Three days later, Isamu brought Senba and Mikoto to the Uchiha Clan Grounds located on the northern border of the Land of Fire.
"Father, where are you taking us?" Mikoto asked with a confused expression.
"To everyone else, you two are already dead, so you shouldn't be wandering around the Ninja World. I've brought you here this time so you can properly reflect on your actions!" The latter part was clearly directed at Senba.
Senba had hardly spoken to Isamu over the past few days, perhaps out of shame at facing his father.
"Uh… Father, there's nothing here but trees and mountains. This…" Mikoto's meaning was clear: how could anyone live here with nothing around?
"This is the entrance to my Uchiha Clan. You'll see once we're inside!" As he spoke, Isamu's hands quickly formed seals, and the Light Gate leading into the Small World opened.
Hearing this, Uchiha Senba and Mikoto were both completely bewildered. Hadn't the Uchiha Clan been wiped out? Why would it be here?
"Let's go!" Isamu didn't explain further and led the two of them through the Light Gate.
After stepping through the Light Gate, rows of buildings came into view. Since his first experience returning, Isamu had moved the entrance to the clan's square.
"Former Clan Head!!" Seeing Isamu return, the two Uchiha Clan Members guarding the entrance quickly stepped forward to greet him.
Senba and Mikoto stared wide-eyed at the two men wearing Uchiha clothing adorned with the Fan Crest. Were these really Uchiha Clan Members?
"Mhm. Is the Clan Head in the clan?" Isamu nodded and then asked if Uchiha Sora was present.
"Reporting to the Former Clan Head, Clan Head Sora has gone to the Ninja World for training and is currently not in the clan!"
"He's out? Then go notify Elder Zhan and have him meet me at the ancestral hall!"
"Yes!"
Isamu then led Senba and Mikoto toward the ancestral hall.
"Greetings, Former Clan Head!"
"Greetings, Lord Isamu!"
"Greetings, Old Clan Head!"
"Greetings, Grandpa Former Head!"
…
"Good, good…" Along the way, various Clan Members greeted Isamu. Seeing the Clan Members, both young and old, he cordially responded to each one.
Senba and Mikoto were deeply shocked to see so many people wearing Uchiha clothing. The population was no smaller than that of the Uchiha in Konoha Village.
"Father, are these people really all from the Uchiha Clan?" Under the shock, Senba finally couldn't help but ask.
"Haven't you seen for yourself? If they aren't Clan Members, then who are they? I told you about these Clan Members long ago, but you just never believed me!"
Hearing his father's words, Senba felt a bit embarrassed. He had always thought his father was just boasting; he never expected this group of Clan Members to actually exist. It was a real slap in the face.
Mikoto looked at these Clan Members. Their heartfelt smiles gave her a huge shock. Those genuine smiles proved they were truly living happily here. It was so different from the oppressed Uchiha in Konoha Village—like heaven and earth. This was what the Uchiha should truly look like.
After walking for a while, they soon arrived at the ancestral hall. Upon entering, Senba looked curiously at the memorial tablets placed above. To his surprise, there were tablets for his grandfather, Uchiha Madara, and his granduncle, Uchiha Izuna. However, considering this was his father's Clan Grounds, it seemed normal.
"Kneel and kowtow to your grandfather and the others!"
Senba and Mikoto quickly knelt and kowtowed three times to their ancestors.
Just then, Uchiha Zhan walked in from outside.
"Oh, Lord Isamu! Since you're back, you could have just come to find me. Why did you have to come to the ancestral hall… here?" Mid-sentence, Zhan saw the man and woman kneeling and asked curiously, "Eh? Who are these two?"
"Get up and greet your Uncle Zhan!"
"Hello, Uncle Zhan!!"
"Uh… Hello, hello!" Seeing the two of them call him uncle, Zhan looked at Isamu with a face full of confusion.
"These are my son and daughter-in-law, Uchiha Senba and Uchiha Mikoto!" Isamu calmly announced their names.
"Oh, so you're Lord Isamu's son and daughter-in-law. Welcome back to the big family of the Uchiha Clan! Don't be formal; this will be your home from now on!" Zhan greeted them warmly, but then remarked casually, "But Isamu, why did you name your son Mikoto? That name sounds like a woman's no matter how you hear it!"
"…" Isamu's mouth twitched. With a dark expression, he said, "Zhan, have you gone senile? My son is named Senba, and my daughter-in-law is Mikoto!"
"Ah? Is that so? Hahahaha! I'm getting old, and my brain isn't working as well as it used to. Don't mind me!" Realizing his mistake, Zhan looked embarrassed.
Senba and Mikoto stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"Well then, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Since you're back, I must take charge and throw a proper welcome ceremony for you today. Come, follow me!" As Zhan spoke, he turned to head outside.
Seeing Uchiha Zhan about to lead the two away, Isamu spoke up, "Wait a moment, Zhan!"
"Wait for what? Is there something else?" Zhan stopped and turned back to look at Isamu in confusion.
"Kneel down!"
Hearing his father's command, Senba knelt before the ancestral tablets once again.
Seeing this, Zhan became even more confused. What was going on?
"Starting today, you will properly reflect on your actions before these ancestors. You won't leave the ancestral hall until you've figured things out!" After saying that, Isamu looked at Zhan and said calmly, "Zhan, from today on, keep a close eye on this brat for me. Without my order, Uchiha Senba is not allowed to take a single step out of the clan!"
"Uh… Okay!" Witnessing the scene, Zhan nodded dumbly. He really didn't know how Senba had provoked Isamu.
"Let's go, Mikoto. I'll show you where you'll be staying from now on." Leaving Senba alone, Isamu led Zhan and Mikoto toward his house in the clan.
Back at Isamu's house, after learning about Senba's situation, Zhan didn't know how to speak up for him anymore. Just the fact that he had been slaving away for Konoha was serious enough. Not enforcing Clan Law was already a huge mercy. Persuade him? Like hell I would.
After settling his son and daughter-in-law into the Clan Grounds, Isamu left and returned to the inn to continue his journey through the Ninja World with Tsunade and the others.
As for Senba, after being settled into the Uchiha Clan Grounds, he didn't step out of there for the next several years.