Panda Ming clenched his fists as he looked toward the pond where Yuki Seisui and Uchiha Haru were.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west… don't underestimate Panda Ming just because I'm poor!"
"I will become a Sage!"
"Hmph!" Panda Ming snorted coldly, then covered his head and stormed off, muttering to himself that he would definitely return.
At the pond, Uchiha Haru, in front of Yuki Seisui, removed her outerwear, revealing her fitted clothing underneath. She then ran behind the pond to change into a swimsuit, her cheeks burning red as she reappeared.
Her grandfather had taught her that even if a relationship was established, one shouldn't let a man get his way.
It would make him take her for granted.
Seeing Haru like this, Yuki Seisui had no such reservations. He stripped down to just his shorts and jumped directly into the pond.
The water in the bamboo forest was far cooler than the outside. The moment he hit it, he felt an icy chill pierce through his body.
"Hss~!"
"Ah, this feels amazing!"
In the scorching summer, soaking in this icy pond was pure bliss.
Watching Yuki Seisui revel in the water, Haru pursed her lips, then smiled softly as she walked over.
The water slowly covered her delicate feet, then calves… waist… leaving only her head above the surface.
"Move a little," Yuki Seisui teased.
"Staying completely still won't feel as good."
Seeing Haru frozen in the water, he couldn't resist splashing her with some of the cool pond water.
"Ugh~!" Haru squinted and tilted her head to the side, trying to dodge the splash.
Yuki Seisui's playful act completely relaxed her.
Seeing him laugh at her, Haru pursed her lips, then manipulated her chakra to control the water, sending harmless streams toward him.
Caught off guard, Yuki Seisui's laughter stopped as Haru's water jet drenched him from head to toe.
The stream cascaded down his hair and back into the pond, leaving him looking like a soaking wet mess.
Haru couldn't help but laugh, the sound like delicate silver bells echoing around the pond.
Wiping the water from his face, Yuki Seisui watched Haru's happy smile, and a small smile crept onto his own face.
No matter how many people she had killed, she was still a girl at heart.
Haru, normally serious and silent, didn't seem like a typical young woman.
But now… she could smile freely.
Noticing his gaze, Haru blushed deeply and submerged half her head beneath the water.
"What are you staring at me for?"
Her voice bubbled up from beneath the surface, sending a stream of tiny bubbles rippling through the pond.
Yuki Seisui's smile didn't waver. He scooted closer and lifted her from the water.
"I'm just looking at the mother of my future children."
Haru's face flushed even deeper.
"Who, who is the mother of your future children?!"
Seeing Haru trying to dive back under the water, Yuki Seisui held her close.
"Alright, no more of that. Girls should smile more, understand?"
He let her go and added, "Have you noticed how beautiful your smile is?"
"Hmm?" Haru touched her cheeks, puzzled.
No one had ever told her that before. Yuki Seisui was the first.
"Really?" Haru asked, unsure.
"Of course it's beautiful," Yuki Seisui said steadily. "You should smile more from now on."
He used his fingers to lift the corners of her lips, then scooped a handful of pond water, forming a mirror, and held it before her.
"See? Doesn't it look much better?"
Haru looked at her reflected smiling face and froze for a moment.
"So… I should smile more from now on."
"The world is beautiful. The morning sun, the fragrance of the plants, the streams flowing from high to low, the chirping of birds and insects…"
"And this endless bamboo forest," Yuki Seisui said, glancing around before turning back to her. "All of it is wonderful, isn't it?"
"What do you think?"
"Waaah~!" Panda Kuma ran over, splashing into the pond, sending droplets onto both of them.
Wiping the water from his face, Yuki Seisui used his water chakra to lift Panda Kuma high.
"And even the bamboo forest panda," he said, holding the little creature.
"Shouldn't all of this make you smile?"
Panda Kuma imitated him, looking at Haru and squealing.
Seeing the panda and her together, Haru bit her lip, then forced a small smile.
"I will," she said.
Seeing her tentative smile, Yuki Seisui didn't press further.
A socially anxious, paranoid girl… that was normal.
He didn't expect her to change overnight, just that she'd smile more and soften her shyness.
Sometimes, the so-called "cold goddess" isn't ignoring you out of pride—she's just socially anxious.
Yuki Seisui had seen this many times.
But the world is balanced; for every "i" there is an "e."
"Come, Panda Kuma, I'll give you a bath!" Yuki Seisui said, lifting the little panda again.
"Yaa!"
He dunked Panda Kuma into the water, examining her. "Ah… it's just different depths, huh."
"Waaah~!"
Panda Kuma struggled, looking at Haru as if hoping she'd save her.
Haru watched, suppressing a laugh at Panda Kuma's antics and Yuki Seisui's focused expression.
The sound of her laughter, like silver bells, echoed through the bamboo forest again.
Yuki Seisui met her eyes, smiling in response.
"Waaah~!"
"Waaah~!"
"Waaah~!"
Their laughter sent Panda Kuma splashing even more, droplets flying everywhere.
Her squeals sounded like a tiny protest against Yuki Seisui, but only made the two laugh harder.
Seeing them, Panda Kuma pouted and sank under the water to escape reality.
Yuki Seisui wasn't worried; pandas in the bamboo forest were exceptionally resilient—even the young Panda Kuma.
These weren't ordinary pandas.
If one could drown in this pond, even the Panda Sage would feel embarrassed enough to impale himself on tofu.
Yuki Seisui and Haru continued playing in the pond, while Minato crouched by their tent, staring blankly at the sky.
"It's noon," he muttered.
"Yuki Seisui and Haru still haven't returned."
"Could they have abandoned me?"