Chapter 252: Seeing Ise Lazing Around

The sea breeze blew gently, carrying the salty aroma and the scent of wildflowers growing in the yards of the villagers.

Even though that day was important—due to the arrival of the Konoha ninjas—there was no sign of panic or massive preparations.

The villagers walked about as usual, smiling as they greeted each other.

They knew that the Uzushio Village was no longer a small, weak village.

Now, the Uzumaki Clan had become a force to be reckoned with—even feared.

Reiji walked down the main road, heading east.

There stood the research center, factories, and pharmaceutical laboratories side by side.

After a few minutes, Reiji arrived at a building made of lightweight steel and frosted glass.

The front door was slightly ajar, and Reiji immediately walked in without knocking.

The hallway inside the building was narrow and a bit messy.

Reiji quickly walked past several doors until he reached a room with its door wide open.

Inside, Ise was sitting on the floor, surrounded by papers filled with formulas and failed test results.

Ise's work desk was cluttered with empty test tubes, stacks of documents, and... a coffee cup that seemed to be one of many.

Reiji stood in the doorway with a furrowed brow. “Oh my…”

He then stepped slowly toward Ise and, without warning—smack!—tapped his finger on the man's head.

“Ouch! M-master! You came?” Ise turned with a half-panic, half-resigned expression.

“Me? No, I'm a curious spirit!” Reiji said sarcastically.

“Damn it, you’re lazing around while this place looks like a shipwreck!”

And smack! Another tap landed.

“Ouch!” Ise winced. “I’m just... reorganizing the methodology, okay…”

Reiji merely massaged his temples, resisting the urge to throw Ise out the window.

...

...

...

After enduring a morning filled with annoying matters—some letters from various members of the Research Division that they sent.

Three scrolls were damaged due to spills of special liquids, and Ise had accidentally blown up half the table with a misordered experimental seal.

Reiji finally stood still in the middle of the main research room.

His arms were crossed, his shoulders slightly slumped from fatigue, and his gaze swept across the entire room.

It was as if Reiji wanted to ensure that no more surprises would emerge from behind the cabinets or old scrolls.

This room, spacious and quiet, contained sturdy old wooden shelves flanking a long table made of obsidian stone.

On the table lay sheets of paper, half-opened fuinjutsu scrolls, and dried sealing ink at the side of the container.

The distinctive aroma of powder from a special tree containing chakra, burnt pine wood, and old metal filled the air.

A mixture that could make some people dizzy, but instead made Reiji feel... comfortable.

This was the main research room, the core building of the entire Research Area complex.

A large building with classical architecture featuring a curved roof, ancient carvings along the pillars, and clan symbols etched into the walls.

This building belonged to Reiji personally—made specifically for him, after all, Reiji was the Head of the Research Area Division.

Yet strangely, even though this building was meant for Reiji, he often spent more time in the basement of his home.

That was where Reiji could truly think.

In the midst of the thick silence, the sound of clinking laboratory tools, and the stone walls echoing the incantations made Reiji feel free.

It was precisely because of Reiji's habit that this room was often occupied by one other person—a student of Reiji named Ise.

For a moment, Reiji gazed at the man.

Sitting at the edge of the table, Ise's body was slightly hunched, his face close to the surface of the paper as he wrote seriously.

Ise's jet-black hair was a bit messy, with some strands sticking to his sweaty forehead.

Surrounding Ise were opened scrolls, stacks of notebooks, and sealing ink staining the tips of his fingers.

________________________

[Note: 640+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead, 

Now you can access the chapters before NovelPhoenix And NovelPhoenix by following]