Sights and sounds of Hot Springs Street

He had endured half a day of being surrounded by villagers.

Having finally escaped, Takahashi Yū headed home. The four members of the Uzumaki Clan followed him. Since he had told them he would look after them in Konoha, and they currently had nowhere to go, he naturally brought them home.

Without even thinking about it, Takahashi Yū knew his wartime mission payments would be astronomical. Arranging housing for a few people would be easy, but he had yet to collect his payment, and he had some other ideas as well.

The Undying Squad members all went home too. After all, east or west, home was best, and they had not seen their families in a long time.

Only poor Nara Yūma had been dragged off to deliver the mission report. The Nara all dreaded trouble, yet they did the most troublesome work. Or perhaps the Nara Clan's longstanding intelligence had kept them saddled with troublesome work, which was what had made them all dread trouble.

There was no need to investigate which had come first.

The familiar, level roads, the peaceful atmosphere, and the classic Japanese wooden buildings lining the street. Flowers blooming outside other people's houses swayed in the wind, as though welcoming him home.

All of it soothed Takahashi Yū's tightly wound soul.

He reached the last building on Hot Springs Street, where a nameplate reading "Takahashi" hung to the right of the front door.

The house was built entirely of wood, its exterior simple and elegant. Traditional roof tiles formed gentle curves overhead. Beneath the eaves, wooden beams and pillars fitted tightly together with mortise-and-tenon joints, without a single nail. The outer walls were painted a natural pale green.

This was the greatest inheritance Takahashi Yū's merchant parents had left him.

Delicate cherry blossom patterns were carved into the exquisite wooden entrance door.

He unlocked it with his key, revealing a spacious entryway with traditional Japanese tatami flooring. Sunlight streamed through the windows, spilling softly over the mats.

There was none of the dust he had imagined. The neighborhood ladies really had been coming to clean regularly.

"This is my home, and it'll be where you're staying for now."

Takahashi Yū stepped inside and took a deep breath, his whole body relaxing.

He led the redheads into the spacious, bright living room. A low wooden coffee table stood in the center, surrounded by two sofas and cushions for sitting cross-legged. Takahashi Yū sat on a sofa, its soft material enveloping him until his whole body seemed to sink into it.

Takahashi Yū motioned for them to sit, resting his head against the soft sofa as he spoke in a slow tone he had never used outside.

"This sofa was what I missed most out there. I can arrange housing for you later, or you can pick a few rooms upstairs."

The two children had not considered any of this, but Mizuki Uzumaki looked toward Uzumaki Shui Ling at his words.

"As I said, those three are already your followers. Decide for yourself. As for this old woman, just arrange somewhere for me to live as you see fit."

Uzumaki Shui Ling spoke expressionlessly, seemingly still immersed in her longing for the Land of Whirlpools.

Takahashi Yū gave a slight nod as he listened.

Mizuki Uzumaki had already begun familiarizing herself with the house, turning her head to look for something to pour water into.

Wrapped in the familiar sofa and breathing in its familiar scent, Takahashi Yū fell asleep with his guard completely down.

When no response came from Takahashi Yū for a long time, a little life returned to Uzumaki Shui Ling's unfocused eyes. Seeing that he had fallen sound asleep on the sofa stirred something in her gaze.

"He really is confident."

With that, she closed her eyes as well. Mizuki Uzumaki found what she was looking for and got up to fetch it. Before long, the gurgle of pouring water made Uzumaki Shui Ling open her eyes.

Her open eyes were filled with exhaustion, too. Before her stood a smiling Mizuki and wisps of rising steam.

At last, it gave her a little feeling of home.

By the time Takahashi Yū opened his eyes, the sunlight coming through the windows had turned orange-red.

A cup of water still giving off wisps of steam sat on the low wooden coffee table before him.

The other Uzumaki were no longer around.

Mizuki Uzumaki was holding a tray, looking at him timidly.

"Where are the others?"

"The children are asleep upstairs. Lady Shui Ling went out. She said she wanted to look around Konoha."

Takahashi Yū stretched and yawned.

"All right, then. Come on, let's buy some ingredients. We're getting together with the neighbors tonight."

Takahashi Yū picked up his thick red coat, decided it was not suitable, and tossed it behind him disdainfully.

He headed to his bedroom on the first floor. It also had tatami flooring, and a photograph hung on the wall above the head of the bed.

It showed his parents and his younger self.

There were few decorations in the room. Everything was kept simple, creating a peaceful sleeping environment.

He slid open the wardrobe, took out a light-colored casual outfit, and retrieved a thick stack of money from a small drawer inside before heading to the bathroom.

The bathroom contained a wooden bathtub and a showerhead, likewise keeping things simple.

Takahashi Yū stripped off his thoroughly worn-out trousers. Hot water poured from the showerhead, washing over his sculpted muscles and rinsing away the dust and exhaustion.

As droplets slid down his skin, he felt an unprecedented ease.

After bathing, he changed into the light-colored casual clothes. The soft fabric against his skin gave him a sense of civilization he had not felt in a long time.

After all, he usually went shirtless out there. Clothes tore far too easily.

He ran a hand through his hair, shaking off the water droplets.

His hair was like something out of a Saiyan bloodline. Ever since it had grown out, it had stayed in the same wild, spiky style. Looking at himself in the mirror above the sink, he felt as though he had returned to civilization after surviving in the wilderness.

He closed the bathroom door and called to Mizuki Uzumaki, who was still sitting in a daze in the living room.

"Let's go. We'll buy you some daily necessities and a few sets of clothes that fit while we're at it."

Having agreed to gather with the neighbors that evening, Takahashi Yū headed straight for the butcher's stall with Mizuki. He guessed the neighbors would certainly bring dishes over. There was no need to consider vegetables, and none would be available to buy this late in the day anyway.

Upon reaching the butcher's stall, he bought an entire cow and a whole sheep. The stall had no more meat left. They would just have to make do with that much meat. Hoisting the enormous bundle of meat onto his shoulder, Takahashi Yū led Mizuki toward the general store.

He handed Mizuki the thick stack of money he had left and sent her inside to shop. Standing idly by the street, he enjoyed the admiring looks and greetings of passing villagers. Before long, Mizuki Uzumaki emerged with bags of various sizes.

She offered Takahashi Yū the remaining money, but he waved it away and headed home.

"Hahahaha! I knew the strongest man on our Hot Springs Street had to be something special!"

A red-faced middle-aged man sat at the longest table in Takahashi Yū's house, holding a cup of sake in one hand while repeatedly slapping an empty patch of tabletop with the other.

"What are people calling young Yū now? 'Konoha's Demon,' 'Immortal Ninja'! Hahaha, you've really made something of yourself!"

"Today, I, Nohara Daiki, will surrender that proud title, 'the man with the most guts on Hot Springs Street'!"

The clearly tipsy man kept shouting while the woman beside him held his table-slapping arm and smiled awkwardly.

Hearing Nohara Daiki's bold declaration, the other middle-aged men at the table raised their flushed heads like roosters about to fight.

"What did you say? You shameless bastard, calling yourself the man with the most guts? Ask around! Who on Hot Springs Street hasn't heard of me?"

"What are you blabbering about, you fishmonger? Isn't everyone from Hot Springs Street right here?"

The men around the table launched into their usual tavern antics, filling the house with a cheerful atmosphere. Takahashi Yū savored this rare touch of everyday life in his home, watching it all with a smile.

The redheads, too, experienced the harmonious atmosphere they had not felt in so long. The neighborhood lady beside Mizuki Uzumaki even pulled her into her arms.

"Oh, Mizuki, you poor child. I've heard all about it. It's all right. Now that you're here, you're one of us on Hot Springs Street. No one will dare bully you."

Before seeking refuge in Konoha, Hot Springs Street had been a small tribe. Without any ninja of their own, they understood the strength of unity.

Whenever anyone gave them trouble in Konoha, simply saying, "This is what Lord Hashirama, the First, promised us," could put most problems to rest. Now that they had produced a Takahashi Yū, they could truly hold their heads high. If they wanted, could they even call themselves the "Hot Springs Street Clan"?

Rarely having felt such kindness from others, Mizuki Uzumaki could no longer hold back her tears, and they streamed down her face. The destruction of her clan, the deaths of her family, the loss of her friends. The other two children were too young, and Uzumaki Shui Ling had been constantly worrying about their survival. Mizuki was at a sensitive age to begin with, and she had kept everything bottled up for fear of causing trouble.

Now that they seemed truly safe, Mizuki Uzumaki could no longer hold back in the face of the woman's kindness.

The noisy banter around them only grew louder. The neighbors knew that drawing attention to Mizuki now would surely embarrass her. Better to let her get it all out. They were all ordinary people, but they were kind.

The gathering lasted late into the night. The men, drunk into boneless heaps, were carried away by their wives. The women also cleared the mess from the table into the kitchen, while Mizuki Uzumaki wiped down the table with reddened eyes.

Takahashi Yū lay on the sofa, thinking about tomorrow.

Tomorrow, he would find Hiruzen Sarutobi and collect his wartime mission rewards. He would take cash wherever possible, though Konoha probably could not afford to pay right now. After all, there were his exploits on the Land of Wind battlefield, plus Ōnoki from the Land of Earth. All of it counted as merit.

And Takahashi Yū certainly did not want any ninjutsu or secret techniques thrown in to make up the amount. At that thought, he got up and went to the study to fetch a map of Konoha.

His house was at the end of Hot Springs Street, which lay directly east of Konoha's center. That showed just how early its residents had sought refuge in Konoha.

"Lord Hashirama's promise" was no joke.

The Hokage Building stood directly north of Konoha's center, while Konoha Hospital lay to the northeast.

In other words, it was behind Hot Springs Street. Takahashi Yū rubbed his chin, thinking carefully.

Perhaps he could simply acquire the street beside the hospital. It would connect neatly to Hot Springs Street, forming a ┘ that would wrap right around Konoha Hospital.

Konoha had not expanded yet, and Takahashi Yū's house, at the end of Hot Springs Street, was on the village's outskirts.

Acquiring another street farther north would still leave him on the outskirts, so it should not cost too much merit.

He could get some cash as well. Takahashi Yū nodded. Tomorrow, he would haggle with the Third and get as much as he could. Having decided, he handed the map of Konoha to Mizuki Uzumaki, who was still wiping the table.

"Take a look and familiarize yourself with it. Unless something unexpected happens, you'll be living in Konoha for a long time."

Mizuki took it, rolled it up, and slipped it into the pocket at her waist.

"Yes, Lord Takahashi Yū."

"Just call me by my name. None of this 'lord' business." Takahashi Yū leaned back again.

"Don't listen to that old woman. Tomorrow, I'm going to get a street from old man Third. Then you can live wherever you want."

Mizuki Uzumaki hesitated, about to say something, but Uzumaki Shui Ling pushed the door open and entered.

"I am their elder, and right now, you're the only one who can give them a better life. I said they would follow you, and follow you they will. Unlike Konoha, the Uzumaki keep their word. Besides, you agreed."

Uzumaki Shui Ling spoke as she changed her shoes, holding an enormous scroll.

"What were you doing? Don't you hate Konoha? Yet you spent so long wandering around."

Watching Uzumaki Shui Ling hand the enormous scroll to Mizuki, Takahashi Yū asked curiously. He had not seen the old woman since waking up.

"I went to see an ungrateful wretch and retrieve what belonged to the Uzumaki." Uzumaki Shui Ling sat cross-legged at the table as well.

Mizuki Uzumaki quickly set the enormous scroll aside and ran to the kitchen to pour Uzumaki Shui Ling a cup of hot water.

At that, Takahashi Yū sprang upright on the soft sofa.

"Did you go confront the Third? Or did you go see Mito Uzumaki? Oh, why didn't you take me? That's what I brought you back for!"

Takahashi Yū's face twisted as he clutched his head in both hands, agonizing over having missed the spectacle.

Uzumaki Shui Ling found his priorities rather amusing. A hint of a smile appeared on her careworn face as she slowly lifted her cup, took a sip of steaming water, and said leisurely:

"What Mito Uzumaki? Her name is Mito Senju. That woman even wanted to shamelessly swallow up the Uzumaki inheritance."

As she spoke, she looked toward the enormous scroll she had brought back.

"Mizuki, this contains the Uzumaki Clan's techniques. I'm entrusting it to your care."

Startled, Mizuki Uzumaki was about to wave her hands in refusal when Uzumaki Shui Ling continued.

"Back then, that woman Mito and I studied together in the clan. She held the exalted position of the Uzumaki princess. What a pity. The elders all misjudged her."

"She looked so shocked when she saw me. She must not have expected me to still be alive. That fool actually wanted to leave the scroll in Konoha. Once she died, wouldn't all the techniques we Uzumaki had accumulated over so many years become Konoha's?"

The more Uzumaki Shui Ling spoke, the more agitated she became. Even the cup in her hand trembled uncontrollably.

"She actually wanted to leave our Uzumaki Clan's years of painstaking work to her husband's family. The dowry she was given back then was already ample for her status as a princess! What an utterly ungrateful wretch."

"Of course I wouldn't allow it. She knew she was in the wrong, so she did return it to me."

"My time is nearly up, and she's almost ten years older than I am. She won't last much longer either. Without the scroll, I'd like to see just how many Uzumaki techniques she can leave Konoha!"

Takahashi Yū covered his entire head with his palms, his fingers buried deep in his hair. His body trembled as he inexplicably felt a chill.

"Stop, stop! Why didn't you take me along? I wanted to see the look on that old woman's face too!"

Even the finger Takahashi Yū pointed at Uzumaki Shui Ling was trembling. For a catfight like that, Konoha's biggest menace had not even been present.

It had gone straight onto the list of his lifelong regrets.