Desire Hot Spring Opens

Looking at the expectant gazes of the crowd, Xuandou spoke immediately:

"That apartment complex will be provided free of charge to the unmarried youth of the clan. As long as you are of age and unmarried, you may apply."

"Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!"

Cheers erupted.

Some jumped up in excitement, while others hugged those beside them, laughing and shouting.

Xuandou waited for the cheering to subside slightly before continuing:

"The first batch will have fifty spots. Go sign up with Shisui, and he will handle the distribution. There will be four more batches following, totaling two hundred and fifty spots. So, those who don't get one right away need not worry; you will be able to move in sooner or later."

The light in the eyes of the eligible young people grew even brighter.

Among them, some had parents who died in battle, leaving behind no inheritance.

Others had many siblings and were crowded into a few small rooms.

Now, the clan head had directly solved their housing problem.

Xuandou continued:

"The third matter."

The crowd quieted down.

"If anyone in the clan is willing, you may donate the remains of fallen clan members. It is not mandatory; it is entirely voluntary. I want to be clear: these remains will be used for research."

Some frowned.

Xuandou looked at them:

"I know some may feel this is a desecration of the dead. But I want to say that the purpose of this research is to allow the living to live better."

"Perhaps one day, through research, we can find safer and more efficient ways to help clan members awaken their eyes. With the Sharingan, the mortality rate during missions can be reduced."

He paused:

"I will say it again: it is entirely voluntary. Those who are willing may hand the remains over to the Anbu of the clan."

With the previous two initiatives benefiting the entire clan as a foundation, although some brows were furrowed, no one stood up to object.

Xuandou nodded:

"Dismissed."

Xuandou left, but the Uchiha clansmen did not disperse.

They gathered in twos and threes; some looked up at the portraits on the walls, trying to identify which were their ancestors.

Some surrounded those who had just awakened their eyes, asking them what it felt like.

There was also a group of young people huddled together, discussing the apartment spots enthusiastically.

The entire clan grounds were permeated with a joy and vitality never seen before.

It wasn't until dusk that the people gradually dispersed.

At night, Shisui came to Xuandou's home.

He held two sealing scrolls in his hands and handed them to Xuandou:

"Clan Head, these are the two remains donated by the clansmen today."

Xuandou took them and checked that the seals were intact.

"Thank you for your hard work. You may go."

After Shisui left, Xuandou pulled the Summoning Jutsu scroll given by Orochimaru from his robe.

He set up the formation according to the technique on the scroll and performed the hand seals:

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A burst of white smoke exploded.

Within the smoke, a massive creature slowly revealed its form.

It was a giant purple snake, its body covered in hard scales.

It was twenty or thirty meters long, and its golden slit pupils were cold and ferocious as it looked down at Xuandou from above.

It was Manda.

Orochimaru's summon.

As soon as Manda appeared, it opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Xuandou.

Its fangs spread, and a foul, fishy stench rushed toward him.

Xuandou narrowed his eyes.

The Mangekyo Sharingan activated instantly.

Manda's movements froze in mid-air.

Its massive body seemed to be pinned in place, unable to move a single inch.

The cruelty vanished from the golden vertical pupils, replaced by deep, primal fear.

Xuandou looked down at it, his tone icy:

"For the sake of Orochimaru, I will spare you this time."

"If there is a next time, you will surely die!"

Manda shuddered violently.

He wanted to nod, but his body remained under control, so he could only blink frantically to signal his submission.

Xuandou tossed two sealing scrolls into his gaping maw.

"Take these back to Orochimaru."

He released his ocular jutsu.

Manda's body was finally able to move.

He hurriedly snapped his mouth shut, then vanished into a puff of white smoke with a loud "poof."

Returning to the room, the first thing Xuandou did was open the system's [Clan] panel.

[Clan Ancestral Hall (Constructed)]

[Indulgence Apartment (Constructed x1)]

[Desire Hot Spring (Not Constructed)]

With a thought, he tapped on the Clan Ancestral Hall.

His vision flashed, and a real-time image of the interior of the ancestral hall appeared in his mind.

It was like having a god's-eye view; his perspective could move freely throughout the hall.

He could see the incense burner on the altar, the portraits on the walls, and even the new potted plant in the corner.

A few clansmen were still inside, kneeling on cushions with their hands pressed together.

Xuandou could clearly hear what they were muttering.

Xuandou paused, then tapped on the Indulgence Apartment.

It was the same.

The hallways, the rooms—everything was perfectly clear.

Xuandou stroked his chin, his eyes slowly brightening.

This feature... was rather interesting.

It seemed the system had provided this for his convenience in managing clan buildings.

Being able to view clan buildings in real-time meant that... once the hot spring was built, he could also...

Thinking of the sultry scenes he might witness, a wave of heat surged in Xuandou's heart.

He looked toward the door and called out:

"Pakura, come in for a moment."

Pakura pushed the door open and entered; before she could even steady herself, she was pulled over by Xuandou.

"You... mmm..."

A month later.

The Desire Hot Spring that Xuandou had been longing for was finally completed.

On the day it was finished, Xuandou rushed over to inspect it almost immediately.

Standing at the entrance of the complex, he finally understood why this thing had taken the longest to build.

It was massive.

Rather than a single building, it was more like an entire garden.

The entrance was a bamboo gatehouse that made one feel relaxed just by looking at it.

Inside was a cobblestone path that wound forward, branching off in various directions.

Bamboo was planted on both sides of the path.

The verdant stalks stood straight and tall, their leaves weaving together overhead to filter the sunlight into fine, dappled spots scattered across the ground.

As the wind blew, the bamboo leaves rustled, and the air was filled with the faint, fresh scent of grass and wood.

Following the path further in, the view suddenly opened up.

It was a meticulously crafted courtyard, filled with greenery everywhere.

Low shrubs, scattered rockeries, climbing vines, and a few late-blooming cherry trees—petals drifted onto the bluestone slabs, covering them in a thin layer of pink and white.

Small paths branched out from every direction of the courtyard, leading to different hot spring pools.

The men's and women's baths were separated, built on opposite sides of the courtyard, featuring both large indoor pools partitioned by bamboo curtains and screens for privacy.

There were also thrilling outdoor pools that offered a view of the beautiful garden landscape.

The large mixed-bathing pool sat right in the center, open-air and expansive.

The water, drawn from underground springs, was crystal clear and wreathed in curling white mist.

The edges of the pool were built from natural stones, with ferns and moss growing in the crevices, giving it the appearance of a natural formation.

Tall bamboo was planted all around the pool, enclosing it completely so that nothing could be seen from the outside.

Walking deeper along the path past the mixed-bathing pool, one found a more secluded trail.

Dense bamboo grew on both sides, the path narrowing as one walked until it suddenly opened up at the end.

Hidden here were over a dozen small, open-air pools.

Each pool was small, only three or four square meters, scattered across the hillside.

Bamboo groves and shrubs separated the pools, providing enough distance that even if two pools were occupied, the bathers could not see one another.

The edges were paved with smooth pebbles, each featuring a small wooden table topped with a bamboo tray holding clean towels and a small carafe of sake.

Venturing further in, there were private indoor hot springs.

These were individual small rooms with wooden structures; sliding the door open revealed a compact bathing pool inside.

The rooms were fully equipped with tatami mats and restrooms.

Each room was enclosed on all sides, save for a single window looking out onto a meticulously arranged dry landscape garden.

The lighting was soft, and the air was thick with steam.

A faint fragrance drifted throughout the entire hot spring facility.

It was hard to name the scent.

It was like sandalwood, yet also like some kind of floral aroma—faint and elusive, making one's entire body relax until their bones felt soft.

After staying for a while, the fragrance seemed to seep into the skin, stirring an indescribable restlessness in one's heart.

Xuandou took a tour and grew more satisfied with every step.

Desire Hot Spring lived up to its name; after this one lap, he had already scouted several suitable "battlefields"!

He coughed, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

That afternoon, Xuandou officially announced the opening of Desire Hot Spring.

Immediately after, Xuandou could hardly wait to bring Kurenai along to experience Desire Hot Spring.