Chapter 83 It seems I... was just looking for...

The night in the capital of the Land of Fire appears calm, but undercurrents are surging beneath the surface.

—The five great nations' daimyo have been secretly plotting for ten years: ever since the day Uchiha Kokusatsu stripped them of their power with absolute force, this long revenge has been brewing quietly in the shadows.

Now, they believe they have finally found the perfect opportunity, a chance to overthrow the current order and assassinate the "Regent".

However, all their plans were transparent to Yan Sheng.

Uchiha Uta's intelligence network was no mere facade; its tentacles reached across the globe. Moreover, the Fire Country Daimyo himself was right under Yan Sheng's nose. His every move, along with those supposedly secretive communications, were laid bare before Yan Sheng like an open scroll.

However, Yan Sheng chose to remain indifferent.

On the one hand, he was indeed too lazy to pay attention to these conspiracies that he considered child's play; on the other hand, he desperately needed to divert his attention.

He watched as those people, filled with resentment and hatred for him, secretly plotted to regain power... He wanted to see just how much trouble these ants could cause.

Anyway, he's been incredibly bored lately.

...

...

The initial motivation that propelled Yan Sheng onto the path of "unification" and to create peace through force stemmed from his obsession with accumulating merit to save Yoriichi.

Now that his merits have been repaid and Yoriichi has been safely reincarnated, the great motivation that had sustained him through this journey has suddenly vanished. Everything is over, and he has lost interest in grand narratives such as "ruling the world" and "leading peace," even harboring thoughts of resignation.

He had revealed this idea to his two most trusted confidants—Uchiha Masaki and Uchiha Uta.

Upon hearing this, Yashu practically jumped up from his seat, his face filled with disbelief and anxiety: "My young master! Can you please stop acting on a whim?"

He lowered his voice, his tone urgent, “The current situation is extremely complex. If you withdraw now, it will not be a simple change of power, but a massive upheaval that will sweep the world! When war breaks out and lives are lost, how long can you remain unscathed? Of course I know you are powerful and fearless, but the world does not! Even if they know this and dare not attack, if the world falls into chaos and becomes terrible because of your departure, can you really stay completely uninvolved and unaffected?”

Compared to Ya Shu's dissuasion based on self-interest, Shi was more concerned about Yan Sheng himself.

She asked softly, "Why? Has something happened that has made you feel weary?" Her voice remained gentle, but her hands, hidden in her sleeves, had quietly clenched, and a chilling killing intent gathered deep in her eyes.

Don't let her know who or what made Lord Yan Sheng want to leave, otherwise, she will make the other party pay the most painful price.

Faced with Shi's question, Yan Sheng remained silent, feeling a sense of bewilderment.

When he was first reincarnated into this world, he only wanted to end this meaningless life and never thought about living it seriously.

It was his mother in this life, that resilient woman, who held him tightly, praying to gods and Buddhas, pouring her heart and soul into him... Perhaps, he was ultimately moved by that unconditional maternal love, and that's why he gave up the idea of ​​ending his own life.

Later, he discovered the truth about reincarnation and learned the price Yoriichi paid for him.

The person he least wanted to owe was Yoriichi, so he began to push himself to the limit, trying to repay this debt of karma, even if it meant dying from exhaustion.

But he soon discovered that no matter how much time he saved or how much he overspent, the speed at which he accumulated merit was far from enough. So he began to consciously take care of his body.

He has to live, he absolutely must live, otherwise everything will be over.

And then came the present day.

With his long-cherished wish fulfilled and his debts paid off, he felt he could finally lay down all his burdens and die peacefully.

However, Yashu told him that his existence was already intertwined with the fate of countless people. His death extinguished not only his own life, but also the light of hope upon which countless others depended for survival.

...

Oh, right.

Yan Sheng recalled the contract with the consciousness of this planet.

He was able to travel to other worlds to accumulate merit because the consciousness of this world's planet offered him a helping hand. In exchange, he promised to lend a hand when the "Otsutsuki" descends upon this world in the future.

...

Yan Sheng seemed to have found a temporary solution.

Yes, he can't die now. He doesn't care about the lives of others, but he must keep the promise he made.

Can...

Is Yan Sheng really that kind of person?

As the saying goes, a person who can betray once will betray a thousand times and ten thousand times.

In his past life, Yan Sheng betrayed his lord, his comrades, his family, his bottom line as a human being, and everything he could betray.

Can someone who bears the name of countless betrayals truly be someone who values ​​their promises above all else and remains steadfast in their commitment?

***

The assassination plot meticulously planned by the five great daimyo was essentially a high-stakes gamble based on a grave miscalculation.

—Since Yan Sheng had never personally fought in front of them, they lacked a fundamental understanding of his combat strength. However, they were not without caution, and based on the goal of dealing with a powerful ninja, they devised what they believed to be a meticulous plan:

First, an inside agent was used to poison the food: a maid who had been bribed and was in charge of Yan Sheng's daily meals was used to put a poison called "Ji Ling San" (寂灵散), which was specifically designed for ninjas, into certain tea snacks or drinks.

This poison is colorless and odorless, and can subtly paralyze the chakra pathways, causing even the strongest ninja to become weak and stagnate in a short period of time.

Next came the close-quarters assassination: after confirming the effects of the poison, the maid who had administered the poison, taking advantage of the close proximity, used a specially made short blade capable of breaking through chakra defenses to deliver a fatal blow to the "weakened" Yan Sheng.

During this period, chaos was created simultaneously with external forces: fires and explosions were caused throughout the capital to distract Yan Sheng's personal guards, creating a window of opportunity for the assassination and facilitating the assassin's escape.

That's all. The last point, supposedly about escaping, was actually to ensure the assassin was killed under duress, thus eliminating any possibility of another murderer.

As for whether anyone will speculate that there is a mastermind behind it all—by then, they will have regained power, so why would they be afraid of that?

This plan seemed flawless to them, but they didn't realize that those around them who understood Yan Sheng's strength, such as the Kurosawa family elder of the Land of Lightning who had served two dynasties and was well-versed in the art of self-preservation, could have easily warned the daimyo. However, the reality was that he had no intention of revealing the truth to the daimyo.

The elder of the Kurosawa family coldly observed the daimyo's various petty actions, feeling nothing but mockery in his heart.

He knew that once someone had supreme power, they were prone to delusional fantasies once they lost power. Even if he told Yan Sheng the truth about his god-like power, the daimyo would only think he was exaggerating and might even try to drag him down with him.

For the elders of the Kurosawa family, it didn't matter who sat at the top of the power structure. As long as their own position and the interests of their family remained unshaken, they would never do something as foolish as throwing an egg against a rock.

It's true that the famous man, who in his memory only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, actually had the patience to endure and lie low for ten years to infiltrate the people around Yan Sheng. He was truly born in hardship and died in comfort.

You see, in the past, no matter how much he advised the daimyo to strengthen themselves, the daimyo would just brush him off and think he was meddling. Now, the daimyo are taking action on their own initiative.

Haha, how ironic.

On the other side.

Yan Sheng had already learned all the details of the "rebels'" plans through his poetry intelligence network and decided to play along with them. The momentary euphoria these people felt when they thought they were on the verge of success, and the despair that followed, which was destined to be even deeper, might bring him some amusement.

So, on this day, as usual, during a break from handling official business, he picked up the cup of tea that had been laced with "Silent Spirit Powder" and a drug that could make people faint, and drank the tea in the shadows under the watchful eyes of countless tense and expectant ones.

A moment later, his slender fingers trembled slightly, and the teacup rolled to the ground, shattering with a crisp sound. He clutched his forehead, swayed, and then collapsed onto the table, losing consciousness.

Yoriichi, who had been waiting outside the palace but had been sent away under the pretext of "investigating unusual activity," felt an inexplicable unease growing stronger on his way out.

An inexplicable intuition, coupled with his deep concern for Yan Sheng, made him suddenly stop in his tracks.

No, he wasn't quite right in the way he described it, but it just wasn't right.

Yoriichi immediately turned around and rushed back to the main hall where Kokusatsu was at top speed.

When he rushed into the hall like a whirlwind, he saw the palace maid who was in charge of serving tea. Her face was filled with fear and determination. She held a short blade that gleamed with an ominous cold light and stabbed it fiercely at Yan Sheng, who was lying on the table and pretending to be unconscious.

Yoriichi's pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size, his mind went blank, leaving only primal fear and rage. He didn't even have time to draw his sword; his figure moved like lightning, instantly covering several meters, unleashing an incomparably sharp burst of energy with the force of a thunderbolt.

"Bang!"

Before the palace maid could react, she was blasted away by the terrifying force, crashing into a pillar in the distance and dying instantly.

Yoriichi staggered to the table, his knees almost buckling as he knelt beside Yan Sheng. His two eyes, capable of seeing through the essence of all things, were fixed on Yan Sheng, frantically scanning every meridian and organ in his body, searching for any possible wounds or abnormalities.

The image ultimately focused on the abdomen.

It's poison.

His elder brother was poisoned because he failed to protect him and was easily distracted.

This realization pierced Yoriichi's heart like a sharp icicle, shattering his reason. A massive wave of panic, self-blame, and lingering fear overwhelmed Yoriichi.

He tried to breathe, but felt an invisible hand choking his throat, preventing air from entering his lungs; he opened his mouth, but could only let out rapid, broken gasps. His vision began to darken, golden starlight exploded at the edges of his field of vision, and his brain became dizzy from extreme oxygen deprivation.

"Heh...heh..."

He tried in vain to control his breathing, his body trembling violently uncontrollably. Finally, his nerves, stretched to the limit, snapped. His vision went black, and he fell straight forward, landing squarely on the "unconscious" Yan Sheng.

Yan Sheng, who was suddenly pressed down by the weight, trembled slightly with his long eyelashes and slowly opened his eyes: "?"

The commotion of the palace maid being sent flying was so great that he couldn't possibly be unaware of it. He just didn't know how to face Yoriichi for a moment. He had clearly sent Yoriichi away, so why did he suddenly come back halfway?

Looking at Yoriichi lying on top of him, seemingly unconscious, Yan Sheng silently uttered another question mark. Then, a rare look of astonishment appeared in his usually calm eyes.

...Are you really dizzy?

***

Yoriichi was awakened by the faint sound of conversation.

He was in a daze, feeling weak all over, as if he had just escaped from a nightmare. Two voices reached his ears, one of which was the familiar voice he most wanted to hear at that moment, the one that made him feel most at ease—clear, cool, and magnetic.

"Is he really alright? Why isn't he awake yet?" It was Yan Sheng's voice.

The other was an unfamiliar, respectful male voice: "Reporting to you, sir, the young master is not seriously injured. He was just too emotionally agitated, which caused him to breathe too fast and too deep, resulting in respiratory alkali poisoning, also known as hyperventilation. He has recovered now and should wake up soon."

Yoriichi's eyelashes fluttered a few times before he slowly opened his eyes. What came into view was the familiar ceiling.

He was familiar with it because he had seen it several times—every time his elder brother took a break or handled official business late at night, he would quietly stand guard outside the door and occasionally catch a glimpse of it.

"Hmm? You're awake."

A steady sound of footsteps approached from afar, and then the figure that lingered in his heart stopped by the bedside.

Yan Sheng lowered his eyes, looking at the boy on the bed whose face was still a little pale, his expression as indifferent as ever.

Yoriichi had just woken up, and his consciousness had not yet fully returned. Fragments of remaining memories surged into his mind like a tide.

The clear presence of toxins in his brother's body... Overwhelmed by intense worry for Yan Sheng's safety, Yoriichi instinctively activated his innate eyes, capable of seeing the essence of all things.

His all-seeing vision of the world unfolded silently, revealing Yan Sheng's physical structure, chakra flow, meridian pathways... all his inner mysteries were laid bare before him.

He hurriedly and meticulously examined the area inside and out, top to top, to confirm whether the poison had been cleared and whether his brother was safe and sound.

For Yan Sheng...

This familiar feeling, as if you've been completely seen through, inside and out...

Yan Sheng's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He didn't immediately react, but instead turned to the doctor waiting to the side, saying in a flat tone, "This is none of your business."

"Yes, sir." The doctor responded respectfully, quickly packed his medicine kit, bowed, and left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Now, only the two brothers remain in the room.

Yan Sheng's gaze returned to Yoriichi's face, his deep black eyes sharp as knives, piercing straight into Yoriichi's heart. He spoke, his voice not loud, but with an undeniable certainty: "Your eyes... you can see the 'Transparent World,' right?"

Although it is in the form of a question, it is expressed in the tone of a statement.

Yoriichi snapped out of his daze, realizing what he had just done. His face drained of color instantly, gripped by immense panic. He immediately blurted out a denial: "No, I can't see it."

"Do you know this?" Yan Sheng said slowly, his voice still calm, "You're not good at lying."

Those crystal-clear eyes couldn't hide any secrets.

"...I'm sorry, brother." Yoriichi's voice lowered, trembling slightly. He curled his fingers and gripped the blankets tightly beneath him. "I didn't mean to, please don't abandon me."

He was truly panicked; the deep-seated fear of being abandoned by the person in front of him overwhelmed everything at that moment.

Seeing that Yan Sheng was just looking at him silently, without any intention of "refuting" him, Yoriichi's heart sank.

An extreme and desperate thought suddenly emerged—he suddenly raised his hand and dug two fingers into his eyes without hesitation.

"what you do!"

Yan Sheng was stunned. He reacted quickly, grabbing Yoriichi's wrist so tightly that Yoriichi's slender wrist instantly turned red. He shouted angrily, his face showing such a rare expression of shock and anger.

Yoriichi was restrained by him, his face tilted up, his eyes, which he had almost destroyed himself, were now filled with broken sadness and stubbornness: "If you don't like it, brother, then these eyes... can be discarded."

Yan Sheng took a deep breath, his expression indescribable, and forcefully suppressed the complex emotions surging in his chest. He gripped Yoriichi's wrist tightly to prevent him from doing anything to harm himself, and said in a tone of disbelief and a barely perceptible helplessness, "What are you thinking? Let alone when I ever said I didn't like these eyes, even if I didn't, what does it have to do with you damaging them?"

Yoriichi was taken aback by his question, as if he had never thought about it before. He lowered his head, his voice muffled, carrying a childlike, pure logic: "I don't want my brother to hate me."

"......"

Yan Sheng remained silent.

A question, a question that had haunted him through past and present lives like a nightmare, finally broke free from all rational constraints and burst forth:

"Why?"

He looked at his younger brother, who was no longer connected to him by blood, and asked the question that had troubled him for two lifetimes: "Why do you care so much about my likes and dislikes? Why... no matter what, will you never give up on me?" It was the same in his past life, and it is the same in this life.

He betrayed, he fled, he hated, so why did Yoriichi always follow him like a shadow, so persistent?

Yoriichi remained silent for a long time, his thick eyelashes drooping, casting small shadows on his pale cheeks. He seemed to be struggling to organize his thoughts, or perhaps, even he himself had never truly explored the root of this obsession.

Finally, he raised his head, his gaze somewhat lost as he looked into the void, as if searching for an answer he himself could not see clearly. In a slow, bewildered tone, he whispered:

"Because...my brother is there."

He paused, trying to grasp that fleeting feeling, and then gave an answer.

"Just knowing that my brother exists somewhere in this world... feels like my heart has found its place. If even my brother hates me and doesn't want me anymore..." His voice grew softer and softer, filled with an empty sense of bewilderment, "Then... where should I go?"

"It seems like I... came into this world just to find my brother."

Yan Sheng was rooted to the spot by that straightforward and pure gaze. He didn't know how to answer Yoriichi.

What he feared most was such unreserved, pure, and genuine emotion. It made him more bewildered than any sword or conspiracy.

Moreover, the object of his affections was someone who had once driven him to such fanaticism that he was willing to fall into the path of evil.

—Yes, he was just questioning why the other person was so obsessive and persistent towards him. But what about himself? Wasn't he also caught up in another extreme of obsession?

Even though the other person's talents and abilities were not objectively indispensable to him, he was like someone stuck in a rut, stubbornly believing that they were things he absolutely had to have. And when he realized that he couldn't achieve them through conventional means, he didn't hesitate to resort to crooked paths, even betraying everything, just to get them.

It must be said that, given their morbid and relentless obsession with achieving their goals, these two truly deserve to be called blood brothers.

In the end, a thousand thoughts churned in his chest, but Yan Sheng couldn't utter a word. He averted his gaze from Yuan Yi, leaving behind a slightly stiff "Get some rest," before turning and fleeing the room as if escaping.

Yan Sheng, who had just left, felt an inexplicable fire burning in his chest, but he couldn't find an outlet for it, which made him increasingly irritable.

Just then, Uchiha Shi appeared in the corridor. Seeing that Yan Sheng had finished dealing with Yoriichi's matter, she stepped forward and respectfully bowed her head to report:

"Brother Yan Sheng, the five powerful daimyo who participated in this rebellion and their cronies have been apprehended. Please advise on how to execute them."

Yan Sheng, who was just looking for a place to vent his anger, suddenly turned his eyes as cold as ice.

A ready-made punching bag has been delivered to our door.

Back in the room.

Yoriichi was filled with confusion and unease. He didn't know why his brother was so angry. If it was because of these eyes... he could destroy them completely.

But his elder brother sternly stopped him, warning him that if he dared to do anything to harm himself again, he would truly never want him again.

Thinking of this, Yoriichi couldn't help but feel a secret joy rising in his heart—was his brother concerned about him?

But this secret joy was quickly overshadowed by worry. What was it that had angered his brother? He wanted to help his brother resolve the issue and relieve his brother's worries.

While lost in thought, Yoriichi couldn't help but take another close look at his brother's room.

The furnishings here are extremely simple, even austere, with almost no superfluous decorations except for the necessary furniture, just like the feeling one gets from the owner.

As he looked around, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a flute placed on the desk by the window. The flute was of ordinary and rough design, yet it was placed gently and delicately on a brocade cushion.

Yuan Yi paused, then felt an inexplicable pull that made him stand up, walk over, and pick up the flute.

The moment my fingertips touched the flute, an indescribable, incredibly familiar warmth surged into my heart, as if a long-lost treasure had been found again.

His heart pounded in his chest, and a voice echoed in his mind: This seems to be... the flute he lost, the one he had so firmly told his parents about.

When Yan Sheng finished dealing with the aftermath of the five great daimyo and their cronies, and returned to his room with a chilling aura that had not yet completely dissipated, he saw Yoriichi standing in front of his desk, holding the flute that he had put away with complicated thoughts, lost in thought.

It should be noted that the flute that Yan Sheng gave to Yoriichi in his previous life had already been cut in half by Yan Sheng himself and remained forever in that regretful past life.

Therefore, the flute that Yoriichi is holding at this moment is the one that Yoriichi gave to Kokushibo in his previous life.

It should not have appeared in this world, and for some unknown reason, it came to this world along with Yan Sheng's soul.

Yan Sheng looked at the boy's focused profile, remained silent for a moment, and then broke the silence with a tone that he himself did not realize was softened: "Do you like it? If you like it, I'll give it to you."

Yoriichi seemed completely absorbed in his own world, oblivious to Yan Sheng's return. It wasn't until Yan Sheng spoke that he snapped back to reality, instinctively trying to put the flute back in its place like a startled animal, his actions betraying a guilty conscience.

Then he remembered what Yan Sheng had just said—that he wanted to give him the flute. Although the flute originally belonged to him. Yoriichi's eyes lit up instantly, and his unease was immediately replaced by joy.

"Thank you, brother. I like it very much." Perhaps afraid that he was not sincere enough, Yoriichi picked up the flute again, holding it carefully in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure. Then he raised his little face and gave Yan Sheng a pure and bright smile.

At this moment, time seemed to be strangely superimposed.

The image of the eight-year-old boy holding the flute and smiling at him overlapped perfectly with the image of the five-year-old boy in his memory who, when he received the flute from him, was equally careful and gave him the same pure smile.

However, Yoriichi was only five years old then, while he is now eight and much taller than the child in his memory. Furthermore, they don't look alike. After all, they are no longer born to the same parents, so how could they possibly resemble each other?

However, this did not prevent Yan Sheng from perfectly merging the two timelines and the two figures together.

After a long while, Yan Sheng's throat moved slightly, and finally turned into a faint sigh filled with complex emotions. He slowly closed his eyes, as if unwilling, or more accurately, afraid, to look at that smile that almost burned his soul.

***

The rebellion orchestrated by the five great daimyo was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating only a barely perceptible ripple before sinking into complete silence.

The ambitious schemers who deserved to die have been executed, the traitors who needed to be purged have been eradicated, and the accomplices who needed to be imprisoned have lost their freedom forever.

After a brief period of turmoil, everything quickly returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

Yoriichi remained a silent and loyal little shadow, following closely behind Michikatsu.

Under the corridor, Uchiha Masaki looked at the two figures, one large and one small, not far away, especially the little tail behind Yan Sheng that almost copied his walking rhythm. He couldn't help but chuckle and nudged his gloomy companion beside him with his elbow.

"Sigh, Shi, does this scene seem familiar?" Ya Shu's tone was somewhat teasing. "Back then, you were the one who couldn't shake off Young Master Yan Sheng's little shadow. Now, it's this kid instead. Tell me, what are you thinking?"

When asked about it, Uchiha Shi's almost solidified black aura intensified.

She crossed her arms, her cold, beautiful face expressionless, and replied in a curt tone, "I don't really want to. Anyway, that child has absolutely no blood relation to Brother Yan Sheng." She paused deliberately, emphasizing, "Besides, why should I bother with a child?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Shu pointed bluntly at the visible black resentment emanating from her body and retorted, "Hey, can you please tone down that 'black aura' before you speak? Nobody will believe what you're saying! The entire Daming Prefecture is practically frozen by the cold aura you're radiating."

Shi snorted coldly, turned her face away, and refused to discuss the topic any further. However, when her gaze swept over Yoriichi, there was indeed a hint of barely perceptible frustration at being "replaced."

A quarter has passed in the blink of an eye, and summer has given way to autumn.

A report about the Senju clan was presented to Yan Sheng. He browsed through the information, a hint of surprise appearing in his deep eyes.

Hashirama Senju actually adopted a child.

—The development of this timeline is becoming increasingly distant from the main world (the original work).

Thanks to the series of reforms implemented by Kokusatsu and the solid alliance formed early on by the Uchiha and Senju clans, the Land of Whirlpools was not destroyed, and the Uzumaki clan survived, unlike in the main world where their homeland was destroyed.

Therefore, the marriage between Senju and Uzumaki did not become a reality in this world.

Both Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki, the princess of the Uzumaki clan, were top-tier fighters and key figures in their respective clans. They were busy with the development of their families and villages, and no one mentioned or dared to urge them to get married.

Especially in today's era of rapid development, where opportunities and challenges coexist, strength and contribution are far more important than the short-term benefits brought by marriage.

Of course, there were voices within the Senju clan. After all, Hashirama possessed the unique Wood Release bloodline limit, and the clan elders naturally hoped that this powerful force could be passed down through their bloodline.

But the current Hashirama Senju is no longer the clan leader who had to sacrifice his personal will for the sake of the clan's interests or the village's stability. He now possesses more confidence and freedom to say no.

...The report detailed the girl's background: Tsunade Senju, whose father was an elite member of the Senju clan and whose mother was an ordinary member of the Uzumaki clan, both of whom died in a vendetta.

This puts young Tsunade in an awkward position. She carries the blood of two clans and can theoretically return to either side, but after losing her direct relatives, she inevitably feels a sense of alienation, like a dependent, whether in the Senju or Uzumaki clans.

After all, her parents were orphans and had no relatives.

Hashirama Senju found her by a small river outside Konoha Village.

At that time, the little girl sat alone on the riverbank, gazing at the flowing water, her small figure appearing particularly lonely. Hashirama went up to her and asked, only to learn about her background.

Seeing the child's melancholy beyond his years, and recalling the incessant nagging from the clan about having a heir, Hashirama slapped his thigh and made a decision—"You've been pressuring me for an heir, haven't you? Fine, I'll raise one right now!"

Thus, Tsunade, a girl destined to bear many burdens in her original fate, became Hashirama Senju's adopted daughter in this "deviant" time and space in another way, beginning her unknown life.

Fate is a truly wondrous thing.

Yan Sheng closed the report, trying to shake off the image of the blonde woman that had appeared in his mind along with the intelligence information.

...

...

It's that time of year again for the Uchiha clan's internal family meeting.

In previous years, Yan Sheng's name never appeared on the list of attendees at this time, and he himself showed no interest in it. But this year, the situation is different.

On the eve of the meeting, Madara Uchiha personally approached Michikatsu. His tall figure stood under the porch, his dark eyes exuding an undeniable authority in the dim light.

"You have to attend this year's clan gathering," Ban said bluntly, his tone as concise as ever.

Yan Sheng looked up from the mountain of files, put down his pen, and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

"It's rare for my elder brother to personally come and invite me." He paused, noticing the irritation in Ban's brows, and asked, "Is there something special about this meeting?"

Ban crossed his arms, gave a cold snort, and did not answer directly, only leaving behind the words, "You'll know when you get there." After saying that, he turned and left, the hem of his clothes drawing a neat arc in the air.

Five days later, the clan meeting was held as scheduled.

Yoriichi wanted to go, but since he wasn't a member of the Uchiha clan, he couldn't go; that was the most basic rule. He watched Yan Sheng's departing figure, pursed his lips, his face full of sullenness, but he didn't persist or make a fuss. He simply returned to his room silently and stared blankly at his flute.

On the other side.

The Uchiha clan's council hall was ancient and solemn, with a faint scent of sandalwood and aged wood permeating the air.

When Yan Sheng followed Madara and Izuna into the hall, the previously noisy discussions immediately subsided.

Those seated in the hall were mostly respected elders of the clan, their hair and beards all white. Their gazes were fixed on Yan Sheng, who had not made a public appearance for a long time, their faces filled with a variety of emotions.

Some were undisguised astonished, their meaning clear: this reclusive "Third Young Master" was still alive; others were puzzled, whispering amongst themselves about why this "Third Young Master," who never attended events, had suddenly appeared.

However, these gazes did not linger on Yan Sheng for long. After all, he was not the focus of today's meeting.

Once everyone had arrived, the clan meeting officially began, and the elders couldn't wait to launch their long-planned "attack."

An elder with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, was the first to challenge, his target being Uchiha Madara, who sat at the head of the table: "Madara! As the clan leader, you bear the heavy responsibility of leading the future of the clan! But look at yourself, you are already forty years old this year. When exactly do you plan to consider marriage and give birth to an heir to carry on the clan's bloodline?"

Another elder with a serious expression turned his attention to Izuna, who was sitting to Madara's left: "And you, Izuna, don't learn everything from your older brother. It's fine to learn his good points, but there's no need to learn his 'bad habits' of not caring about such important matters."

Unable to sit down next to Izuna because he was being pulled along, Yan Sheng said, "..."

He seemed to understand why Ban insisted on having him come—he clearly anticipated a "marriage-urging storm" targeting the two brothers and deliberately brought him along to share the burden.

Faced with the elders' barrage of questions, Ban remained unmoved and said calmly, "As the elders have said, I am already over forty, why should I delay others any longer?"

Izuna immediately followed up: "As the eldest brother, you are not yet married. How can I, as the younger brother, presume to go first? Of course, we should wait until you have settled down before we talk about it."

The two brothers sang in harmony, their teamwork seamless.

The elders were furious at Madara and Izuna's airtight excuses. Seeing that their main target was difficult to overcome, one elder's gaze swept over Yan Sheng, as if he had found a new breakthrough. He said, "Yan Sheng, your two elder brothers are busy with official duties and really don't have time. You are relatively more free. Shouldn't you think about your life's important matter?"

In an instant, all eyes were focused on Yan Sheng. Madara and Izuna also glanced over.

Yan Sheng raised his eyelids, his expression indifferent, coughed lightly, and replied calmly, "My health is not good, and I am not suitable for marriage. I fear it would delay others and make it difficult to have children."

"......"

The previously noisy council chamber instantly fell silent.

The expressions on the elders' faces were quite a sight. Well... what they said was true. It was common knowledge that the Third Young Master had been frail since childhood and had nearly died from illness several times. This reason was so compelling that they couldn't refute it at all.

Ultimately, the marriage-urging rally reached a stalemate.

The three brothers pushed and shoved each other, forming a solid defensive barrier that left the elders helpless. The meeting ended hastily in a somber and frustrating atmosphere, a complete failure for the elders who had hoped for the continuation of the family bloodline and a smooth transition of power.

However, although Ban successfully withstood the pressure, he became increasingly irritable.

He could foresee that, as long as he remained unmarried, similar scenarios would inevitably repeat themselves.

After leaving the council hall, the gloom between Ban's brows almost solidified.

Yan Sheng looked at Ban, whose aura was low, and recalled the intelligence he had seen not long ago. He said indifferently, "Since you don't want to be bound by marriage but have to deal with the pressure within the clan, why not follow the example of the Thousand Hands Clan Chief and adopt a child? That would be a way to settle things."

Upon hearing this, Ban frowned, realizing that adopting a child was also a troublesome matter, and thus remained silent. But for now, this seemed to be the only way to silence the gossip and was relatively easy.

Izuna, standing to the side, narrowed his shrewd eyes and suddenly smiled, "If Madara really has this intention, I know a good kid. He has a calm personality and decent talent; he's a promising talent."

...

...

Not long after, a boy named Uchiha Kagami received a direct summons from the clan leader and came to the clan leader's study.

Pushing open the door, the scene inside made his heart skip a beat.

Not only was clan leader Uchiha Madara present, but also his second-in-command, Uchiha Izuna. In addition, there was a stranger who looked remarkably like the clan leader, but whose demeanor was even more aloof and whom Kagami had never seen before.

Jing paused for a moment, then quickly composed himself and respectfully bowed his head in greeting: "Clan Chief, Lord Izuna, and this..." He hesitated slightly as he looked at the unfamiliar man, unsure of how to address him.

Ban didn't intend to explain; he went straight to the point and succinctly stated his intention—to adopt Kagami as his son.

mirror:"?"

The boy was stunned, his mind blank. Leaving aside the fact that he was no longer young, already a capable ninja, the key question was: why would the clan leader suddenly want to adopt a child? And specifically, him?

Being adopted by the clan chief was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity for Jing, as it meant a huge boost in resources, status, and future prospects.

Therefore, deep down, Jing was not unwilling, but this sudden "honor" made him feel extremely frightened and at a loss, as if he had been hit by a huge pie and was dizzy.

And the matter was settled in his daze.

Yan Sheng got up to leave, but as he passed by his newly minted nephew, he paused slightly, took out a warm-textured jade waist tag carved with cloud patterns from his sleeve, and handed it to him.

"Take this from now on." Yan Sheng's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight. "It will allow you to travel freely in most places."

***

The maple leaves planted in the courtyard have been thoroughly dyed by the autumn frost, presenting a fiery and extremely brilliant red. Under the clear autumn sun, they are like clusters of quietly burning flames, making the courtyard exceptionally bright.

Uchiha Shi and Uchiha Masaki, along with a group of people, were busy inside and out, meticulously preparing for the upcoming Yan Sheng's birthday banquet.

Colorful ribbons were tied between the pillars, lanterns were hung up, and long tables were covered with brand-new, clean white tablecloths, upon which were placed exquisite porcelain and crystal wine glasses...

In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle outside, the room was eerily quiet.

Yan Sheng stood by the window, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the fiery red maple leaves outside, seemingly uninterested in the commotion outside caused by him.

He didn't feel much about his birthday; whether he celebrated it or not made no difference to him. In fact, if he had to choose, he'd prefer not to celebrate, to avoid a lot of trouble and unnecessary social obligations.

However, those around him—Shi, Masaki, and even Madara and Izuna, who are a little further away—seemed to regard this as an important matter.

Although he felt helpless, he couldn't be too direct in rejecting this warm and kind offer.

Listening to Shi's clear and efficient instructions and Ya Shu's occasional joking remarks outside the window, Yan Sheng's thoughts drifted slightly away. He suddenly remembered that in this life, Yoriichi's birthday seemed to be the same day as his.

How about... we live together?

***

When Yoriichi appeared at the door early as usual, Yan Sheng clearly sensed that the boy was different from usual today—his clear eyes were filled with obvious joy at being able to participate in his brother's birthday celebration, but there was a trace of unresolved distress between his brows.

"What's wrong?" Yan Sheng rarely took the initiative to ask.

Yoriichi looked up, hesitated for a moment, but still answered honestly, "Brother." He paused, his voice lowering, "My parents are at home and have prepared a celebration for me. If I stay here, I won't be able to go to them."

He desperately wanted to stay by his brother's side and celebrate his birthday with him for the first time in his life, but he also didn't want to disappoint his parents. These two emotions tore at his heart, leaving him in a terrible dilemma.

Upon hearing this, Yan Sheng did not say much, but calmly said, "In that case, let your parents come over as well."

Yoriichi was stunned, not expecting such an answer.

Yan Sheng looked at Ya Shu, who was standing to the side, and said, "Go and make arrangements to bring Mr. Senju and his wife over."

Yashu smiled and replied, "Yes, I will take care of it right away."

Yoriichi's parents were respectfully invited into the daimyo's mansion. As they passed through layers of heavily guarded gates and entered the banquet hall, which was decorated like a grand celebration, the two were completely bewildered.

They knew their child was with Uchiha Kokusatsu. But in their simple understanding, Kokusatsu was probably just an ordinary official in the Daimyo's mansion.

However, what they saw before them overturned their expectations: magnificent palaces, a constant stream of richly dressed guests, and high-ranking officials and nobles from the Land of Fire whom they had only heard of in rumors, all of whom were now smiling and speaking humbly to the man in the dark kimono embroidered with silver patterns, who had a cool and aloof demeanor.

An invisible authority and majesty permeated the atmosphere, inspiring awe.

They watched as those important figures, whom they usually looked up to, became cautious in front of men, and listened to the whispers around them about terms like "Regent" and "pillar of the nation." A shocking truth, one they had never dared to imagine before, surfaced.

Uchiha Kokusatsu... how could he be an ordinary official? His status was probably not much lower than that of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

The two instinctively gripped each other's hands, searching for their son in the crowd.

Then, they saw Yoriichi walk to the man's side, and the imposing man, seeing this, looked at Yoriichi and suddenly reached out to straighten Yoriichi's clothes.

A storm of emotions surged within the couple.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Official Guidebook: The flute that the older brother lost was found by the younger brother, who was very sad TT. As for how it got lost in the Naruto world, the younger brother hurriedly pushed the older brother into the reincarnation pool and the flute fell in. The older brother and the flute ended up in different timelines.

The younger brother making a flute as a gift for his older brother is a secondary creation by the author [cat head]. In the original story, only the older brother makes a flute as a gift for his younger brother.

There are significant discrepancies in the timeline regarding whether Tsunade is Hashirama's biological granddaughter, leading some to speculate that she might have been adopted and not Hashirama's son's biological daughter. This article adopts this hypothesis. [Dog head with rose in hand]

A tribute to the classic and legendary storyline of Naruto – Overbreathing

Brother: The power to surpass Yoriichi... If I can't have it, I'll take it; if I can't take it, I'll steal it. I'm determined to get it!