Tsunade gently raised her hand and rapped her knuckles against the ancient, heavy gate of the Senju Clan Compound.
A moment later, a voice called from inside the courtyard. "Who is it?" It sounded somewhat low, as if weary, yet there was a faint warmth to it.
Tsunade paused, wondering to herself, Did someone come to visit? From the sound of it, it seems to be a middle-aged woman.
Just then, another familiar voice rang out. "Is that little Tsun and little Xiao?" Delight instantly lit Tsunade's face. She quickly called back, "Grandma, it's us!" Before she had even finished speaking, the courtyard gate swung open, revealing Uzumaki Mito's kind face.
Uzumaki Mito immediately spotted Tsunade and Uchiha Xiao standing safe and sound outside. Her lingering worry melted away, and she broke into a happy smile.
"I heard magpies chattering away in the branches this morning. I kept wondering what good news they were bringing. I never expected it would be my little Tsun and little Xiao, safely home after the war!"
As she spoke, Uzumaki Mito gazed at Tsunade and Uchiha Xiao with a smile, her eyes full of the love and care one might show her most cherished granddaughter and grandson.
Uchiha Xiao hurriedly greeted her with respect. "Lady Mito." But before he could say another word, Uzumaki Mito furrowed her brow and pretended to be cross. "Haven't I told you to call me Grandma?"
Uchiha Xiao stiffened slightly, then gave a couple of quiet coughs. "Grandma." His voice was soft, but carried a hint of both reverence and affection.
Amused, Uzumaki Mito chuckled. She took Uchiha Xiao's hand in her left and Tsunade's in her right, then led them into the compound.
Once inside, Uchiha Xiao and Tsunade looked around curiously. Hundreds of Uzumaki Clan members were bustling about, each busy with their own affairs.
Every one of them had vivid red hair, bright as a blazing flame.
Uchiha Xiao couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. The Uzumaki Clan members have such enormous reserves of chakra!
His gaze swept across the crowd. Even a young girl among them had only slightly less chakra than he did. There was no denying it: the Uzumaki Clan truly lived up to its reputation!
As the two of them took in their surroundings, a small figure suddenly came hurtling toward them like an arrow loosed from a bow. He flung himself at Uchiha Xiao and wrapped both arms tightly around his leg.
Uchiha Xiao blinked in surprise once more and looked down. It was little Nagato. The corner of his mouth lifted as he said softly, "Oh, it's little Nagato!" He reached out and gently patted Nagato on the head.
Uzumaki Nagato looked up and grinned at Uchiha Xiao, his eyes brimming with excitement and joy. Ever since arriving in Konoha, he'd discovered that the sky wasn't always gloomy and rainy, and that there were so many delicious foods in the world... At the thought, Nagato swallowed.
Uzumaki Mito had been quietly watching the whole time. Seeing this warm, harmonious scene, her smile grew even brighter. She liked and approved of Uchiha Xiao even more.
Just as everyone was basking in the cheerful, peaceful atmosphere, a series of hurried knocks sounded at the gate, accompanied by a loud shout. "Grandma! Grandma! I'm back! Your favorite grandson is home!"
A tender smile curled Uzumaki Mito's lips. She had been about to get up and open the door for Nawaki herself, but Uchiha Xiao, carrying little Nagato in his arms, had already set off briskly for the entrance.
With a creak, the door swung open. Senju Nawaki's face immediately lit up with a broad, guileless smile. Without even seeing who had opened the door, he flung his arms forward and threw himself at the person standing there, hugging him tightly. "Grandma~ Hehe, I've missed you so much!"
But the next moment, he heard a familiar cough and looked up. He froze. The person standing before him wasn't the grandmother he'd been longing to see, but Uchiha Xiao, who was struggling to hold back his laughter.
Realizing he'd mistaken someone else for her, Senju Nawaki quickly let go and straightened up. Then he bowed his head respectfully. "Commander!"
Uchiha Xiao smiled and waved a hand. "The war is over. From now on, just call me Xiao. This is your home, so there's no need to be so formal."
He gave a helpless chuckle. How does this make it seem like Nawaki is the one visiting?
Just as Uchiha Xiao was about to close the door, he noticed two figures hurrying over from farther away. One was a white-haired man carrying a gift, and the other was a slender, black-haired man.
They were none other than Jiraiya and Orochimaru. They had come to the Senju Clan Compound specifically to visit Lady Mito, never expecting to run into Uchiha Xiao here.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru exchanged a glance and hesitated briefly, but in the end they slowly pushed open the wooden door and entered the courtyard.
When Jiraiya's gaze fell upon the child sleeping quietly in Uchiha Xiao's arms, his heart jolted. The mysterious prophecy the Toad Sage had once given him surfaced unbidden in his mind: he would have a student with the potential to shake the very foundations of the Shinobi World.
Now, as Jiraiya studied the child before him, particularly his deep, bright eyes, an indescribable sense of familiarity welled up inside him.
For some reason, Jiraiya felt that he and this child shared a special bond. He couldn't help reaching out his right hand and gently stroking Nagato's little head.
Nagato gazed in surprise at the unfamiliar white-haired man before him, whose face was kind and gentle.
But in just an instant, Nagato felt the warmth and kindness coming from the man's hand. A strange sense of trust made him let go of his resistance, allowing Jiraiya to tenderly stroke his head.
Being stroked so gently felt more comforting and reassuring than anything Nagato had ever known.
Watching them, Uchiha Xiao's lips curved into a subtle smile. Just as I thought. Even in a completely different timeline, the bond between the master and student in the original story remains deep and unbreakable.
With that, Uchiha Xiao carefully handed Nagato over to Jiraiya and said with a smile, "Lord Jiraiya, please hold him. This child's name is Uzumaki Nagato."
With that, Uchiha Xiao turned and walked farther into the house, leaving Jiraiya standing quietly in place with Nagato in his arms. A strange, warm feeling filled the air between them.