The sky was blue, but Rikusei's heart was in pain.
No matter how crisp and clear the air was, it could not calm his turbulent mind.
The Hokage Rock of the Second truly was a good place to rest, especially after being reinforced and repaired with Earth Style. It felt exceptionally solid.
The turmoil caused by the third Sage gradually faded from everyone's sight as the aerial train returning from Ryūchi Cave arrived.
Yet the aftereffects of that battle still lingered in Rikusei's heart.
Rikusei could not forget that one morning not long ago, when a gentle purple-haired girl sat by his bed, waiting for him to wake with tenderness in her eyes.
That was right.
With that status backing her, Naori could indeed come and go from his home freely. Besides, she already had a key to his room.
Afterward, none of the unexpected developments Rikusei had hoped for occurred. There were only those clear, reassuring eyes every day, brimming with tenderness that belonged solely to Naori.
White Zetsu's hard work brought the company considerable profits. Drawing on Teacher Tobirama's experience, Rikusei and Naori established a research institute of their own.
The research plan formally submitted to Tobirama Senju was to study what changes the Uchiha Clan would undergo after long-term consumption of Enlightenment Tea and natural divine vegetables.
Tobirama immediately approved the proposal and strongly supported it by providing all kinds of equipment needed for the laboratory.
The actual research project, however, was studying myself. It was not a bad experimental direction.
Watching the shapeless white clouds drift lazily from right to left, Rikusei sighed as something stirred within him.
Why?
Why did Naori have such a strong, peculiar interest in his tissue cells?
Other than promoting the Sharingan and having special effects on Natural Energy, Rikusei truly