"Clatter-!"
Hearing the door open, Uka Senju got up and looked toward the living room. A familiar figure was sitting by the entrance, changing shoes.
"Auntie, why are you back so late today?"
"Clan Meeting. We argued all day!"
"Lady Toka, come eat!"
"Mm, all right."
As they spoke, Senju Toka finished changing her shoes, hung her sword on the wall, and looked at the boy and girl before her. She placed a hand on each of their heads and ushered them toward the dining room. "Come on, keep your aunt company while I eat!"
After bringing them back to the dining room, Chiharu went into the kitchen to get Toka's place setting ready.
Once Toka had sat down, Uka handed her the scroll he had prepared earlier.
Taking the scroll, Senju Toka read the detailed account of what had happened that day. Her brows gradually furrowed. She had known Uka must have hidden the truth in the meeting hall.
Comparing it with the information the Second Elder had given her that evening, the two accounts confirmed each other.
Toka's furrowed brows slowly relaxed. Their enemy had surfaced, and they now knew what they wanted. The rest would be easier to handle!
Thinking back to the arrangements she had made that evening, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze fell on the Anbu mentioned in the report, and she changed the subject. "Was that Anbu girl from the Nara Clan?"
"Yes!"
"Mm, good."
Sitting on her cushion, Senju Toka looked at the boy across from her. "By the way, you were playing with lightning again today, weren't you?"
Hearing his aunt bring it up, Uka immediately folded his outstretched legs, sucked in his stomach, stuck out his chest, and sat up straight.
He waited solemnly for the verdict!
Would he have to practice Hand Seals, train with a sword, or get off scot-free?
His heart uneasy and full of apprehension-
Looking at the white-haired boy sitting upright at the dining table, Senju Toka said with some helplessness, "You did the family a service, so I won't punish you this time. After school tomorrow, have your Sister Chiharu teach you the Sensory Ninjutsu of Clan Head Tobirama!"
"From now on, you have to sense your surroundings before playing. Sigh!"
He was usually such a well-behaved child, but ever since they had developed grenades two years ago, Senju Toka had someone whose property he'd damaged show up at her door nearly every month. He had blown up summoning beasts, shaken houses down, or collapsed riverbanks. He had even brought down two bridges!
She'd punished him, but still couldn't keep him in check. Toka really didn't know what else to do.
She could only hope that once he learned Sensory Ninjutsu, he'd stop blowing up people or beasts!
As for houses, riverbanks, and bridges, well, if they collapsed, they collapsed!
The share he got from the weapons the clan allocated him was more than enough to cover the damages!
He hadn't even spent all of last month's share on compensation yet, and this month's share was about to come in!
He had enough money to blow things up!
At last, the verdict came. Uka let out the breath he'd been holding. He'd been worried all evening, but he was finally in the clear!
Although there had been a lot going on today, he couldn't get around the fact that he'd been playing with lightning.
The person in this world he feared most was the middle-aged woman in front of him.
Toka had looked after him since he was a few months old!
After nine years of childhood, without even realizing it, Uka Senju had let go of the unease and discomfort of having crossed over into another world. His outlook had grown much younger, too.
Having been born into this world, he'd had no memories to inherit. Even now, he still remembered Senju Toka teaching him to speak, word by word, and the time he'd lost control and made a mess all over her!
He'd been an orphan in his previous life, and there was nothing about those lonely days of struggling to survive that he missed!
Instead, through Senju Toka, he had experienced the warmth of family for the first time in this life.
That was why, even though Uka had an adult's soul, he still felt afraid when he made a mistake in front of Toka!
It was like an instinct written into his genes!
"Did him a service?"
Chiharu had just set out the tableware. Hearing Senju Toka say that, she spoke up in surprise.
She'd already felt something was off about Uka's problem earlier. It seemed there really had been more to it.
Seeing Chiharu's confusion, Senju Toka smiled. She understood now: the little guy hadn't even told Chiharu. His sense of secrecy was impressive.
She handed over the scroll in her hand. "Take a look for yourself."
"..." Uka watched helplessly as Chiharu took the scroll, then silently lowered his head.
Senju Chiharu read the report in her hands. She gave Uka a look, part surprised and part annoyed.
She was surprised that the truth was completely different from what everyone knew. She was also annoyed that Uka had even kept it from her, after which she'd gone and scolded him earlier.
Receiving Sister Chiharu's look, Uka Senju felt terribly awkward, too. He'd just stubbornly refused to say anything.
He hadn't expected his aunt to hand the report to Chiharu right in front of him.
Couldn't she have waited until he'd left?
For a moment, Uka secretly grumbled about his aunt stabbing him in the back to his face.
He'd offended the head chef so badly. What if she made him sashimi tomorrow?
Watching the two of them, Senju Toka secretly laughed to herself. This counted as punishment for playing with lightning, too.
He'd kept it from the sister who doted on him most. Let's see how Sister Chiharu dealt with him tomorrow!
The only sound at the table was Senju Toka eating.
A little while later, after enjoying the show enough, Toka spoke up to smooth things over. "Uka, why don't you get some rest early? You have to report to the Ninja Academy tomorrow!"
"Ah... all right!" Hearing that, Uka Senju hurriedly nodded, gave Chiharu an ingratiating smile, and headed for his room!
After Uka went upstairs, the smile on Senju Toka's face slowly disappeared.
She took a specially made signal flare from her Ninja Tool Pouch and handed it to Chiharu with a smile. "Don't be mad. You'll still need to follow him secretly for the next few days. Stay alert."
"If there's a problem, fire the signal. The school is close to the northeastern side of the clan grounds, and Kenchū has recently been assigned to patrol there. They'll be keeping an eye out!"
"Yes!"
Senju Chiharu took the signal flare and replied.
She wasn't really that angry. It was common for ninja to keep information secret. She was just a little annoyed that she'd scolded Uka earlier, and now she didn't know how to react.
Apologize?
That would be awkward. Besides, he'd been the one to hide it from her. It wasn't as if she'd wanted to scold him!
Looking at the signal flare in her hand, Senju Chiharu asked in confusion, "Lady Toka, who are the likely targets?"
"Anbu, Shimura, Sarutobi. Watch out for those three. Don't be too nervous. This is only a precaution for Uka. The clan has other arrangements, too!"
"All right!"
"Mm, get some rest early. Things will be busy for a while."
"All right!"
At that moment, Senju Uka had retreated to his room. Lying on the bed, he opened the system.
The Wood Release Bloodline Version had finished being made.
He'd take a look at the carrot he'd been waiting four years for!
As for whether Sister Chiharu would be angry, or whether his food would turn into dark cuisine tomorrow, those were trivial matters!
As soon as the manufacturing interface opened, a huge furnace appeared before Senju Uka.
The old, battered furnace had now taken on an exquisite appearance. It gave off a pale blue glow. At a thought, Uka tapped the furnace lid.
With a clang, the lid flew up!
After a flash of blinding golden light inside the furnace, a tube of blue liquid slowly floated out!
Looking at the special effects before him, Uka was utterly speechless.