Senju Territory

Senju Arashi focused on her physical recovery, and to help Uchiha Chigusa vent his frustrations, she mobilized every mobile Senju casualty to engage in hellish rehabilitation training within the forest.

Watching Senju Arashi and Uchiha Chigusa acting so intimate, the young Senju ninja grew even more furious, yet they were helpless to do anything about it, forced to vent their inner rage through sweat alone.

After staying at the Aburame Base for five days, Senju Arashi finally regained her full strength.

Early on the sixth day, Senju Arashi stood before Aburame Den and Aburame Kei with two Uchiha and seven Senju ninja to bid them farewell.

The ninja possessed by Black Zetsu looked on in a daze; he only remembered being in a coma after his injury, so he couldn't understand why everyone was looking at him with such strange expressions the moment he woke up.

Instead, the two brats from the Uchiha Clan—who should have been at odds with the Senju—had become honored guests, spending their days laughing and chatting with Miss Arashi.

Everyone else simply stared at the Uchiha brat with eyes full of envy, jealousy, and hatred, yet not a single person pointed out that anything was amiss.

This led him to briefly suspect that he had been caught in a legendary Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu, Tsukuyomi, and that his true body was still lying on the battlefield of Mount Hakkoda from that day.

"If you discover any abnormal situations, retreat immediately or seek support from nearby ninja," Senju Arashi instructed Aburame Kei at the gate.

This time, Aburame Kei did not intend to return to the Senju Territory with the group, as he still had some observational work to complete.

He was currently holding a beautifully crafted bamboo cage, inside of which sat a massive rhinoceros beetle.

"Chigusa-kun, this is a token of our friendship." Aburame Kei handed the cage to Chigusa.

Chigusa accepted the gift, feeling somewhat touched, though he demurred, "I don't know how to raise this, and I'm afraid I won't take good care of it."

Aburame Kei shook his head and said, "It is a special type of rhinoceros beetle found here on Mount Hakkoda, and it has great collection value."

"I hear that collecting these is quite popular among the young people of the Senju Clan. If you find it a capable owner, Chigusa-kun, it might help you build good relations with the Senju youth."

Chigusa was deeply grateful for his thoughtfulness and patted Aburame Kei on the shoulder in thanks, which moved Aburame Kei once again.

Due to the nature of their secret techniques, the Aburame Clan often made ninja from other clans fearful of making physical contact with them.

Through their interactions over the past few days, Uchiha Chigusa's attitude of treating him as an equal, devoid of any disgust or fear, had led Aburame Kei to view him as a confidant.

For Chigusa, there was no other reason; he simply found the Aburame Clan from the Naruto anime to be incredibly reliable.

Anyone who has watched the Naruto anime, unless they have an extreme phobia of insects, generally holds the Aburame Clan in high regard.

Having bid farewell to the Aburame Clan's research base, the group headed toward the Senju Clan's territory.

When they had first left the Naka River in the Uchiha territory, Chigusa had been burdened by his mission and filled with uncertainty about the future, making his mood heavy throughout the journey.

Now, with Wuming by his side and Senju Arashi interjecting with jokes and acting as a tour guide, the entire trip was filled with joy.

The knowledgeable Senju Arashi spoke with ease about the scenery they encountered and the legends hidden within those landscapes, opening the eyes of both Chigusa and Wuming.

The three-day journey passed in the blink of an eye, and the group finally arrived at the Senju Clan's territory.

They were still some distance from the location of the future Konoha Village, but they could already see a bare, flat-topped mountain in the distance.

This flat-topped mountain was the future Hokage Rock, where two powerful ninja would one day discuss the founding of Konoha Village.

However, at this time, the Senju Village was far from the scale of the later Konoha, being merely a slightly more prosperous village.

Unlike the Uchiha Village, where everyone wore the Uchiha family crest, the people in the Senju Village mostly hailed from various different ninja clans.

This was thanks to the Senju Clan being located at the transportation hub of the entire Naruto World, with most trade between nations being conducted on Senju-controlled land.

The history of the Senju Clan's rise to power was rooted in acting as guards for the marketplace.

The small vendors along the road showed great enthusiasm upon seeing Senju Arashi return, and one emotional proprietress even sobbed as she said to her:

"They all said you and the evil Uchiha ninja had perished together, Miss Arashi. I never wanted to believe that news."

"It is truly wonderful to see you return safely!"

Senju Arashi smiled slightly, raised a clenched fist, and shouted to the surrounding Senju ninja, "The Senju will not lose to the Uchiha!"

"Ooooooh!!!" The surrounding Senju people cheered, and even some from other clans joined in the applause.

Such a popular scene made the "evil" Uchiha brat standing nearby feel quite envious.

Throughout the journey, Senju Arashi received warm greetings and inquiries from most of her clansmen, fully demonstrating her popularity.

Finally, the group arrived before a gate to a courtyard that looked quite exquisite and quaint.

Lanterns inscribed with the characters for "Senju" hung from the pillars on either side of the gate. Senju Arashi explained to Chigusa and Wuming, "This courtyard is where the main family of the Senju Clan resides."

The Senju ninja who had accompanied Arashi to Mount Hakkoda knocked on the door. It opened a crack, and a young male ninja poked his head out.

Once he saw who it was, he quickly threw the gate wide open. Chigusa noticed that several people were already standing neatly behind the door, though he had no idea how long they had been waiting.

At the forefront stood a dignified middle-aged man and a red-haired middle-aged woman; it was clear they were Senju Arashi's parents.

The family resemblance was striking: Senju Arashi's bright, spirited eyes were like her father's, while her delicate nose and mouth were like her mother's, inheriting the best features of both.

Senju Arashi stepped forward quickly and bowed to her parents, "I am sorry. My mission failed, and I have caused everyone to worry!"

Senju Arashi's mother looked visibly haggard; the rumors spreading over the past few days that Arashi had perished with an Uchiha ninja had cost her countless tears.

Seeing her daughter return, she rushed forward to grab her arm, saying, "As long as you're back, as long as you're back!"

Although Senju Arashi's father was also moved, as the clan head, he remained composed on the surface and merely reprimanded her, "I require a detailed explanation as to why the mission failed!"

Though his mother was displeased by his coldness, she understood this was his duty as the Senju clan head; she simply stood by with red eyes, clutching her daughter's arm in silence.

Before Senju Arashi could report the situation to her father, he caught sight of Chigusa and Wuming following behind her.

"And these two are?" her father asked with a frown, as he had never seen these two faces in the Senju Village before.

Senju Arashi introduced them as if it were nothing, "These are friends I made on this trip: Uchiha Chigusa and Uchiha Wuming."

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire Senju courtyard fell silent. Everyone's jaws dropped, and they stared at the three of them in a daze.