Chapter 9

What would you do if you saw your sworn enemy on the street?

Senju Saki felt like crying. He really wanted to cry.

He had been away for half a year, heard that the Spring Festival in Muyun City, the Land of Lightning, was famous, and decided to come and see. He actually ran into someone from the Uchiha clan again! That face, which resembled Uchiha Madara by seventy percent, ah! It seemed to be his brother?!

Last time, it was fine, and there was no interaction, but this time... he actually took the last skewer of candied fruit, leaving Uchiha Madara's brother with nothing to eat, boohoo...

Was it still too late to hand it over?

Uchiha Izuna immediately revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan in a defensive stance. With the interplay of various lights and shadows on the street, these red pupils did not cause any chaos. The two stood frozen, glaring at each other. Those who didn't know would think they had fallen in love at first sight, gazing at each other tenderly until the end of time...

A figure in cold cyan walked out of the night, "What's wrong?"

Senju Saki's face turned even paler: Damn it, didn't they say this boss was a shut-in? Why did he run into him again!

"Brother, there's someone from the Senju clan."

Madara glanced at him, "A guest is a guest, don't refuse those who bring money." He then added meaningfully, "Especially if they are surnamed Senju."

Squeezing money from the Senju would bring joy to any Uchiha. By the way, thirty percent of Muyun City's annual tax revenue was unconditionally accepted by the Uchiha with a smile.

Bang! Right on target! Senju Saki's eyes widened, almost clutching his chest and staggering backward—How, how could he be so venomous! It turns out that all that gentleness and elegance were fake! Fake, right!

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Izuna immediately retracted his Sharingan and obediently lowered his head to eat his dumplings.

"Let's go, don't waste time on irrelevant people. The fireworks display at Water Cloud Plaza is about to begin."

The two brothers left gracefully. Only Senju Saki was left alone, dejectedly drawing circles.

"Huh? Isn't this Saki-kun?"

Senju Saki looked up haggardly, "Ah, Tobirama-sama... Tobirama-sama?!!"

The white-haired youth exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you squatting? Stomach ache?"

No, it's a stomach ache, a stomach ache, sir!

"Why are you here?"

Tobirama asked in confusion, "Why can't I be here?"

Sir, this is the Land of Lightning, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Lightning, repeat it three times for me! What are you trying to do by coming to the Uchiha's base camp?!

Why am I still alive in this incomprehensible world, boohoo~~~

"You're here, you're welcome to come..." Senju Saki said weakly, "Is Hashirama-sama here too?"

"Ah, he's too busy." He had to sort out relationships with the Hyuga clan, the Uzumaki clan, and the Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and other clans... Senju Hashirama was destined to be without leisure during this period. "I've heard for a long time that Muyun City is lively at night, but I've never had the chance to see it. Today, my wish is finally granted! It's a pity my brother couldn't come."

Not a pity, not a pity at all! If the two Uchiha leaders met the two Senju leaders, would today's Spring Festival turn into a battlefield? Senju Saki felt it was better not to think too deeply.

"Uchiha Madara and his brother are also here." After thinking for a moment, Senju Saki decided to tell him.

Tobirama's expression became serious, "Are you sure?"

"...We've already met."

"..."

Tobirama-sama! What's with that expression of "Why aren't you dead yet"?!

Senju Saki's mouth twitched. If Hashirama-sama were here, there would still be a chance of winning. Thinking that even as a combatant, he would likely be instantly killed by Uchiha Madara, and then Tobirama Senju would be facing two opponents—"Sir, you'd better be cautious."

"Haha, it's okay, it's okay!" Tobirama scratched the back of his head, suddenly relaxed, "Since I've come all this way, how can I give up halfway! I haven't seen the famous fireworks banquet here yet! Besides, if you're not dead, what do I have to worry about?"

Senju Saki suddenly felt depressed: I'm not dead, I'm not dead, I'm not dead...

Boohoo~~~ Hashirama-sama! I want to go home, ah!

In the center of Water Cloud Plaza was a circular pool with a radius of more than twenty meters. The bottom of the one-meter-deep pool was scattered with coins of various colors. On the surface of the water, as smooth as a mirror, floated exquisite and small peach blossom lanterns, dotting the sky with soft pink, reflecting the starlight. From time to time, people by the pool placed their handmade floating lanterns on the water, and the gentle ripples from a soft blow gently washed away.

In the center of the circle was a three-meter-diameter round platform carved from a stone similar to white marble, shaped like a peach blossom. It lay quietly in the middle of the water like a floating island. At this moment, it was piled high with unlit fireworks.

"Hurry, hurry~ Left! A little more to the left~ Please, little lantern~" A girl in a light yellow kimono stared nervously at the cherry blossom lantern she had placed in the pool.

"Mieko, did it touch?"

"Just a little more..." the girl sighed.

Legend had it that on the night of the Spring Festival, one should release lanterns into the Water Cloud Pool. If one's lantern touched the peach blossom floating island in the center, one should make a wish quickly! Muyun City was considered one of the most peaceful places on the entire continent, and people had the leisure to come up with romantic ideas.

"Oh, it doesn't matter, there's still one more way!" The girl in the green kimono took out two shiny coins, "Ta-da~ Look, how about it? Throwing coins into the pool can also make a wish~"

"That's great, Noriko!"

"Hehe, Mieko, what did you wish for?"

"N-nothing!"

"Is it Matsumoto-kun~ Is it, is it! Tell me quickly!"

"That... if I say it, it won't come true!" The girl's face turned red.

"We're the best of friends!"

"Mmm... Mmm, I'll tell you then." The girl couldn't refuse and only told her in a low voice.

The girl named Noriko exclaimed, "Ah! You really--"

The young girl lowered her head, her "mm" sounding as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"But Matsumoto is a ninja," Noriko said softly. "You are my best friend, and I want you to be happy."

The girl bowed her head and whispered, "I know. But I love him, and he loves me. No matter what happens in the future, life is short; being with the one you love is the greatest happiness. I will... wait for him forever."

"Don't worry! He will definitely return safely!" Noriko clenched her fist. "When he does, I'll help you beat him up! Hmph, that detestable man, so what if he's a ninja! To think he'd make the lovely Mieko wait in agony just for some damn mission! He didn't even come back for the Spring Festival! It's simply unforgivable!—How was that?"

The girl burst into a giggle.

"Look! The fireworks display is starting!"

The ninjas responsible for the fuses flashed into motion, leaping and flipping gracefully onto the circular platform. The surrounding civilians erupted in gasps, followed by waves of applause and the excited shrieks of women.

"To think they're Jonin..." Tobirama muttered.

Ninjas from other lands, gathered in the square, covered their twitching faces.

Jonin were vital combat assets anywhere, yet Muyun City—no, the Uchiha—were having them openly participate in such entertainment. It made these other ninjas feel like they were nothing more than circus performers!

The Jonin wore beaming smiles. One of them, who looked quintessentially Uchiha, raised a hand and unleashed a Fire Style jutsu, a massive phoenix-shaped flame illuminating the pool of water... triggering another roar of fanatical cheers.

An Uchiha in the crowd rubbed his eyes. "Isn't that your grandson, Miae?"

"Ah, that brat! He lied to me and said he was going on a mission!"

"Hehehe! The youth are truly full of energy!"

"Everyone—sorry to keep you waiting! The moment we've all been anticipating is almost here!" Miae mimicked the posture of the clan head he so admired, raising a hand to silence the crowd before snapping his fingers with a flourish. "No more talk! Now, follow me!"

"Ten—!"

"Nine—!" The entire audience seemed to realize what was happening and joined in the shouting.

"Eight—!" The volume rose in waves.

"So noisy..." Senju Saki muttered, rubbing his ears, though he couldn't hide the smile on his face. The joyful atmosphere was infectious.

"Three—!"

"Two—!!"

"One—!!!" As the final word fell, accompanied by thunderous cheers, a vermilion streak of fire shot straight into the sky.

Whoosh—bang!

The streak burst open, and amidst the brilliant radiance, a fan grew from small to large. The magnificent fireworks illuminated the night-blue firmament, drawing back the curtain on this grand feast.

"Good evening! Good evening! Good evening!"

"I wish you happiness!" "You too!"

"Make sure you're happy!"

"I wish for all the girls in the city to grow more beautiful! And the boys~ hmm! May they be as strong as me, hahaha!"

"Takako, I love you!"

"Matsumoto—you must come back safely!"

Fireworks rained down like stars and showers, the streets surging with crowds as people exchanged blessings without distinction.

Tobirama watched the boisterous scene with complex emotions. "This is probably the peace and integration my brother wanted." People living in tranquility and harmony, with no great divide or hostility between ordinary folk and ninjas.

Uchiha Madara, huh...

On a gentle slope not far away.

"The east wind blows, opening a thousand trees of flowers, and the falling stars rain down..." A line of poetry from the depths of his memory spilled out. He reached out to touch the sky, but his palm grasped only empty air.

It has been over twenty years since I came to this world. My ethereal past life has finally dissolved into the void, visible, yet untouchable...

"The fireworks display is wonderful!... Brother?"

Madara lowered his eyes and smiled faintly. "Izuna, would you like to try some 'wonton'?"

"Isn't that the snack you invented, Brother? It's even spread outside the clan now."

Madara smiled without a word, pulling his younger brother down the hillside.

Having searched for him in the crowd a thousand times, I suddenly turned back, only to find him there, where the lanterns were fading.

Madara turned his head as if by chance, lifting his eyes to meet, from afar, a pair of black pupils moved by this peaceful prosperity.