Naruto: About the Fact That my Brother is Madara-Chapter 274: Silent Gaze, Only Tears Streaming

Upon hearing her mother's voice calling out, the chubby-faced girl clapped the dust from her hands, got to her feet, and with a mock-serious expression, put her hands on her waist like a seasoned narrator. "Even the Hokage has to eat, you know~"

"Of course, of course. So, what would our future Hokage like to eat today?"

"I want peanuts!"

"Alright then. But first, let's get you washed up."

Hand in hand, mother and daughter strolled along the path. The child's small, chubby fingers were tightly clasped in her mother's gentle grip. As they walked, Eri, the mother, subconsciously glanced up at the sky.

Was it just her imagination?

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---

After so many years, Kyōsuke had finally returned to his village.

Although it was only Year 24 of the Hidden Leaf calendar, the village's level of development far exceeded what one might expect—even more advanced than at the beginning of the original timeline.

While still called a "village," the Hidden Leaf had already grown into the largest city in the Land of Fire, with a permanent population in the hundreds of thousands and a daily population flow easily exceeding one million.

Especially with Kyōsuke's policies encouraging childbirth, a steady stream of newborns were brought into the world every year.

Projections indicated that by the sixtieth year, the population would likely surpass one million.

By then, the village would undoubtedly undergo yet another wave of expansion. Fortunately, Kyōsuke no longer needed to concern himself with such matters.

The foundations had already been firmly laid. As long as his successors weren't utter fools, there was no risk of the Hidden Leaf's legacy being squandered.

On the bustling streets filled with the ebb and flow of people, Kyōsuke walked among the crowd, blending in naturally. His Transformation Technique was so masterfully executed that no ordinary person could hope to see through it.

Then something caught his eye.

As he walked, a massive statue unexpectedly drew his attention.

Lifting his gaze, he carefully examined it. The striking, heroic features carved into the stone were none other than his own. His handsome face was immortalized in stone for all to see.

He had no objections to his likeness being commemorated. What baffled him, though, was the placement. The Hokage Rock already displayed his face, so why was there a second statue standing at the village gates?

Who approved this foolish decision? Since when did one person deserve two statues?

At the base of the statue, two lines of inscription were etched into the stone.

"Where the leaves dance, the fire shall continue to burn."

"In memory of the great First Hokage, Uchiha Kyōsuke."

"Yes, those were my words," Kyōsuke nodded solemnly, completely unbothered by the disdainful glances cast at him by the passersby.

Were it not for his appearance betraying him as someone unusual, he might have already been confronted by an overly enthusiastic villager eager to deliver a lecture.

In the Hidden Leaf, you could speak ill of almost anyone—but not a single bad word about the First Hokage was tolerated.

The stories were endless: the Second Hokage's 1001 nights, the sister-in-law's well-digging escapade, three women and a shared...

In short, say the wrong thing, and you'd find yourself dragged into the interrogation chambers of the Anbu. Even if you didn't die, the memory would haunt you for life.

As for the Police Department? Let's not even bring up the good-for-nothing Senju clan.

Noticing the increasing number of wary stares directed at him, Kyōsuke shrank his neck a little, looking sheepish as he quickly walked away.

After taking a casual stroll through the commercial district, he followed his stomach to the snack street and had a hearty meal. To his surprise, he found that Ichiraku Ramen had already opened.

It was still a humble storefront, not even as developed as it was in the early Chapters of the original story. It only offered take-out, with no seats for dining in.

Still, Kyōsuke believed it was destined to become a lasting symbol of the village. Culinary skill was, after all, the most dependable way to earn a living.

He ordered a serving of the now-famous ramen and sat cross-legged on a rooftop to eat. As he slurped the hot noodles, his eyes drifted toward the distance, deep in thought.

Far away through the haze, nestled among the buildings, he caught the faint sound of flowing water. His sharp hearing picked it up with ease.

"Konoha Village Winter Hot Springs."

"A new landmark in the making," Kyōsuke murmured as he stared intently. He noticed the entire bathhouse was enveloped in a soft barrier of chakra.

Its purpose was clear—it wasn't for defense, but to deter voyeurism.

"My instincts tell me... this is Yayoi's doing."

Indeed, who else but another woman would have thought to place an anti-peeping barrier around a bathhouse?

Not to mention, she was from the Hyūga clan.

Suddenly, a long sigh pulled Kyōsuke from his thoughts. He glanced down from the rooftop.

A man in his early thirties stood below, staring wistfully in the same direction, the hot spring, while letting out one sigh after another.

Clutched in the man's hands was a translucent crystal ball, glowing faintly.

It was none other than a younger version of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"This little rascal still hasn't given up, huh?" Kyōsuke chuckled, shaking his head. Smiling faintly, he turned and gracefully disappeared from the rooftop.

Hiruzen, lost in thought, never once realized he had been observed.

---

After wandering the village for several hours and even taking a bottle of sake to pay his respects to Hashirama, Kyōsuke knew it was finally time to return home.

In truth, an inexplicable sense of hesitation had taken hold of him, a quiet unease that often comes with returning to one's hometown after many years.

Even a man as mighty and invincible as he was found himself faltering before this emotional threshold.

"Sigh... eventually, it must be faced."

He considered buying a bouquet of flowers, but after a moment's thought, dismissed the idea as too tacky.

Besides, he doubted the bun-haired woman would appreciate something like that.

Suppressing the rapid beating of his heart, Kyōsuke slowly made his way home. His extraordinary sensory abilities already allowed him to sense the scene awaiting him.

At the heart of the Hidden Leaf stood the estate of the First Hokage.

Even after marriage, Haruto and Eri had never moved out. They couldn't bear to leave their mother living alone.

The courtyard was vast—spacious enough not only for their family of three, but even for Nagisa to move in with her own family someday.

In the courtyard, Eri sat with a children's book in hand, looking helplessly at the scene unfolding before her.

At the small wooden table, the chubby-faced Uchiha Kaoru had her cheeks puffed out in frustration, her tiny fists clenched tightly as she instinctively stretched her arms backward.

It was clear the little one was furious.

"Waaaaah~~~" She unleashed a series of sonic outbursts at her mother, her "sound-based jutsu" surprisingly effective.

"I don't want to study! Mommy is a big meanie!"

"I want Daddy! Where are you, Daddy? Waaaah!"

Bombarded by wave after wave of shrill cries, Eri furrowed her brows in contemplation. For a moment, she wondered if perhaps she should let her daughter enjoy a more carefree "childhood."

"Aww, what's got our little sweetheart so upset?"

Uchiha Nagisa popped out from who knows where and immediately scooped up the crying little girl into her arms.

Without realizing it, she had just rescued her young niece from disaster.

Seeing that her mother had given up on forcing her to study, little Kaoru sniffled and glanced longingly at the plate of peanuts on the table.

She was hungry.

"You're always eating. You're going to turn into a little piglet at this rate," Nagisa chuckled as she hugged the chubby child, clearly doting on her adorable niece.

Eri gave a quiet sigh as she watched the scene unfold.

She had practically watched Nagisa grow up and considered her a mischievous younger sister.

Now, seeing that Nagi was almost thirty and still showed no signs of settling down, Eri couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety.

Unfortunately, there was little she could do. Life as a ninja was dangerous, and every day carried the risk of being their last. Most avoided burdening themselves with too many attachments.

Having once endured the heart-wrenching pain of losing a loved one, Nagisa did not wish to let others carry the burden of worrying for her.

If the worst were to happen and she perished in battle, she hoped it would at least bring as little sorrow as possible. In a way, the lack of emotional ties made the weight of potential death easier to bear.

This was the unspoken truth behind why so many shinobi remained single for the entirety of their lives.

Cradling the adorable little one in her arms, Nagisa suddenly turned, her sharp sensory perception alerting her to someone stepping through the front gate of the house.

However, the moment she turned around, both she and Eri stood frozen in place, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"F-Father?!"

In her arms, little Uchiha Kaoru had been secretly nibbling on a peanut. But the instant her aunt's arms slackened, she tumbled to the ground with a soft thud, utterly unprepared.

"Waaah~~~!"

Another terrifying sonic wail erupted from the toddler, sweeping through the room like a force of nature. But this time, not even her mother came to her rescue.

It was Kyōsuke, newly returned, who stepped forward with a warm smile and scooped his wailing granddaughter into his arms.

He plucked a few peanuts from the bowl, and with gentle distraction, successfully interrupted her terrifying sound-based jutsu.

Looking upon the tear-streaked faces of his daughters, Kyōsuke's expression softened into a warmth that only family could evoke.

"I'm home," he said quietly.

---

In the inner courtyard, Mito, the princess with her signature bun hairstyle, was hanging out laundry under the fading sunlight.

Truth be told, with her status, she had no need to do such chores herself. But Mito had long since grown accustomed to filling the quiet hours of her day with small tasks, finding solace in the rhythm of work.

She carefully hung up her granddaughter's bedsheet, smiling as she murmured to herself, "The little one finally stopped wetting the bed."

She reached out to smooth the creases in the blanket, her palms moving slowly and methodically. But as she worked, her hands gradually slowed.

As one of the most talented heirs of the Uzumaki clan, Mito had, with Yayoi's help, awakened a particularly advanced form of Sage Body. Her sensory capabilities surpassed even those of the future Karin Uzumaki.

How could she not recognize the presence reflected faintly upon the surface of the blanket?

A shadow stood behind her, silent and still. And then, a pair of hands joined hers in smoothing the bedding.

Neither of them spoke a word. But their eyes locked, and in that single gaze, a thousand unspoken emotions surged forth.

Her features were just as he remembered them: serene, beautiful, and seemingly untouched by the passage of time. It was as if the years had not dared to leave their mark upon her face.

Perhaps he should thank the Goddess Kaguya for the gift she had once bestowed upon her.

Their son had grown into a formidable shinobi, a man capable of standing tall on his own.

Their daughter, too, had proven herself to be extraordinary, now regarded as one of Konoha's most elite kunoichi.

Kyōsuke had never failed his children. And yet, when it came to Mito, the regret he harbored was buried deep, where words could not reach.

At last, a single tear slipped down her cheek. Mito's hands trembled as they slowed, but her gaze softened with a tenderness deeper than ever before.

He had come home.

This was not a fleeting dream nor a delusion born of longing.

She could feel his presence clearly, as real as the day they had first stood together.

Kyōsuke reached up and gently wiped the tear from her face. Then, without hesitation, he pulled her into a firm embrace, the same unyielding strength he had once shown when he crossed the lands of Uzushiogakure just to claim her hand in marriage.

This time, he would never let go again.

From beginning to end, not a single word passed between them. For in moments such as these, words were far too shallow and empty to carry the weight of what they truly felt.

Ten years had passed since they were separated by life and death. Though she had tried not to think of him, forgetting had proven impossible.

They stood together in silence, yet tears flowed like rivers down their cheeks.

That night, the entire family gathered in a joyful celebration to welcome Kyōsuke home.

Little Kaoru sat happily on her grandfather's lap, her chubby cheeks puffed out in curiosity as she stared up at him without blinking.

Kyōsuke's affection for his granddaughter was obvious, his eyes gleaming with delight.

Kaoru was quite different from what Nagisa had been like as a child. Nagisa had been delicate, almost like a porcelain doll, so dainty that just looking at her filled one with awe.

Kaoru, in contrast, had a round, squishy build and a plump, doughy face that gave her a kind of clumsy, innocent charm.

In short, she was utterly and irresistibly adorable.

"Kaoru," Kyōsuke said with a grin, "can you tell Grandpa where your father went?"

"Papa went on a mission~" she replied with enthusiasm.

"Oh, is that so?" Kyōsuke's smile grew mischievous, his mind already brewing some kind of amusing idea.

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