"I never imagined that little Mikoto from back then would be all grown up. Time really does fly." Isamu shook his head with a helpless smile, filled with emotion.
The moment she heard the words little Mikoto, Uchiha Mikoto's eyes widened.
Aside from her late grandfather and a few clan elders, only Senba's father had ever called her that. But that man had disappeared decades ago.
Could this be…?
"Sir, please mind your manners. If you continue to disrespect Madam, we'll have no choice but to summon the shinobi. Please watch your words," the woman who had answered the door warned. The two guards beside her also frowned in disapproval.
Ignoring them, Isamu smiled at the stunned Mikoto.
"I believe you'll invite me inside now. Am I right, Mikoto?"
He was confident she had already begun to piece everything together. If she still couldn't recognize him after such an obvious hint, he would have to question whether he had left any impression on this family at all.
"O-Of course! Please, come in!"
Mikoto quickly stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
Although she still wasn't completely certain, if this truly was him, refusing him entry would create an even more awkward situation.
"W-What…?"
The three servants stared at Mikoto in disbelief.
They all knew that the head of the household, Senba, held an important position in Konoha. Why would Madam invite a complete stranger into their home?
Watching the servants continue to block his path, Isamu smiled faintly.
Imagine being stopped at the door of my own house…
It was almost laughable.
"What are you waiting for?" Mikoto said sternly. "Didn't you hear me? Step aside and let this lord enter!"
She was growing anxious.
If this really was him, then given his temperament, these servants would be in serious trouble. They had served the household faithfully for years, and she didn't want them to lose their lives over a misunderstanding.
"B-But…"
After exchanging uneasy glances, the servants finally relented.
"Please come in, sir."
Although they stepped aside respectfully, the dissatisfaction on their faces was impossible to hide.
Without sparing them another glance, Isamu walked inside with his hands clasped behind his back.
To him, they were nothing more than ordinary people. There was no point lowering himself to argue with them.
Entering the main hall, Isamu casually took the seat of honor.
Mikoto instructed the servants to prepare tea.
As the young maids served it, they secretly glanced at the unfamiliar man occupying the head seat.
Everyone knew that besides the head of the family, only the Third Hokage had ever sat there.
Who exactly was this man?
After the tea was served, Mikoto remained standing respectfully beside him instead of taking a seat. Her eyes never left Isamu, as if she were trying to compare him with the image of her long-lost father-in-law.
Feeling her gaze, Isamu coughed lightly.
"Mikoto, sit down. This is your home. Why are you acting as though I've stolen the host's seat?"
"Oh… right."
She nodded awkwardly and took a nearby seat.
Even so, she continued studying him.
Was this really him?
By all accounts, Uchiha Tensei should have been a man in his mid-fifties by now.
Yet the man before her looked no older than thirty. His skin was flawless, and not a trace of age could be seen on his face.
Could this truly be her father-in-law?
"Ahem."
Unable to endure the constant staring any longer, Isamu cleared his throat.
"So, now that I've finally returned, where's Senba? Have I been gone so long that the brat has become too important to greet his own father?"
"Well…"
Mikoto hesitated before answering.
"Senba is currently the captain of the Konoha ANBU. He's extremely busy and rarely comes home before nightfall. But don't worry—I already sent someone to notify him."
"The ANBU captain?"
The moment Isamu heard those words, his expression darkened.
With a crunch, the teacup in his hand shattered into pieces.
"I warned that brat long ago. Helping Konoha is one thing, but I told him not to get too deeply involved."
"And yet he went and became the one working hardest for them."
"He really knows how to make his old man angry."
Mikoto fell silent.
She honestly didn't know how to respond.
After all, their family lived in Konoha, and openly agreeing with criticism of the village was hardly appropriate.
Still…
Those words convinced her even more.
No one else in Konoha would dare speak so bluntly.
At this point, she was already more than half convinced that the man before her truly was Isamu.
After a moment of hesitation, she finally voiced the question she had been holding back.
"Are you really… Lord Isamu?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"'Lord' doesn't sound quite right anymore, does it?"
Realizing he had lost his temper earlier, Isamu calmed himself and looked at the woman before him.
"My daughter-in-law."
Hearing that, Mikoto bit her lip.
After gathering her courage, she walked over, bowed respectfully, and said shyly,
"Welcome home… Father."
"Good, good."
A warm smile finally appeared on Isamu's face.
"Rise."
He extended his right hand.
His Chakra materialized into a tangible force, gently lifting Mikoto to her feet.
"Thank you, Father."
She smiled brightly.
This ability—to materialize Chakra into a physical force—was unmistakable.
Very few shinobi in the world could perform such a feat.
If she had been only eighty percent certain before…
Now she was absolutely convinced.
The man before her was truly her missing father-in-law.
More importantly, she felt a sense of acceptance.
Being acknowledged by an elder of the family filled her with quiet happiness.
"What are you thanking me for?" Isamu said with a chuckle.
"We're family."
"To be honest, when I first returned to the Ninja World, I was worried about all of you."
"But now that I've seen everyone living well…"
"I can finally put my mind at ease."
He let out a quiet sigh.
Throughout his journey back, he had worried constantly about Senba and the others.
The Ninja World was never short of unexpected tragedies.
Fortunately, everyone seemed to be doing well.
The only thing that still irritated him…
Was that Senba was working like a dog for Konoha.