Girl

The next day, after simply packing his belongings, Masahiko followed the Uzumaki Clan Head onto the road back to the clan.

"Dear nephew, have there been any talented youngsters in the clan these past few years? Once we get back, I'm planning to guide a few children," Masahiko asked along the way.

"There are a few, though I don't know much about them. Once we're back, I'll gather all the children under twelve for you to pick from..."

Masahiko rolled his eyes. Gather them all and let him pick? What was this, grocery shopping?

"Just have the Jonin recommend a few. I want those with good talent. There's no strict requirement for strength; a little foundation is enough."

After saying that, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.

"Why haven't the Witness Points for the Guardian Shinobi Twelve been credited yet? Do I have to wait until it's officially established before I get them?"

"I hope the clans send people soon. Don't drag this out until next year... Though it wouldn't really matter if it did."

After traveling for an entire day, Masahiko once again saw the Uzumaki Clan Compound he had been away from for four years as evening fell.

"Four years have passed, and the compound still hasn't... changed." Masahiko did not even believe himself as he said it, because many new buildings had appeared within the compound.

"Our Uzumaki Clan has remained secluded these past few years, and our population has nearly doubled, so we built more houses," the Uzumaki Clan Head hurriedly explained upon seeing Masahiko's puzzled expression.

Masahiko nodded to show that he understood.

Seeing the Clan Head looking troubled, he said, "All right, go take care of your business. This trip to the Daimyo's Mansion delayed you by four or five days, didn't it? You must have quite a few matters piled up. I'm back in my own home; do I still need you to lead the way?"

The Uzumaki Clan Head bid him farewell and turned to leave.

Masahiko wandered alone toward the home he had not returned to in four years. Whenever he encountered familiar or unfamiliar clansmen along the way, he nodded at them, letting everyone know that he was back.

His home was even tidier than he had expected. It seemed the Clan Head had arranged for someone to clean it over the years.

After doing a little organizing, Masahiko threw himself onto the bed and felt his body and mind relax for the first time in a long while.

"Ever since I discovered Witness Points, I've been busy almost constantly. Was it really worth it? There are so many events from the original story that I can witness. Was it really worth staying with the Senju all these years?"

Once he relaxed, Masahiko could not help feeling that he had pursued strength too obsessively these past years, throwing himself into a feverish pursuit of power.

"With my current strength, aside from the two gods who will rise soon, nothing in the Warring States can threaten my life."

"Then I'll slow down and let things take their course. The Witness Points meant for me will be mine eventually. As for the next few years, I'll stay in the clan and train a few juniors while waiting for Konoha to be founded. I suppose that counts as retirement?"

Only after relaxing did Masahiko feel his exhaustion. He did not even go out for dinner, merely took off his clothes, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, Masahiko was awakened by the sound of his front door opening.

"What's going on? The Clan Head is looking for me so early in the morning? This Chakra feels wrong too..."

The one who pushed open the door was a young girl with Gray-Black Eyes. She carried a small bucket full of water and held several rags in her other hand.

The girl froze when she saw Masahiko, then immediately dumped the bucket of water over him.

"Pervert!"

Masahiko stood there dumbly after being drenched, watching the girl rush out the door with a helpless bitter smile.

"I wasn't wearing clothes while sleeping, and you're blaming me for breaking in..."

Half an hour later.

The Clan Head's Main Hall.

"Grandpa Masahiko, I didn't know you had returned. Please forgive my disrespect!"

Masahiko looked at the girl repeatedly bowing and apologizing before him, unable to make sense of the situation for a moment.

"That's enough, Nanako. Second Uncle Masahiko won't blame you. Go get back to work," the Clan Head said, stepping in to ease the awkwardness.

After the girl left, Masahiko fixed the Clan Head with a pair of dead fish eyes. Everything that had happened that morning had left his mind in a mess.

"Nanako is an orphan," the Clan Head explained calmly. "She doesn't have much talent as a ninja. She only became a Genin at eleven, so I had her help clean some of the houses, including yours."

"An orphan..." Masahiko sighed.

In the Warring States, true orphans were not actually that common. Wars never ceased and casualties were numerous, so in order to preserve the clan's fighting strength, everyone tacitly encouraged childbirth.

Hashirama had three younger brothers, while Madara had five. Adding their uncles, cousins, and the children of those uncles, every family had an enormous number of direct relatives. Even if some died in battle, it was difficult for orphans to appear.

"She doesn't have much talent as a ninja, so you had her clean?" Masahiko was still somewhat puzzled. "There may not be many orphans, but in a clan as large as the Uzumaki Clan, there must be some. Do you take such good care of all of them?"

The Clan Head revealed a bitter smile. "Her uncle was Muto... As for her parents, they both died not long after she was born. She originally lived with her grandfather and grandmother, but the two elders passed away one after another two years ago."

"Muto also died fighting for the clan. I didn't want his branch of the family to die out completely, so I more or less adopted her."

Masahiko nodded. Only then did he fully understand what had happened.

"I understand. Still, as your second daughter, this girl has quite the fiery temperament. She threw a bucket of water on me the moment she saw me... Mito was not like that."

The Clan Head smiled bitterly. "She was born with that personality. I wanted to teach her to be gentler too, but..."

Masahiko shook his head. "This is fine. As an orphan, she'll be better able to protect herself."

"Don't forget, when you have time, have the clan's Jonin recommend a few children with good talent and send them to me..." He paused, remembering Muto, then added, "Nanako from earlier can count as one too."

The Clan Head's face lit up with joy. "Then I'll leave her to you!"

Masahiko swayed as he walked out, waving a hand. "Getting woken up by a bucket of cold water first thing in the morning... I need to go back and catch up on sleep..."

When he wandered back home, he discovered that the bedsheets soaked that morning had already been washed and hung out to dry. A cute bedsheet had been spread over the bed.

"..." Masahiko was speechless for a moment.

As if replaying the earlier scene, Nanako with her Gray-Black Eyes walked in carrying a small bucket and several rags.

Masahiko instinctively tried to dodge, but Nanako hurriedly set down the things in her hands and bowed to apologize once more.

"That's enough. You already apologized at the Clan Head's place. I forgive you. But what are you doing here?" Masahiko waved his hand and asked doubtfully.

"Grandpa Masahiko, I came to clean your house." Nanako picked up the cleaning tools.

"That's enough. I'm back now, so I can take care of the house myself. I just came from the Clan Head's place, and he seemed to be looking for you," Masahiko replied.

"Ah... I understand." With that, she turned and ran out again.

Masahiko looked at the cute bedsheet on the bed, then at the cleaning tools Nanako had left behind. He completely lost the mood to go back to sleep.

"Ah, forget sleeping. I'll get something to eat, then do a thorough cleaning."

"My dear bedsheets, hurry up and dry..."