Coming Home

After much pleading, Uchiha Zhuang finally resorted to using his Sharingan to cast a hypnotic genjutsu, and managed to escape. Passing through the market, he bought several short swords for the women to defend themselves with, along with some gold and silver jewelry and hair ornaments. He also picked up a souvenir of Baiye Town: a Kappa figurine.

As he pressed onward, leaving Baiye Town behind, the uneasy feeling vanished when he passed Great Marsh Lake. Only a trace of regret remained in his heart. He ignored it and strode home. The peaceful villages along the way and the beautiful natural scenery lifted his spirits. Without excessive industrial pollution, this world was rich in natural resources. Just look at the enormous summoning beasts in the mountains, or the giant wild boars in Konoha's Forest of Death—big as small trucks. He let his mind wander while immersing himself in ninjutsu training. He had mastered nearly all the basic Water and Fire Release techniques he'd exchanged for early on, almost half of the intermediate ones, and several advanced techniques. The Fire Release: Fire Dragon technique he'd used against the Giant Catfish was one he'd mastered through constant practice in his mind whenever he had nothing to do on the road. The terrain grew flatter, and he returned to the border town where the women lived. Seeing the detached house by the gate, still without a nameplate, stirred something in him. He never would have thought he'd have a house of his own, and several maids to boot. After indulging in a moment of wishful thinking, he shook off those childish notions and pushed open the gate into the courtyard.

Hanako saw a figure enter the courtyard from inside the house. Looking closely, she recognized that familiar, resolute face. Gratitude and fear stirred within her. She was grateful he'd saved her and her daughters, yet still feared his strength and coldness. Beneath the warm, pale-yellow lights inside, he saw the women and the two young girls. They had grown more radiant during his absence. Though Hanako was already a mother of two, women in these troubled times married and had children young; it was common to give birth at fourteen or fifteen, so she still looked very young. Only with ample material comforts and a peaceful environment could women remain beautiful. Uchiha Zhuang felt moved again. Those pathetic simps had nothing, yet still pined after women. In the end, they were nothing but tissue for the strong to wipe themselves with—and even then, only a green tea's sanitary pad. The closer they got to their dreams, the more pathetic they became. Tch.

"I'm home, Hanako. Have you got dinner ready? I brought you all souvenirs!" "Oh! Really?" Tsugutama turned out to be the innocent, adorable type. Now that she was getting used to her master's temperament, she was beginning to let loose. Ootama and Hanako were both surprised, but said nothing. A moment later, Hanako hurried to the courtyard with the two girls to welcome their master. He handed them his pack, then went straight to the dining room. A fine spread was laid out—enough for four! They must have prepared like this every evening. Otherwise, there was no way they'd have happened to make four portions on the very night he came home. Warmth filled his heart. The women put away the things and followed him inside. At the table, Uchiha Zhuang took the seat of honor and slowly recounted what he'd been through. The women were so captivated by his incredible adventures that they held their breath, chopsticks frozen in midair, as if they themselves had entered the story. "Um, Master Samma, can you really write Xia script?" Tsugutama asked curiously. "Of course. I learned it through my clan's inheritance. I'm the only one in our clan who can read Xia script because I'm the chosen one. This era of chaos will end by my hand. I'm the chosen one—and the only one." His confident words seemed meant for the women, yet also for himself. None of them had ever heard such astonishing boasts. He might as well have been claiming he'd become the king of the world! It was too crazy, too arrogant. His wild declaration sobered them instantly, and they lowered their heads in silence, quietly eating. Seeing their expressions, Uchiha Zhuang understood the limits of their vision and awareness. You can't explain ice to a summer insect. Perhaps that was the truth. For a man who possessed the core technology, conquering the ninja world was only a matter of time. Uchiha Zhuang gave a self-deprecating smile, then continued telling them about the magnificent mountains and rivers between the peaks. The women set down their chopsticks again, listening in rapt fascination. When he recited, "Across ten thousand miles of sky, the golden wheel still shines; billions of living beings rise and perish without end," they sat stunned for a long time, unable to speak. Uchiha Zhuang called out to them, but they didn't respond. It seemed the words had struck them to the core. Tch. Just as he started entertaining the harmonious thought of combining a massage for the soul with one for the body, he stopped himself and quickly practiced Natural Energy for a while to calm his restless body.

It took the women a long time to recover. As they watched Uchiha Zhuang sitting cross-legged on the sofa after dinner, they seemed to sense a feeling of happiness and warmth radiating from him. Their hearts grew warm, and their old impression of him as a cold man slowly faded. Once he finished practicing Natural Energy, Uchiha Zhuang watched the women wash the dishes, heat water, and make the bed, feeling thoroughly content. That was what maids were for. He was waited on as he bathed, dressed, and got into bed, and felt his tension melt away. He slept soundly through the night. The next day, sunlight fell across his face as Ootama gently massaged him awake. Uchiha Zhuang found himself reluctant to leave. But after slapping himself across the face a few times, he came to his senses. A gentle embrace is a hero's grave; behind pink curtains lies a bed that melts your bones. He had to remember that saying from Earth!

After breakfast, Uchiha Zhuang looked at Hanako and the two girls and said seriously, "I'm a member of Konoha's Uchiha Clan. I have to return now and continue my training in Konoha." The women's shocked expressions were reflected in his eyes. After all, everyone knew of the Sharingan that had carved its way out of the Warring States era. He opened his eyes, and his two Tomoe slowly turned. His wine-red eyes seemed to possess some kind of magic, drawing in anyone who looked at them. The women were unconsciously hypnotized, and Uchiha Zhuang had no choice but to lay a hand on each of them and channel some chakra into them. One by one, they came to. He continued, "I'll come see you regularly. I need you to establish an organization for me, one dedicated to taking in the children left homeless by war and orphans, mainly girls. Ideally, they should have special talents. Don't interrupt me. Yes, I know it'll be difficult for you. You're weak women, after all. But as my servants—or, if you prefer, my property—I expect you to be willing to die for me. I'm still a fairly benevolent master, aren't I?" The women immediately remembered how cruel and violent he'd been before. Their comfortable life had made them grow used to their warm little nest, but they no longer dreamed of spreading their wings and flying. They didn't realize that the world was about to turn upside down, and that only by sticking close to this man could they survive. After a long silence, remembering the hardships they'd endured in the wars, the women knelt in anguish and swore their submission to Uchiha Zhuang. I really am no man, throwing my weight around in front of women. What a bastard. Uchiha Zhuang scoffed at the thought. Could living in a peaceful world make them forget the suffering of the past? Could having a warm nest make them complacent? A woman he couldn't control was better off set free. If Uchiha Zhuang were betrayed, forgotten, or utterly defeated, these timid women would be useless except to attract the attention of crude bandits. He didn't want that to happen to him, or to them. Cowardice was only temporary; strength could keep growing. Only by refusing to settle for an ordinary, mediocre life and growing stronger could they avoid becoming the filthy excrement of their betters.

"Trust me. I'm doing this for your own good. I believe that one day, you'll willingly die for me. Remember what I asked. You have plenty of money. Find a location yourselves, preferably an underground base. I believe your experiences surviving the war will guide you in dealing with orphans and traffickers!" He drew the short sword he carried, its clan crest—a "pool cue"—engraved on the hilt, and gave it to Hanako. "This is the Uchiha Clan's crest and token. If you show it, any official, merchant, commoner, bandit, samurai, ninja, monk, or shaman with any sense won't give you trouble. If you run into someone who isn't afraid of death, go straight to the boss of Daikokuya, Old Turtle of Tanba, or Hatano Yu. They can help you." Seeing the women trying to keep calm, Uchiha Zhuang smiled. "If you haven't done all this by the time I return, I won't do anything to you. You can take whatever you can carry and leave here to start a new life. I swear on the Uchiha Clan that you'll be allowed to leave safely." His gentle smile only frightened them more. "Until next time, my maids." A golden glint flashed. Echo of the Distance activated, leaving only a gray Golden Scroll on the ground. Uchiha Zhuang vanished from Hanako's sight.