hard to wear," Chiri said. "They're not convenient during battle."
"During battle, just stick them firmly to your feet with Chakra, like climbing a tree, and that solves it," Miki said.
Shinobi sandals are tied to the legs, so they don't easily fall off.
"Well, I guess so..." Chiri stammered, not wanting to change her shoes.
"Hmm..." Miki pondered, looking at Chiri.
There were normal shoes in the Ninja World. The strapped, short high-heeled sandals Tsunade wore were very beautiful.
Among civilians, there were all kinds of shoes.
It was certainly cold; Chakra didn't provide warmth. The reason Shinobi uniformly wore sandals wasn't just because of Chakra.
The answer was...
"Oh, your feet stink," Miki said.
"No, they don't! No, they don't! You're talking nonsense!" Chiri retorted, exasperated.
Due to the nature of their profession, Shinobi were either fighting or on their way to fight. Prolonged strenuous activity would generate heat and sweat.
Rising body temperature wasn't an issue, but sweat, when confined in shoes all day, was something anyone who took them off would know.
During school, Miki had seen pretty little girls wearing beautiful new shoes to school, but almost all of them would sheepishly switch back to sandals the next day.
Not to mention on missions, spending ten days to half a month in the wilderness, the limited supplies they carried had no extra space for changes of clothes.
In such harsh conditions, long-term foot confinement, bacterial growth, and traversing mountains and rivers would cause their feet to rot.
The so-called trench foot.
From the Warring States Period, Shinobi had worn them this way; it was an experience summarized with blood and tears.
Moreover, taking off shoes indoors was common sense. If they didn't want to be too embarrassed, stinking up Hokage-sama when reporting missions, they had to endure the cold.
This was what it meant to be a Shinobi!
On the way to school, Miki said, "Biological steel is different; it's a second skin. Its sweat-wicking ability is excellent, and it's very breathable."
Chiri's face was a little red.
How could she possibly voice such a little girl's secret?
"Don't believe me?" Miki said. "Come smell my feet."
Miki slightly lifted one small foot.
"I'm not going to smell them! Shut up! I'll wear them!"
Chiri's face flushed red as she roared with all her might.
Her momentum was a bit weak, doing no harm.
Miki casually waved her hand and walked forward.
Chiri stomped her foot and followed.
The new semester was nothing special; after a week, it was still the same, but with some new additions.
The school began teaching simple sealing techniques.
How simple? So simple that it didn't teach Mito's set at all.
Using a simple sealing technique, the One-Thread Light Array, as teaching material, the goal was to learn how to use this technique.
Other things, such as the principles of incantations, were not taught; they only needed to know how to use it.
After a few days of teaching, no one in the class, not even Miki and her two companions, could use it.
The release step was very difficult.
It required precise Chakra control to draw the incantation, fluently constructing the entire sealing technique in one breath to release it. In comparison, Rasengan was a simpler thing.
Compared to random spinning, the regularly twisting and turning sealing technique was undoubtedly more difficult.
Even if they tried to imitate it, they had to see if their hands would cooperate.
Therefore, even after nearly a month of summer vacation, Miki still couldn't release a sealing technique.
By the weekend, according to the prior agreement, they continued to study with Mito.
Mito was already waiting with a smile.
"This new dress, it's that legendary one, isn't it?"
"The super expensive one."
"I heard it feels incredibly silky and smooth, and it doesn't harm the skin at all."
"It even has skincare and beautifying effects."
"Walking out in such a dress, your whole person just glows!"
"You instantly become the prettiest woman in the Village."
"Ah, I'm so envious!"
"But..."
"Poor me, I can't afford it at all!"
"Oh, how pitiful!"
"Waaah, waaah, waaah!"
Mito covered her face with one hand and started to cry.
"Poor me, a weak woman, managing such a large family, worrying about everything, growing older day by day, no longer in the prime of youth, and still having to work hard to teach three good-for-nothing disciples!"
"The speed of aging has even accelerated!"
Miki silently pulled out balls of yarn from her backpack.
"It can't be!" Mito's eyes widened.
"It is that 'it can't be,'" Miki said. "Biological steel."
"What biological steel! It's clearly gold! More golden than gold!" Saying this, Mito rushed over, pretending to pounce on Miki's face.
One hand slyly went to lift her mask.
Miki quickly and firmly blocked the woman, gritting her teeth and saying, "Stop! I'm releasing my bugs!"
Seeing Miki's desperate resistance, Mito reluctantly let go.
"You're really not cute, but at least you have a conscience. I didn't dote on you for nothing."
Mito happily picked up the balls of yarn, admiring each one.
"They're so beautiful!"
Ah, the glimmer of gold.
However, this quantity was more than enough to make two adult outfits, and still have enough for a few children's sets.
She had a good heart.
I truly didn't dote on her for nothing.
Hyuga Hitomi looked at the balls of yarn with a little curiosity, not knowing exactly what they were or why Mito liked them so much.
Then again, there wasn't a woman who didn't like clothes, especially beautiful women and high-end luxury items.
"Here, make two sets when you go home," Miki said, handing Hyuga Hitomi several balls of yarn.
These 'two' seemed a bit much, referring to the balls of yarn.
"Eh!!!" Hyuga Hitomi's eyes widened in disbelief, saying, "I get some too!?"
"Don't want them?" Miki said. "I'll take them back."
"Is there any reason to take back something you've given away?" Mito said, taking the yarn from Miki's hand and stuffing it into Hyuga Hitomi's arms.
"Silly child, keep it safe. Go home and tell your father to tailor some beautiful sets for you."
Hitomi silently accepted them, pursing her lips, occasionally glancing up at Miki.
After a while, she asked, "Chiri doesn't have any?"
"I do, you know," Chiri said, lifting her hem to show Hitomi.
"Aren't you angry?" Hitomi asked cautiously.
"Why should I be angry?" Chiri smiled.
Terrifying.
Hitomi shrank her neck and weakly said, "It's good that you're not angry."
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