The Whirlpool Sisters' Private Talk

Within the Senju compound.

Uzumaki Nagetsuki and Shino were keeping Uzumaki Mito company, and Uzumaki Uori had also come to the Senju compound. Usually, Mito was the one who went to the Uchiha compound, but things had been too hectic on the Uchiha side lately. Considering her best friend Mito's feelings, Uori had taken the initiative to come to the Senju side for gatherings these past few days.

The four sisters were chatting together. Uzumaki Ashina had already led several other clan members in completing the sealing modifications for Tailed Beast Paradise. In a few days, Uzumaki Ashina and the others would head home, but he wanted to leave Shino and Nagetsuki in Konoha.

"Uori, I never expected Uchiha Yan to be so powerful. He actually fought Brother-in-law Hashirama to a draw," Uzumaki Shino said in surprise. "When he brought Izuna to Whirlpool Tide Village back then, I only thought he was quite eloquent."

"Forget you guys—I never expected it either. Uchiha Yan usually kept such a low profile, yet he was this strong," Uori said, equally astonished.

Uzumaki Nagetsuki lowered her head and said nothing.

Since ancient times, heroes had loved beauties, and beauties were no different. Although she had not watched the battle in person that day, even from far away, she could see two enormous Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvaras and Thousand-Handed Buddhas clashing. The earth-shaking battle, and Uchiha Yan's carefree, unrestrained bearing...

When she looked up from Konoha, she happened to see Uchiha Yan returning. He descended from the sky and crashed into the ground like a meteor, dropping to one knee as dust scattered in every direction.

She admitted it—at that moment, her heart skipped a beat. Uchiha Yan had inherited the Uchiha Clan's exceptional looks and was an absolute top-tier handsome man. He was strong, witty, and humorous, completely unlike most of the stern, unsmiling men of the Warring States Era. That kneeling descent from the sky struck straight at her heart.

Over the past few days, she had asked about Uchiha Yan whenever she could, and Mito, Uori, and the others had all noticed.

"Nagetsuki, do you like Uchiha Yan?" Uzumaki Mito bluntly pierced the veil.

"N-No. I'm just curious."

"You still say no? You might as well write Uchiha Yan across your face." Mito knew her little sister far too well.

"You should be more like me," Uzumaki Uori said with a smile. "Izuna and I fell for each other at first sight. If you really like Uchiha Yan, you need to act fast. He's very popular—most of the eligible women in Konoha have their eyes on him. Especially those noblewomen from the Land of Fire. I heard that the daimyo wanted to marry a princess to him last time, but he refused."

After hearing that, Nagetsuki felt her hopes were slim. She had not expected Uchiha Yan to be so popular, though that only proved her taste was good.

"It's fine," Uzumaki Mito comforted her. "Father has already decided to leave you in Konoha. Nagetsuki, you still have a chance."

Uzumaki Ashina's intentions were laid out in plain sight. He wanted either the Senju or the Uchiha to marry Nagetsuki and Shino. This trip to Konoha had supposedly been to "show them the world," but in truth, he had brought the two of them here to arrange marriages.

"By the way, Mito. Is your brother-in-law doing okay now? Uori told me that ever since he lost to Izuna, he's been acting strange all day," Shino said.

"Don't mention it. Tobirama's pride is too strong, and he's extremely competitive. He lost to every one of the Uchiha Three Heroes. Don't ever mention the Uchiha in front of him—he gets triggered the moment you do." Mito sighed as well. Her brother-in-law was not weak; he had simply been unlucky enough to run into the Uchiha Three Heroes.

After marrying into the Senju, she had watched Tobirama turn from a cool-faced, resourceful general into a shut-in who spent every day with a grim face doing research. He had improved somewhat a while ago, but recently, he had become engrossed in research again.

"Uori, how did Izuna become so strong? Didn't they say he and Tobirama were evenly matched?" Mito was curious too. Her brother-in-law was nearly being driven mad by the Uchiha, so she wanted to ask on his behalf. How had Izuna suddenly become so powerful?

"I'm not sure about that either. But I once heard Izuna talking in his sleep, saying something about an 'eternal, undying light.' It's a shame Yan doesn't have any brothers or anything. I think Izuna's sudden increase in strength must be related to that."

"Uori, you're really amazing," Uzumaki Shino said enviously. "Among the Uchiha Three Heroes, you managed to win over Izuna right away. When Lord Ashina sent the three of us here, it was to pair us up with Tobirama, Izuna, and Yan. How did you have such good taste?"

"Good thing you didn't choose Tobirama," Mito chimed in. "Otherwise, your whole life would've been ruined."

"Uori has good taste, but Shino, who do you like? Don't tell me it's Yan too?" Mito looked at Shino with envy in her eyes and teased her.

"Of course not! Even if Uchiha Yan is strong... Does being strong mean I have to like him?"

Hearing that Shino did not like Uchiha Yan, Nagetsuki secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, she would have to compete not only with outsiders, but with one of her sisters as well.

"Then who do you like? Do I know him?" Uori asked.

"You do."

"Is he from Konoha or Whirlpool Tide Village?"

Shino felt a little embarrassed and stayed silent.

Seeing that Uori was too close to the matter to see clearly, Mito smiled and gave her a hint. "Uori, Shino is willing to stay in Konoha. Do you think it could be someone from the Uzumaki Clan?"

"Someone from Konoha? Someone I know, but not Uchiha Yan... Then who could it be?" Although Uori had married into Konoha, aside from the Uchiha Clan and a few of Konoha's higher-ups, she did not know many people.

"Do I know him?" Mito asked.

"You do."

"You and I both know him, and he's from Konoha... Could it be the Hokage?" Mito's expression became subtle.

As for why Mito was certain that Shino did not like Tobirama, the reason was simple: she believed her sister's taste was not that bad.

Poor Tobirama. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Senju Clan, only to be mocked by his own sister-in-law.

Uzumaki Shino did not deny it. Her ears reddened as she nodded slightly.

As two of the ninja world's greatest experts, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had both been famous even in Whirlpool Tide Village. Hashirama in particular was her future brother-in-law, so she had been very curious what Uchiha Madara was capable of, to be able to fight her brother-in-law on equal footing. Little did she know that curiosity was the beginning of her downfall.

"So you like my elder brother-in-law," Uori said in surprise.

In her impression, her elder brother-in-law should not have liked women at all. All day long, it was "Hashirama," "Hashirama," "Hashirama." If Hashirama had not married Sister Mito, she would have started wondering whether there was something going on between the two of them.

"Now that's perfect. The four of us sisters can be together again." Mito smiled. "Uori, put more effort into Nagetsuki and Shino's matters. Try to persuade Uchiha Yan and the Hokage."

"Leave it to me," Uzumaki Uori agreed. "Izuna often says that his big brother ought to start a family too."