Chapter Fifteen: A Promise at a New Dawn

Founding Year: The Third Year of Konoha's Establishment

Month: November

Kenichi Sato's Age: 7 years and 7 months

The night was unusually silent, as if Konoha itself was holding its breath. Inside the house, his mother's breathing grew heavier, her face gradually shifting from exhaustion to pale stillness. Sweat covered her forehead, and her hands trembled every few minutes.

The midwife sat beside her, checking her pulse and preparing herbs, whispering softly as she boiled water, the scent refreshing and sharp.

His father paced the room, back and forth, staring at the floor one moment and the ceiling the next, clenching his fists unconsciously.

As for Kenichi, he sat near his mother's feet, holding her hand. Her hand was soft despite the strain, warm despite the sweat, slightly trembling.

She whispered in a hoarse voice, "You're stronger than you think. But remember… never be alone. Let others see who you are, not just what you can do."

He froze for a moment, then gently squeezed her hand and lowered his head beside her.

> "I promise… I'll protect her. And I'll show her a different world."

The pain intensified. The midwife instructed his father to bring warm water. Her voice grew sharper, issuing fast but calming directions.

A small cry pierced the air. Then another...

The midwife announced with a trembling smile, "It's a girl!"

The father wept, confused and overwhelmed, as if witnessing a miracle. The midwife laughed softly while cleaning the newborn.

And Kenichi? He sat still, staring at the newborn with eyes that held no tears—only pure astonishment.

She was so small. Her skin was pink, her voice weak yet clear. She opened her eyes for a brief moment, and it felt like she was looking at him directly.

He smiled.

He reached out a finger toward her, and she grasped it with her tiny fingers. In that moment, the world seemed to stop.

—

The next morning, Kenichi didn't go to his usual early training. He stayed by his mother's side, preparing her food, changing the water, and gently caressing his baby sister's head as she slept quietly beside their mother.

The birth had drained his mother, but she was smiling… weakly, yet truly.

Suddenly, Might Duy appeared at the window. "Heeey! I thought the monsters had taken you!"

Kenichi replied calmly, "I became a big brother."

Duy climbed in through the window with surprising agility. "Oooh! Then we need to start training her now! I've got a plan!"

Kenichi raised an eyebrow. "A plan?"

Duy answered with sudden seriousness, "I'm going to teach her how to laugh before she learns to speak!"

Kenichi finally laughed.

Then said, "I'll be content if she lives in peace… I'll fight for the rest."

—

That afternoon, the house grew quieter. His father had gone to tell the neighbors, the midwife hummed a lullaby to soothe the baby, and his mother sat half-asleep.

A gentle knock at the door.

Kenichi opened it to find familiar faces: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kagami Uchiha, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane.

They had brought a small gift—a basket of fruit and a wooden bear toy.

Hiruzen smiled. "We heard the news. We wanted to be the first to congratulate the big brother."

Kenichi stepped aside to let them in. "Thank you… I didn't expect you to remember."

Kagami smiled slightly. "You're the kind of person who's hard to forget."

Koharu sat beside his mother, carefully taking the baby into her arms. "She's beautiful… looks like you."

The mother replied softly, "I just hope she doesn't inherit my fatigue."

Homura chuckled. "And that she takes some of Kenichi's seriousness… but in moderation."

They shared a light conversation, exchanging updates and laughing about moments from class.

Then Hiruzen turned to Kenichi and said, "You're a brother now… and that's no less important than being a ninja."

Kenichi nodded, his voice firm. "That's why I won't slack off… not in training, not in protecting my family."

They exchanged a silent look of admiration.

—

That evening, Kenichi sat by the window, watching over his sleeping sister.

He took out his small notebook and wrote:

> "Today, my sister was born. I wasn't ready, but I was present. There's a difference.

I felt like I wasn't just a boy with power from another world… but a brother with a promise.

The world changed, and so did I."

> "Maybe this isn't a battle… but the beginning of a long war for a better future."

He closed the notebook and tucked it under his pillow.

Outside, the stars shone more clearly.

And in his heart, a small new sun had risen.

End of Chapter Fifteen.