The Light of a Married Woman Takes Center Stage
Standing outside the door to welcome them was a delicate-looking woman.
A blue kunoichi dress hugged her graceful curves, and her long hair flowed like a waterfall down to her lower back.
Her hands were clasped behind her, her eyes and brows carrying a gentle smile.
"You know me?" Madara examined the woman who had just called him "Uncle Madara."
She smiled warmly. "Yes. Akira already told me he'd be bringing you over tonight."
"Oh."
Madara studied her without blinking, feeling strangely unsettled.
There was something about her face that stirred an indescribable sensation.
Is it just that she knows who I am… yet isn't afraid of me at all?
Just then, a small head with a princess-cut hairstyle peeked out from behind the woman's long legs.
Big curious eyes sized him up, revealing tiny tiger-like fangs.
"Mommy, is this uncle a relative? Why does he look so much like you?"
"…Ah."
The child's innocent remark struck Madara like lightning.
Now he understood that strange feeling.
She really did resemble him.
Especially in her brows and eyes.
Her bearing and temperament.
She looked even more like him than Akira did.
So much so that it felt like staring into a mirror.
Akira smiled and introduced them.
"This is my wife, Hikari. And this is our daughter, Yuki."
Madara looked away from Hikari's face and greeted them stiffly.
"You… hello."
Hikari gently stroked Yuki's soft, fluffy hair.
"Yuki, call him Grandpa Madara~"
Yuki blinked in surprise.
"Huh? Uncle Madara is Grandpa? But he looks so young! He doesn't look old at all!"
Madara's stern expression softened instantly under her childish voice.
He bent down and peered at her round little face.
"How old are you?"
"Grandpa Madara! I'm four years old this year!"
"Four…"
Madara nodded solemnly.
"Good. Perfect age to go to the battlefield."
"Why does Grandpa Madara have another weird uncle face on his chest?"
"..."
Madara looked down at his exposed torso.
At Hashirama's face.
Back then, he had flaunted this thing in front of the Five Kage and Allied Forces without any shame.
But now, being questioned by an innocent child…
He felt socially dead.
This Edo Tensei body is already overpowered enough. Would it kill them to give me a shirt?
Still, he couldn't embarrass himself in front of a young Uchiha.
"That's right. Your grandpa was born with a second face. Scared?"
"Not scared! I think it's super cool! Can I touch it?"
Yuki's eyes sparkled.
Madara burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Good! That's my kind of taste! Uchiha Yuki, I approve of your aesthetics! Go on, touch it!"
He even squatted down so she could reach it easily.
Akira stared at the scene in disbelief.
Wait… I never imagined Lord Madara had this side…
Hikari spoke up gently.
"Yuki, let Grandpa Madara inside. The food's getting cold."
After entering, Hikari took out one of Akira's black ceremonial robes from the cabinet and handed it to Madara.
"Sorry, Uncle Madara. We weren't well prepared. Please wear Akira's clothes for now. You're about the same height, so it should fit. I'll get you new ones tomorrow."
Madara wrapped himself in the robe, glanced at his Edo Tensei boots, and said,
"If possible, I'd like shoe covers too."
As he walked through the living room, he glanced at the furnishings.
Simple.
Warm.
On the TV cabinet stood a framed family photo of four.
In the tatami room, a low table was set with a lavish spread of food and wine.
Hikari took Yuki's hand and said to Akira,
"We've already eaten. We'll go for a walk. You two talk, alright~?"
Akira smiled. "Mm. Go ahead."
Their exchanged looks were full of marital understanding.
Hikari bowed slightly to Madara, then led Yuki away and closed the sliding door.
Silence fell.
Soon, Madara broke it.
"Hikari… she's also a surviving member of the Uchiha, isn't she?"
"You noticed?" Akira smiled.
He poured wine for Madara, then himself.
"She also has another name. One you won't find unfamiliar."
"What name?"
"Wuming."
"Wuming…"
Madara repeated it.
Lightning flashed through his mind.
As a clan leader from the Warring States era, he immediately recalled the legend.
"Wuming… You mean the girl from the mid-Warring States period? The one with rare ocular powers, used as a weapon by the Uchiha, and later sealed jointly by the Senju and Sarutobi?"
"That's right."
"Hikari is her real name. She lived in an era even earlier than yours. She was sealed at twelve, and remained imprisoned for two hundred and thirteen years. I released her sixteen years ago."
Madara took a sip of wine.
As expected.
No taste.
But the emotions were still there.
"Then she should hate this world… yet she doesn't seem to."
Akira lifted his cup.
Warm sake slid down his throat, memories surfacing.
From a revenge-driven girl who once wanted to annihilate the ninja world…
To the gentle, occasionally tsundere wife and mother she was now…
Akira had spent sixteen years giving her the redemption Boruto once received—
And more importantly, the companionship Boruto never could.
Though the scar on his chest still ached faintly…
The memories were sweet.
"At first, she did," Akira said softly.
"But I spent a long time giving her back what her clan never gave her… and what this world owed her."
"So she became my wife."
They married on her sixteenth birthday—her coming-of-age ceremony, in accordance with ancient customs.
By then, the Fourth War had ended three years earlier.
"I see."
Madara didn't press further.
He picked up his chopsticks and ate food he couldn't taste.
Akira refilled his cup.
Madara himself found it strange.
He could sit here so naturally.
It had only been half an hour since his revival.
He still didn't know Akira's true motive.
Objectively speaking, Hikari and Yuki had unconsciously brought him much closer to Akira.
He analyzed Akira silently.
He brought me straight home where his wife and child live.
That means his intentions are honest.
And he's confident I won't harm them.
But…
Doesn't he realize who I am?
I'm Uchiha Madara.
I nearly destroyed this world.
After several rounds of drinks, Madara set his cup down.
"Let's talk business."
Akira glanced at him, sipped his wine, and began.
"Alright. The war is over, but Kaguya's clan still lurks in this world, waiting to stir chaos."
"Naruto, Sasuke, and the Five Kage have grown complacent. Their inaction is weakening the entire ninja world."
"They won't be able to face what's coming."
"True chaos isn't far away."
"So someone must stand up and change this."
Madara listened.
"So… that someone is you?"
"Yes. But I can't do it alone."
"I need like-minded comrades to complete my plan."
"And that includes you."
Madara frowned.
Few words.
Massive implications.
He extracted key points and questioned rapidly.
"Kaguya's clan—who are they? Where are they hiding? How are Naruto and Sasuke negligent? Why is chaos inevitable?"
Akira put down his chopsticks and wiped his hands.
Buzz.
His Sharingan spun.
"Explaining it is troublesome."
"Let's talk with our eyes."
Madara thought briefly.
His Rinnegan reverted to Sharingan and met Akira's gaze.
——Genjutsu: Sharingan!
"What you'll see… is the future of the ninja world without my involvement."
Yes.
Right here—
Akira was about to show Madara…
Boruto.