Chapter 46: About the Little Wife Matter
The dilapidated South Sand City gate looked particularly weathered. Cracks on the city walls had not been fully repaired, and a faint scent of sorrow lingered in the air.
Uchiha Sanpō stood in front of the gate, his fingers unconsciously straightening his collar. His gaze kept sweeping toward the inside of the city, showing clear anxiety.
Terumī Mei stood beside him with her arms crossed, looking at him with undisguised disdain: "What are you so nervous about? Weren't you acting all arrogant just now?"
Uchiha Sanpō glanced at her and lowered his voice: "You wouldn't understand… Huiyi usually doesn't get angry, but when she does, it's pretty scary."
Terumī Mei was about to retort when a clear female voice suddenly rang out from the crowd: "Sanpō!"
Flame-like red long hair shone brilliantly. Uzumaki Huiyi ran through the crowd toward them.
The seventeen-year-old girl had a graceful figure. Her fair cheeks were flushed from running, and her red eyes were filled with joy.
Uchiha Sanpō subconsciously opened his arms, but at the last moment he remembered something and froze stiffly in mid-air.
Uzumaki Huiyi keenly noticed his abnormality and gradually slowed her steps.
She stopped one step away, her gaze sweeping over Terumī Mei beside Sanpō. She tilted her head slightly: "Welcome back. And this is…?"
The surrounding noise instantly quieted. Uchiha Sanpō's throat tightened, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Terumī Mei, however, straightened her back and met Huiyi's inquiring gaze without retreating.
Uchiha Sanpō swallowed hard, his voice slightly dry: "This is Terumī Mei, a… friend I met in Kirigakure."
Uzumaki Huiyi's smile froze on her face. The noisy voices around them seemed to suddenly fade, leaving only suffocating silence.
The next second… "Uchiha Sanpō! You… come here!"
She grabbed his left hand and dragged him aside.
"Eh… eh… eh! Huiyi, you… slow down!"
Uchiha Sanpō smiled awkwardly. The dignified Uchiha genius jōnin now looked like a child who had done something wrong.
Terumī Mei stood in place, watching the two of them whispering and arguing not far away.
Uzumaki Huiyi's expressions alternated between anger and helplessness, while Uchiha Sanpō's flustered explanations were all clearly reflected in her eyes.
Strangely, she wasn't as angry as she had imagined. Instead, she felt a faint… relief?
A few minutes later, the two returned.
Uzumaki Huiyi's eyes were slightly red, but her expression had calmed down.
She walked in front of Terumī Mei and extended her hand: "Let's get to know each other again. I'm Uzumaki Huiyi, this idiot's girlfriend."
Terumī Mei was stunned for a moment, then shook her hand. A faint, mischievous smile appeared on her lips: "I'm Terumī Mei. Don't worry, I have no interest in your 'main wife' position. He said he wants me to be his 'little wife'!"
Uzumaki Huiyi's eyes flashed with a dangerous light, but then she burst out laughing: "Main wife? Is that how he introduced me?"
She took Terumī Mei's hand with one hand and Sanpō's right hand with the other: "Alright, let's go home first… As for you… we'll settle the score tonight."
The setting sun sank in the west, stretching the shadows of the three young people very long.
As they entered South Sand City, traces of war could still be seen on the streets. Collapsed houses had not been fully repaired, and occasionally bandaged ninjas hurried past.
Uchiha Sanpō's expression gradually became serious: "How are those children doing now?"
Because of the urgent war situation, Konoha's higher-ups had allowed many young children to graduate early.
These children, who should have been learning shuriken throwing in school, had been sent to the cruelest Kirigakure front.
Uzumaki Huiyi's steps paused slightly, her expression turning somber: "Their lives are no longer in danger, but… the disabilities… and the mental trauma will be difficult to eliminate in the short term."
Terumī Mei's dark eyes flashed with a hint of gloom. As someone from Kirigakure, she belonged to the side that had invaded the Land of Fire.
Uchiha Sanpō silently clenched his fist and said in a low voice: "The war is over. Tomorrow I'll take you all back to Konoha Village."
Uzumaki Huiyi nodded: "Mm! I understand."
Uchiha Sanpō raised his head, a light reigniting in his eyes: "Mental trauma can be treated with genjutsu. As for the disabilities… we need to research cloning technology. That will require a lot of money, but I'll find a way!"
Uzumaki Huiyi was slightly stunned, then showed a gentle smile: "You're still the same, always thinking about solving everyone's problems."
Terumī Mei stood to the side, quietly watching Sanpō's profile.
The setting sun plated his handsome contours with a golden edge. The black eyes burned with a firm flame. This guy, who usually joked around, actually had this side to him.
After night had fully fallen, they arrived at the temporary medical station.
On the innermost bed, a black-haired boy lay quietly.
His right sleeve was empty. His black eyes stared at the top of the tent, his gaze as empty as a pool of dead water.
"Yamazato…" Uzumaki Huiyi called softly, but the boy showed no reaction.
Uchiha Sanpō squatted beside the bed and gently touched the boy's forehead: "Does it hurt?"
The boy slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse: "It doesn't hurt… It's just that I can't be a ninja anymore."
Uchiha Sanpō's hand trembled slightly. His red eyes slowly rotated with three tomoe.
"Sharingan · Genjutsu · Mind Healing."
The boy's gaze gradually regained focus. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he was seeing some beautiful scene.
The light from the oil lamp danced in his black eyes, like a flame of life that had been rekindled.
Uzumaki Huiyi stood at the door, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. Terumī Mei noticed the teardrops sparkling in her ruby-like eyes.
"This technique… can only provide temporary relief. True healing will take time…"
When they left the medical station, the night sky was already filled with stars.
The ruins of South Sand City looked particularly desolate under the moonlight, but they also carried a strange sense of new hope.
"Tomorrow morning, we'll set off back to Konoha. Huiyi, you're in charge of arranging the transfer of the wounded. Terumī Mei… you come with me to purchase some medicinal materials."
Uzumaki Huiyi suddenly reached out and grabbed Uchiha Sanpō's right hand: "Don't think you can get away with this! We'll settle the matter of the 'little wife' slowly when we get back!"
"Huiyi! Don't be angry!" Uchiha Sanpō forcibly hugged her.
Terumī Mei watched them playfully tussling and unconsciously smiled.
The night wind brushed through her red-brown long hair, carrying the fresh scent of early spring. Perhaps following this man to Konoha wouldn't be a bad thing after all.
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