Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

Chapter 578 Hashirama Senju: I woke up to find my home gone.
"Grandma! Auntie's back!"

"A feast! A feast!"

Tsunade, dragging a drooling Nawaki, swiftly passed the frozen Senju Hisama and excitedly ran into the house to announce the good news of her aunt's return.

"Hijin is back?"

Upon hearing this, Senju Momoka, who was working in the kitchen, beamed with joy. Senju Itama, who was busy at the stove nearby, also smiled, and his movements became even more efficient as he cooked.

"Please wait a moment, the last dish will be ready soon."

"Great!"

Smelling the enticing aroma filling the room, Tsunade and Nawaki cheered with joy.

Soon, the last gap on the table was filled with steaming grilled fish. Senju Itama, wearing an apron and wiping her hands, looked at her eldest niece, who was still standing outside the door in a daze, and greeted her with a smile.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get it on the table."

"Okay."

Senju Hisa looked at her smiling sister, suppressing her anger, and subtly shifted her gaze to her sister's lower abdomen.

He seriously considered whether or not he should use his inherently evil Uchiha power to spy on the new life in his sister's womb.

"call"

In the end, Senju Hisana chose to abandon the idea of ​​awakening the Sharingan. After gracefully taking her seat, she involuntarily swallowed as she smelled the aroma of grilled fish lingering around her nose.
"Gudu——"

It smells good.

"We're all family, so there's no need to follow any customs. Everyone can eat as much as they want."

Seated in the main seat, Senju Momoka smiled slightly, looked at Nawaki who was eating like a little glutton, and immediately waved her hand to signal everyone to start eating.
"I want to eat fish!"

"You silly Rope Tree, you should serve Grandma some food first!"

The two lively children at the dinner table added a touch of vibrancy to the otherwise empty room. Senju Hisa silently picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth; the familiar taste warmed her heart.
It tastes like mother's cooking.

Unexpectedly, Itama has also become a qualified mother.
and many more!

Senju Hisa, who was still engrossed in the delicious food a moment ago, suddenly snapped out of it. Remembering the conversation she had just overheard, the veins on the back of her hand, which was gripping her chopsticks, instantly bulged.
That damn curly-haired guy finally laid a hand on my sister!

"Huh? Hisana, why aren't you eating? Don't you have an appetite?"

Senju Itama, who had just served Nawaki a large bowl of rice, turned around and saw that Senju Hisa was completely still. He immediately began to doubt his own cooking skills.
To celebrate her niece's recovery, she gave up the opportunity to go out to a dinner party with Curly-haired Baboon and specially returned to her parents' home to cook a delicious meal for her, just so that Senju Hisa, who had been away from home for many years, could feel at home.

"No, it's delicious."

Seeing her younger sister's cautious expression, Senju Hishiko's heart softened. She picked up her chopsticks and took another large piece of fish belly, stuffing it into her mouth.

"Even vaguely~"

"Hehe, as long as you like it."

Senju Itama finally breathed a sigh of relief, a silly grin identical to Senju Hashirama's spreading across his face.

"Auntie, I think I just heard you talking about a child?"

After absentmindedly shoveling a few mouthfuls of rice, Senju Hisami hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of curiosity. She casually asked, "..."

"Yeah, you haven't answered my question yet~"

Senju Momoka, who was wiping Nawaki's mouth, turned her head upon hearing this, her eyes full of gossip.

“I remember telling you that, it seems you’ve misremembered.”

Senju Itama chuckled and scratched his distinctly black and white head. The maternal smile on his face was so bright that Senju Hisa couldn't open her eyes.
"So she really is pregnant?"

Senju Hishima, her heart bleeding, suddenly uttered a sentence, her sharp gaze piercing directly at Senju Banza's slightly protruding belly.
"what?"

Following the other person's gaze downwards, Senju Itama craned his neck to look over the two seemingly insurmountable peaks, finally landing on his own belly, which had thickened from his unrestrained consumption of Honey Ice Cream.
"What nonsense are you talking about, kid? I've just been eating a little too many sweets lately."

With a face ashen red, Senju Itama quickly covered her chubby little belly with her hands, offering a somewhat embarrassed and annoyed explanation.

"With just a little exercise, I'll definitely get my abs back to what they were before."

"You're not pregnant?"

Hearing Senju Itama's seemingly genuine answer, Senju Hisa blinked in confusion. Had she guessed wrong?
"of course not!"

Senju Itama angrily pounded the table, a complex expression on his face, his voice becoming barely audible.

"I want to too!"

"What did you say?"

Senju Hisa, with her sharp ears, widened her eyes, inwardly lamenting that her little cabbage was about to be devoured by the curly-haired pig.

"Let's eat!"

Seeing that Senju Hisa was determined to get to the bottom of things, Senju Itama, feeling a little embarrassed, immediately picked up a large pork knuckle and stuffed it into the other's mouth.

"Uh huh"

Senju Hisana, with a gag stuffed in her mouth, immediately let out a painful groan.
"Ah! My big pork knuckle!"

Rope Tree, who had already reached for her chopsticks, saw that the large pork knuckle she had ordered had vanished. Her little nose wrinkled, and she looked as if she was about to cry.

After struggling to finish the succulent braised pork knuckle, Senju Hisa wiped the grease from her mouth, composed herself, and continued asking.

"Then what do you mean by 'child', Aunt?"

Could it be the product of that curly-haired guy's philandering, brought home and left to be taken care of by Itama, his prospective stepmother?
"The child I just mentioned is a girl I met when I went to the orphanage to bring warmth to others. Her name is Nono, and she is very sensible and obedient."

Senju Itama put down his chopsticks, a gentle glint in his eyes as he spoke.

Orphanage?
Upon hearing these three words, Senju Hisa couldn't help but think of Uchiha Gin, the greatest philanthropist in Konoha. The letter that he treasured was apparently given to him by this orphan named Nonou.

"I didn't expect you to be so kind-hearted, Auntie, that you would actually donate money and goods to an orphanage."

Neither her sister's child nor Curly's, Senju Hisami immediately felt much relieved, and a smile appeared on her face.
"It was that curly-haired baboon who took me there. I never expected him to be so kind-hearted. He even shared his favorite candy with the orphans."

Gently shaking her head, Senju Itama explained that if it weren't for Uchiha Gin, she probably would never have gone to a place like an orphanage in her life.

"Did Uchiha Gin take you there?"

"Hmm, he seems to be quite familiar with the orphanage director." Recalling the director's grateful expression, Senju Itama nodded, her eyes filled with surprise. However, thinking of the tragic experiences those orphans had before entering the orphanage, a look of pity appeared on her face.
"Those children are so pitiful, but thankfully there are orphanages, otherwise they might not be alive today."

Ever since her visit to the orphanage with Uchiha Gin, the soft-hearted Senju Itama has become a regular there, often bringing snacks and toys to visit the poor children. She then learns from the old director about the profound mission the orphanage carries.
Although the Land of Fire is the wealthiest of the major powers, its backward ruling system makes life difficult for its lower classes. Coupled with occasional wars and banditry, displaced orphans are a common sight.
If these children are lucky, they might be adopted; if they're unlucky, they'll become food for stray dogs on the street.

When Konoha established its first orphanage, orphans wandering throughout the Land of Fire, hoping for a change, flocked to this newly built utopia.
The orphanage did not disappoint them; it truly provided them with a new home. When the first group of orphans reached adulthood, some became farmers, some became factory workers, and a very few with talent became ninjas.
But no matter where they are or what kind of work they do, they never forget the kindness shown to them by the orphanage, and they will actively help homeless orphans join the Konoha Orphanage family.

In this way, the Konoha Orphanage grew larger and larger, saving more and more children, thus becoming a legendary tale among the people.

"I never expected that curly-haired guy would actually do so many good deeds."

After listening quietly to Itama Senju's account, the last trace of doubt Senju Hisa had about Gin Uchiha vanished, and a rare look of self-reproach appeared on her fair and delicate face.
“Curly-haired baboon is different from most other Uchiha; he is a genuinely good person in some sense.”

Senju Itama, who spent decades with Uchiha Gin, is the most qualified to speak on this matter.
Although Uchiha Gin has some quirks, that doesn't stop him from being a good person; otherwise, Senju Itama would have run away home to find his brother long ago.

"Actually, I've always wanted to adopt Nono, but that child is very opinionated and insists on staying in the orphanage, saying she's waiting for someone. I don't know who she's waiting for."

After talking about Uchiha Gin, Senju Itama brought up the child she had mentioned.
In her memory, Nono was only five or six years old, but she acted like a little adult. Faced with the temptation of her sweet words, she remained unmoved even when her mouth was watering.
It's clear that the person she's waiting for holds a very deep place in her heart.

"Then you can wait until she's a little older and take her as your disciple."

Seeing that her younger sister really liked that boy named Nono, Senju Hisa smiled and suggested...

"I think so too."

Great minds think alike. Senju Itama nodded with a smile. She really liked that chubby-faced little girl, feeling that she would be very caring when she grew up.

With the misunderstanding cleared up, the lively atmosphere at the dinner table returned. For the first time, Senju Hisa ate to her heart's content, not stopping until her belly was completely stuffed.

"let me help you."

A satisfied Senju Hisa picked her teeth, and seeing Senju Itama starting to clean up the mess, she stood up and volunteered.

"No need, your injury has just healed, you should rest more."

From their casual conversation, Senju Itama learned of his eldest niece's harrowing escape from death. Had it not been for Uchiha Gin's intervention, she might very well have been reunited with her second brother.

"That's right, Hisana, you should get some rest. I also have something I'd like to talk to you about."

After seeing Tsunade and her brother off, who had eaten and drunk their fill, Senju Momoka's expression visibly turned serious. Senju Hisama frowned at the sight.
My sister-in-law rarely shows this expression; it seems something important has happened.

"You guys chat first, I'm going to wash the dishes."

Senju Itama, having picked up her bowl and chopsticks, glanced at the two of them but chose not to get involved. After all, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; her identity card now bears the three characters Uchiha.
"Auntie, what happened?"

Senju Hisa was the first to speak and ask a question.
Actually, there are some things I don't want to tell you too early.

Looking at her young niece, Senju Momoka sighed softly, a hint of anger appearing on her weathered face.
"But those guys went a bit too far."

"Those guys? Are they Uchiha?"

Senju Hisana's sensory radar buzzed, directly pinning the blame on the Uchiha clan.

No matter what it is, if it goes too far, it was done by the Uchiha!
"Huh? What does our family matter have to do with the Uchiha?"

Senju Momoka was taken aback. When had she ever mentioned the name Uchiha?

"Not the Uchiha? Then who else could it be?"

"They are the old guard members of the family."

Remnants of the old regime?
Recalling the hypocritical elder, Senju Hisa's brows immediately furrowed into a deep frown. She didn't like those old guys either, but they all came from the same origin, so they shouldn't do anything too outrageous, right?

"Do you know what the elders were doing when the news of your death reached them?"

"Shall we start the feast?"

Blinking in confusion, Senju Hishimi couldn't find anything else besides the start of the banquet.

"Hmph! They're forcing me to abdicate. Do you really think I fainted from grief?"

Senju Momoka's expression was icy. She was a woman who had transitioned from a combatant to the clan leader's wife, and she was once an elite Jonin with exceptional mental fortitude.

It's not that she's heartless, but rather that Senju Momoka's mental fortitude surpasses that of most people.

"What do they want to do?"

Upon hearing the words "coup," Senju Hisa's eyes turned cold. Internal strife is the most taboo thing for a clan.
Not only are they not united, but they also form cliques and create divisions. They deserve to die a thousand deaths. Sending them to the Land of Snow to dig potatoes would not be enough to appease public anger.

“They demand that I relinquish my authority as clan chief, as well as the secret ninjutsu techniques collected by your uncle and father.”

"How dare they!?"

This behavior is no longer a simple coup, but an open and blatant rebellion.

“Now that you’re gone, they’ll naturally dare to bully us orphans and widows.”

Senju Momoka said with a cold laugh, explaining that she had feigned fainting to buy time and give Senju Itama a chance to contact her.

Without Senju Hisa, only Princess Senju, who had been living away from home, was left to support the family.

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm. Senju Hisajin was brought back to life, and the elders who had been trying to force him to abdicate immediately changed their tune.

While claiming that everything was for the sake of the Senju clan's future, he concealed his sinister fangs, preparing for his next attack.
"No wonder."

No wonder the usually aloof Elder took the initiative to curry favor with her, saying that the Senju clan was her backing, but in reality, he was warning her that without the Senju clan's support, she was nothing.

"Hmph! A bunch of scoundrels."

Senju Hisama's face grew darker with each thought. He and his older brother had only been gone a short while, and those parasites had already begun to act.

Perhaps she didn't confiscate their property enough when she raided it back then, letting these guys eat too much and sleep too well.

Thinking of this, Senju Hishima was filled with resentment. Those inherently evil guys hadn't even started fighting amongst themselves, yet you've turned on us?
"Hijin, have you ever considered becoming the clan leader?"

Senju Momoka stared intently into Senju Hishima's eyes, her gaze filled with exhaustion.
She was simply too exhausted. For someone no longer young, supporting the entire family alone was incredibly difficult.

"Auntie, haven't you noticed that the Senju clan has begun to rot from the very roots?"

Without answering Senju Momoka's question, Senju Hisami glanced at the Senju clan crest painted on the screen, a resolute glint in her eyes.
"The era of the Senju clan should come to an end."

(End of this chapter)