"Wah-wah!" A newborn's loud cries rang out from the delivery room. Before long, the midwife pushed open the door, beaming, and called out, "Congratulations! It's a big, healthy boy! Mother and son are both safe!"
A group of women burst into cheers. Senju Tenpuku jumped up and down with excitement, shouting at the top of his lungs, "That's wonderful! Hua'er is all right, and mother and son are both safe! That's wonderful!"
Senju Yasuhei also rose to his feet in excitement, his hands trembling slightly. Looking at his overexcited son, he scolded him. "Compose yourself! Shouting like that, what kind of behavior is it? You need to stay calm when things happen, not get all flustered."
Senju Tenpuku hurriedly bowed to his father. A little embarrassed, he said, "Father, you're right to scold me. This is my first time becoming a father, so I have no experience. I got too excited. I'll go in and see Hua'er."
The midwife quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Young Master Tenpuku, please wait a little longer. They're still cleaning up inside, but they'll be done soon."
After a while, another midwife carried the newborn over to Senju Yasuhei and offered her congratulations with a smile. "Congratulations, Master! Mother and son are both safe! This is the young master." As she spoke, she held the swaddled Little Tsubasa closer to Senju Yasuhei so the old man could get a better look.
Senju Yasuhei carefully took the baby, and his eyes grew moist at the sight of the plump pink face in his arms. Their Gui branch finally had an heir. The Senju Clan had endured for over a thousand years and had thirty-six branches in all, but his own branch now had the fewest members. Counting the newborn Little Tsubasa, there were only three males, and the thought left a bitter taste in his heart. Even the other branches with fewer males had more than a dozen, while the larger ones had several hundred. The Senju Clan as a whole now had over five thousand males.
"Oh, the newborn's so fair and tender, and his skin is so smooth! He's adorable!" Sixth Aunt's eyes sparkled as she stared at the baby in Senju Yasuhei's arms, her face full of envy.
The dozen or so people waiting outside the shop also gathered around, smiling as they looked at the little life that had brought new hope to the family.
As First Aunt, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt watched, they could not hold back their tears. They had all borne children, but their children had all died on the battlefield. Such was the helplessness and sorrow of ninjas in the Warring States period. The youngest of those children had been only ten, and the oldest no more than sixteen. They had lost their lives in the prime of their youth.
Fourth Aunt, Fifth Aunt, and Sixth Aunt had it even worse. Their husbands had died in battle before they had a chance to bear children. In the Gui branch, there were only those who had died in battle and their widows, and every household had its own unspoken sorrows.
But this newborn was like the first ray of morning sunlight, bringing new hope to this family that had weathered so much.
Beaming with joy, Senju Yasuhei announced, "Everyone who helped with the delivery today will be rewarded! Ten thousand ryo each!"
The doctors, midwives, and maids who had finished their work in the delivery room came out one after another and knelt to thank him. "Thank you for your generosity, Second Elder!"
Senju Yasuhei handed the baby in his arms to First Aunt beside him and said, "My eldest daughter-in-law, sorry for the trouble, but please take good care of Little Tsubasa." With that, he rushed outside to set off firecrackers in celebration.
Second Aunt asked in surprise, "Has the baby already been named? Tsubasa?"
First Aunt nodded and explained, "The Senju Clan will be disbanded and integrated into the newly established Konoha, and we won't be able to use the Senju surname anymore. Tsubasa will take the same surname as his father, Tenpuku. From now on, our branch will have the surname Ten."
Third Aunt asked curiously, "When was that decided? How come we didn't know anything about it?"
First Aunt lowered her voice mysteriously. "It was decided at a clan meeting a month ago. Right now, only the clan's Jonin know about it. I expect word will spread soon, and the elders of each branch will notify everyone."
Fourth Aunt sighed softly. "A thousand-year-old clan, disbanded just like that. Lord Hashirama really is selfless."
Fifth Aunt clasped her hands together, looking hopeful. "With no more wars, everyone will be able to live together peacefully in Konoha. I think that sounds pretty good."
Sixth Aunt, however, pursed her lips in disagreement. "We're even giving up a clan surname that's lasted a thousand years. Once we're all ordinary people of Konoha, aren't you afraid the other ninja clans will bully us?"
First Aunt hurried to reassure everyone. "Don't worry. Of the thirty-six Senju branches, a little more than half will remain in Konoha and serve in various government departments. Without the surname, they'll be less likely to attract envy. The smaller half will serve as military commanders in the Land of Fire's major cities, guarding the country on all sides. According to Lord Tobirama, the Senju are giving up their surname to better unite Konoha's ninja clans and safeguard the Land of Fire. Besides, going from one ninja clan to thirty-six families is a big step up."
Only then did everyone understand, and they felt a little more hopeful about their new lives ahead.
Before they knew it, the sun had begun to sink westward, and a streak of its evening light fell into the room.
Senju Ga, who had just given birth, slowly woke up. Her husband, Senju Tenpuku, had been keeping watch at her bedside. Seeing her wake, he immediately smiled with joy and said gently, "You're finally awake, honey! That's wonderful! Thank you for all your hard work giving us such a cute son. Father was overjoyed today. He set off lots of firecrackers outside and went around sharing the good news. The whole clan knows we have a new addition to the family now."
The corners of Senju Ga's mouth lifted in a gentle smile. She said softly, "Honey, I really want to see our baby. Please bring him over and let me have a look."
"All right, honey. The little fellow's sleeping soundly in his cradle. I'll bring him right over." No sooner had Senju Tenpuku finished speaking than he vanished in a flash. When he reappeared, he had a tightly swaddled baby in his arms.
Senju Ga took the sleeping Little Tsubasa and could not help exclaiming, "What a cute little baby. Giving birth to him really put me through a lot, though." She gently kissed the baby's cheek, her face full of happiness.
Just then, Little Tsubasa woke up. He was probably hungry, for he burst into tears with a loud wail.
Senju Ga panicked and said helplessly, "What's wrong with him? Why is he suddenly crying?"
Senju Tenpuku was just as bewildered. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know either. Could he be upset because his sleep was disturbed?"
Hearing the commotion, the maid outside hurriedly pushed open the door and came in. "Young Master, Young Madam, the young master might be hungry," she explained. "Both of you and the young master have slept all day and haven't eaten yet."
Only then did Senju Ga realize she was hungry too. She quickly said to the young maid, "Mei'er, hurry and get us something to eat."
Mei'er picked up the chicken soup that had long been prepared on the table and walked over with a smile. "Young Madam, your chicken soup has been ready for a while. Drink it while it's hot. As for the young master, he needs your milk."
Senju Ga immediately became a little flustered. After all, she had never nursed a baby before! But it was as though she had suddenly acquired the human instinct to feed a baby. Without hesitation, she undid the front of her robe, carefully lifted the child, and began nursing him!