Chapter 81: The Bathing Task, Discreet Inquiries
Half an hour later, the rescued children had eaten their fill and were slowly regaining some strength. Uchiha Tonan smiled gently as he wiped a stray smear of porridge from the little girl's mouth. He then addressed the children warmly, "Alright, everyone, it's time to clean up. Follow me."
The children, their defenses finally lowered, followed quietly behind him to the bathhouse. Though called a bathhouse, the room was more akin to a modest onsen — spacious enough to accommodate all the children comfortably. After all, Tonan was the Captain of the North City Guard, a respectable position within the Fire Capital's hierarchy. Even with this many children soaking at once, the bathhouse never felt overcrowded.
Since the children were so young and vulnerable, Tonan didn't separate the boys and girls. He didn't even mind the grime and dirt they carried — the water quickly turned a murky black as they stepped in, evidence of how long they'd been kept in filth.
But Tonan was unfazed. The water was fresh and flowing, replenished constantly from the springs beneath the city. After they soaked for a while and relaxed their bodies, he began calling each child over, one by one, to carefully help wash their dirtied skin.
Looking down at the little girl in front of him, he sighed softly, "You poor thing… you're covered in grime."
The girl's mouth trembled as tears welled in her eyes. She whispered weakly, "Lord…"
Tonan smiled warmly and playfully tapped her forehead with his finger. "No need to be so formal. Call me 'Oni-san.'"
The sudden kindness caught the girl off guard. The fear and despair that had gripped her for days broke down in an instant. She threw herself into Tonan's arms, sobbing, "Oni-san…"
Tonan gently patted her back, comforting her as he addressed the rest of the children still in the pool, "From now on, you can all call me Oni-san. This place is your home — treat it like your own."
Soft sobs and hesitant murmurs of "Oni-san…" rippled through the water.
After carefully washing the little girl, Tonan rinsed her off with clean water. "There you go. Soak a bit more — this warm spring water is good for your body."
He eased her back into the pool and pulled out a small boy next. While washing him, Tonan asked gently, "What's your name, little one?"
The boy scrunched his brow, trying hard to remember, but shook his head blankly. Tonan's smile softened. "You can't remember? That's okay. In a few days, I'll find a sensei to help you all — he'll even give you names."
The boy hesitated, then, shyly, pressed his face against Tonan's cheek and whispered, "Thank you, Oni-san…"
Though not very aware, the boy clearly trusted the man before him, who radiated a calm, protective presence. Tonan ruffled his hair softly. His large palm easily enveloped the boy's head as the water dripped off the strands.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Shinnosuke had received word of the morning's events and hurried to the North City Guard Residence.
Yoshiwara Ao greeted him and led him inside to the living room. Pouring tea, he bowed politely. "Shinnosuke-sama, please have some tea and wait here for a moment."
Shinnosuke glanced around but didn't see Tonan. "Has Tonan gone out?"
Ao smiled and gestured toward the backyard. "Tonan-sama is currently bathing the rescued children. Would you like me to inform him of your arrival?"
Shinnosuke stroked his chin thoughtfully and shook his head. "No, I'll find him myself."
Rising, he headed to the backyard. In many ways, Shinnosuke bore the spirit of his grandfather, Sarutobi Hiruzen — a man of both wisdom and patience. Though inexperienced, he was still the apple that didn't fall far from the tree.
Passing by the bathhouse window, Shinnosuke paused and peered through a crack. He saw Tonan carefully instructing the children as he washed their backs and shoulders.
Tonan's movements were gentle, cautious as if afraid of hurting the fragile children. A faint smile crossed Shinnosuke's lips at the sight.
After lingering a while, he quietly returned to the living room. Sitting down with his tea, he pondered silently.
Even without Father's words, from what I just saw, Tonan is unlike any other Uchiha I know. Not only is he kind, but deeply caring. For ordinary people, such qualities are precious virtues. But for shinobi, especially those in the shadows, such softness can be a fatal weakness if exploited…
Yet… perhaps those weaknesses make people easier to influence and control.
Bathing the children was a long, exhausting task. By afternoon, Tonan had finished and led the group to the dormitory prepared for them.
The dormitory was warm and inviting. Tonan had instructed the attendants to keep it meticulously clean — a sanctuary where the homeless children could finally feel safe and comforted.
Exhausted both physically and emotionally, the children quietly took in their new surroundings. Although tears brimmed in their eyes, the memory of past horrors held their cries at bay.
Tonan addressed them kindly, "You didn't get much rest yesterday. This is your dormitory now, and each of you has a bed. If you're hungry, there are snacks by your bedside. Rest well."
Under his watchful eye, the children settled into their beds, looking at him with a mixture of trust and attachment. Seeing their faces relax for the first time, a genuine smile spread across Tonan's.
Knowing Shinnosuke was here to see him, Tonan made his way back to the living room once the children were settled. Yet, when he spotted Shinnosuke, he feigned surprise.
"Shinnosuke-senpai! When did you arrive?" Tonan's tone was light, but polite.
Stepping forward apologetically, he bowed deeply before sitting. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I was busy all day. Why didn't you have a guard notify me?"
Shinnosuke smiled warmly, clearly unbothered by the wait. "It's fine. I heard you did incredible work this morning."
Tonan shook his head modestly. "It's my duty. When you accept a mission, you must carry it out with diligence."
Shinnosuke had witnessed Tonan's unwavering dedication firsthand. His respect for Tonan deepened.
If someone like this became loyal to me…
Feeling a desire to grow closer, Shinnosuke began to chat casually, "How have you been lately?"
They talked at length. Shinnosuke, impressed and eager, dominated the conversation. Tonan mostly smiled and nodded, humoring him.
But the truth was Shinnosuke didn't know Tonan well enough to find common ground. Aside from expressing his worries repeatedly, there was little else to say.
Tonan grew slightly impatient but concealed it.
He thought wryly: I haven't even sworn loyalty to him yet, and he's already so eager. Trying this hard only makes you seem desperate — that's no way to gain respect. Losing your aura of mystery just makes others lose reverence. His tactics are clumsy.
Clearing his throat, Tonan tried to shift the subject. "Guarding the Daimyo's residence must be boring work."
Shinnosuke blinked, surprised by the question's tone. "Not really. I guard First Highness at night, so there isn't much to do during the day."
Tonan poured him more tea and asked casually, "Is First Highness easy to get along with?"
Shinnosuke took a sip and nodded. "He's got a good temperament, but he's overly honest. Compared to Second Highness, who spends his days playing around, First Highness is much more mature."
Tonan nodded thoughtfully. Through various channels, he had learned about the Fire Capital's key figures.
"Second Highness must be quite young… it's natural for him to be reckless."
Shinnosuke continued, "First Highness is in his twenties. Second Highness is already sixteen. I heard the Daimyo is planning to find a tutor for them — someone to teach First Highness about government affairs and to keep Second Highness's wild temper in check. I expect news soon."
"Looking for a tutor…" Tonan's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered the opportunity. Calculations raced through his mind.
Shinnosuke changed the topic, "How's Asuma doing? He should be back soon for the graduation exam."
Hearing the name, Shinnosuke's expression darkened. "Lately, he's been hanging out with reckless youths. I caught him secretly smoking last time. I don't even know how I'll explain that to Father when we get back."
Tonan smiled softly, reassuring, "He's probably just curious. It's a phase — he'll grow out of it."