The whole family was waiting for you to eat

The Senju Clan Grounds.

Inside the Clan Leader's Residence.

In the main hall, Butsuma Senju and his four sons sat glumly around a square table. The rice and dried fish on it had gone completely cold.

The food had come from the Senju Clan's communal kitchen. There was enough for all five of them to eat their fill.

Yet none of them had touched it.

They were silently waiting for Yanbai to return.

All five wore the same dejected expression.

Hashirama Senju's brows were tightly furrowed. He knew Yanbai had gone out today, surely to the Naka River. He was worried that Yanbai was so late because he had gone to see Madara Uchiha.

Despite his concern, Hashirama Senju didn't dare say anything. He feared that speaking up would arouse Tobirama's and their father's suspicions, causing Yanbai unnecessary trouble.

Young Kawarama couldn't help asking, "When is Yanbai coming back? I'm so hungry..."

Tobirama Senju glanced expressionlessly at his younger brother. "You can eat first, Kawarama. Father just said we could start."

Beside him, Itama muttered, "Ever since I tried Yanbai's cooking, I haven't wanted to eat this stuff anymore. What if Yanbai comes back right after I eat? I'd really miss out..."

Everyone fell silent at that.

Yanbai had a powerful influence on everyone in the family. That wasn't a good sign.

Butsuma Senju lowered his eyes and sighed.

Through his actions, Yanbai had shown Butsuma Senju that he was a worthy member of the Senju Clan. He showed no mercy to the Hagoromo Clan, nor to the Uchiha Clan.

After Yanbai had successfully squeezed the Hagoromo Clan and made life miserable for the Uchiha Clan, Butsuma Senju had acknowledged his abilities. Worried that Yanbai felt too cooped up, he had given him more freedom.

Who would have thought? It had only been a few days.

And Yanbai was already brazenly gallivanting around instead of coming home.

Staying out this late was unacceptable.

Butsuma Senju closed his eyes briefly. It seemed he would have to have a word with Yanbai after all.

Tobirama Senju suddenly stood up, intending to say, "I'll go find him..." But then he remembered Yanbai's increasingly terrifying strength and sat back down.

By the time Yanbai arrived home, it was around eight in the evening.

In this entertainment-starved Warring States period, shinobi without missions were generally busy attending to affairs in bed at this hour, making considerable contributions to their clan's population growth.

Yet when Yanbai saw his father and four older brothers sitting in the living room, five pairs of reproachful eyes fixed on him-

He was deeply touched. He immediately took out the eggs he had swiped from the chicken coop before coming home, gathered the untouched rice, fish, and vegetables, and made a pan of egg fried rice.

The ingredients were nothing fancy, but once Yanbai had worked his magic on them-

Within half an hour of that enticing aroma wafting out, the entire Senju Clan Compound knew Yanbai was back in the kitchen...

The whole family wolfed down their food, turning the dinner table into a battlefield.

Yanbai ate delicately and sparingly. He had already eaten on the way home.

He simply hadn't expected the whole family to be waiting for him to eat. He had to take his father's and brothers' feelings into account.

Once everyone had finished, Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju took the initiative to clear the dishes.

Only then did Butsuma Senju look at Yanbai and say evenly, "Yanbai, I have something to discuss with you."

Yanbai knew his father was bound to question him. Reluctant though he was, he still followed the older man outside.

The sliding door between the study and the courtyard stood open.

Yanbai and Butsuma Senju sat facing each other on the narrow veranda beside it.

Outside, the starry sky was breathtakingly clear.

The starlight was dimmer than the moonlight. It fell across Yanbai's profile, making him look even more like a dark elf descended upon the mortal world.

"Yanbai, where is your outer robe...?"

From the moment Yanbai entered, Butsuma Senju had noticed that a piece of his clothing was missing.

Yet he had waited until now to ask, clearly wanting to spare Yanbai some embarrassment.

Yanbai understood perfectly well that as long as he proved capable enough, this father of his would be more forgiving.

Even if he came home late or lost his clothes, his father would tolerate it as long as he had a reasonable explanation and returned unharmed.

Still, Yanbai didn't want to keep making a fool of his good father, Butsuma. He intended to tell the "truth."

Looking Butsuma Senju in the eye, Yanbai said, "I went to the Naka River today, and something unexpected happened."

Butsuma Senju had already been making excuses for Yanbai in his head. Hearing this seemingly honest admission, he narrowed his eyes. "Were you in danger?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it danger. I ran into some members of the Uchiha Clan," Yanbai said truthfully with a sigh.

Yanbai even made a show of counting, then paused thoughtfully. "There were at least three adult members of the Uchiha Clan."

Butsuma Senju's demeanor turned cold. "You weren't hurt, were you?"

But no sooner had he asked than he felt he was worrying too much. How could Yanbai possibly have been hurt?

Leaving out the matter of Uchiha Izuna, Yanbai continued truthfully, "Of course I wasn't hurt. Some little animals I'm usually friendly with helped me. The birds kept pooping on their heads. Their droppings cause paralysis and hallucinations, and since those people had never encountered anything like it before, they fell for it. They're probably still asleep in a pile of poop right now. But I was afraid of getting caught off guard, so I didn't kill them. I just ran."

Butsuma Senju: "..."

The corner of Butsuma Senju's mouth twitched. He truly didn't know what to say.

If those unlucky Uchiha had run into Yanbai, they were the ones who ought to be worried...

Yanbai continued, "My clothes didn't have a clan crest, so they didn't know I belonged to the Senju Clan. But Father, as you know, I'm so good-looking that my luck at attracting trouble is outstanding too."

Butsuma Senju: "..."

Although this "outstanding" child before him was his own, Butsuma Senju inexplicably felt the urge to give him a sound beating...

Butsuma Senju lowered his eyes, repeatedly reminding himself, An exceptional son deserves a little pampering... Hold it in...

No... no, I can't...

Butsuma Senju folded his arms and looked sternly at Yanbai. "Then where is your outer robe?"

Yanbai blinked. "Oh... I gave it to an injured little animal. It was pitiful. The Uchiha Clan's Fire Release had burned all the fur off its upper body. I couldn't bear to leave it there, so I waited for it to wake up and made sure it was all right before leaving. That's why I was delayed."

"Next time, just bring an injured little animal like that back to the Clan Grounds first. You can release it once it's recovered. Your safety comes first." Butsuma Senju's expression was grave. "From now on, don't go out so often. If you must go, take Hashirama with you."

Yanbai readily agreed with a smile. "All right, Father."