At the villa atop the Ten Family Divine Weapon Pavilion, before the morning mist had fully dissipated, a mirror suddenly crashed onto the bluestone bricks with a loud bang. Blood seeped from the fingertips of Senju Ga, who was arranging flowers, and petals of the red plum blossoms in the celadon vase fell in a flurry, as if their life force had been cruelly extinguished by an invisible hand.
"What's going on?" In Senju rushed over upon hearing the commotion, the silver hairpin in her hair still swaying gently. She crouched down to pick up the mirror, but abruptly pulled her hand back the moment she touched the surface—the cold bronze reflected a distorted face, as if someone in the mirror was silently screaming for help.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed inside the building. Tian Yueqing, clutching her sleeve, stumbled out of the room, a thin layer of sweat glistening on her usually composed face. "Mother! This morning, while I was practicing, my Qi was churning, and it felt like... like something was tearing at my mind. I had this feeling once before, during the Shinobi World War."
The door to the main hall creaked open. Senju Tenpuku rushed in, raised his hand to his brow, and his arm under his black robe trembled slightly. "Me too. I was just trying to regulate my energy, but my Chakra started flowing backward uncontrollably." Before he finished speaking, the six aunts simultaneously clutched their chests and came to the living room. Among them, Ame Senju barely managed to stand by holding onto the corner of the table, her hair ornaments jingling.
A deathly silence filled the hall. Senju Ga trembled as she brought the teacup to her lips, oblivious to the scalding tea spilling onto her clothes. "This symptom... I had a similar feeling back during the Shinobi World War, when Tenpuku was in danger and trapped." Her voice seemed to drift from afar. "Only when a close relative faces a life-or-death crisis can this affect the mind of a strong person. Everyone in the family is home... Could something have happened to Tsubasa?"
Tian Yueqing's nails dug deeply into her palms. She recalled that a year ago, her husband had bid her farewell and gone to the Shikkotsu Forest to seek to become Golden Core Stage cultivator as soon as possible. Her husband, Tsubasa, said that he would go into seclusion in the Shikkotsu Forest to break through his cultivation level. At that time, she had joked that the Shikkotsu Forest was gloomy and deserted, and that she should be careful not to be haunted by ghosts while she was there alone. Now, recalling those jokes, they suddenly sounded like piercing eardrums.
"I'm going to Shikkotsu Forest." She grabbed the sword from the wall. "Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I have to find him. He's the father of fourteen children, the husband of seven women, and the son of seven women. He's also the Hokage of Konoha. He absolutely cannot be harmed."
The door to the Ten Family villa was suddenly flung open with a loud bang, the sturdy door slamming open like a leaf caught in a gust of wind. Immediately afterward, Six Paths figures, each carrying a chilling aura, stormed in. Each of these six was the kind of person who could stand out in a crowd; their aura was an innate authority that made it impossible to look them directly in the eye.
The first to rush in was Queen Tian Flying Swallow of the Land of Fire. She wore a fiery red robe, the color of which resembled a burning flame, warming the entire room. Her face carried a unique queenly aura, an aura that seemed to belong to a born leader, inspiring an instinctive desire to submit. As she stormed in, she shouted, "Where's Tsubasa? Has something happened to Tsubasa? I just felt a strange palpitation, what's wrong?"
Next to enter was Tian Muyan, the chief instructor of the Kirin Corps. She was tall and slender, with a striking, imposing face, white eyes, and a cold smile. Her demeanor was like that of a general on the battlefield, dignified and powerful. As she walked in, she glanced at the family members around her and coldly asked, "Has something happened to Tsubasa?"
Tian Uguisu, the current chief instructor of the Konoha Military Police Force, was the third to enter. She was wearing a black Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force uniform, with various equipment hanging from her waist. When she walked in, there was a hint of worry in her eyes, but her tone was very calm. " Tsubasa is in trouble? Tell me quickly, what happened?"
Tian Mai, the Senjutsu teacher at the Kage Academy, was the fourth to enter. She looked ethereal, like a fairy descended from the celestial realm—exquisitely beautiful and noble. As she entered, she carried a faint fragrance. She glanced around and softly asked, "Where's Tsubasa? I have a bad feeling."
Tian Zhiyun, the head of the crafts department, was the fifth to enter. When she came in, her eyes held a hint of anxiety. Entering with her was Tian Yukihime, the deputy head of the crafts department. Her eyes were filled with panic and worry, and tears welled in them. She asked in a trembling voice, "Where's Brother Tsubasa? Did something happen to him?"
These six women were all Tsubasa's wives; powerful relatives share a telepathic connection. Just moments ago, they suddenly felt a bad premonition, a feeling like their hearts had been violently clenched. They immediately dropped everything they were doing and rushed back from different places. They had only one thought in their minds: Tsubasa, their husbands, their lovers, might be in trouble.
They stood in the living room, their eyes filled with anxiety and worry. Their gazes swept across the room, searching for Tsubasa. They were both wondering, what had happened to Tsubasa? Why had this sudden accident occurred? Their telepathic connection had never been so strong.
Tian Flying Swallow's crown was still wet with rain, but the blue crystal pendant in her hair was shaking violently—this was the first time she had lost her composure in public since becoming the Queen of the Land of Fire.
" Flying Swallow, it's so good to see you back! We all had a bad feeling. Tsubasa has been in seclusion for almost a year, could something have happened to him...!" Nanshin Senju rushed forward and grabbed the other's sleeve, her eyes swollen like ripe peaches. "We were planning to go to the Shikkotsu Forest to look for Tsubasa..." Before she could finish speaking, Senju Ga's legs suddenly went weak, and she was quickly supported by Tian Zhiyun beside her. A group of women surrounded Tian Flying Swallow, their hands nervously twisting their clothes, but their hearts were ice-cold.
Tian Flying Swallow removed her crown and placed it heavily on the incense table, the gilded ornaments clanging softly. She stared at the women, children, and other family members, her nails digging almost into her palms. "What's the panic? Tsubasa is so strong, and his life is incredibly resilient; he won't be easily harmed." These words seemed more directed at herself, yet a bitter taste rose in her throat. As the newly appointed Queen of the Land of Fire, she should have been as calm as a rock, but even her voice trembled.
"Sister Yueqing, Tian Mai, Tian Uguisu, prepare the necessities and then Shikkotsu Forest to find your husband. With his strength, there shouldn't be anyone in the Shinobi World who can defeat him. If it's an enemy he can't defeat, then you must retreat back to Konoha immediately." Tian Flying Swallow took out three spatial teleportation scrolls from her spatial ring and handed them to the three of them. "Take these spatial teleportation scrolls with you this time. If you encounter any danger, activate them immediately and come back to report. We are all waiting for your news."
She suddenly paused, looked at the three of them, and softened her voice. "Remember, coming back alive is more important than anything else."
Tian Yukihime stood at the doorway, cradling her sleeping child, the tiny fist still clenched in the swaddling clothes. " Shiun and I will protect our home in Konoha and take good care of these children."
Tian Zhiyun wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "The children are only two years old, and the youngest is less than six months old. They can't be without their father! My mothers and I will take good care of this family. We will pray to all the gods and Buddhas every day to bless our husband to return soon..."
" Muyan, keep an eye on those clans in Konoha. Konoha must not be allowed to fall into chaos." Tian Flying Swallow turned to the most silent Fourth Madam, who was stroking the short blade at her waist. "If anyone dares to cause trouble in the chaos... kill them." The last half of the sentence was hidden in the chilling intent behind her gritted teeth.
The candlelight in the Ten Family villa flickered suddenly, casting seven Kageko that crisscrossed on the wall. Tian Flying Swallow suddenly remembered their wedding day, Tsubasa smiled and said he would protect them for life. Now it seemed as if it was their turn to hold up the sky. She took a deep breath and hid her trembling fingers in her wide sleeves. "Everyone, disperse. Let's get everything ready and set off before dawn."
After everyone had left, Tian Flying Swallow knelt alone on the prayer mat. The jewels on her crown, reflected in the flickering candlelight, seemed for a moment to resemble the starlight in her husband's eyes. She stroked the cold memorial tablet, finally letting her tears fall onto her clothes. "You better come back alive, or... or I'll kill my way to the Pure Land and drag you out..."