Chapter 232 : Seeing Nagato Again
The person who arrived was none other than Yugito Nii.
Compared to ten years ago, her aura was much more mature, with a newfound sense of composure and grace in her features.
Yet, her physical appearance seemed to have hardly changed. Her skin was still just as fair, her facial features remained delicate, and her figure was perfectly proportioned.
Time seemed to have left no mark on her, merely polishing the teenage girl into a woman in her twenties.
She wore light-colored casual clothes, her straight, beige-brown hair tied into a single braid that draped over her shoulder, secured at the end with a dark hair tie.
Upon entering, Yugito Nii noticed the crowd in the living room. Her gaze swept over Uchiha Itachi and the others, a flash of surprise appearing in her eyes before quickly vanishing.
She first handed the child over to Uzumaki Yumiko. Yumiko set down her tray and reached out to take the little girl. As the girl transferred from Yugito's arms to Yumiko's, her small head swiveled around, her eyes scanning the people in the room.
Yugito Nii then turned her attention back to Uchiha Itachi and his companions.
"Oh, are they from Konoha?"
Her voice was soft, carrying a faint tone of inquiry.
Though she asked, she naturally recognized Uchiha Itachi and the others.
Uchiha Itachi was dressed in Konoha shinobi attire with his forehead protector securely in place. Uchiha Sasuke wore a similar outfit. Although Hyuga Neji no longer had bandages wrapped around his forehead, his Byakugan made him easily identifiable.
She wasn't particularly surprised to see them here; instead, she cast a questioning look toward Uchiha Taiga.
The meaning behind her gaze was clear: *Did you bring these people here?*
Uchiha Taiga simply offered a faint smile, ignoring her silent question. He casually beckoned with his hand, the gesture as effortless as if he were calling over a kitten or a puppy.
The little girl, who had just settled into Uzumaki Yumiko's arms, flew into his embrace with a burst of giggles.
The girl's body lifted from Yumiko's hold, tracing a small arc through the air before landing securely in Taiga's arms. Her crisp laughter echoed through the room. Her tiny hands grabbed Taiga's collar, and she nuzzled her small face affectionately against his chest.
Throughout the entire process, no one could discern what method Uchiha Taiga had used. Even Uchiha Itachi was quite astonished, as he hadn't sensed the slightest fluctuation of chakra.
"Papa, are you going to be busy again today?"
The little girl's voice was soft and sweet, filled with a child's innocence and reliance. She looked up at Taiga with her large black eyes, brimming with anticipation.
Uchiha Taiga looked down at her, the corners of his mouth curling into a gentle smile.
"I'm not busy today."
He lowered his voice, sounding incredibly patient.
"How about I take you to play with Uncle Nagato in a bit?"
The girl's eyes lit up, and she broke into a wide grin, revealing her small upper and lower teeth.
"Yay! Yes, please!"
She cheered loudly, releasing Taiga's collar to wave her little hands in the air before grabbing onto his clothes once more.
Watching this scene, Uchiha Itachi took a deep breath. His gaze shifted back and forth between Taiga and the little girl several times. His expression remained calm, but a complex emotion swirled in his eyes.
"Taiga-sensei, is this your daughter?"
His voice was slightly hoarse, but his words were clear.
Uchiha Taiga nodded, making no attempt to deny it.
"Of course."
He looked at the girl in his arms, his smile deepening.
"She's very cute, isn't she?"
His tone carried an obvious sense of pride, like a father showing off his most precious treasure.
Uchiha Itachi was left speechless, unsure of what to say as his mind filled with doubts.
The little girl had black hair and black eyes. Although Uchiha Taiga bore the Uchiha name and had initially awakened the Sharingan and Mangekyo Sharingan, he currently possessed the Byakugan.
Since the Byakugan was a dominant trait, Uchiha Taiga's child should logically have the Byakugan as well.
But the girl did not; her eyes were black, just like an ordinary person's.
There was clearly something amiss here.
Uchiha Taiga seemed to notice his confusion but offered no explanation. He simply looked down at the girl in his arms and gently stroked her hair, his movements light and tender.
After a moment of thought, he turned to Uzumaki Yumiko.
"Arrange for them to stay here for now. By the looks of it, these brats won't be leaving anytime soon."
His voice was casual, as if he were discussing the most mundane of matters.
Uzumaki Yumiko bowed slightly, a gentle smile on her face.
"Understood, my lord. I will make the arrangements."
As Uchiha Taiga's steward, she was naturally more than capable of handling such tasks.
Uchiha Taiga's attention was clearly no longer on Uchiha Itachi and the others. After giving the order, he stood up from the tatami mat with the girl in his arms and headed toward the door.
The little girl squirmed playfully in his embrace, her tiny hands gripping his collar and her face pressed against his chest.
These actions seemed to make Uchiha Taiga's stance perfectly clear: to him, the arrival of Uchiha Itachi and his companions was of little importance.
Reaching the doorway, he turned his head to look at Yugito Nii.
"Let's go. Come take a look with us."
Standing by the door, Yugito Nii glanced at Taiga, then back at the people in the living room, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Is it really okay to just leave our guests here?"
Uchiha Taiga shook his head, the corners of his lips curling up.
"It's fine. These brats are all runaways. Let them cool off here on their own for a few days."
Uchiha Itachi, who had been resting on one knee on the tatami, lowered his other knee to sit in a formal seiza position.
His gaze lingered on Taiga's back, and his lips parted as if he wanted to say something. In the end, however, he remained silent, simply watching Uchiha Taiga leave.
Uchiha Sasuke stood beside him, while Hyuga Neji straightened up from his prostrate position, settling into a kneeling posture on the tatami.
Both of them also stared at Taiga's retreating figure without uttering a word.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Karin quickly hurried after them with a bright grin. Her steps were brisk, her red ponytail bouncing behind her head as she ran up to Taiga's side. She chattered away, her voice low but carrying a few distinct phrases—"Sensei," "Wait for me," and "I'm coming too."
The group stepped out the door, their footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.
The living room fell silent.
Uzumaki Yumiko stood in the center of the room, still holding her tray. She offered a polite smile. "Everyone, please follow me."
Her voice was soft and gentle.
"I will show you to your rooms."
She turned and walked toward the other end of the corridor at a leisurely pace.
Uchiha Itachi stood up, patted the wrinkles out of his clothes, and stepped forward to follow her.
Uchiha Sasuke followed right behind him. Hyuga Neji hesitated at the doorway of the living room for a moment before following suit.
The three of them trailed behind Yumiko, passing through the corridor and across a small courtyard until they arrived at a row of guest rooms.
Yumiko pushed open one of the doors and stepped aside to clear the entrance.
"This is it. The bedding is in the closet. If you need anything, just call for me."
After speaking, she gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
Uchiha Itachi stood at the doorway, looking inside the room.
The room wasn't large, but it was immaculate. The tatami mats were new, and the window was open, allowing sunlight to stream in and cast a bright patch across the floor.
He observed it for a few seconds before stepping inside.
Uchiha Sasuke followed him inside. Hyuga Neji paused at the door, hesitating briefly before entering as well.
The three of them sat on the tatami mats, enveloped in a long silence.
Uchiha Sasuke was the first to speak.
"Brother, that child..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already abundantly clear.
Uchiha Itachi shook his head.
"I don't know."
His voice was somewhat dry.
"But since Taiga-sensei didn't explain, it means he doesn't want to talk about it."
He gazed out the window at the sunlit sky.
"We shouldn't ask."
Uchiha Sasuke fell silent, his hands resting on his knees, fingers slightly curled.
Hyuga Neji sat in the corner, having not spoken a single word.
His hands rested on his knees, his fingers trembling slightly.
The Caged Bird curse mark on his forehead had vanished, but he still wasn't quite used to it. Every now and then, he would raise a hand to touch his forehead, confirming that the seal was truly gone.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Uchiha Taiga carried the little girl, flanked by Yugito Nii and Uzumaki Karin. After walking a certain distance, a spatial rift tore open right in front of them.
Stepping through it, they entered an entirely different world. As far as the eye could see, the area was filled with machinery covered in various indicator lights—some blinking rapidly, others emitting low, steady hums.
This was clearly an underground space, but its scale was massive, so vast that looking up, the ceiling was almost invisible.
Despite being underground, it didn't appear dim in the slightest, as bright lights illuminated every corner.
Venturing further in, they soon spotted a row of enormous doors. Walking through one of them, they saw a figure leaning over a workbench, busy processing something.
The little girl cheered, "Uncle Nagato, I came to see you!"
The person turned his head, revealing a pair of pure white eyes amidst his disheveled red hair.
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