“So, I want to repay him properly and spend my whole life accompanying my brother, helping him realize his ideals.”
In the quiet streets and alleys, there were only the sparse sounds of passersby.
Uchiha Madara listened quietly to the little girl’s emotional confession while recalling his own life.
This was also a pitiful child.
But she was also very lucky.
For a moment, Uchiha Madara felt a bit dazed.
It was as if he had returned to his childhood, holding his brother’s corpse and swearing to end this chaotic world.
His gloved hand subconsciously reached out toward Kiyoi Ai’s little head.
“Hmm, Big Brother Madara, if you want to pat my head, take off your gloves.”
Uchiha Madara’s face stiffened, and then he burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright, alright!”
Removing his gloves, his somewhat rough, large hand covered Kiyoi Ai’s pink hair.
He seemed to have regained the feeling of being an older brother once again.
Only this time, he was facing a very cute younger sister.
“Just because you called me ‘Big Brother’.”
“I, Uchiha Madara, swear to you that I will definitely end this chaotic world!”
Madara seemed to be speaking to Kiyoi Ai, and also to himself.
“Sigh~ That’s already Big Brother Madara’s original ideal, right?”
“In front of such a cute Ai, isn’t it too cunning to use a vow you’ve already sworn?”
Hiss~
This is why he thinks children are so troublesome!
“However…”
Kiyoi Ai’s fair little hand covered Madara’s large hand on her head, and she flashed a sunny smile.
“I can treat Big Brother Madara as an uncle.”
“The reason is, I have already sworn in my heart that for the rest of my life, I will only have Big Brother Gen as my brother.”
“Well, if Uncle Madara never manages to find a wife, I can occasionally come over and cook for you.”
“Otherwise, Uncle Madara would be too pitiful, not having a single family member to live with.”
Uchiha Madara fell silent.
Then the corners of his mouth curled up, and his palm pressing on Kiyoi Ai’s head applied a little force.
“I am the Asura of the Ninja World, Uchiha Madara!”
He stood up, turning his back to Kiyoi Ai.
“What’s this about being pitiful?”
“How boring!”
“However, I accept you as my niece.”
“From now on, no one in the entire Ninja World will be able to bully you!”
“I, Uchiha Madara, said it!”
Looking at Uchiha Madara’s back, Kiyoi Ai covered her mouth and chuckled.
Just as her brother said, Uncle Madara is truly cute.
“Uncle Madara, being so inconsistent with your words and feelings, and not being honest, won’t make you popular with girls.”
“Big Brother can very frankly say that he likes me, Ai, the most.”
“If you keep going like this, what will you do if you really can’t get a wife, Uncle Madara?”
“As your niece, won’t I have to worry myself to death?”
“Hmm, should I look for a sister-in-law for Uncle Madara?”
Hiss!
That’s why!
He hates troublesome brats!
Meanwhile, Kiyoi Gen, who was organizing government documents with his sister Kiyoi Megumi, was stunned.
Lord Madara’s favorability toward him actually soared straight to seventy-five?!
As expected of Ai!
Kiyoi Gen was extremely happy inside.
The reason he didn’t go personally was naturally because he felt Kiyoi Ai was much more suitable than himself.
The traits called [Mysterious Charm] and [Heart of Intimacy] allowed Ai to gain the affection of most people.
As long as Ai established a good relationship with Lord Madara.
Loving the house and its crow, his relationship with Lord Madara would also advance by leaps and bounds.
“Brother, did you remember something happy?”
Kiyoi Megumi noticed the change in Kiyoi Gen’s mood at a glance.
“Yeah, I was thinking about the time we went cherry blossom viewing with you, Megumi.”
“It was really happy back then.”
As soon as Kiyoi Gen blurted it out, he kept saying “Oh no” in his heart.
He accidentally said something like that subconsciously.
At this moment, Kiyoi Megumi’s face suddenly turned rosy.
Because, on that very day, she and her brother made a promise—
To stay together for a lifetime.
Seeing the rosy flush on his sister’s face, how could Kiyoi Gen not know what she was thinking of?
Why couldn’t he control his mouth that loved to tease?
“Ahem, Megumi, let’s continue.”
“As for the cherry blossom viewing, let’s go together as a family next time.”
“Yeah!!!”
Kiyoi Megumi, in high spirits, was even faster at getting things done.
Meanwhile, Kiyoi Gen picked up the reported scroll.
It seemed the people at the Research Institute had successfully implemented the new Secret Technique he had developed.
If it succeeded, Churi Village’s military power would be improved once again.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara, who had fallen into silence again, followed Kiyoi Ai, who was skipping along happily.
Most likely, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about this newly recognized niece in the future.
Madara smiled again involuntarily.
He had smiled more in the past two days than in the last month.
“Uncle Madara, we are going to the Research Institute now.”
“The Research Institute has all kinds of the latest developed technologies, including new Ninjutsu that my brother ordered to be implemented.”
“Many complex Secret Techniques are theorized by my brother and then researched and implemented by the Research Institute.”
“Of course, construction technology, medical technology, forging technology, etc., are also researched at the Research Institute.”
“There, we can tattoo the best [Flow Seal] for Uncle Madara.”
The Research Institute, huh?
It sounds a lot like what that brat Tobirama often does.
It shouldn’t be a place for researching forbidden techniques.
It’s worth taking a look.
In just two short days, Uchiha Madara had already developed a great fondness for this Village.
In terms of development, this place was even better than Konoha Village.
Chapter 14: Research Institute
Is this the Research Institute?
Uchiha Madara had originally thought the Research Institute was just a larger building like the Cats Paw Canteen, but this was clearly a small complex of buildings protected by a perimeter wall.
There were also many hidden sentries around.
“The defensive strength here is equal to that of the Magistrates Office.”
“It is a place that my brother values very much.”
Kiyoi Ai led Uchiha Madara to a gate three meters wide and five meters high, with armored guards on both sides.
Samurai from the Land of Iron?
No, they should be samurai trained by Gen himself.
The armor of these two samurai was different from that of the Land of Iron, and the samurai of the Land of Iron were currently in a state of recuperation because Ninjas had usurped their status.
“Lady Ai, Lord Madara.”
The two samurai guards nodded and greeted the two.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Kiyoi Ai skillfully walked into the small door opened on the gate, entering the grounds of the Research Institute.
Madara also walked in.
The layout inside was not much different, except there were fewer passersby, more patrolling samurai, and some people wearing white coats who looked like doctors.
“Uncle Madara, wait a moment.”
As soon as Kiyoi Ai finished speaking, a black shadow appeared before them.
“Ai, is there anything you need this time?
Meow~”
The newcomer’s voice was very serious, just like a standard Ninja hiding in the shadows.
And it was a black cat with some white markings.
Dressed in Ninja attire, wearing a black cloth hat, it revealed a white mouth and six whiskers.
Well, let’s say it wasn’t wearing pants…
“Uncle Madara, this is Aishatu of the Melynx, my brother’s shadow guard, and also the current chieftain of the Melynx.”
Aishatu looked up at the tall Uchiha Madara and bowed slightly.
“Hello, Lord Madara.
The Master has already instructed me that you may visit any part of the Research Institute.
Meow~”
Uchiha Madara nodded, acknowledging the greeting.
As for the name, he tried his best to remember it.
“Oh, by the way, Uncle Madara, Aishatu is a girl.”
Huh?
Uchiha Madara’s expression stiffened.
How the hell was he supposed to tell!
These cats only differed in fur and markings, and their voices sounded neutral too!