Invitation

Let's move the timeline forward a little.

After dropping Hinata off at home, he went to the shopping district and, following the directions on the property deed, asked around and searched for the place. Finally, he found it.

only……

Looking at the steam rising under the lamplight, Shi Jian, who was holding the property deed, fell silent for a moment.

So, what Madara gave him was a bathhouse?

Or is it that famous bathhouse in Konoha?

Wait a minute, the sign clearly says it's a residential area!

Did I go to the wrong place?

Or perhaps Madara really did give him the bathhouse because he saw that Madara was an orphan with no income, so he specially gave him a business.

Shi Jian scratched his head, and just as he was about to ask again, a figure suddenly appeared beside him.

He wore a red Hokage hat, a white Hokage robe, and a red ninja outfit underneath. He also had a pipe in his hand. After slowly taking a puff, he leisurely looked up at the person in front of him, as if he had just finished get off work and hadn't even had time to change his clothes, so he just stopped by to relax.

This... is none other than the Third Hokage whom I just saw this morning!

Before the stunned Shijian could even greet him, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, exhaled a smoke ring and revealed a kind smile on his wrinkled face. "Little guy, you haven't come to the wrong place. This is indeed the location recorded on the property deed."

"???"

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Ishigami snapped out of his daze, a look of surprise on his face. He seemed not to have expected that the Third Hokage would know about this matter, but after thinking about it, he felt it was quite normal.

After all, given the current situation in the village and with the Uchiha clan, it's likely that Fugaku Uchiha's every word and action in the village is being watched. In fact, if Fugaku Uchiha behaves strangely in any way, the young master himself will report it to the higher-ups.

"I did not send anyone to monitor Chief Fugaku." Seeing the strange look on Ishigami's face, before he could say anything, Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a helpless expression, "I just happened to see Chief Fugaku looking for you at school this morning, and then I learned a little about it."

As she spoke, a helpless smile appeared on her wrinkled face. "Sometimes I feel like you're not a child at all."

Of course, he just said it casually.

After all, while precocious children are rare in the ninja world, they are not uncommon either.

For example, Itachi Uchiha... is a case in point. Before he even started school, that child had already begun to ponder the meaning of life. Therefore, it's more normal for him to be just a slightly intelligent child.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze fell on the stone ravine again. Remembering that he had come here on his way, he continued with a melancholy tone, "This is indeed the place recorded on the property deed, but this bathhouse is not the house written on the deed."

"?!?!"

What do you mean?

Illegal building?

"This bathhouse isn't an illegal building. In Konoha, it's within the regulations; it just has some historical issues." Saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his forehead, looking somewhat annoyed. "I can't believe that legend is true! Oh well, let's go inside and talk about it!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stretched his arms and neck, took another puff of his pipe, and looked at Shijian with a smile. "This old man has been busy all day. It's rare for me to get off work. Do you want to just watch an old man like me standing on the street chatting? Since you're already here, let's go in and soak for a while. While we're soaking, I'll tell you something. Don't worry, I'm not going to let a kid treat me."

"Hey, I didn't bring any clothes."

"No problem, the bathhouse provides temporary bathrobes, and there are even children's bathrobes. They also offer laundry and drying services. I'll have the owner wash and dry your clothes as quickly as possible. They should be ready by the time you're done soaking." Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, then strode inside. "Let's go!"

"..."

Seeing that the Third Hokage had actually invited him to take a bath, Shi Jian raised an eyebrow, but after thinking for a moment, he still followed him inside.

There was nothing he could do; it was his house!

It's a house in a bustling area!

Led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, they entered the bathhouse lobby and saw the Hokage himself taking a bath. Although the bathhouse owner was already used to the Hokage coming to bathe, he still warmly welcomed the Third Hokage.

Furthermore, at the Third Hokage's request, a VIP channel was opened directly, and a quiet pool was found for them.

Then, they even took away the clothes that Shijian had changed out of.

"Phew~"

While soaking in the steaming hot pool, Shi Jian couldn't help but let out a comfortable sound.

"Sometimes you really don't act like a child." Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, but after saying that, his expression turned serious. "Let's get back to what happened before!"

As he spoke, a hint of reminiscence appeared in his eyes, and he spoke with a touch of emotion while soaking in the water.

"This is indeed the place written on the property deed, and the pool we're soaking in now was part of the house back then. And this house... no, back then it was already a mansion. As for why it's become a bathhouse now?"

"Was it destroyed?"

"?!" Upon hearing Ishigami's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback, then nodded with a wry smile. "You guessed it? That's right, this place has indeed been destroyed."

He sighed. "Uchiha Madara probably intended to use this place as your clan's residence to proliferate, out of gratitude for your clan saving his life."

"..."

No, Madara was just a little too generous.

Recalling what Banye had said that morning, Shijian couldn't help but show a strange expression on his face.

He now understands exactly what's going on.

"Back then, no one believed that rumor. After all, that rumor..." At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi's bitter smile reappeared on his face.

He saved Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Tobirama Senju... Goodness, who would believe such a rumor!

"But now it seems that it is indeed true. As for the house... I must apologize to you here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply. "Konoha hasn't been peaceful lately. The shopping district has been destroyed several times, and in the most recent incident..."

He paused, a hint of sadness in his eyes, as if he didn't want to talk about this with a child. He then changed his tone abruptly, "Of course, the village will provide compensation for this, but this mansion... has not been lived in for the past ten years or so, and no one knows who bought it. In those chaotic times... such situations were not uncommon."

At this point, a hint of embarrassment appeared on the old man's face as he looked at Shi Jian, "Three more years passed, and the owner of this house still hadn't appeared... Now you should be able to guess why!"

"..."