Autumn of Harvest

The setting sun slanted across the courtyard. The autumn harvest had been completed in an orderly fashion.

Utsusemi leaned against the warehouse doorframe. The bounty from fifty mu of fertile farmland had filled three warehouses.

The Senju children were neatly arranging the washed fruits and vegetables in special preservation boxes. The produce gift packages they received as payment made their laughter even more joyful.

After distributing the special produce gift boxes to the Senju brothers, Utsusemi swung the fruit basket in her hand. "I hope you two will honor us with your presence at tonight's 'Autumn of Appetite' dinner."

Hashirama Senju's eyes immediately lit up. "Of course we'll be there!"

He grinned like a child who had received a beloved toy. "I've been savoring the foreign dishes you made even in my dreams."

Tobirama Senju was about to speak. "About the Ninjutsu from the various clans that you mentioned..." Before he could finish, Utsusemi suddenly stuffed an enormous strawberry into Hashirama's mouth.

"Serious business is more enjoyable with a snack." Utsusemi winked playfully, watching strawberry juice spread across the scroll in red plum-blossom stains.

Hashirama Senju mumbled, "Ha! Tobirama, look at this..."

His younger brother promptly grabbed him by the back of the neck. Hashirama gave him an apologetic smile. "I'll make you a fresh copy when I get back!"

"You're filthy!" Tobirama shook the juice-stained scroll.

"Dinner is at seven sharp. We can discuss what you want afterward," Utsusemi added. "Anyone who's late will be responsible for clearing the dishes."

After receiving a satisfactory answer from the Senju brothers, she said softly, "See you later."

"Itama, take care of the beef and fish fillets first. Go get them ready; I'll clean up here." Utsusemi took out the ingredients needed for dinner.

"Okay, big sister." Itama took the bags of ingredients and hurried to the kitchen to begin preparing them.

Utsusemi was putting the last preservation box into the Spacetime Tower's parking lot.

Time stood still there, keeping the hard-won fruits and vegetables fresh forever.

By the time the Senju brothers arrived after bathing, the rich aroma of Stewed Pork Ribs with Corn had filled the entire villa.

Droplets still clung to the ends of Hashirama's damp black hair, while Tobirama's silvery white locks gleamed beneath the ceiling lights.

His cheeks were faintly flushed after his bath, and the three distinctive red marks stood out amid the lingering steam.

The silver-haired man leaned against the doorframe. "Hot pot again?"

Utsusemi chuckled. "Tonight is a feast from the fields..."

She signaled for Itama to watch the stove and draped a towel over Hashirama's head. "Dry your hair properly. You might catch a cold."

The Wood Release user was visibly taken aback. No one had ever worried that he might catch a cold; not even the ever-cautious Tobirama had mentioned it.

As Hashirama grinned and rubbed his hair dry haphazardly, Tobirama gave her a meaningful look. Utsusemi really did have plenty of weaknesses to exploit.

"This is so good!" Hashirama gnawed on the corn and ribs, grease dripping from the caramel-colored meat.

Tobirama held down his elder brother's wrist, its veins bulging slightly, while a Wood Release clone sneaked toward the third plate of fried pumpkin cakes.

When Tobirama helped himself to Cucumber Fish Soup for the fourth time, Utsusemi concluded that fish really was his favorite food.

Although the Uchiha brothers' "psychotherapy" had cured her obsession with cleanliness,

she would still pass on the fish.

Deep-sea seafood might be worth trying. In a world untouched by industrial pollution, deep-sea fish should be good.

After dinner, Utsusemi and the Senju brothers moved to the living room. The Ninjutsu scrolls Tobirama handed her lay on the long table, carrying lingering traces of the various clans' Chakra.

"Utsusemi," Hashirama said, spreading the scrolls out, "we'll trade these for the seeds."

Utsusemi nodded in agreement, and Tobirama asked a pointed question. "How exactly did you get your Flower Release?"

He had wanted to ask this question for a very long time. Utsusemi wasn't a Senju, so how could she have the same Kekkei Genkai as Itama?

Itama buried his face in the hem of Utsusemi's qipao. "It's entirely up to big sister."

Whatever Utsusemi decided, he would accept it.

He had sworn to follow Utsusemi to the end, even into hell.

Senju Toka's Genjutsu had once tried to invade Itama's mind, only to be shredded into specks of Chakra light by Flower Release when it touched his consciousness.

Utsusemi recalled the day she first met Itama. "The contract lets us share abilities, including Flower Release."

Hashirama Senju steered clear of the dangerous subject and picked up a bag of seeds. "Can we plant them now?"

"These seeds are for spring." Utsusemi tapped lightly with a fingertip, and a corn seed unfurled a tender sprout, only to curl up again in the winter chill.

"Let's plant them together next spring!"

"All right." Tobirama used a scroll on the table to record the seeds' characteristics while Hashirama tucked the seed bag into his breast pocket.

"Now that business is settled, how about a game to relax?" Itama brought over a lavish fruit platter made with fruit picked that day, each slice pierced with a slender wooden pick.

Hashirama eagerly speared a piece of the watermelon he had missed at noon. Sweet juice burst in his mouth, and he exclaimed, "So sweet!"

Tobirama elegantly selected his favorite Moonlight Pear, savoring it before nodding in approval.

Utsusemi laid out a set of specially made cards. "This is a special edition of Monopoly reworked around the ninja system."

Hearing the unfamiliar name and seeing cards unlike any he had ever seen, Hashirama laughed heartily. "Haha, it ought to have a name of its own."

"Let's call it Ninja Journey," Tobirama said, picking up the thread. "What do you think?"

He habitually examined the exquisitely crafted cards, keenly catching a slip in Utsusemi's words.

There had been a barely perceptible slip in what Utsusemi had just said.

The word "reworked" meant this was not an original creation, but an adaptation based on an existing system.

The original did not exist in this world?

Before, his elder brother had always had to smooth things over. Now even he had to help cover for her.

Itama silently brought the last fruit platter out of the kitchen, a cold light flashing in his innocent eyes.

Last time, Brother Hashirama had used the same hearty laughter to smooth over Sister Utsusemi's slip.

This time, even Brother Tobirama had joined in. He had long understood the limits of the Senju Clan's tolerance.

Hashirama Senju formed Hand Seals to summon a vine-wrapped lamp, while Tobirama's gaze remained fixed on the "God of Shinobi" victory card.

Hashirama Senju laughed and slapped the table, making the cards jump. "Tobirama, don't you go using Flying Thunder God in the game!"

Round one: cheating and interception

Hashirama Senju drew "Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence" and smugly expanded his territory. "My Wood Release can cheat even in a game!"

Tobirama Senju played "Flying Thunder God" and intercepted three cards from his hand.

Round two: mission and death

When Itama drew an "S-rank mission card," the Sealing Jutsu formula on it glowed red.

He scrambled to discard cards, but failed the check because of "insufficient Chakra."

He slumped over the table. "I... I died..."

Hashirama Senju speared a piece of fruit and stuffed it into his mouth, while Tobirama stared at the traces of blood on the mission card, crumpling the cards in his hand.

Round three: betrayal and departure

The moment Hashirama Senju was struck by the "best friend's backstab card," he angrily accused his younger brother. "Tobirama! You're even launching sneak attacks in a game!"

Itama emerged from the side of the table with a fresh fruit platter for her. "Big sister, let's have snacks and watch the show."

Final round: disguise and sealing

Utsusemi drew a "disguise card" and was killed by a ninja card disguised as a child.

Tobirama displayed the victory card in his hand. The words "God of Shinobi" were written on it in gold dust.

He said calmly, "You lost."

After the game, he sat alone on the terrace, rubbing the card between his fingers as moonlight stretched his shadow into the outline of a future war.

Hashirama Senju laughed heartily and patted his younger brother on the shoulder. Tobirama's shoulder muscles tensed reflexively.

He was the first to step out the door, his broad back soon disappearing into the night.

Utsusemi handed the carefully crafted Ninja Journey to Tobirama as the winner's reward.

The silver-haired young man looked alone at the victory card bearing the words "God of Shinobi."

The game held a hateful allegory. Though he had won, he was deeply displeased.

Insects chirped outside the window, but the bounty of this harvest season became Tobirama's loneliness.