Chapter 66: I Just Want Some Peace and Quiet
Perhaps because Kurenai Yuhi was accompanying him, the registration process went far more smoothly than Asuka had expected.
The clerk took one look at Kurenai standing behind him and immediately completed the paperwork. All that remained was to pass the entrance examination before he could officially begin attending the Ninja Academy.
However...
Asuka glanced at Kurenai, who continued following him after they left, and helplessly pointed down the road.
"If I remember correctly, this street only leads to the Uchiha district."
He tilted his head.
"Your house isn't this way, is it?"
With her hands clasped behind her back, Kurenai confidently looked toward the end of the street.
"As a teacher, shouldn't I get to know the family background of my future students?"
"...You should."
Asuka nodded before changing the subject.
"But your excessive enthusiasm only makes me think you have ulterior motives."
For example...
Perhaps someone had sent her to approach him, earn his trust, and then secretly plot against the Uchiha.
After all, he was disguised as a child. He had merely poked a tiny hole in the Academy wall—and even planned to repair it afterward.
Yet this teacher insisted on following him all the way home.
The problem was...
He was the only living person in his house.
It was difficult not to suspect there was some kind of conspiracy waiting for him.
Kurenai's cheeks immediately flushed crimson—true to her name.
She glared at the child before her, nearly speechless.
How can this brat think so badly of people?
She simply wanted to understand his living environment so she could better prepare before classes began.
Yet somehow, he'd concluded she was trying to get something from him.
Because he was handsome?
With a huff, she turned and walked away.
What an infuriating child.
Watching her take only a few steps before stopping again, Asuka raised an eyebrow.
"Keep going."
"Hmph!"
Kurenai shot him an annoyed glare before walking ahead toward the Uchiha compound alone.
During the trip back, she'd finally figured something out.
The reason this child was so suspicious of her...
...was probably because of his upbringing.
When she was younger, she'd often seen orphans bullied by others. Over time, many of them grew withdrawn and convinced themselves that anyone approaching them must have bad intentions.
If children like that weren't properly guided while growing up...
The outcome was usually tragic.
"Hey! Hey!"
Hearing the anxious voice calling after her, Kurenai quickened her pace.
Meanwhile, Asuka was beginning to panic.
If she actually walks into the Uchiha district... won't my identity be exposed?
The faster he shouted, the faster she walked.
Watching her stubborn back, he couldn't help muttering,
"Is she going through a rebellious phase?"
"The more you tell her not to do something, the more determined she becomes..."
He jogged after her while lowering his head, already wondering how he was supposed to clean up this mess later.
...
Standing before the enormous residence, Kurenai looked up in astonishment, her mouth slightly open.
Were this family's ancestors really that wealthy?
The house was enormous.
It looked at least twice the size of her own.
After admiring it for a moment, she crossed the street toward the two elderly men quietly enjoying the morning sun.
That child had been incredibly guarded, refusing to reveal anything about himself.
Perhaps his neighbors knew something.
...
Recently, aside from occasionally playing with his grandson, Uchiha Ryoichi had devoted nearly all his attention to Uchiha Madara.
He constantly worried that one day his cousin might suddenly lose control and wipe out the clan.
Fortunately, Madara remained unusually quiet, spending every day sitting in his chair and absentmindedly staring at the house across the street.
Unfortunately...
Even after days of subtle probing, Ryoichi still had no idea why Madara had suddenly returned.
The clan was already standing on the edge of disaster.
The burden on his shoulders felt heavier than ever.
Just as he was lost in thought, a shadow blocked the sunlight falling across his face.
He slowly raised his eyes.
Seeing the unfamiliar red-eyed young woman standing before him, his expression instantly turned wary.
"Who are you?"
Kurenai noticed the old man's guarded stare before glancing back at "Uchiha Ri."
The corner of her eye twitched.
Now she understood.
So this wasn't just the child.
Apparently...
Even the neighbors acted this way.
"My name is Kurenai Yuhi," she introduced politely. "I'm a temporary instructor at the Ninja Academy. Once the semester officially begins, I'll be teaching the incoming students for a while."
Pointing toward the child behind her, she continued,
"I came today hoping to ask his neighbor a few questions about his situation."
Hearing that, the tension in Ryoichi's brows eased slightly.
His indifferent gaze swept across Kurenai before landing on the child behind her.
Hm?
Whose kid is this...?
"How boring."
Just as Ryoichi was trying to remember which family's child this was, the silent Madara suddenly spoke.
"Cousin..."
"Do you know him?"
Madara slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the child who was desperately blinking at him while silently mouthing,
Uchiha Ri.
"Uchiha Asu—"
"Grandpa! I'm home!"
The cheerful shout completely drowned out the rest of Madara's sentence.
All three adults instinctively rubbed their ringing ears.
This brat is unbelievably loud.
Kurenai glared at Asuka as he ran over and immediately began massaging Ryoichi's legs.
Her gaze then shifted back toward the elderly man.
"I see..."
At that point, Ryoichi finally understood what was happening.
The caution disappeared from his face.
Catching Asuka's frantic blinking from the corner of his eye, he smiled faintly.
"Him?"
"His family's gone."
"I've been raising him ever since he was little."
Asuka's eyes widened.
Just as he was about to object, he saw Ryoichi subtly wink at him.
The message couldn't have been clearer.
Don't say a word.
The corner of Asuka's mouth twitched.
He simply closed his eyes and decided not to argue.
Then...
He caught the faint scent of mildew drifting through the air.
Opening his eyes again, he looked toward the old man, who clearly hadn't bathed in quite some time, thoughtfully studying the strange odor clinging to him.
This old man... isn't simple.
Just one glance had been enough for him to identify the stranger.
Ryoichi's cousin.
So...
He was also an Uchiha?
Who would've thought that giving someone a ride home would end with Ryoichi finding his long-lost cousin?
Uncle Grandpa really was lucky.
Leaning closer, Asuka whispered,
"Old man... how about we visit the hot springs later?"
Madara refused without hesitation.
"No."
Asuka glanced at Kurenai, who was still chatting with Ryoichi, then tried again.
"That hot spring is actually pretty good."
"Back then, Senju Tobirama funded its construction under his elder brother's name."
"Now it's managed by the village. Every year, part of the profits goes to Hashirama's granddaughter, while another portion supports people once connected to the Senju."
"As for the biggest share..."
He shrugged.
"The Uchiha clan gets it."
Madara looked at him in confusion.
Asuka shrugged again.
"No special reason."
"Whenever the clan members are in a bad mood, they go soak there."
"While bathing, they remember the tragic fate of the Senju."
"Somehow..."
"They always leave in a much better mood."
Madara's lips twitched.
"Ridiculous."
"It really is."
Asuka nodded seriously.
Thinking about those clan members who practiced the art of mental victory, he couldn't help sighing.
"Still..."
"That hot spring really is nice."
"Wasn't Hashirama famous for his Wood Release?"
"They say the wood used to heat the baths came from trees he personally created."
"After soaking, your body carries a unique fragrance for hours..."
"...like you've just finished fighting Senju Hashirama."
---
Half a day later.
Konoha Eastern Hot Spring Inn.
With a towel wrapped around his head, Ryoichi rested both arms on the edge of the bath and smiled at Asuka.
"So..."
"Why exactly did you disguise yourself as a child and sneak into the Ninja Academy?"
"Ahem..."
Asuka awkwardly cleared his throat before sinking deeper into the steaming water.
"I wanted to relive my childhood."
Ryoichi nodded before asking another question.
"And how did that substitute teacher end up following you home?"
Asuka sighed.
"I poked a hole in the Academy's freshly painted wall."
"I was in a hurry to register, so I tried solving it with money."
"But that teacher absolutely refused."
"After paying for the repairs herself..."
"...she insisted on coming to the clan to learn about my situation."
"What a responsible teacher."
Ryoichi nodded in understanding.
Only new teachers were this conscientious.
Once they'd been teaching for years...
Who would bother chasing a child over something like that?
As he spoke, he turned toward Madara.
Like the rest of them, Madara had a towel wrapped around his head.
Ryoichi's gaze drifted lower, landing on the bandages still wrapped tightly around Madara's chest.
He couldn't help shaking his head.
This was the first time he'd ever seen someone keep their chest bandaged while taking a bath.
They were all grown men.
What was there to be embarrassed about?
After soaking for a while, Asuka and Ryoichi climbed out of the bath and headed toward the washing area next door.
Moments later—
Madara's eyes suddenly snapped open.
His hand unconsciously touched the Hashirama face embedded in his chest before his gaze settled on Shukaku, who was lazily soaking in the bath opposite him.
"So..."
"You're a ninja cat?"
Shukaku slowly opened one eye.
He glanced at Madara before letting out a comfortable groan.
"No."
"A four-legged cat could never outrun a two-legged cat like me."
"...I see."
Madara nodded.
Of course he knew the creature wasn't actually a ninja cat.
He simply wanted an excuse to start a conversation.
"I'm curious."
"How exactly did you end up signing a contract with Uchiha Asuka?"
At those words, Shukaku instantly exploded.
He spat toward the direction Asuka had left and growled,
"It's all that old man's fault!"
"If it weren't for his grandfather, I'd have—"
He suddenly stopped.
If not for that old man...
He might still be sealed away in darkness, completely cut off from the outside world.
After a brief silence, he shook his head.
"Anyway..."
"It's all because of his grandfather."
"His grandfather?"
"Uchiha Tsuru?"
Madara's expression darkened slightly.
He knew Tsuru's abilities well.
He even knew the power of Tsuru's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Did the man possess another ability he hadn't known about?
Hearing Madara's puzzled question, Shukaku submerged his head beneath the hot spring.
Bubbles rose to the surface as his muffled complaints echoed through the water.
"Damn Uchiha Madara..."
"It's all your fault."
"You've kept me awake every single night."
"..."
Madara's face darkened.
Watching the steady stream of bubbles, he asked coldly,
"The grandfather you're talking about..."
"Is Uchiha Madara?"
"It's that damned Uchiha Madara!"
Madara's pupils abruptly contracted.
He could hear the hatred in Shukaku's voice clearly.
It didn't sound fake.
More importantly...
Shukaku clearly hadn't recognized him.
There was no reason to lie.
"..."
So...
Uchiha Madara...
...was the one who ruined my Eye of the Moon Plan?
"..."
At that moment, Ryoichi pulled open the curtain.
Looking into the steamy bathhouse, he called,
"Cousin!"
"Want to eat?"
Madara ignored him completely.
He slowly lifted his head toward the wooden ceiling.
His thoughts had become a tangled mess.
Something...
Something was very wrong.
Right now—
He just wanted some peace and quiet.