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Uchiha Zhuang silently finished his meal, then went back to his room to train. Genmu and Meiko were discussing things in the living room. "I've already reported Zhuang's situation to the clan head and elders. After discussing it, they unanimously decided to prioritize his development. That treasured Five Elements Eight Trigrams Body Tempering Technique has also been added to the clan's collection, which should earn Zhuang quite a few points." "Then does that girl from the Hyuga Clan know what's going on?" "She knows the specifics. She's the clan head's daughter, and she's very talented too. They say she could use the Byakugan as soon as she turned five. Also, the clan head doesn't have a son, so the Main Family girl might marry someone within the clan." "Oh! So that's how things will turn out for the girl Zhuang can't stop thinking about? Go ask the clan head and elders what they think!" "There's no point. I already asked them. They sent a signal to the Hyuga Clan a long time ago, but the other side hasn't responded." While the two worried, Uchiha Zhuang knew nothing about it, wholly absorbed in sensing chakra.

In class the next day, Akihime had dark circles under her eyes and looked as if she hadn't slept well. She was also giving Uchiha Zhuang the cold shoulder. He was completely baffled, but Akihime didn't say much. At lunch, she just ate from her own little bowl. Uchiha Zhuang realized something was seriously wrong. It had to be something going on with the Hyuga Clan. He'd ask about it when he got home. The chubby boy who'd been behind him, along with the others who'd joined in the attack yesterday, were now scared out of their wits. Every time they saw Uchiha Zhuang, they trembled inside, hoping he wouldn't notice them and would treat them as invisible. Uchiha Zhuang really didn't have time to bother with the little brats today. He even turned down a challenge from some older students. Of course, in the end, when school let out, he still knocked several of them down with a few punches and kicks, leaving them unable to get up. They hadn't even had time to form Hand Seals. Uchiha Zhuang hurried home. Seeing Genmu lounging with his legs crossed and reading the newspaper while Meiko cooked in the kitchen, he asked, "Something's going on with Akihime, isn't there? Did something happen with the Hyuga Clan?" Genmu glanced at Uchiha Zhuang without replying, then continued reading. Meiko said, "Nothing's happened. I haven't heard anything about the Hyuga Clan." "Then why wouldn't Akihime talk to me today? Her eyes were all dark, too." Genmu said, "Maybe she's found out what her future holds. Her father is the current head of the Hyuga Clan. He has no sons, only one daughter, so she might marry someone from within the clan." Uchiha Zhuang suddenly felt dazed, as if he'd lost something very important—hollow and unwilling to accept it. Why? I'm a transmigrator. My life shouldn't be this ordinary! After letting out a helpless cry of frustration, Uchiha Zhuang calmed down. In the end, he still wasn't strong enough. The Hyuga Clan was wary of the Konoha High Command's attitude, wasn't it? If the two great clans formed an alliance, it would be a nightmare for the High Command.

After thinking it over, Uchiha Zhuang decided to lie low and build up his strength. Seeing the worry on their faces, he smiled and said, "It's fine. The most important thing now is to develop my own strength. Only when I'm strong will I have a say and the ability to act." After dinner, Uchiha Zhuang returned to his room. He gazed out at the pitch-black night and pondered for a while, then left home and went into the woods in the clan compound. From the treetops, he activated Echo of the Distance and vanished in an instant. When he reappeared, he was already far away, racing toward the border town. Even Uchiha Zhuang wasn't sure whether Delia and the others could get things done.

It was late at night, with the forest silent beneath the high-hanging moon, when Uchiha Zhuang finally reached his base in the standalone house. After checking around the courtyard and confirming there were no traps or signs of mechanisms, he quietly slipped in through the back door. Inside the garden courtyard, the house was dark and silent. Uchiha Zhuang quietly approached the front door and slid it open. In an instant, a dagger thrust out from inside, aimed straight at his throat. Calmly, Uchiha Zhuang caught the hand holding it. Its owner was a scrawny little girl with big eyes, messy purple hair, and a slightly sallow face. Looking at the girl he'd subdued in one move, Uchiha Zhuang said, "Bring Delia out. The head of the household is back." The girl, who'd been preparing to launch a second attack, stopped. "My lord, you're back. These children I took in don't know any better and have offended you. Please punish them however you see fit!" Delia said ingratiatingly. Though Uchiha Zhuang was slightly surprised inside, he remained calm and nodded. "This little girl's impressive. Where are the others?" As he spoke, he headed upstairs toward the master bedroom on the top floor. Delia followed behind him. "Ootama and Tsugutama are looking after more than a dozen little girls. I've been waiting here for you day and night, my lord." Deliberately ignoring Delia's over-the-top acting and fawning manner, Uchiha Zhuang reached the master bedroom and took a deep breath. Hmm. No strange smells. This was acceptable. As Uchiha Zhuang sat in silence, Delia was extremely uneasy. She'd taken tens of millions of ryō from her lord—gold converted into the currency of the shinobi world—but in over a month she'd only gathered a dozen or so girls and expanded a single base. She'd secretly transferred the rest of the money through Old Turtle in Tanba to accounts under her own name, hoping to escape Uchiha Zhuang's control.

Uchiha Zhuang sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. "You're hiding something from me, aren't you? Let me guess. You want freedom? You want to control your own fate and never be controlled by anyone again, right? Or maybe you and Old Turtle in Tanba have gotten close, and you want to kick me to the curb and run off with the money I gave you? Hmm! Your eyes keep shifting between surprise and fear. That means I've mostly guessed right. You started thinking like this as soon as I left. That's dangerous, Delia. Where are Ootama and Tsugutama? Don't make me search for them myself!" His threatening words struck Delia hard. Her face went pale, and she bowed her head even lower. She stayed silent and didn't argue. The little girl beside her stood there, staring straight at Uchiha Zhuang without moving.

Uchiha Zhuang slowly walked over to Delia and helped her to her feet. She was about as tall as he was. Beneath her carefully applied makeup, she was sobbing soundlessly. Looking at her, Uchiha Zhuang said softly, "Why are you making that face? It's not as if I'm a bad person! How bad could I be?" Smiling, Uchiha Zhuang continued, "Before I left, I told you all to be straightforward if you wanted to leave, instead of playing little tricks like this—taking the money and doing a bit of work, then planning to slip away! That puts me in a difficult position! Fujiwara Kobayashi sold you all to me outright!" Hearing that long-buried name, the one she didn't want to remember, made those hellish years seem to reach out for her, coming closer and closer. Countless starving villagers stretched out their withered hands, grasping helplessly at nothing.

It was as if something had been triggered in Delia. She bowed her head and wept, while Uchiha Zhuang held her firmly by the arms. Pain, shame, regret, jealousy, and countless other emotions shifted across her face. After a long while, unable to bear the tide of emotions, Delia fainted. Uchiha Zhuang deactivated his Sharingan and looked at the little girl standing beside him, her face expressionless. "Which country are you from? The Land of Rivers?" "The Land of Snow. Setsuna."