Uchiha Yaoyu and Uchiha Yakumi's Surprise

I'm finally back.

But before the smile could fully spread, it suddenly froze on his lips.

Natsu did not return alone.

Behind him followed a tall and solitary figure, with long black hair falling over his shoulders, and dressed in a neat and solemn traditional Uchiha Clan Uniform.

The man crossed his arms, exuding a deep and stern aura. His eyes and brows were covered with a perpetually cold and aloof expression, exactly as described by Elder Setsuna of the clan.

Yaoyu's apple bobbed slightly, and almost subconsciously, he uttered the name that had resonated throughout the entire Sengoku period. "Madara Uchiha..."

The Yakumi beside them instantly abandoned its languid posture and stood up straight.

Those Sharingan, usually calm and undisturbed, now flashed with an unusually intense fluctuation.

The two brothers exchanged a glance, and without a word, stepped forward and knelt on one knee in front of Natsu.

Their movements were precise and solemn; this was the most standard and respectful form of worship that the Night Owl Guard performed when facing their clan leader.

"Young Master Natsu." Yaoyu spoke first, then tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the imposing man beside her. Her tone carried the heartfelt reverence of a junior for a senior, "This... is this Senior Madara Uchiha?"

The Yakumi herb bowed its head and followed closely behind, solemnly offering a salute.

Natsu nodded slightly, her expression calm and composed. "We'll discuss the details on the way. Are you all prepared?"

"Ready to depart at any time."

Yaoyu stood up in response, but her gaze kept drifting towards the spots, the shock in her heart lingering for a long time.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally couldn't suppress the enthusiasm in his heart and mustered up the courage to speak.

"Senior Ban, to be honest, Elder Setsuna has told us about your deeds Setsuna young. It is truly an honor for us juniors to see you in person today."

Upon hearing this, Ban's indifferent brows and eyes shifted slightly, his gaze falling on the vibrant young man before him.

His usually calm and expressionless eyes subtly raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with surprise. "Setsuna? Uchiha Setsuna... he's still alive?"

Yaoyu nodded vigorously, a genuine sense of pride and warmth shining in his eyes. "Still alive! Elder Setsuna is the only remaining elder of our clan from the Warring Sengoku, and he is now over ninety years old."

"He always tells us younger generations that you are the strongest Uchiha ever since the beginning of time."

It is said that on the battlefield back then, only you were able to steadily suppress Hashirama Senju.

"Once your Susanoo is unleashed, even the deafening battlefield will fall silent instantly."

The usually taciturn Yakumi was unusually talkative at this moment. His tone was still cool, but it had lost its usual aloofness and gained a touch of genuine warmth.

"Elder Setsuna said that Madara Uchiha was the pinnacle of the Uchiha Clan. All of us Uchiha of this generation grew up hearing your name and following your legend."

These words left Ban standing silently for a long time.

The silence lingered for a very long time, so long that Yaoyu's heart began to pound, and she secretly wondered if she had spoken too much and lost her temper.

After a long while, that cold, deep voice slowly rang out, as soft as a whisper carried on the wind, yet concealing a deep emotion that went unnoticed.

"The Uchiha Clan... is still alive in another world."

"More than just living."

Yaoyu suppressed the excitement of a junior meeting his idol, stood ramrod straight, and complex and burning emotions surged in his scarlet Sharingan.

We are doing very well.

Under Young Master Natsu's leadership, we have our own island, our own ninja village, and have completely broken free from the shackles of Konoha.

Children in the clan no longer need to take up arms and go to the battlefield at a young age, and the elders no longer need to live in constant fear and susceptibility to surveillance by Anbu.

All this peace and security, this journey home, was earned for us by Young Master Natsu."

Ban slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Natsu beside him.

The young man remained calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient, and simply nodded slightly, calmly acknowledging his words.

The sky had shed its deep darkness of night, and a faint, pale light was beginning to appear.

The soft morning light filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground and making the five people's figures appear long and irregular.

A cool night breeze blew through the woods, dispelling the anxiety and silence of the entire night.

"Set off."

Natsu took the lead and steadily walked towards the direction of Flame Ninja Village.

Ban Moran lifted his foot and followed beside him, with the Yaoyu and Yakumi brothers close behind, their steps firm.

After walking a short distance, Yaoyu deliberately slowed down by half a step, leaned close to Yakumi's ear, and whispered in a very low voice, "Did you see that just now? When Senior Ban asked Elder Shana about Setsuna, I think I caught a glimpse of his eyes slightly reddening."

Yakumi unwavering focus and steady steps, Yao Wei replied calmly and expressionlessly, "You've mistaken me."

Yaoyu scratched his head, pondered for a moment, and realized that he must have been seeing things.

That's Madara Uchiha.

How could a demon who dominated the Warring Sengoku and looked down upon the Ninja World, who had seen countless corpses and seas of blood and experienced half a lifetime of trials and tribulations, reveal such tender emotions?

He strode forward, catching up with the two tall figures ahead, a thought quietly taking root in his heart.

When you get home, you must tell Setsuna Elder everything that happened today.

The man who stood at the pinnacle of the Uchiha and was revered as a faith by a generation is still alive and well.

And at this moment, they are walking side by side with them, embarking on a completely different and brand-new path that belongs to the Uchiha.

The next morning, the thin mist in the forest was slowly dispersed by the morning breeze, and the hazy view suddenly became clear.

The four of them passed through the last dense forest, and the sea of trees that had blocked their view finally came to an end, revealing a wide plain stretching into the distance.

In the heart of the plains, a brand-new town stands quietly, its grandeur in no way inferior to that of the old ninja strongholds.

A neat and sturdy stone wall surrounds the entire city, with watchtowers arranged in an orderly fashion along the wall, and ninjas patrolling back and forth, their figures nimble and upright.

They wore uniform clothing, but without any markings of a single ethnic group; their inclusive spirit was immediately striking.

The city gates were wide open, and travelers came and went in an endless stream.

Caravans from all over the country pushed their palanquins through the streets, pedestrians walked leisurely, and the shouts of vendors along the streets and the distant sound of camel bells blended together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere, yet it was orderly and without any disorder or restlessness.

Yaoyu subconsciously slowed his pace and looked up to carefully examine the new city that had sprung up from the ground.

His gaze swept over the layers of fortified city walls, then fell upon the rows of shops lining the streets and alleys, and a genuine look of surprise couldn't help but surface in his eyes.

"This scale is on par with the future Konoha." He murmured, his tone full of puzzlement. "Konoha has only been established for a little over a year, and its foundation is still unstable. How did Flame Ninja Village manage to develop to this extent in such a short time?"

The Yakumi beside him rarely responded, and though his tone remained cool and indifferent, it carried a rare hint of approval.