Chapter 57 057: Annual System Lottery
The New Year had arrived.
Snow had been falling since last night, drifting down endlessly until morning. The rooftops, streets, and tree branches of Konoha were all covered in a thick layer of white.
From a distance, the entire village looked as if it had been tucked into a snow-white dome, so quiet that only the sound of snowflakes hitting the ground could be heard.
The atmosphere in the village was different from before.
Although the border skirmishes continued, with occasional news of another battle or more casualties filtering back, the New Year was still the New Year. No matter how big the issue, it had to be put on hold.
The shops on the street reopened, and people built snowmen by their doors, wrapping them in red scarves, which added a nice festive touch.
Children ran around the streets, clutching small bags of snacks, chasing each other as their laughter echoed from one end of the street to the other.
Many people lined up in front of the stores. Some were taking advantage of holiday sales, others were buying gifts, and some just stood by the road chatting about their plans for the coming year.
The izakayas were packed. Hot steam billowed from the gaps in the door curtains, mingling with the aroma of grilled skewers and the sound of people talking and laughing.
The restaurants were full too. Families sat together, eating piping hot nabemono, their faces full of smiles.
The ninja world also celebrated the New Year, no different from ordinary people.
Compared to Uchiha Taiga's past life, the New Year here lacked those complex traditions. There were no sacrifices or staying up all night for the sake of custom; it was purely a holiday, a day for families to gather and share a meal.
No missions, no training.
Carrying two large bags of groceries down the street, Taiga watched the bustling scenes and couldn't help but compare them to his past life in his mind.
He ultimately concluded that the festive atmosphere in both worlds was practically the same, with only a few minor differences in the details.
It was nice.
He carried the groceries and turned into the old clan compound.
The old compound was the same as always—cold, desolate, and completely empty.
He walked to his door and stopped.
Someone was standing outside, holding a baby in her arms. It was Uchiha Mikoto.
She wore dark clothing with a white haori over it, her hair pinned up, and light makeup on her face. The baby in her arms was wrapped in a small quilt, revealing only a round little face, eyes closed in sleep.
Seeing him, Mikoto smiled.
"Taiga."
"Sister Mikoto."
Taiga smiled back, lifting the groceries in his hands.
"Why did you bring Sasuke over?"
This was his first time seeing Sasuke in person.
Mikoto looked down at the baby in her arms and gently patted his back.
"There wasn't much to do at home. Since it's the New Year, I brought Sasuke along to spend it with you."
"Perfect timing."
Taiga pushed the front door open and stepped aside to let her in first.
"I can take a break. It's been a while since I've had your cooking, Sister Mikoto."
Mikoto rolled her eyes at him playfully and stepped into the courtyard.
"That was your plan all along, wasn't it?"
"Of course."
Taiga smiled, following behind her and closing the door.
The kitchen soon bustled with activity.
Mikoto tied on an apron, rolled her sleeves up to her forearms, and began prepping the ingredients.
She was very skilled, with excellent knife work. Her chopping was clean and efficient, without a single wasted movement.
Taiga didn't enter the kitchen; he was stationed in the living room.
His mission was to watch the baby.
Sasuke was placed on the tatami mat in the living room, resting on his small quilt. He lay there, his dark eyes wide open, looking around curiously.
At three months old, he could see clearly but couldn't yet distinguish who was who.
He stared at the ceiling for a while, then at the window, before finally resting his gaze on Taiga.
Taiga sat beside him, looking down.
This little guy actually looked pretty cute right now.
A round face, big eyes, and a tiny mouth. Sometimes he would smile to himself, the corners of his mouth turning up to reveal pink gums. There was absolutely no trace of the edgy, awkward Sasuke he would later become.
Taiga extended a finger and waved it in front of Sasuke.
Sasuke's eyes tracked the finger, darting back and forth, before he reached out a tiny hand and grabbed it.
His hand was so small that he could only wrap around a single knuckle, but he held on tight, as if he had caught some precious treasure.
"You've got quite the grip."
Taiga gently wiggled his finger, and Sasuke's hand moved with it. The baby let out soft babbling sounds, as if trying to talk to him.
"When your brother was your age, he was a lot more well-behaved than you," Taiga said.
Sasuke, of course, couldn't understand. He just held onto the finger and smiled.
Taiga played with him a little longer, and Sasuke's smiles grew wider. Both of his tiny hands reached out, waving in the air as if trying to catch something.
His laughter wasn't loud—just a soft giggle—but hearing it was enough to lift anyone's spirits.
At the kitchen door, Mikoto peeked out. Seeing the scene, she smiled softly.
She didn't say anything, simply pulling her head back in to continue cooking.
The food was soon brought to the table.
It was a full spread—fish, meat, soup, vegetables, and a warm pot of sake.
Mikoto took off her apron and sat down at the table.
"Try it. Let's see if it suits your taste."
Taiga picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.
"Delicious. Just as good as always. Honestly, Fugaku hit the jackpot."
He was telling the truth. Mikoto's cooking had always been excellent, and combined with her gentle personality, she was the perfect picture of an ideal wife.
Mikoto smiled and took a bite herself.
The two chatted as they ate.
Mikoto didn't bring up Uchiha matters. She didn't mention Fugaku, Itachi, the battlefield, or any of the clan's frustrating politics.
She only talked about everyday trivialities—like how many times Sasuke woke up at night, how he would cry when he woke, demand milk, and then fall right back into a deep sleep.
Itachi had written her a letter before he left, saying everything was fine on the battlefield and telling her not to worry.
Taiga listened, occasionally chiming in with a word or two, but mostly just letting her talk.
He knew Mikoto was intentionally avoiding those heavy topics.
She also knew he didn't like hearing about them.
They both understood each other perfectly, so the meal was relaxed and full of laughter, as if they had gone back in time a few years.
Back then, he was still young, and Mikoto wasn't married yet. They used to eat together often, just like this.
After the meal, Mikoto helped clear the dishes, fed Sasuke, bundled him back up, and held him in her arms.
"It's time for us to head back."
She stood at the door, looking at Taiga.
"Happy New Year, Taiga."
"Happy New Year, Sister Mikoto."
Taiga walked her to the gate, watching as she and the baby disappeared into the snowy night.
He closed the door, returned inside, and washed the remaining dishes by himself. He wiped down the table and tidied up the kitchen.
Once finished, he poured himself a cup of sake, grabbed a small plate of cold appetizers, and sat by the living room doorway, gazing out at the snowy courtyard.
The snow was still falling, adding another thick layer to the ground.
A rock in the middle of the yard was covered in snow, looking like an oversized rice ball. The bare branches of the tree in the corner were hung with icicles, glinting faintly in the light.
He just sat there, taking a sip of sake, eating a bite of food, and watching the snow.
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
The village's bustle gradually subsided, and the streetlights went out one by one. An occasional sound echoed in the distance, followed by absolute silence.
Taiga glanced at the clock on the wall.
It was almost midnight.
He set down his sake cup and sat up straight.
The second hand ticked away—tick, tock—sounding crystal clear in the quiet night.
The minute and second hands pointed to twelve simultaneously.
Midnight had arrived.
The first day of the New Year was also his birthday.
In the ninja world, the first day of the New Year was known as the "Day of Continuity," a term sharing the same root as his name, meaning the continuation of time and space.
His name was derived from this very day.
And this day was also the time for the annual system trigger.
Just like now, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind.