Meeting the Parents

"I remembered. When I was out of it, I seemed to hear Yan calling my name."

Miyoshi suddenly realized that, aside from Yan, no one else would be kind enough to clean him up.

But looking at it now, my house is a little unsafe. It's time to move, or maybe build a basement.

Miyoshi thought to himself.

As his research progressed, the scale of his experiments grew larger and larger. Miyoshi's house was spacious enough, but its structural strength was somewhat lacking.

And the effects of Word Spirit were extremely violent. Miyoshi was afraid that one day, he might accidentally blow up his own house.

He did not have any extra money for repairs. Wouldn't he end up sleeping on the streets then?

So, he needed to build his experimental site underground and reinforce it properly. Only then would it be foolproof.

Miyoshi had considered this project long ago, but due to financial constraints, he could only combine it with his laboratory expansion plan.

There was no need to rush for now.

Looking at the crimson clouds outside the window, Miyoshi estimated that school was almost over.

"I hope Yan requested leave for me."

Miyoshi silently prayed, a wave of gratitude rising within him.

Just then, the courtyard gate opened.

Hearing the sound, Miyoshi went downstairs and saw a petite purple-haired figure walking in through the gate.

"Yan."

"Miyoshi-kun, you're awake?"

Yan gently closed the gate.

"Cough, cough. I didn't sleep well last night."

Miyoshi said awkwardly. After all, he had indeed gone a little too far this time.

In the past, he would at least take an hour-long break midway through, but yesterday he had gotten too absorbed and had not rested at all. No wonder he had slept until the afternoon.

"At this hour, are we going to train?"

Miyoshi hurriedly changed the subject.

Usually, after school let out at this time, they would go train together in the forest.

"Not today. There are some matters in the clan."

Yan shook her head, seeming somewhat disappointed.

"It's fine. It's not as if we can never train again. Tomorrow won't be too late."

Miyoshi said softly.

A day or two did not matter. They still had plenty of time.

"Oh, right, Miyoshi-kun. My Second Grandfather wants to meet you. Would it be convenient for you to come over?"

Yan looked at Miyoshi with a bashful expression. A faint flush colored her delicate face, while anticipation and nervousness flickered in her eyes.

To her, it seemed to be something both embarrassing and joyful.

"Yan's Second Grandfather?"

Miyoshi could not help opening his mouth wide.

Not only was the other party Yan's elder, but that also meant he was an old-school member of the Uchiha Clan.

At Miyoshi's age, the word "grandfather" represented someone quite elderly.

Konoha had only been founded for thirty-one years. To be a grandfather, he had to be at least fifty, right?

That also meant he was an Old Man who had lived through the Warring States.

During the Warring States, going to the battlefield at five or six and cutting off heads was nothing unusual.

That was according to a book he had found. That era of the Warring States was filled with bloodshed.

If one really had to compare them, Konoha's evil practice of sending people to the battlefield only at ten years old was practically a major improvement.

Miyoshi could not help sighing.

"What a world where everything is judged by what's less terrible."

"What do you think, Miyoshi-kun? You don't want to go?"

Seeing Miyoshi standing there in a daze, Yan thought he was unwilling.

"If you don't want to, then forget it. I'll go back and tell Second Grandfather."

"No need. I'll go. There's nothing bad about making the trip, and it's not like I have anything to lose. Yan's Second Grandfather isn't going to kill me."

Miyoshi said in a joking tone.

Unless something unexpected happened, Miyoshi really had to make this trip.

After all, he would need to borrow funds from Yan in the future, but she had such a senior elder watching over her.

If he failed to win over this elder, he probably would not be able to conduct his experiments in peace.

Who knew whether a ninja from the Warring States period would think his granddaughter had been deceived and, in a fit of rage, simply kill him?

"He won't. If Second Grandfather wants to hurt Miyoshi-kun, I'll definitely stop him."

Yan's gaze was firm and resolute, making the strength of her will impossible to miss.

Miyoshi's laughter also faded. Looking at Yan's determined eyes, he could not help feeling a trace of warmth well up inside him. He subconsciously reached out and ruffled her hair.

Her smooth purple hair, soft as satin, seemed like a gift from heaven. It shimmered gently beneath the afterglow of the setting sun.

Uchiha Clan Territory

Taking a path he had not taken last time, Miyoshi passed the Security Force. They merely gave him a brief glance before looking away.

Perhaps because an Uchiha person was walking beside him, the Security Force showed little wariness toward him.

Miyoshi took the chance to survey the streets within the Uchiha Clan Territory.

They were much like Konoha's streets: snack stalls, department stores, all kinds of shops. Nearly everything found in the village could also be found here.

Just as Miyoshi had seen last time, the Uchiha were practically a village within the village.

Prosperous and glorious beyond measure.

Some Uchiha ninjas nodded when they saw Yan. However, their line of sight lingered longer on Miyoshi, as though they intended to memorize his face.

After passing through the bustling streets, Miyoshi followed Yan to a small three-story house.

When they pushed open the front gate, they found a rock garden in the courtyard, along with cherry trees. Pink petals carpeted the ground like a path paved with cherry blossoms.

Pushing open the door, Miyoshi saw an old man.

A horrifying scar ran across his face. Upon meeting him for the first time, Miyoshi felt a faint pressure—not pressure from a difference in life levels, but one that weighed on the mind.

Those slightly clouded eyes were filled with indifference and numbness toward life.

Yet in an instant, the old man became a kindly elder.

Not simple. Yan's Second Grandfather was definitely not simple.

Miyoshi thought.

"Sit down, children."

Hearing the old man's words, the two children obediently sat down.

Yan had always been very obedient.

As for Miyoshi, he simply felt that the old man was someone worthy of respect and that he could not be rude—not because the man was some ancient Warring States monster.

"I'm getting old. Seeing energetic youngsters like you really makes me feel my age."

The old man sighed.

Miyoshi quietly waited for the old man to make his move.

Yan continued to sit there obediently.

"I heard that Little Yan made a new friend at the Ninja Academy, so I wanted to meet you. Now that I have, you truly are an outstanding youth."

The old man praised him.

Yet that unflappable bearing alone was enough to make the old man regard Miyoshi highly.

He also possessed powerful physical qualities and a large amount of Chakra. Even compared to Princess Tsunade at the same age, he was no inferior.

Whether Miyoshi was a Senju or not no longer mattered to the old man.

Those were old grudges. Since Yan liked him, the old man had no objections.

And if he was a Senju, that would be even better. Since the Senju had disbanded, they might as well merge into the Uchiha.

Perhaps the strengths of both families could be combined to produce an even stronger child.

"I still have much to learn."

Miyoshi replied modestly.

"There's no need to be overly modest. At your age, I didn't possess your strength."

The old man smiled, truly seeming as though he had only invited Miyoshi over for a casual chat.

After that, the two of them really did seem to chat about everyday matters.

The old man told Yan and Miyoshi some amusing stories from the time when the village had been founded.

When he spoke of Yan's childhood, he chuckled so hard that Yan's face turned bright red.

Thanks to the Primordial World for the two votes.