September of Konoha Year 31.
As autumn approaches, the weather in this best part of the Shinobi World is gradually entering its most comfortable season.
In the dense forest, the cicadas' chirping gradually ceased.
whoosh--
whoosh--
whoosh--
A series of whooshing sounds filled the forest, replacing the noises made by the animals.
A group of ten people, wearing headbands Forehead Protector of the Senju Clan Crest, formed a flying goose formation and sped through the endless forest unique to the Land of Fire under the afterglow of the setting sun as they headed west!
They leaned slightly forward, their hands hanging naturally behind them, using gravity and inertia to further increase their speed, much like an airplane gliding.
This results in the visual field being within the inner eye's field of vision in a normal person.
All that could be seen were blurry black shadows flashing by, creating a bizarre and magical scene reminiscent of an old movie cassette tape!
"Splash!"
The tree branch was shaken violently several times in succession, and the originally intact area was repeatedly struck by ten people, making it impossible for it to heal!
Looking ahead, after breaking through the dense forest, they saw Konoha appearing in the distance.
The Young Man leading the group, who was over 1.7 meters tall and had a full head of white hair, addressed the group behind him. "We're almost there! Let's speed things up and try to make it home for dinner!"
The ten people, who were walking briskly, quickened their pace even further after the voice rang out.
Instead of running wildly on the normal main road like ordinary people, they were speeding along the edge of the road!
whoosh--
The ten consecutive gusts of wind brought a group of men who were exhausted and sweating all day to express their gratitude and feel refreshed. It also caused some young women and girls wearing skirts to frantically hold down their skirts as they returned home!
In a short while, some people expressed their gratitude, while many others stared at the Young Wife in front of them, hoping to come again.
Of course, there were also some shrewish female voices cursing the cheering men around them, which rose and fell in turn!
Ignoring the commotion behind them, Uka Senju led her team directly to the side gate guarded by her own family.
"Bang!"
The ground, which had been baking in the sun all day, was kicked up by the ten figures that landed.
" Lord Uka, welcome home!"
"Thank you so much, Little Brother Hōtei! It's you leading the team to guard the gate again today!" Uka Senju said with a smile, handing the ID she had just taken out to the clansman in front of her.
Taking the identification documents, Senju Shōhōtei walked forward to collect the documents from the other Nine, shrugging helplessly and saying, "There's nothing I can do, my application was rejected again."
"This boring job... it seems like I can't get rid of it anytime soon!"
"Aren't you comfortable staying at home Tenten?" Kenchū Senju asked with a smile as he handed his documents to the clansman in front of him.
Shaking his head, Senju Shōhōtei took the things and sat down at the table behind the door. While registering everyone's information, he said with a wry smile, " Kenchū, if you think this job is comfortable, how about we apply to switch?"
"I'm so annoyed just standing here at this entrance!"
As he talked about work, but then thought of his family, the smile on his face became even more bitter.
Taking the registered documents and putting them back in her Ninja Tool Pouch, Uka Senju raised an eyebrow and teased, looking at the person in front of her who was in a similar predicament as herself, "Then hurry up and get things done, and we can leave, right?"
"Yeah, hurry up. If you really have something you can't talk about, go see a doctor sooner rather than later, and you'll be fine after you've seen the doctor, right?" Senju Motoaki, another squad leader in the Guard Unit, said with a smile as he took out his ID and put it away.
"Don't shy away from medical help when you're sick; early treatment leads to a faster recovery!" Kenchū Senju added from the side.
Taking the documents, the other squad leader of the Guard Unit Senju Shiyō, patted Little Hōtei on the shoulder and sighed heavily, saying, "Cheer up, go see him. Nobody will laugh at you!"
"Yes, don't be sad, we won't tell anyone." Senju Shiyō quickly picked up where his captain Senju Chōrai, and patted Little Hōtei on the shoulder.
He had been sitting very upright, but after hearing the words and actions of the group of people in front of him...
With each pat on the shoulder, Senju Shōhōtei's back bent a little more!
Listening to the inexplicable words of the group in front of him, he noticed the sympathetic, curious, and inquisitive gazes of his clansmen and outsiders around him.
Suddenly, Senju Shōhōtei shouted, "I'm not sick! What treatment? I won't tell anyone! Nothing's wrong with me, what can't I say!"
After shouting at the group of people who were talking nonsense, he realized that the meaning in the eyes of the people around him had not changed; on the contrary, there were even more stares from those around him.
This was the first time I'd been watched by so many people, especially by the implications of their words.
Senju Shōhōtei felt a surge of complaints in his heart, but he didn't know how to refute or what to say.
Because by this time he had realized that explaining things wouldn't quell other people's gossip!
But... he was clearly forced by his family to marry seven women from other ethnic groups, and he was also given the order that he could not leave the village unless they all became pregnant.
How come... they say they have something they can't say?
There are unspeakable difficulties; how can one marry seven?
I'm just someone who does that every day, and I'm tired and fed up with it.
How come just because I complained a little, Uka and the others labeled me with such a disease?
However... after working on it for almost half a year, the wives still haven't conceived. Could there really be a problem with one of the steps?
Senju Shōhōtei, who was originally complaining about Uka Senju and the others in his heart, suddenly thought of Uka's battle record.
Then, comparing himself to his own past, a seed of doubt suddenly sprouted in his mind!
Meanwhile, the other members of the Senju Clan, after watching the spectacle, noticed their captain's expression.
They all looked at each other in bewilderment for a moment!
Unfortunately, the location was wrong; they could only communicate with their eyes and couldn't discuss things directly.
But after exchanging glances, the smiles in their eyes as they looked at their captain turned into deep sympathy!
A path paved with Stone Slab runs along the inside of the Konoha.
Uka Senju, accompanied by her Guard Unit, walked past the street corner with a blank expression.
Then the group of them relaxed and started laughing!
There's no way around it, Little Hōtei's expression before was indeed interesting, especially that last shout.
They were already discussing what Little Hōtei's situation would be after the conversation spread!
Do you think Hōtei will have to work overtime Tenten from now on?
"High probability."
"If he doesn't work overtime, wouldn't that confirm that he has a problem?"
"Yes, the only way to prove it is to get moving."
"You guys are really mean. Hōtei will be furious when he finds out he can't explain himself!"
"What? You guys are really mean! It's like you didn't pat Brother Hōtei on the shoulder!"
"I only took those photos because you guys were all taking them."
"Go away, get out of here. All you do is talk the talk. Why don't you blame your captain?"
"Yes, it was Motoaki who started that saying!"
"Your team leader Brother Kenchū, said it too!"
"That's right! That's right!"
"Hey, they're all talking nonsense, I'm not talking nonsense." Senju Motoaki turned around and looked at his teammates behind him with a look that said, "We're different."
Upon hearing this, everyone stopped in their tracks. Even Uka Senju, who hadn't participated in the conversation, looked at her squad leader with a shocked expression.
He was met with a circle of surprised, shocked, and incredulous gazes from those around him.
Senju Motoaki pointed at Kenchū and Shiyō with a puzzled look on his face and said, "These people obviously don't know how to join in the fun. You two just said that, so why are you putting on that face now?"
"What's going on? What's the deal?" Kenchū Senju asked, looking completely bewildered as everyone stared at him.
When pointed out as well, Senju Shiyō the questioning gazes of the crowd and said, "I just thought you two were joking when you said that, so I just chimed in!"
Upon hearing this, Kenchū Senju quickly nodded in agreement!
He was just joining in the conversation, assuming everyone did the same.
But unexpectedly, the exciting beginning turned out to be real?
" Motoaki, what did you mean by what you just said? What do you know?"
Is there really a problem with Little Hōtei?
Uka Senju asked the question that was on everyone's mind, directly to the squad leader in front of her.
They were just there for the fun of it.
After being away from home for a long time, I suddenly saw some familiar people from my tribe. They were just playing around and trying to trick me.
Despite their cheerful conversation, they were all planning to tell this story as a joke when they got home.
Then, from this perspective, we can help Little Hōtei clear up the mud they smeared today.
Unexpectedly, while everyone was throwing mud, there was actually someone among them who had replaced the water with sulfuric acid?
Facing the curious, shocked, and worried gazes of the crowd, Senju Motoaki slapped his forehead and said speechlessly, "Don't overthink it, none of Little Hōtei's family members are in trouble."
"What I said earlier was to get Little Hōtei to go to the hospital and receive a proper education."
"Otherwise, that guy will never be able to leave the village for the rest of his life!"
The truth revealed by the man who threw the acid was that no one in Little Hōtei's family was at fault.
The shock and worry in everyone's eyes immediately dissipated.
They were genuinely worried that what was meant as a joke might become real.
After they made such a big fuss about it, wouldn't Little Hōtei hate them to death after the examination?
After all, this is a very important matter; it's not too much to keep it hidden for a lifetime.
After being exposed so openly, especially since it was unintentional, how can they possibly get along afterward?
But once those who knew the truth confirmed that the person was alright, their worries immediately disappeared.
However, the next two sentences by Motoaki...
Uka Senju and the others, though worried about her disappearance, had eyes full of curiosity and amusement!
"How did you know?" Kenchū Senju couldn't help but ask impatiently.
"Which road did we take?" Senju Chōrai Senju Shiyō his team, asked excitedly.
Upon hearing this, everyone's smiles turned sinister!
"Slap!" Senju Motoaki slapped the youngest member of the group across the face, then scolded him speechlessly, "Little guy, you're not even married yet, how do you know so much?"
Even Senju Chōrai showed no sign of anger.
At this moment, in his eyes, as long as the other party satisfied his curiosity, getting hit was no big deal!
Seeing that the slap couldn't quell the crowd's curiosity, Senju Motoaki and decided it wasn't something that couldn't be discussed.
Anyway, Little Hōtei's actions of not following the proper channels to fulfill his family's orders will eventually be exposed!
Especially after today's commotion, there's a high chance he'll go to the hospital for a checkup.
If the news spreads from the people in the hospital, it's better to talk to them directly so everyone can go home.
To avoid being surrounded by this group and having your escape route blocked!
But I had only spoken to Little Hōtei earlier, and it was clear he genuinely disliked being confined at home like this, so I was just trying to be helpful.
Now... things have gone wrong. I can only hope that guy won't hate me after he gets out of his family!
After silently cursing himself for being nosy and talkative, Senju Motoaki began to explain the whole story to the others!
"Splash!"
"I'm back!"
Push open the sliding door in the entryway.
Uka Senju sat down on a low stool and started changing into slippers.
Since Chiharu and the other two became pregnant, their family has stopped cooking.
My Aunt's house became the place where everyone ate together!
So when he got home and checked the time, he found it was only a little past six, so he went straight to the place where everyone would be at that time!
"You're back. You made good time today." Senju Chiharu said to her husband with a smile as she squatted down to put his shoes away neatly.
If it were her own home, Uka could leave things lying around without anyone noticing, but there would be Maid who would clean up at set times.
But this is my Aunt's house, and for someone who likes 'tidiness', the Maids are currently eating in the courtyard.
If she doesn't tidy up right away, her Aunt will come out after dinner and see it, and her husband will get scolded again!
He grabbed the person who was trying to squat down. There was a family member with moderate obsessive-compulsive disorder at home, and he knew what Chiharu was thinking.
As Uka Senju kicked his shoes a few times to fix them, he said to his wife, "Your belly is so big, why aren't you taking care of yourself?"
"Let's go back and eat, I'll take care of it!"
"Okay, I'll get you some bowls and chopsticks." Chiharu, whose belly was already showing, smiled and replied as she was helped up before she could even squat down.
Grabbing Chiharu again, and under her questioning gaze, Uka Senju reached out and patted her bottom.
Holding it securely in his arms, he walked towards the restaurant, saying irritably, "I told you to be careful, why are you still running around?"
"I can just delegate these tasks to them, or I can get them myself."
"You three are the apple of our eye now, so you must be extra careful!"
He gently stroked Chiharu's stomach with his palm, showing great curiosity and joy at this unfamiliar position of 'father'.
The only worry was these three new mothers; they were really working non-stop every Tenten.
She's clearly showing her pregnancy, but she's still the same as before!
"Mmm~!"
With a soft hum of agreement, Senju Chiharu, her cheeks slightly flushed, leaned against Uka's chest and walked forward.
Feeling this hand that always loves to touch my belly whenever I come back.
The smile on her lips deepened even further!
" Aunt."
"Hurry up and sit down to eat!" Senju Toka said with great satisfaction, slightly raising her chin in acknowledgment and having overheard the conversation outside.
"Um!"
Chiharu was settled in her position.
After exchanging a polite greeting with the other two people, I realized I was being a bit too forward.
Uka Senju then sat down, took the bowl and chopsticks handed to her by the Maid, and began to enjoy the simple family dinner that she was increasingly fond of!