Shiri Three Years Later

Ever since she took on Qiancao and Wuming as her disciples, Uzumaki Ayako had fallen into a state of complete idleness.

Qiancao was responsible for external communications and handling tricky missions, while Wuming had volunteered to take on the duty of guarding the seals.

Beyond having to station herself at the Sealing Tower to prevent any accidents, Uzumaki Ayako's only remaining job was teaching ninjutsu to her two Uchiha disciples.

As it happened, both of her Uchiha disciples were astonishingly gifted geniuses, and with the added benefit of the Sharingan's copying ability, the two of them learned at a terrifying speed.

In just half a year, Ayako found herself with absolutely nothing to do, spending her days wandering aimlessly around the tower.

The wars between the feudal lords on the mainland were intensifying, and while Senju Arashi had originally made time to visit the three of them in the Land of Whirlpools every three months, she hadn't seen them for eight months now, only able to send letters after her missions to offer her regards.

The dignified and beautiful Uzumaki Ayako from their first meeting had completely vanished, replaced by a shut-in who spent her days in the Sealing Tower drinking and sleeping.

Qiancao deeply missed the majestic and beautiful master he had first met, and seeing her become like this pained him greatly.

However, although the shut-in Ayako was usually dissolute, she was still quite reliable when it came to major matters, so Qiancao silently took on all sorts of work for her.

Using a copper basin to draw cool water in the corner of the room, Qiancao placed one hand under the basin and released chakra into his palm.

A ball of flame appeared out of thin air in his palm, slightly heating the water in the basin.

This technique was one he had developed on a whim while cosplaying Kusanagi from King of Fighters; although it had no lethality against enemies, it was top-tier for looking cool and could heat up cold water in the wild.

This was not the first time Qiancao had served his master upon waking; after heating the water to Ayako's favorite temperature, he took a towel, dampened it, and wiped his master's face.

Ayako, still in her dreams, felt the warmth of the towel and knew without opening her eyes that her precious disciple had returned. She naturally lifted her small face, comfortably accepting the service.

After Qiancao finished wiping her face, Ayako finally yawned with difficulty and opened her eyes, asking groggily, "Haa... my precious disciple is back... was this mission, haa... smooth?"

Qiancao said with a huff, "With your disciple on the job, it was naturally a breeze. But why are you drinking again?"

Ayako pulled up her robe to rub her numb thigh; in the dim light of the bedroom, her beautiful leg glowed faintly like white jade, so lovely it was hard to look away.

Qiancao was already used to it; he glanced at it briefly, pulled his master's robe back down, and sat beside her to massage her leg.

Ayako let out a few comfortable sounds and finally cleared her head a little, pointing to her forehead. "Isn't this because I'm researching the Yin Seal you mentioned? It requires staying perfectly still to condense all one's chakra."

Qiancao retorted while massaging her leg, "What does staying still have to do with drinking?"

Ayako moved her left leg away with both hands and rested her right leg on Qiancao's knee, signaling for him to massage the other one, then continued, "I'm just bored, and it's hard to concentrate."

"If I drink enough, I just fall right to sleep, and then I don't have to think about those things."

Compared to the Ayako of three years ago, a purple diamond-shaped pattern had appeared on her previously smooth forehead.

By chance, Qiancao had told his master about the Yin Seal technique of Tsunade from his past life, and Ayako had become very interested in a sealing technique that could preserve one's youth forever.

As cousins to the Senju Clan, the Uzumaki Clan possessed equally formidable physical constitutions, and as a standout among them, Ayako possessed chakra and physical stamina not inferior to Tsunade's.

After two years of research, she was finally able to seal a small amount of chakra; although it was still a struggle to use in combat, she could already use it to delay aging.

Having achieved initial progress, she treated it like a treasure, using the excuse of researching the Yin Seal to hide upstairs and do nothing all day.

Wuming was also very interested in this sealing technique that could delay aging, which was why she had taken the initiative to take over Ayako's daily chores.

Qiancao stopped dwelling on the drinking and asked, "Wuming said you were looking for me, Master?"

Ayako pulled her leg back from Qiancao, sat up straight, and said seriously, "A few days after you left, I received a letter from little Arashi."

"The Uchiha have sent envoys to the Land of Water. I don't know what they are plotting."

Qiancao's heart stirred. Over the past three years, the Senju Clan had gained the upper hand in their rivalry with the Uchiha. The feudal lords of various nations prioritized giving missions to the Senju and their allies, and the Uchiha's reputation as the strongest was gradually being forgotten.

However, because Senju Arashi was worried about Qiancao's safety, she had kept a close watch on the Uchiha's movements.

Qiancao pondered this news for a moment and said, "Could it be that the Land of Water is planning to strike at the Land of Fire, and they've asked Uchiha ninjas to act as inside agents?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out," Ayako said gravely. "But what we can be certain of is that if the Land of Water and the Land of Fire go to war, our trade routes will be severely affected."

Qiancao continued to ask, "Does Sister Arashi have any further intelligence?"

"Little Arashi said in her letter that she will investigate further." Ayako finished, looked at Qiancao again, and continued:

"There is one more thing little Arashi wants you to know: among the Uchiha envoy team sent to the Land of Water, there is someone you and Wuming know: Uchiha Hiri."

Hearing Hiri's name, Qiancao felt a jolt in his heart. Thinking of her gentle smile, he couldn't help but be filled with nostalgia.

Three years ago, after the failure of the mission to retrieve Qiancao, it was Uchiha Hiri who suffered the consequences.

Unable to do anything to Uchiha Naoto, Uchiha Gaku could only blame the failure on Hiri, who had been in charge of Wuming's development.

Hiri, who originally didn't need to go to the front lines, was sent to the front of the battlefield against the Senju.

If not for Senju Arashi secretly showing mercy to Hiri, she would have died on the battlefield long ago.

However, the Uchiha clansmen also noticed that the Senju Clan was intentionally going easy on Hiri, so they gradually distanced themselves from her, and rumors spread throughout the clan.

Hiri, who had once enjoyed a high status within the Uchiha, gradually became an outcast.

Hiri personally experienced the pain of being treated as a weapon by her own kin, just as Wuming had been, and she gradually became silent and withdrawn.

Uchiha Naoto felt quite regretful that such a surgical genius could no longer work for him, and he had expressed many times that he would welcome Hiri back to her research work at any time.

But Hiri politely declined his invitations; not having to point her scalpel at her own kin actually brought her a sense of comfort.

Standing on the side of the passenger ship, gazing toward the Land of Whirlpools, Hiri couldn't help but think of Qiancao and Wuming.

Ever since they went to the Land of Whirlpools, Hiri had never seen them again, only hearing news that they were doing well and receiving greetings relayed by Qiancao through Senju Arashi.

I wonder if I will be able to see them again on this trip to the Land of Water?