"This isn't a weapon—it's the very thing that destroyed my descendants!"
Garuda clenched her fists tightly.
She had never imagined that her descendants would meet such a tragic end because of this so-called weapon. To her, the Tenseigan was nothing less than the source of their ruin.
Seeing her expression, Isamu—whose chakra had almost fully recovered—stood up and gently took her hand.
"Children and grandchildren must choose their own paths. We can't protect them forever, nor can we make every decision for them."
Garuda slowly nodded.
Although she understood his reasoning, the anger in her heart toward her descendants' failures had not faded.
"Come," Isamu said. "I'll take you outside. It's time for you to see the world I live in… and meet my family."
"My family?"
Garuda blinked.
"Does that mean… this is your home?"
"You could say that."
"And you could also say it isn't."
"I've wandered for so long that I don't really know where 'home' is anymore."
"But…"
"My children and grandchildren all live here."
"And my favorite little grandson is here as well."
The moment he mentioned Itachi, a smile naturally appeared on Isamu's face.
His affection for his grandson was impossible to hide.
"I see…"
Garuda smiled softly.
"Then I'd very much like to meet your family."
She wasn't surprised that Isamu had children and grandchildren.
He had told her long ago.
At first, she'd thought those words were merely an excuse to reject her.
Later, after learning he truly came from another era, she realized everything he'd told her had been true.
She felt neither jealousy nor resentment toward his family.
"Let's go."
The two left the basement together.
The moment they emerged, they found two servants standing guard outside.
"Welcome back, Old Master!"
"Mm."
Isamu nodded.
"Inform your mistress that I have an honored guest."
"Yes, sir!"
With that, Isamu walked away alongside Garuda, leaving the two servants staring blankly after them.
"…Where did that lady come from?"
"Didn't the Old Master go into the basement by himself?"
"How did he come back with such a beautiful woman?"
"How should I know?"
"Forget it."
"Let's hurry and report this to the mistress."
Walking beside Isamu, Garuda hesitated before asking quietly,
"Tian Qi… the 'mistress' they mentioned…"
"Ah."
"You mean that."
"She's my daughter-in-law."
"This house belongs to my son, so naturally she's considered the mistress here."
"I see…"
Garuda nodded.
Then, after another moment's hesitation, she quietly asked,
"And… your… um…"
Although she couldn't quite bring herself to say the name, Isamu immediately understood.
"You mean Tsunade?"
Garuda nodded.
"She isn't here."
"She's traveling right now."
"There are some matters weighing heavily on her heart, so she left for a while."
"She's trying to overcome them."
"…Is it because of me?"
Garuda asked uneasily.
"No."
"It has nothing to do with you."
"It's related to her own family."
"I'll explain everything later."
"…Alright."
For reasons even she couldn't fully explain, Garuda quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
If she had been forced to meet Isamu's first wife immediately…
She truly wouldn't have known how to face her.
After all, she had entered his life afterward.
No matter how justified it was, she still felt awkward.
Fortunately…
That meeting would have to wait.
Soon, Isamu led Garuda into the main hall.
Not long after they sat down, Mikoto walked inside.
The instant she entered, her eyes were drawn to the breathtakingly beautiful woman seated beside Isamu.
Garuda had been restored to the appearance of a woman in her early thirties.
Her beauty was so striking that it was impossible not to notice.
"Father…"
"Who is she?"
"Oh."
Isamu cleared his throat awkwardly.
"This is my lover…"
"Garuda."
"…And… well…"
"You could say she's your mother."
Even Isamu felt somewhat embarrassed introducing her.
After all…
He already had grandchildren.
Now he was suddenly introducing a beautiful lover.
No matter how he looked at it, it didn't exactly fit the dignified image of an elder.
Of course, there was a reason for that.
Although Isamu was technically very old, he had only personally experienced around twenty years of life thanks to time travel and the power of the Ten-Tails.
His appearance had never aged.
Even his mindset remained closer to someone in his mid-twenties than that of a grandfather.
The role of family patriarch still felt strangely unfamiliar.
Hearing Isamu's introduction, Mikoto looked at him with an extremely strange expression.
The shock she felt was indescribable.
She had never imagined that her father-in-law would suddenly introduce such a young and beautiful lover.
As expected…
The strongest Uchiha truly lived by his own rules.
Unable to bear Mikoto's gaze any longer, Isamu hurriedly explained,
"Don't misunderstand."
"Although Garuda looks young, I brought her back from another era."
"If we're talking about actual age…"
"She's even older than I am."
"So there's nothing inappropriate about treating her as an elder."
Garuda immediately rolled her eyes at him.
"What are you saying?"
"You make me sound ancient."
"Look at me."
"I'm still young."
She shot Isamu a playful glance before walking over to Mikoto and extending her hand.
"Hello."
"My name is Ōtsutsuki Garuda."
Mikoto quickly regained her composure.
"My name is Uchiha Mikoto."
"Welcome back… Mother Garuda."
"It's nice to meet you."
Garuda smiled warmly.
"So you're Tian Qi's daughter-in-law."
"I noticed your surname is also Uchiha."
"Yes."
Mikoto nodded.
"Do you have children?"
"I do."
"A son."
"What's his name?"
"How old is he?"
"Where is he now?"
"My son's name is Uchiha Itachi."
"He's five years old."
"He's attending the Ninja Academy."
Garuda continued asking question after question, while Mikoto patiently answered each one.
Before long…
The two women had become completely absorbed in talking about family matters.
Meanwhile…
Isamu sat off to one side.
Completely ignored.
Watching them chat so enthusiastically, black lines appeared across his forehead.
Why does it suddenly feel like I'm the outsider here?
Finally, unable to take it anymore, he interrupted them.
"Enough, enough."
"You two have been talking nonstop."
"Garuda."
"Are you hungry?"
"If you are, let Mikoto prepare something for you."
Mikoto immediately nodded.
"That's right."
"Mother Garuda, if you're hungry, I'll have someone prepare a meal immediately."
Garuda smiled.
"No need."
"If I'm hungry, Tian Qi can take care of me."
"There's no reason to trouble everyone else."
The two women immediately began politely insisting back and forth.
Watching the endless exchange, Isamu finally sighed.
"Fine."
"I'm hungry."
"Happy now?"
Mikoto immediately stood.
"Father, I'll have the kitchen prepare lunch right away."
"No need."
Isamu shook his head.
"Let's eat outside today."
"It'll also be a good opportunity…"
"…to let Garuda see what Konoha Village looks like."
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