Tsubasa found Mito Uzumaki and asked with a smile, "Master's wife, is there something you need from summoning me here?"
Mito Uzumaki cut to the chase. "Before you even returned, Konoha had already passed the Hokage Position to Hiruzen Sarutobi. You don't have any objections, do you?"
Tsubasa said frankly, "Master's wife, you know I only want to Immortal Cultivation. As long as it can help Konoha, I will do my best. But I really can't stand being stuck in the Hokage position dealing with trivial matters Tenten. As for Hiruzen Sarutobi becoming Hokage, I have no objection as long as they do a good job. There really isn't a more suitable candidate right now, is there? But I will keep an eye on them—if they dare to enrich themselves at the expense of the public good or harm Konoha, I will definitely take action to remove them from office. Master's wife, please don't think I'm being too ruthless."
Mito Uzumaki nodded and chuckled, "If such a thing were to happen, I would also step in to stop it. Konoha currently in dire need of rebuilding, Senju Clan has lost seventy or eighty percent of its strength after this battle. Do you... have any plans to take over the clan?"
Tsubasa shook his head with a wry smile, "Is Senior Brother Akira willing to let go? I think he's very interested in power."
Mito Uzumaki's tone suddenly turned cold. "What's the use of just loving power? In terms of strength and character, he's far inferior. If it weren't for your grandfather, Uncle Yasuhei, risking his life to save him, he would have died on the battlefield long ago. The Senju Clan mobilized more than 7,000 people to participate in this war, but only a little over 1,000 returned alive. The clan has never been so weak. If he continues to lead the way, I'm afraid they will be completely wiped out."
Tsubasa said solemnly, "As long as Senior Brother Akira is willing to step down, and the clansmen approve of me, I will certainly do so without hesitation. But if they are unwilling, I will not force them. After all, a forced marriage is never sweet."
Looking at the carefree young man before her, Mito Uzumaki smiled with a hint of approval, "You're still as open-minded as ever. I'll ask the elders what they think. By the way, Yueqing will be studying in the Land of Whirlpools for a while; she asked me to pass on a message to you."
Tsubasa's eyes flickered, and he quickly asked, "Is she alright? I heard that things haven't been peaceful in the Land of Whirlpools lately. Are her family members safe?"
Mito Uzumaki smiled and waved her hand, "She's fine, and her family is safe and sound, so don't worry. If you have time, you should visit the Land of Whirlpools —the advanced Sealing Jutsu there are incredibly profound, even touching upon the rules of heaven and earth. I only learned three series back then; perhaps you could find some inspiration for Immortal Cultivation there."
Tsubasa's eyes shone brightly, and he readily agreed, "I will definitely go."
After saying Tsubasa to Mito Uzumaki, Tenyi returned home. The moment he pushed open the door, Tsubasa almost thought he had gone to the wrong place. The once bustling villa was eerily quiet. His grandfather's favorite rattan chair sat empty and slumped on the porch, and the doors and windows of the rooms where his fiancées lived were tightly closed.
"Young Master is back?" Mei'er Mei poked her head out from the kitchen, her apron still covered in flour. "I've saved dinner for you, it's still warm." Her voice trembled slightly. Only then did Tsubasa notice the row of white candles on the altar in the main room, their flames flickering unsettlingly in the draft.
After returning home, Senju Tenpuku went straight to the ancestral home. He heard that his father had knelt before his grandfather's memorial tablet for an entire night. Tsubasa arrived at the ancestral home and stood at the entrance. From afar, he saw his aunt Dō Senju, with red eyes, burning paper money. The ashes swirled and drifted to his feet. " Little Tsubasa," his second aunt Gi Senju, wiped away her tears and pulled him back, "Your grandfather was still saying before he passed away that he was looking forward to holding his great-grandson..."
Six mothers surrounded him, urging him all at once, "Those four girls, though not officially married into the family, are still the granddaughters-in-law the Senju Clan has recognized!" Third Mother Kaidō Senju patted his shoulder, "You must hurry and find them. This house is too desolate without them, and we worry about their safety every day!" Fifth Mother Ame Senju wiped away her tears and added, "Your grandfather is watching from heaven. Our Senju Clan cannot fall apart."
Lying in bed at night, Tsubasa tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He remembered the Scroll of Seals Mito Uzumaki had given him before their parting, and took it out to look at it by the moonlight. The warm moonlight illuminated his dazed face. He wondered where the four girls were now, and whether they were thinking of him too. The old locust tree outside the window rustled, and in a daze, he seemed to hear his fiancées laughing and joking again, but when he opened his eyes, all he could see was moonlight shining through the window frame, casting long Kageko on the ground.
The next morning, Tsubasa kowtowed three times in the ancestral hall. He whispered to the ancestral tablet, "Grandpa, don't worry. I'll bring my wives back right away. The lively atmosphere of the Senju Clan will be back soon." Outside the ancestral hall, his six aunts were craning their necks to look in his direction. When they saw him come out, they quickly came up to him and stuffed a sealed scroll full of all kinds of food into his hands—as if they were afraid he would go hungry on the way.
Tsubasa stepped out of his house and looked back at the empty yard. A few fallen leaves were swirling in the wind, dancing around the threshold. He took a deep breath and clenched his fist. "Wait for me, wait for me to fill this house up again."
Tsubasa ran wildly towards the Uchiha Clan Compound, the wind whipping his hair into a mess, his heart pounding like a rabbit's. Tian Uguisu had been missing for quite some time, and he had asked all the survivors of the Land of Rain battlefield, but to no avail. He had come to the Uchiha Clan to find Uchiha Tomioki, hoping to learn more.
He had barely landed, and before he could even announce his arrival, he rushed into Uchiha Tomioki's house. Uchiha Tomioki was wiping the Kunai in his hand when he looked up and saw Tsubasa enter. His face instantly turned deathly pale. "You're here... or still no news?"
Tsubasa's throat tightened, and he shook his head with difficulty. " The Land of Earth vehemently denies ever capturing anyone." His fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Father-in-law, tell me again, when was the last time you saw Tian Uguisu?"
Uchiha Tomioki put down his Kunai, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the table, his voice trembling. "That day she went to the front lines with Flame Squad. I rushed there after hearing they'd been attacked. But when I arrived with my men, all I found was her medical kit lying in a pool of blood..." He suddenly slammed his fist on the table, "Those bastards from the Land of Earth, I won't let them get away with this!"
Tsubasa patted Tomioki on the shoulder, his nails almost digging into his flesh. "Don't worry, even if I have to turn the Land of Earth upside down, I will find her!" As he left, he saw Uchiha Tomioki standing at the entrance of the clan's territory, his shadow stretched long by the setting sun, like a lonely tree.
After leaving the Uchiha Clan Compound, Tsubasa rushed to the Hyuga Clan. As soon as he entered, he encountered Hyuga Clan. " Tian Muyan is alright!" they called out from afar. "She sent word yesterday that she had reached the border of the Land of Fire and would be back in two days!"
Tsubasa's tense nerves finally relaxed a bit. But thinking of Tian Uguisu, whose fate was still unknown, he immediately changed direction and flew towards the capital of the Land of Fire.
As soon as she stepped into the palace, she saw Tian Flying Swallow squatting on the ground, distributing food to a group of refugees. Her skirt was covered in mud, and her hair was casually tied up, yet she was patiently comforting a crying child. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her eyes instantly brightening. " Tsubasa!" She ran over, her eyes slightly red, "Why are you here? I heard about Grandpa's situation..."
The two found a quiet corner to sit down. Tian Flying Swallow poured tea for Tsubasa as she spoke, "This past year has been incredibly difficult. Refugees have been pouring in every day, and we haven't had enough food or medicine..." Her voice choked with emotion, "The day I heard the news of Grandpa's death in battle, I hid in my room and cried all night..."
Tsubasa grasped her hand and gently patted it. Once Tian Flying Swallow had calmed down a bit, he began to speak of Tian Uguisu. "I must find her," he said resolutely, "Even if it means going to the Land of Earth's lair, I will..."
"No!" Tian Flying Swallow suddenly stood up. " The Land of Earth is definitely under martial law now. Going there is just suicide!" She gripped Tsubasa's arm, her eyes reddening with anxiety. "Promise me you'll be careful..."
After leaving the capital, Tsubasa gritted his teeth and flew towards Iwagakure. He used his Transformation Technique to become a soldier of the Land of Earth and infiltrated the village. For three days and three nights, he searched through the dungeons and warehouses of Iwagakure, and even went down into the well, but he didn't even see Tian Uguisu's Kageko.
Just as he was about to give up, he overheard some ninjas chatting in the tavern. "Lord Ishikawa's death was suspicious; even the alarm didn't go off that night!"
Tsubasa shuddered, nearly dropping his wine glass. He hurriedly paid the bill and left, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. The day Ishikawa died and the Tian Uguisu disappeared? This couldn't be a coincidence! He recalled the Hokage storyline he'd watched in his past life, and a terrifying thought suddenly popped into his head—could it be Madara Uchiha? Just like how he took Obito away, would he be raising Tian Uguisu to be like Obito?
Standing atop a hill outside Iwagakure, Tsubasa gazed at the gloomy sky and clenched his fists. No matter who was behind it all, he would find Tian Uguisu no matter where he went!