Senju Compound

The courtyard before them was not particularly large, built in an overall Japanese style.

At its center lay a tranquil pond, its water jade-green and clear, like a mirror.

Cranes stood among snow-white moss by the pond, while lotus flowers bloomed, creating a peaceful and harmonious scene.

A breeze rustled through the bamboo grove in the courtyard, the soft swishing sound making it feel as though they had entered a world far removed from earthly clamor.

Of course, while this courtyard was not luxurious, it was still far better than where Hoshiryu Uchiha had lived before.

Before they could enter, Tsunade pushed open the door and rushed straight toward them, with Chika following behind in a maid-like outfit.

Tsunade looked at Hoshiryu Uchiha curiously, wondering why he had come over today.

Just as she was about to ask, Mito Uzumaki spoke first.

"Little Tsunade, have you mastered the Sealing Techniques I taught you yesterday?"

At those words, Tsunade instinctively shrank her neck and shuddered.

Sealing Techniques were difficult to learn in the first place, and not even a full day had passed, so naturally Tsunade had not mastered them.

She had merely been curious about the matter the ANBU had come to notify her grandmother about, so she had run out to ask. She had not expected to walk straight into a trap.

Seeing the increasingly dangerous look in Mito Uzumaki's eyes, she let out a miserable cry and ran back into the room.

Mito Uzumaki's thoughts were simple. Today, she had witnessed a genius like Hoshiryu Uchiha.

Although Tsunade's talent was decent, it was nowhere near Hoshiryu Uchiha's.

It was one thing if your talent could not compare to others, but if you still refused to work hard, then that was your own problem.

Thinking of Tsunade's usual lazy habits, and how she had even picked up Hashirama's fondness for gambling, Mito Uzumaki grew angrier the more she thought about it.

The look in her eyes that said she wanted to stab someone could not be hidden, and Hoshiryu Uchiha took a bit of delight in Tsunade's misfortune.

Just then, Chika stepped forward and interrupted Mito Uzumaki's urge to explode, temporarily saving Tsunade's little backside.

"Lady Mito, may I ask if this is the young master you intend to adopt?"

Though Chika had interrupted her preparations, Mito Uzumaki was still a little angry, but she answered Chika's question nonetheless.

"That's right. This is Hoshiryu Uchiha, the child I intend to adopt."

"A slight Change of Circumstances occurred. I have already completed the adoption procedures, and he will be moving in today."

"Please, Chika. Prepare his room today."

Chika seemed to have expected this Change of Circumstances already and instead reminded Mito Uzumaki.

"Young Master Hoshiryu's room was prepared yesterday. He may move in at any time."

"Lady Mito, this is not a suitable place to talk. Let us go inside first."

Mito Uzumaki came to her senses as well. After nodding to thank Chika, she said to Hoshiryu Uchiha,

"Let's go inside. From now on, this will be your home."

Home? That really feels a little distant to me.

Hoshiryu Uchiha spoke silently in his heart.

He had been an orphan in his previous life as well. Although the director had treated him like her own child, love divided among many could never be complete.

Thinking of this, Hoshiryu Uchiha looked at Mito Uzumaki and asked,

"Then does that mean Sister Mito will be my family from now on?"

Mito Uzumaki was stunned by his sudden question, but then she answered with certainty.

"What are you thinking, Little Xingliu? From the moment I adopted you, you became my family."

"Mm, Grandma Mito!"

Hoshiryu Uchiha was overwhelmed with emotion. The familial affection he had never possessed even until his death in his previous life had come to him so easily in this one.

That single word, Grandma, made Mito Uzumaki lose her composure slightly. But seeing Hoshiryu Uchiha's slightly reddened eyes, she merely said,

"Remember to call me Sister from now on."

She then led Hoshiryu Uchiha into the courtyard, while Chika did not continue following them.

Lady Mito saved my family. Lady Mito truly is a kind person.

Standing where she was and watching the two enter the room, Chika was filled with emotion as well.

The moment Hoshiryu Uchiha entered the room, he saw Tsunade hugging a scroll and studying it diligently. Mito Uzumaki nodded in satisfaction when she saw this.

Whether she was truly studying hard or merely putting on a show, Tsunade had at least escaped disaster for the moment.

Sure enough, after Mito Uzumaki showed a satisfied expression, Hoshiryu Uchiha saw Tsunade let out a long breath.

"Little Tsunade, stop studying for now. Little Xingliu will be moving in today, so take him around and show him the place."

"I still have matters to attend to. Forget lunch today; I'll take you two out for dinner tonight."

Tsunade immediately tossed down the scroll in her hands, ran to Hoshiryu Uchiha's side, and grabbed him to drag him outside.

"Got it, Grandma. I'll take him around right away."

Hoshiryu Uchiha was nearly pulled off his feet. He wondered how Tsunade had been so reckless even as a child, then he saw Mito Uzumaki.

All right, case closed...

Knowing Mito Uzumaki still had matters to handle, Hoshiryu Uchiha followed Tsunade as she showed him around the residence.

Before long, they had toured the entire courtyard, allowing Hoshiryu Uchiha to grasp its general layout.

At least he would not be unable to find the right place when he needed to use the bathroom.

After touring the courtyard, Tsunade kept walking with Hoshiryu Uchiha, talking as they went.

"Chika prepared your room last night. It's right next to mine, and I'll take you there now."

Hoshiryu Uchiha followed Tsunade all the way, and before long, they arrived before two nearly identical rooms.

One of them, however, was incredibly messy, with snacks, books, and all sorts of clutter piled into every corner.

Tsunade blushed when she saw it and hurried forward to shut that room's door.

Then she whispered to Hoshiryu Uchiha,

"The one next to it is your room. I need to clean up mine, so I won't accompany you."

With that, Tsunade pulled open the door, darted inside, and slammed it shut.

Hoshiryu Uchiha smiled at Tsunade's reaction and did not mind. He had not been any better as a child.

He then entered the room arranged for him, and seeing that it had everything it needed, he let out a sigh of relief.

After all, Hoshiryu Uchiha's original home had more or less been destroyed. Although he had blocked the ninjutsu released by those two attackers with Susanoo,

the house had not been so fortunate. Once the house collapsed, everything inside had naturally been damaged as well.

He truly had not expected to be so unlucky that even living in such a remote place, he would still run into spies.

As for why Hoshiryu Uchiha was so certain they had been spies, he had actually considered that question too.

Before today, he had merely been an insignificant nobody, an orphan whose parents had both died.

No matter how displeased the village higher-ups were with the Uchiha Clan, they would not go so far as to trouble him.

And now, the First Shinobi World War was nearing its end, and espionage by the various Ninja Villages had reached its peak.

Taking all this together, Hoshiryu Uchiha was certain that the people who had attacked him were spies, not anyone else.