Izuna nearly choked on a mouthful of blood. In that instant, countless biting remarks danced on his tongue, almost spilling out.
He came this close to giving that old Senju hag a vicious tongue-lashing, just as if they were still on the bloody battlefields of the Warring States Period!
But faced with the innocent children around him at the Orphanage, with their clear, guileless eyes, Izuna could only force down both his curses and that mouthful of blood. He grumbled inwardly:
That old hag was definitely doing this on purpose, wasn't she?!
"Ma'am, I'm here to help."
Izuna did his utmost to give her his friendliest, most sincere smile, though a closer look revealed that the curve of his lips was rather strained and his facial muscles somewhat stiff.
Anxiko Senju nodded in sudden understanding, her smile growing even more kindly. She looked a little like the wolf dressed as Grandma.
"Oh, I see. Welcome, Izuna."
(Izuna's inner thoughts: Don't act so familiar, you old witch!)
"We're short-handed here. Children, go play with the young man who's just arrived."
With that, Anxiko found a wicker chair and casually sat down. In less than three seconds, she was snoring.
Her snores were so loud that even the windows rattled. Children who heard them might well have nightmares.
The children around her were used to this, their attention wholly drawn to the newly arrived adult.
Once Anxiko fell asleep, the little tykes, whose hair came in every color imaginable, gathered curiously around Izuna, studying him with bright, inquisitive eyes.
Then they all succumbed to his charm.
"Big brother, pick me up!"
"Big brother, are you an Uchiha?"
"Dummy, of course he's an Uchiha if he's got a fan!"
The children erupted into a buzzing commotion, like bees swarming out of a disturbed