Hearing Jigoro's praise, Ryosuke's pupils constricted, and his body tensed.
Boom!!!
"Grandpa, it's not..."
Before he could explain, the sound of a wooden sword falling behind him rang out.
Ryosuke's heart sank.
Oh no!
This is a total disaster!
The thing he worried about most had still happened.
"Ryosuke-elder brother—!"
Rika's aggrieved cry broke the silence.
She practically pounced on Ryosuke, her almond-shaped eyes wide, her gaze sweeping over Hinatsuru and the other two in terror.
The next second, Rika looked down at her own small chest.
Rika: Σ _ ( ꒪ ཀ ꒪ " ∠ )!
At this moment, the girl grew up.
Before, it was just an imagination, but now she finally realized how big the difference was between a Simmons mattress and a wooden bed!
Rika's eyes were brimming with tears, and she looked completely chibi-fied!
"Waaah—! Ryosuke-elder brother! Wuwuwu..."
Rika's two small fists pounded haphazardly on Ryosuke's chest.
"Don't like older women! And... and three at once! Wuwu... I hate you! I hate you the most!"
Rika was practically hanging on Ryosuke, crying hysterically, looking utterly miserable like someone abandoned by a heartless man.
"No! Rika, listen to me! Grandpa, you too..."
Ryosuke fumbled to support Rika, while also eager to explain to Jigoro, completely flustered.
"An! Yi! Ryosuke!!!"
A clap of thunder from a clear sky.
Shota, full of resentment and transformed into a grotesque creature, crawled darkly, twisting and turning in the shadows.
He held his nichirin blade, baring his teeth as he rushed in front of Ryosuke.
"How dare you bully Rika! I'll chop you into pieces, you bastard!!!"
The blade ripped through the air, carrying all of Shota's fury as it slashed directly at Ryosuke's face!
"Shota! Stop!"
Jigoro was both shocked and enraged, instantly blocking between the two, tapping Shota's head with his cane.
The scene was out of control, a complete mess.
"Ryosuke-elder brother! Waaahhh..."
Rika was still crying heartbrokenly in Ryosuke's arms, her small hands clutching his haori tightly.
"Grandpa, let me go! I'm going to kill this scoundrel! He actually... he actually..."
Shota twisted and struggled, his blade flailing wildly.
"No! Listen to me! They are..."
Ryosuke, hugged by Rika and threatened by Shota's blade, was at a loss for words, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Lord Tengen..."
Suma, frightened, hid behind Uzui Tengen, her eyes wide with terror.
Hinatsuru and Makio were relatively calmer, but couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
Uzui Tengen, on the other hand, was utterly bewildered.
His face twitched, and he somewhat regretted the hasty decision he had made at dawn.
"Is this Peach Mountain... a legitimate place?"
As the farce escalated, Ryosuke, at the center of the storm, cast a pleading look at him!
Uzui Tengen rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath.
"Enough!!!"
His roar was full of power.
Everyone froze as if a pause button had been pressed, all looking at him in unison.
Uzui Tengen crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping across the scene.
"This one-legged grandpa! And that brat over there wildly swinging a sword! And this noisy crying young lady! Please allow me, Uzui Tengen, to flamboyantly clarify!"
He turned sideways, extending an arm, pointing to the three distinctly beautiful women behind him, his movements graceful and fluid.
"Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma are my, Uzui Tengen's, flamboyantly peerless wives! They merely came to Peach Mountain seeking refuge after Ryosuke showed them the way!"
The air was silent for a few seconds.
Jigoro turned his gaze to Ryosuke, seemingly seeking confirmation.
Ryosuke nodded vigorously like a pecking chick.
Only then did Jigoro clear his throat a few times, and with Rika and Shota, bowed slightly to the three.
"Cough... cough cough! So that's it! I am truly sorry, young man, and three ladies! I, Kuwajima Jigorō, on behalf of Peach Mountain, apologize to you all!"
Shota pouted, muttering to the side.
"Whose fault is it that he didn't explain himself..."
Rika looked at Ryosuke, her eyes full of eager anticipation.
Rika: ( ◕ ﹏ ◕ ✿ ) Stare—
Ryosuke nodded heavily.
"Hehe~"
Rika giggled, released Ryosuke, and somewhat shyly hid behind Jigoro.
The farce subsided, and Peach Mountain was peaceful for a rare moment.
Jigoro quietly reprimanded Ryosuke.
"Why can't you be more ambitious, kid! Look at that handsome young man, he has three wives! Three!"
"..."
Ryosuke couldn't argue, so he just chuckled awkwardly in agreement.
He silently found a corner and added the 5 years of lifespan he had accumulated.
[5 years of lifespan injected, remaining lifespan: 338 days.]
[Thunderclap and Flash has advanced to Minor Accomplishment, unlocking advanced form: Sixfold!]
Phew—
It finally got longer and stronger!
A moment later,
Jigoro also began to educate Uzui Tengen about the mission and history of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Uzui Tengen also candidly revealed his own background.
Noon.
With four extra people, Hinatsuru and the others also helped with cooking.
Once the food was on the table, it instantly captivated everyone's senses.
Everyone praised it endlessly, and Shota even devoured three large bowls.
Facing everyone's unanimous praise, Hinatsuru merely smiled gently.
"Thank you for the compliment. Actually, when we ninjas perform missions, sometimes we need to disguise our identities to approach targets. Poison is an essential method, and to precisely control the dosage and mask unusual odors, honing our culinary skills is a fundamental requirement."
The lively atmosphere at the dining table instantly froze.
"Po-poison?!"
The fish Shota was about to eat dropped back into his bowl, his expression frozen.
Even Rika subconsciously glanced at the dishes in front of her.
"Pfft!"
Uzui Tengen was the first to laugh out loud, patting his forehead.
"Hinatsuru, this is not the time to bring up such unflamboyant details! Look how scared everyone is!"
He raised his wine glass and drank it down heartily: "Eat without worry! Today's food is absolutely flamboyantly delicious!"
His hearty laughter dispelled the chill.
Ryosuke smiled, speaking up to ease the awkwardness.
"Yes, I believe the Flashy... Uzui."
"I apologize for startling everyone."
Hinatsuru nodded slightly.
However, this also completely piqued the curiosity of Rika and the others.
"But ninjas! I thought they only existed in stories!" Rika exclaimed.
"Exactly!"
Shota echoed: "No wonder their martial arts are so good."
Uzui Tengen and his wives chimed in a few words, and the atmosphere became harmonious again... Late night.
The peach grove became dreamlike under the moonlight.
On the wooden corridor outside the dojo, Uzui Tengen sat alone, leaning against the doorframe, holding a sake flask.
The flamboyant ostentation of the day had settled with the night.
The cool breeze brushed his silver hair, softening even the sharp angles of his face.
A faint sound of footsteps came from behind him.
Uzui Tengen didn't turn around, but simply held out another sake flask to the side.
Ryosuke sat down silently, took the flask, and took a sip.
Neither of them spoke for a while, only the chirping of insects in the mountains and the faint sound of a distant stream.
"Squeak—"
A tiny squeak broke the silence.
Several sturdy rats, wearing jeweled headbands, were seen carrying dishes and sake flasks larger than their own bodies, huffing and puffing as they walked.
The ninja rats placed the dishes steadily in front of Uzui Tengen, then began to flex their muscles, emitting "Squeak! Squeak!" sounds of seeking praise from their throats.
Uzui Tengen flicked their heads with his finger.
"Good job, my flashy little guys."
The ninja rats immediately puffed out their chests proudly, then scurried back into the shadows.
I have to say, my Flashy Brother is really rich.
Ryosuke sighed.
Even the ninja rats' head ornaments were adorned with jewels.
However, these specially trained, intelligent small pets were indeed endearing.
"Great companions."
Ryosuke said softly, looking in the direction they disappeared.
"Indeed... flashy and reliable companions."
Uzui Tengen replied, taking a sip of sake.
Perhaps it was the alcohol getting to him, but he remembered the scene from earlier in the day and couldn't help but laugh.
"Peach Mountain, it's very interesting."
"As long as you don't find it noisy."
Ryosuke gave him a helpless look.
Uzui Tengen shook his head, his eyes gradually deepening.
"A little noise proves they are alive, that they are human, not machines."
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