1. A Surprise Celebration by Firelight
The night sky over Konoha was clear, with a full moon glowing bright and high above. Its silver light bathed the forest below in a soft, gentle sheen.
In a quiet clearing between tall trees, a group of young shinobi gathered around a crackling campfire. The flickering orange glow danced across their youthful faces, filling the space with warmth and life.
Satoru stood in the center, arms folded, eyes sweeping across the group. Then, with mock seriousness, he spoke in a low voice as if delivering a formal announcement:
"Does anyone here know… what day it is?"
Immediately, Obito, Kakashi, and Gai exchanged mischievous grins. In perfect sync, they leapt to their feet and shouted:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EREN-SAN!!"
Eren froze, his bright blue eyes wide with surprise.
In front of him was a simple cake—nothing extravagant, but clearly made with care. Tiny candles flickered in the dark, reflecting in the eyes of the cheerful kids around him.
He blinked a few times, as if struggling to process what was happening.
"My birthday…? That's right… March 30th…"
He remembered… his mother used to celebrate it.
Before everything changed.
Since arriving in this world, the concept of a birthday had faded from his mind.
His old world… that life… it had ended long ago.
And yet…
These people had remembered.
They prepared this… for him?
He turned toward Satoru, whose only response was a small, knowing smile.
2. A Warm Moment
Rin was the first to pull Eren closer to the cake, her smile bright and cheerful.
"Come on, come on! Make a wish and blow the candles, Eren!"
Obito was bouncing with excitement, clapping like a maniac—though his eyes kept darting toward Rin.
"Let's cut the cake! And remember—Rin-chan gets the first slice!"
Kakashi side-eyed him and snorted:
"You sure Rin even wants you worrying about her?"
"Wha—?! Of course! I mean—she's a girl! It's just good manners!"
Obito stammered, face turning red.
Gai laughed heartily, giving Obito a gleaming thumbs-up:
"Chivalry!! Obito, you are a man of youth and honor!!"
The whole group burst into laughter, their joy echoing into the quiet forest.
Only Shisui and Asuma stood a bit apart.
Shisui watched silently, eyes thoughtful.
Asuma, meanwhile, was quietly debating with himself.
"Should I ask that old man to talk to Satoru-sensei for me…? No—dammit, that'd be too embarrassing. I'll do it myself."
3. Satoru's Gift
After the cake was cut and everyone had eaten, one of the kids suddenly asked:
"Hey, Sensei—what gift did you prepare for Eren?"
The others immediately started shouting with excitement.
Satoru let out a small chuckle and slowly pulled something from his sleeve.
The firelight glinted off it—a black bracelet, simple in design but strangely captivating.
A soft, woodsy scent—agarwood—wafted into the air. The atmosphere instantly grew lighter, more peaceful, as if the weight of the world had faded just a little.
"This is the Heavenly Needle of Midnight Calm," Satoru said with a mysterious smile.
"It soothes the mind, dispels negative energy, and keeps its wearer clear-headed—even during times of darkness."
The kids immediately crowded around to get a closer look.
"Whoa, it's amazing!" Rin whispered, awestruck.
"I feel so calm just standing near it…"
"Unbelievable!" Obito shouted, holding it up.
"Sensei, would this help me stay awake during tests?! Can it stop me from falling asleep in class?!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow:
"Maybe the problem isn't the bracelet. Maybe it's you."
Obito growled and tried to swat Kakashi, but Satoru was faster—smacking Obito on the head with a sharp thunk.
"Idiot. It's not for you."
He gently placed the bracelet into Eren's hands.
Eren flinched slightly, surprised by the gesture.
Satoru's gaze locked onto his, serious for once:
"Happy birthday, big brother."
A simple phrase—yet it made Eren freeze.
Then Satoru added, voice low but full of meaning:
"The old world ends… a new one begins."
"These kids… and I… we'll always be by your side."
None of the others fully understood the deeper meaning.
But Eren did.
He clutched the bracelet tightly. In his eyes, a flicker of light sparked—something new.
"Little brother…" he whispered with a small smile.
"Thank you. I truly… mean that."
Short words. But full of warmth.
The others might not have understood. But Obito, as always, jumped in with gusto:
"That's right! Eren-san is family!!"
Gai nodded fiercely:
"The spirit of youthful comradeship!!"
Then Obito grinned wide, another idea hitting him:
"Sensei! From now on, let's just be a real family!"
Satoru bonked him on the head again—but his voice was full of laughter:
"Idiot. We already are."
4. Shisui's Silent Gaze
Shisui stood off to the side, quietly observing.
Inside, an unfamiliar feeling rose—a strange warmth, mixed with sadness, and… envy.
He'd always been alone.
A lone prodigy. A name whispered in the Uchiha clan… but never a hand to hold.
Everyone he loved—gone to war, never to return.
He grew up in silence.
And now, watching that group… laughing, celebrating like a real family…
"Maybe… I want that too. Satoru-sensei doesn't seem so bad…"
Then—
He felt a gaze on him.
He looked up.
Satoru was watching him.
No words. Just a look.
But somehow… it said everything.
Shisui froze.
Maybe—just maybe—
The door to this "family"
Had never been closed to him.
End of Chapter 100.