The four girls’ clothes reflected the changing seasons: graceful green, lively yellow, tranquil orange, and elegant white.
They held various cleaning tools, their clean, bare little feet clad in slightly damp wooden clogs, looking cute and beautiful.
“Seriously!”
Uchiha Madara felt as if he were surrounded by a formidable enemy.
It was even more troublesome than facing four Hashiramas.
“Sister Kiyoi Ai, we have just finished all the preparations.”
Kiyoi Haru replied in a sweet voice.
These four six-year-old girls worked efficiently and neatly; they did everything well and quickly.
On weekdays, the logistical arrangements of the Magistrates Office were handled by them and Kiyoi Ai—the five of them.
Of course, there were also many adults helping out.
However, they viewed this work as their own exclusive responsibility, and it was difficult for others to intervene.
“The commonly used vegetables and meat have all been put into the refrigerator.”
“Bedding and other daily necessities have all been put in place.”
“And the miscellaneous books for passing the time have also been placed on the bookshelf.”
“All the preparations that could be made have been completed.”
The four of them supplemented each other’s accounts of what they had done, looking just like experienced housemaids.
“There’s really no need for this.”
Uchiha Madara kept a straight face, though he was complaining internally.
He was only going to stay here for half a month; a room was all he needed!
But facing five little girls who were much shorter than him, he couldn’t bring himself to say those words.
“Lord Uchiha Madara, please come in.”
Watching Kiyoi Ai, who seemed to be planning to follow him inside later, Uchiha Madara felt a bit of a stomachache.
He just wanted to be alone in peace!
Chapter 7: The Book of Secret Techniques
Uchiha Madara’s wish to be alone did not come true.
Although the four little girls—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—had left, Kiyoi Ai, following her brother’s instructions, intended to take good care of Uchiha Madara during this period.
Therefore:
“Lord Uchiha Madara, it is getting late now.
Do you need me to prepare dinner for you?”
The sky outside was already covered in the dim yellow glow of the sunset; it was indeed time for dinner.
Sitting cross-legged in the living room with the gunbai still on his back, Uchiha Madara’s eyebrows twitched, and he refused.
“No, there’s no need.
I have soldier pills.”
Kiyoi Ai puffed out her cheeks and, pretending to be angry, said with her hands on her hips:
“How can that be!”
“soldier pills are dry and astringent; how can they taste better than a home-cooked meal?”
“Lord Uchiha Madara, are you the type of man who is afraid of trouble and just scrapes by because you don’t have a wife at home?”
Hiss~
Uchiha Madara quietly observed this little girl, who was quite close to him and acted very familiar, out of the corner of his eye.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t cook.
Hashirama often came to his house to mooch meals, after all!
“Do as you please!”
Uchiha Madara’s tone was exasperated.
“Mm!”
“Just leave it to me!”
Kiyoi Ai jumped up with a smile, her little feet, wrapped in delicate white silk stockings beneath her small skirt, hopping along with her.
“Most of the meals at home are prepared by me, you know!”
“My brother loves the dishes I make the most!”
Having said that, the little girl carried a small stool and ran into the kitchen.
For her, being only 1.45 meters tall, the stove was still a bit high.
Soon, the sound of chopping vegetables and the little girl’s beautiful humming drifted from the kitchen.
It was too strange!
Uchiha Madara couldn’t figure out how things had developed into this situation.
He had only left Konoha yesterday, leaving behind the house that only Hashirama would often visit.
Yet this afternoon, there was a familiar little girl, whom he wasn’t good at dealing with, busy in the kitchen preparing dinner for him.
Usually, it was Hashirama waiting in the living room.
Now, he was actually experiencing this feeling.
After hesitating for a moment, Uchiha Madara unbuckled the gunbai from his back and placed it in the corner of the room.
These next two weeks might be quite lively.
He could tell that the young man would likely use many unexpected methods to recruit him.
Although Uchiha Madara understood Kiyoi Gen’s goal, he did not inwardly reject the other party’s actions.
This young man had indeed prepared thoroughly and understood him well.
What harm was there in playing along with him?
After about half an hour, Uchiha Madara heard footsteps.
Someone was walking this way!
There were three people!
The small gate of the courtyard creaked, and Kiyoi Gen’s voice drifted in.
“Mr.
Uchiha Madara, I have come to visit you for a matter.”
So it was him.
Uchiha Madara closed his eyes again.
He would just see what methods this young man had prepared this time.
The wooden door connecting the living room to the courtyard was slid open.
Uchiha Madara looked up and saw Kiyoi Gen, who had changed into a dark blue men’s yukata.
His demeanor had changed significantly, giving people a mature and steady feeling.
But that face still looked too young and overly handsome.
Standing on either side of Kiyoi Gen were two females, one adult and one child.
One of them was clearly another little girl, with rare silver hair.
The other was an exquisitely beautiful adult woman.
Her long, beautiful black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her exquisite pupils were like the night sky.
Even while wearing a magnificent kimono, one could still discern the full, sexy figure beneath it.
The charm of a woman was fully displayed.
Of course, no matter how beautiful she was, in the eyes of Lord Madara, she was no different from an ordinary person.
“Mr.
Uchiha Madara, thank you for taking care of my child some time ago.”
The graceful noblewoman’s beautiful red lips parted slightly as she bowed slightly to express her gratitude.
This person was none other than Kiyoi Gen’s mother, Miki.
She was also a geisha whose beauty was once renowned throughout the Land of Fire.
The wife of a Daimyo?
Uchiha Madara was a bit surprised and stood up without much hesitation.
“Please, sit.”
He, Uchiha Madara, also knew the etiquette of hospitality.
Well, even though this wasn’t actually his residence.
Miki, Kiyoi Gen, and Kiyoi Megumi all knelt on one side of the long, low table, facing Uchiha Madara.
“I heard from Gen that this time when he went to Konoha for business, it was thanks to Mr.
Uchiha Madara’s protection that he returned safely.”
“This visit is to thank you, sir.”
Miki took a small package out of her large sleeve and placed it on the table.
“Gen said that he hadn’t given you your remuneration yet, so please accept the 200,000 ryo in banknotes inside.”
Just then, Uchiha Madara happened to see Kiyoi Gen winking at him and mouthing something about helping him cover a lie.
“Then, thank you very much.”
One can never have too much money.
Seeing that he had accepted it, Miki smiled happily.
To her, the most important thing was her child.
She was willing to pay any price to keep her child safe.
At this moment, her soft right hand was holding Kiyoi Gen’s left hand.
Having not seen him for so long, she had missed her child terribly.
“Ahem.”
Kiyoi Gen took out the book he had prepared in advance and placed it on the table.
“Mr.
Uchiha Madara, this is a small token of my appreciation.”
Uchiha Madara looked down and saw the words “Secret Technique” on the book.
“This is a Ninja Secret Technique I researched.”
“It is quite different from the Ninjutsu of the Five Great Nations.”
“Although it might not be of much use to the Asura of the Ninja World, perhaps it can broaden your perspective.”
Kiyoi Gen smiled and handed the book over.
The second trait gifted by the system’s beginner gift pack was called [Ninjutsu Doctor].
Even though he had never refined Chakra or practiced any Ninjutsu, in terms of Ninjutsu theory, he was absolutely at the highest level in the Ninja World.
It was no problem for him to rival Senju Tobirama.
This…
Uchiha Madara felt Kiyoi Gen’s confidence once again.
Did the other party think these Secret Techniques could interest him?
It wouldn’t hurt to take a look.
Thus, he accepted it as well.
At this moment, Kiyoi Ai darted out of the kitchen.