The Kannabi Bridge Base.
Taking advantage of the New Year festival, Kamihane and Hikari from the Land of Lightning managed to return in time, joining Madara for a New Year's Eve dinner.
Outside the base, countless lights and fireworks lit up the sky, while inside, the aroma of food filled the air, with a long table set with a full twelve hearty dishes.
Of course, most of the dishes were Kamihane's handiwork, though Uchiha Madara also contributed his culinary skills—the vibrant, glistening braised pork was his masterpiece.
The lifelike human-shaped radish carving by the table was Uchiha Hikari's final act of defiance—she had deliberately carved three figures holding hands.
Madara quickly glanced over and silently sipped his tea.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Hikari took the initiative to clear the table, showcasing the fine qualities of a virtuous and beautiful young lady, then went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Taking advantage of her absence from the stone chamber, Madara called Kamihane to his side and whispered, "This New Year... have you prepared any gifts for her?"
"Uh, a gift?"
"They carried out your plan without a second thought, and you didn't even show any gratitude?" Madara shot him a glance, his expression slightly disdainful. "Sometimes, you really are quite dense."
Prompted by Madara's words, Kamihane flushed with embarrassment, realizing his oversight. "How about I treat her to a fireworks show? The most expensive and beautiful one in the city?"
"Does she strike you as the kind of girl who enjoys romantic fluff? That sort of thing doesn't suit her." Madara shook his head in exasperation. "Pathetic. After all these years, you still don't know what she likes."
"Lord Madara, could you give us some advice?"
Madara leaned back with an air of composure, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Hikari is a decisive person, even surpassing many men in that regard. A woman of her type naturally has a fondness for swords, weapons, and ninja tools."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean 'huh'? Don't you remember how surprised she was when she received the Flame Fan and sickle?"
"Well..."
"Trust me, give her that 'Frostfall's Resolve' of yours, and she'll definitely be overjoyed."
Kamihane pondered left and right, but no matter how he thought about it, it just didn't seem reliable.
Wait a minute, Lord Madara, you've been single for 46 years since birth—where do you get the confidence to teach me how to chase girls?
Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly as a strange sensation welled up in his heart. Through the summoning contract, he sensed a will calling to him from afar.
"It's Zetsu." He immediately stood up, ready to answer the summons. "Could there be trouble in the Land of Iron?"
At that moment, Hikari finished washing the dishes. With a water-style jutsu and precise control, he had all the plates sparkling clean in no time.
She asked in confusion, "Where are you going?"
"Something seems to have gone wrong on Zetsu's side. They wouldn't summon me unless absolutely necessary," Kamihane quickly explained, hurrying away.
"Them? You mean the Land of Iron?" Hikari pondered thoughtfully.
During the six years of seclusion, the Sword Forging Hall only summoned Kamihane once, and that was in the dead of night.
The reason was that an unknown powerful ninja had infiltrated the merchant guild's headquarters with the intent to assassinate Niwa Mayoyo, but the alert Zetsu noticed in time and performed the Reverse Summoning Technique.
After Kamihane arrived, he effortlessly captured these assassins alive. Under the interrogation of genjutsu, it turned out they were all rogue ninjas hired by envious nobles.
That night, he personally paid a visit to the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Iron.
The sleeping daimyo suddenly jolted awake, his eyes bulging in terror as he saw the icy blade hovering inches from his forehead, sending chills down his spine.
Still shaken, he recognized Kamihane's familiar face and heard a cold, detached voice speak.
"Some people have overreached with their claws. It's time to cut them short."
From then on, no one in the Land of Iron dared to cause trouble for the Forging Swordsmith again, and Kamihane enjoyed a long period of peace.
"Heh, someone actually dares to stir up trouble during the New Year. Seems like their claws are itching again," Kamihane's smile turned slightly cold. He was curious to see which blind fool thought they could take advantage of the chaos during wartime to loot and plunder.
"Wait!"
Hikari extended her fair, delicate hand, resting it on Kamihane's shoulder. "This time, I'll go with you."
Before Kamihane could react, the Reverse Summoning Technique activated instantly, and the two vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Behind him, Old Madara silently withdrew his outstretched hand. He... actually wanted to go out and see the excitement too—his mask was already on... or so he thought.
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