Heart-to-Heart

Hikari's reaction greatly satisfied Samui. She teasingly thought, Hikari was now a mature married woman. Only at times like this could her lively side be brought out.

"A Boob Alien?" Samui's amber eyes lazily gazed at the towering peaks rising from the mist. She sighed in unfulfilled longing. "Sigh~, what a pity. My man left too early. It's been years since I was properly nurtured~."

Hikari hypnotized herself. Don't take the bait, don't take the bait. Can't hear her, can't hear her...

Watching Hikari devote herself to defending against her attack, the teasing in Samui's eyes deepened.

"Say, Hikari, how about lending A-Chen to me for a few days?"

"No way!" Hikari shot up from the water with a splash, even her wet hair flying upward. Turning around, all three "heads" stared at Samui.

"What kind of garbage is stuffed inside those heads of yours, made of fat layers and connective tissue?! Idiot Samui! Give up on that idea already! Chen is my man. I'm the only one allowed to use him!"

"What a wonderful reaction. I think I'm beginning to understand A-Chen's tastes~."

"Ah, you!"

Seeing the smug look on Samui's face, Hikari cried out in realization that she had been tricked.

Damn Samui! She just wanted to hear me say that kind of shameless stuff to satisfy her bizarre craving for amusement!

In the men's bath next door, separated by a wooden wall.

Madara rested his broad shoulders against the hot spring's stone edge. Both of his faces were above the water, and all three eyes looked at Chen. "Was that an illusion just now? I think I heard Hikari declaring ownership to someone."

"It was probably an illusion." Chen answered with a smile, thinking, Samui was probably teasing Hikari for fun again. Women sometimes made indecent... no, harmless jokes in private.

Chen swam freely through the hot spring.

Madara's gaze followed him...

As Chen rose and fell in the water, his lean, powerful muscles revealed blade-like lines!

So that was it. Chen looked slim, but his physique was actually incredibly formidable... just like the First Hokage back then.

No wonder he had displayed such extraordinary movements against my Rinbo before. Combined with his eye technique, he could even launch attacks so swift that I had been unable to evade them.

All of it was built upon that powerful physique!

Splash! When Chen's upper body emerged from the water again, Madara noticed the centipede-like scar across his chest.

It should have been a blade wound. It looked old...

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Obito, who was quietly soaking alone on the other side of the volcanic rock in the middle of the hot spring.

He withdrew his gaze.

Obito seemed to know about that wound.

But I don't...

If I just asked Chen about it, though, wouldn't I seem too deliberate and sentimental?

I am Uchiha Madara, a veteran of countless battles. What grand scene haven't I seen? Yet I was paying attention to an old wound on a junior that was no longer serious...

But if I don't ask, it's driving me crazy...

Just as Madara was caught in an internal struggle.

"Ah... Even after all these years, this scar still aches faintly! Hmm! Could it be that swimming too much in such a high-temperature environment has caused the wound to become congested?"

At that moment, as if by perfect coincidence, Chen stroked the scar on his chest and muttered to himself.

Madara's eyes lit up, and the corners of his lips could not help rising before he forced them into a profound, amused curve. "For a proud Uchiha man, pain is the finest stimulant, Chen. You still need more tempering."

"Perhaps. This scar!" Chen kept triggering the key phrase. "This scar really has a story behind it! This scar carries extraordinary meaning for me! Ah, this scar of mine..."

Madara comfortably picked up the thread. "So, how did you get this scar?"

Chen naturally began to explain. "Well, that's a long story..."

"It's fine. We have plenty of time. Take it slow."

"Uncle Madara, then please listen to my tale..."

After soaking thoroughly in the hot spring, their pores had fully opened, making the oil and grime beneath their skin far less stubborn.

Hikari and Samui came to the washing area.

Samui was responsible for scrubbing Hikari's back. She parted Hikari's cascading wet hair, revealing Hikari's smooth, beautiful back before her.

She scrubbed it with a bath towel.

The scene remained as enticing as ever, but their topic became far more serious.

"Even Madara and Obito have appeared. Does that mean A-Chen's plan has officially begun?"

"Mm."

After receiving the affirmative answer, Samui's hand holding the scrub towel paused. "Then what role are you playing in this plan?"

Hikari's hand kneading her hair also stilled for a moment. "Chen has never included me in his plans."

"Why? Your abilities should be able to help him greatly." Samui resumed scrubbing.

Hikari rubbed her hair as she recalled the past.

"I asked him why as well. He said raising children was important, and he didn't want me distracted. He would handle matters outside, while I just needed to take care of the home."

"But I knew that was an excuse. With our family's wealth, the little things at home barely counted as matters at all. Chen simply didn't want to awaken the painful memories of those years when I was treated as a weapon..."

Samui set down the scrub towel, wrung it dry, and placed it aside.

Her hand gently rested on Hikari's spotless, smooth back. "What about you? What do you think?"

Hikari's beautiful eyes grew thoughtful as she spoke.

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author. It may have simply been renamed!

"I hope I can take the initiative and share some of Chen's burden."

"The pain of being treated as a weapon in the past came from fighting against my will."

"But now, I have long since gained a reason to fight."

"It is like what Chen told me back then—'You are no longer a weapon. You are a person who lives up to her name.'"

"Yes. I am no longer a weapon. I am a person who lives up to my name."

"So I am also willing to take up 'the weapon in my hand' for Chen's wish, because Chen's wish is also my wish."

Hikari picked up a bucket and poured water over her head.

Splash... The water washed away the foam. She gently shook her wet hair, and a lovely, radiant smile appeared on her face.

"But things are still far from reaching that point~. Chen's preparations have been thorough, and his current strength is incredibly reassuring! He has even gained powerful helpers like Uncle Madara and Obito. Perhaps there won't be any room for me to join the plan in the future!"

"Mm-hmm~~~" Hikari stretched her arms. "Samui, let me scrub your back now~!"

The two switched places.

Hikari picked up the scrub towel and began washing Samui's back.

They chatted about all sorts of domestic matters until they returned to an old topic.

"Still, Samui, I was really startled when you were willing to come to Shadow Hidden Village back then, and even persuaded Atsui to come along~."

"Hmph, how many times have we talked about this?" Samui answered as always. "Working like a beast in Cloud Hidden Village for meager mission rewards could never compare to doing nothing here and living as a wealthy lady."

"Is that so? It seems you intend to stick to that explanation to the end..." Hikari said with a smile.

Samui's amber eyes held thoughts unknown to anyone else.

Seven years ago, about half a year after Jin's funeral.

Chen had privately said something to her.

"Samui, I'm sorry. My little brother left you and the children behind and passed on just like that. On a personal level, I hope you can live happily from now on. If you ever meet someone you believe is suitable, you can remarry at any time! Don't worry about being bullied. I will always be your family and your support!"

"As for Little Wind and Hana, you don't need to worry about them either. No matter where they live in the future, I will protect them for the rest of their lives."

It was from that moment that Samui decided to leave Cloud Hidden Village. It was not merely because, as Chen believed, she "understood the bigger picture" and "considered the children."

Jin was the man I, Uchiha Samui, chose for myself. Since I followed him, I will forever be part of the Uchiha family. I will never remarry in this life!

Still, A-Chen, I truly appreciate you saying those things to me. You brothers are both men of loyalty and affection!

In the men's bath, Madara remained in the same position as he finished listening to Chen's account.

His strongest impression was: Are young people's love stories all this tragic and dramatic these days?

In Hashirama's and my era, there was no such thing as love. So-called marriage was merely a form of alliance.

Even Hashirama was no exception. As a symbol of the generations-long friendship between the Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan.

He married Mito, daughter of Ashina, the Uzumaki Clan Leader.

Well, with Hashirama's personality, he had somehow turned a political marriage into a lively and meaningful life.

Chen lowered his head and glanced at the waterproof watch on his wrist.

7:57 p.m.

"Let's stop here."

Chen stood up from the water.

Madara's gaze shifted downward, and Obito also turned his eyes over.

"This is..."

A Tyrannosaurus rex. If the ninja world had a Jurassic era, then what they were seeing could clearly be called a Tyrannosaurus rex!

Madara was shaken inwardly. It's actually even bigger than Hashirama's... Chen, whether your strength can be called the greatest, I will reserve judgment for now since I have not seen you fight at full power.

But... when it comes to that "thing," I acknowledge you as the strongest!

Splash! Madara rose from the spring, and below his waist... was a pair of black trousers!

"Aren't you going to scrub your back, Chen?"

"No need. I'm naturally not one to get dirty."

Splash! Obito rose on the other side as well, wearing the same pair of black trousers!

Because of Impure World Reincarnation, the pants Madara and Obito wore had effectively become part of their bodies!

Even if they took them off... they would immediately grow back!

For Obito, though, that was fortunate.

He had developed the habit of soaking alone in a corner long ago!

Chen stepped out of the hot spring, draped himself in a wide white bathrobe, and looked back. "Uncle Madara, Obito... Hikari and I will be staying at this hot spring inn tonight. You two can look around as you please."

"Impure World Reincarnation bodies do not feel hunger or the urge to relieve themselves. Likewise, they have no need for sleep. How should we pass this long night?"

At that moment, Madara and Obito met each other's eyes.

Crackle, crackle... The sparks that had been interrupted by Hikari and Tsuki's arrival flared up once more.

Chen pretended not to see it and pushed open the sliding door, heading upstairs.

"The grudge between those two cannot be settled in just a few words. They are bound to have a conversation with their 'eyes.' There is no place more suitable for their conversation than this Taoyuan. Only after tonight can they truly let go of past grievances and speak heart-to-heart. Then this team of three can truly be established... Besides."

Creak. Chen pushed open the door to the room, and a soft, fragrant body pressed against his chest.

"Hikari and I should also have a long-overdue 'heart-to-heart' conversation..."