Zhang Zhiwei returned to Zhang Jingqing's residence with a slightly heavy heart.
His steps were slow and unsteady, clearly burdened by inner turmoil.
Zhang Jingqing was resting with his eyes closed. Sensing his disciple's return, he opened his eyes slightly and said, his tone tinged with impatience:
"Speak. What's troubling you now?"
Zhang Zhiwei gave a bitter smile. Knowing his master's temperament, he didn't bother with niceties and got straight to the point, recounting in full his recent encounter with Hikaru.
When he mentioned Hikaru possibly being from the Sakura Country, Zhang Jingqing instead revealed a look of relief.
He was well-versed in the secrets of the Heavenly Master Path, and he knew: no Immortal could descend through Sakura Country.
So to him, this news was like a calming tonic, easing some of his internal concerns.
After a brief silence, Zhang Jingqing said flatly,
"Disciple, you don't need to involve yourself in this matter anymore. When the time is right, I'll investigate them myself."
With his master's decision made, Zhang Zhiwei dared not argue. He nodded respectfully, signaling his compliance.
Then he took his leave—but even as he departed, his heart remained tangled in curiosity and suspicion toward Hikaru's group.
Meanwhile, on the other side, this minor detour hadn't affected Uchiha Hikaru and his companions in the slightest. They continued strolling through the streets of this era with great interest.
Though the streets here were old and rundown—worse, even, than pre-reform Konoha—the cultural charm held a strong allure for Chinatsu and Kaguya.
They wandered enthusiastically, frequently stopping to admire the unique atmosphere of this world, marveling at its strangeness and beauty.
As night fell, Hikaru brought the two women back into his personal dimension.
This space had undergone a complete transformation. Once dark and lifeless, it was now bright and full of vitality.
A grand and luxurious residence stood tall within—testament to its creator's refined taste and immense power.
With his spatial control growing stronger by the day, Hikaru could now shape and mold this world at will.
So he had carved out a special subspace, dedicated to housing this mansion.
After all, constantly hopping between worlds without a proper home was simply unsustainable.
So, using his own hands, he built it.
Now, he led Chinatsu and Kaguya inside.
Chinatsu quickly noticed the shift in his gaze and made an excuse about being tired—then promptly fled.
Kaguya, however, was a little slow on the uptake. It wasn't until Hikaru quietly hugged her from behind, sniffing softly at her cheek, neck, and ear, that she finally realized something was off.
She merely blushed and bit her lip, saying nothing.
Which, of course, only encouraged Hikaru to become even bolder.
Before long, Kaguya's pale white eyes were clouding over, her breathing turning shallow.
"Hikaru-kun… don't be so wicked… this kind of thing is… embarrassing..."
"Oh? What kind of thing? What's there to be embarrassed about? Tell me," Hikaru whispered into her ear.
His warm breath tickled her ear, and Kaguya instinctively pressed her legs together, losing her balance.
"I… I think my chakra is acting weird… Please, Hikaru-kun… help draw it out..."
"If the goddess herself is making a request, then I suppose I have no choice."
With that, Hikaru led her to the bedroom, sat down on the bed, and patted his thigh.
...
Hikaru's days were full and fulfilling.
By day, he accompanied the two ladies as they explored the culture and charm of this era, immersing themselves in the blend of history and modernity.
By night, they returned to their warm and cozy haven, enjoying absurd yet blissful moments together.
At the same time, the chaos stirred by Orochimaru and Tobirama in the Sakura Country was still escalating.
The entire nation had fallen into a state of anxiety and dread—paranoia hung in the air like a shroud.
But to Hikaru, all of this was no more than a passing breeze. It didn't concern him.
Happy days always fly by in the blink of an eye.
Soon, the day of Lord Lu's birthday banquet arrived.
After a bit of playful teasing in the morning, Hikaru brought Chinatsu and Kaguya to the lively banquet venue.
However, he didn't make a grand appearance.
After all, he'd only come at Zhang Jingqing's invitation and didn't have an official invitation himself.
Besides, he had no interest in the pomp and ceremony of such events. He preferred to remain an observer—watching quietly from the sidelines.
He figured he could show up once Zhang Zhiwei arrived anyway.
So, he concealed their presence and sat in the sky above the gathering, overlooking the unfolding drama below.
The three of them had effectively become invisible guests—unseen and unfelt by anyone else present.
Just then, something below caught Hikaru's eye—a chubby little boy.
The kid was holding a skewer of candied hawthorn, smiling obsequiously as he tried to impress an equally chubby little girl.
The sight made Hikaru chuckle. He turned to Chinatsu and Kaguya and said:
"Look at that kid… doesn't he remind you of a dog?"
The two ladies followed his pointing finger with curiosity.
Though the boy wasn't particularly handsome, they couldn't quite connect him to a dog either.
"What kind of dog?" Chinatsu asked in confusion.
Hikaru grinned smugly and replied matter-of-factly:
"A simp."
Then he broke into laughter.
His teasing cracked the two women up as well. The mood among the three grew even more relaxed and cheerful.
After a few jokes, Hikaru said meaningfully,
"I get the feeling this banquet's going to get lively soon."
Kaguya nodded.
"Are we making a move later?"
Hikaru dipped his head slightly.
"This mess was caused by us. I'm not the type to let others take the fall for me."
Down below, the little chubby kid—Wang Ai—was becoming even more blatant with his sycophantic behavior.
Just as he shouted something aloud, he was immediately stopped by two others.
At that moment, a young man named Lu Jin entered through the main gate, bringing exciting news: both his master and the Old Celestial Master had arrived.
The crowd buzzed like a stirred beehive.
As host, Lu Xuan naturally stood up immediately—he was ready to personally welcome these distinguished guests.
However, Wang Ai's father spoke up at that moment.
He suggested that everyone go out together to receive them—to show their respect and sincerity.
And so, under Wang Ai's father's lead, the group proceeded toward the entrance to greet the two honored guests.