"Big brother" Ria hugged me while crying profusely. Her hands clung to me as I thought I would disappear the very next instant or leave her again. At that moment, I could feel various emotions washing off of her but the most prominent ones were relief and happiness.
"I am back little Ria," I said with a sad smile. Although the current Ria was already tall enough to be called a young lady, she was still a little girl in my eyes.
Hinami noticed the atmosphere was silent and was looking at me like I did something very bad. I couldn't get a read on what she was feeling but I could see she felt sad for the girl even though she doesn't know the full story. Thinking about this, I felt even more disappointed in myself. I didn't even tell Hinami about this place or Ria at all. That goes to show how I treated this place as irrelevant subconsciously.
The villagers on the other hand stopped everything they were doing and looked at us, mostly Ria though with comforting eyes while some looked at me with clear hostility. I knew their hostility was because of hurting Ria but I could feel a different one, was it jealousy?
Hmm, it seems like someone is misunderstanding our hug as a show of deep affection. Not like I care though, if anyone tries harming Ria, I'ma let them feel some pain.
I used my chakra to soothe Ria and make her calm down. After a while, she finally controlled herself though she still hugged me tightly. I had to pet her out of myself and let her hold my hands as consolation.
With that done, I then waved at the villagers once more and said: "Sorry for the trouble guys"
"Hmph Shun you made our village sunshine cry, you think it's easy to let go with just a sorry?"
"Yeah, do you know how much little Ria has missed you?"
"She even goes outside the village sometimes and talks to that thing you gave her"
"Mh hmm. You have to apologize properly and make it up to her or else"
The villagers came out of their stupor and began clamoring that I gave Ria a proper apology. I could feel they were angry with me and also relieved that Ria wouldn't have to feel lonely as before. I also noticed that they weren't really angry
"Haha, for sure. It was my mistake, I will take of her well" looking toward Ria and bending down to reach her height, I said: "Little Ria, don't worry, I won't ask for forgiveness now, so how about I spend some time here with you, later, i will ask you to forgive me?"
"Hmm" Ria nodded at the suggestion cutely her eyes still puffy from crying earlier.
With that, the villagers seemed to have mellowed down and they all had happy smiles on their faces.
"So how have you lot been? it's been like 3 years since I last saw you guys" I asked, changing the topic.
''Haha, well, we've been doing well. Our lands seem to have more yield than before after you left"
"Yeah, there was even less spoiled produce."
"And thanks to you giving us chakra, there is even less sickness and fatigue than before"
The villagers responded happily.
"Good good, though I think it's all thanks to your hard work. So don't be modest about it" I said, but before we could continue the discussion, I decided to introduce Hinami to them.
Pulling her toward me, I said to the villagers:
"This here is Hinami, my wife. Hope you all will take care of her"
I could see shades of red on her cheeks as I introduced her as my wife but she didn't hate it so all is good.
Hinami then bowed gracefully and said: "Nice to meet you all, please take care of me"
I wonder why she has to be formal about the introduction but I guess that's part of her charm.
"Wow, what a beauty. Shun, you got lucky marrying such a beautiful lady" One villager said. Searching my memory, I found out his name was Itami. He was a young man in his late twenties, although he looks younger now, it must be due to the chakra refinement and fieldwork.
"Haha, thanks, I got really lucky," I said while grinning ear to ear.
Some of the guys came and chatted with us for some time, and even the ladies who were always reserved around me came forward to greet Hinami, Ria included. I guess seeing that she is a girl made them approach her. I really may have treated some people really badly in the past.
After some time chatting and getting to know ourselves better, I excused myself, and together with Hinami and Ria, we went towards the center of the village where Nanami lives. She is the oldest person in this village and the village chief so to say, so I got to greet her at the very least.
Walking through the village, I noticed that the houses that I built for the villagers were still standing without any sign of decay. Must be the effect of my wood release. If care is not taken, this village might really give birth to a proper shinobi clan in a few years. Though I wouldn't like to see that, time can change a lot of things.
Not long after we reached Nanami's house, I could feel another chakra signature Inside the house. That must be Yuu.
Knocking slightly on the door, I heard: "Who is it?"
Ria beat me to it as she shouted excitedly: "Grandma, open up, big brother Shun came back"
I heard some noises before someone opened the door and it was Yuu. "Yo" I greeted with my left hand raised {Anime style}
You looked at me with a shocked expression before it turned into a smile. he then punched me in the chest lightly and said: "Welcome back"
"Huh? Is that you Shun?" I heard an aged voice from behind Yuu, and from his back came Nanami.
She didn't look as old as she was on my first trip here. She looked like someone in her late fifties unlike the aged grandma that looked close to the grave the last time I came here
"Hmm?" She looked at me suspiciously. Maybe she felt I was insulting her. I hope not.
"I felt someone was cursing me just now" She muttered under her breath, but I still heard it loud and clear.
"Ah, Grandma, it's been some time since we last met. Good to see you're still as healthy as ever" I said with a laugh to shift her attention.
"Ah, yes Shun. Wait, were you hoping I would be in bad health or something?"
"What? No, far from that. I am pleased to see you still looking healthy and... as ever" I said.
Damn. This woman wasn't like this the last time I was here. Could It be due to regaining a little bit of her youth and then her hormones, whatever they are, are now becoming active?
"Hmm. Good for you then. Come in and make yourself comfortable. So you finally decided to come back. How have you been?" She asked while directing us Inside the house.
"Well, I've been here and there. I continued my journey after leaving here and have been going places" I said, not specifying anything
"Hmm, at least you decided to come back, little Ria was really sad you know," She said
"Yes, I know and I plan on making it up to her." I said, and then introduced Hinami to her: "And this here is Hinami, my wife"
"Oh, what a beautiful young lady, I guess you two do complement each other," she said.
"Thanks for the praise, old lady, we do really complement each other," I said with a laugh.
"How have you been these past few years? No problems whatsoever I hope?" I asked.
"Oh, all has been well. The things you taught us have been useful"
She then went on to tell me how they have used their chakra to improvise in many aspects, both in what I have taught them previously and what they discovered themselves. One thing I noticed is that although they apply chakra in almost everything they do, like applying it on their arms and legs when working, no one has discovered how to use ninjutsu.
After some time spent catching up, she excused herself leaving us with Yuu to talk as we were in the same age grade.
Yuu now has an athletic build that would put most sportsmen to shame. Although he should be the same age as me, which is 19, he looks like someone in his early twenties. Their hard work really does pay off.
I am looking forward to what their future would be like.
Sometime later, we left the house and headed toward the area I built my house the last time I was here, and surprisingly, the house still remained intact, not even weeds around it or dust inside it.
"Hmm, I guess someone took care of it for me while I was home, I wonder who that might be" I mumbled inaudibly but still loud enough for Hinami and Ria to hear.
I then sensed Ria's emotion fluctuating from its former happiness to pride and then back again. She must have been taking care of the house these past years. Sigh, what a bad brother I was huh?
I then used my free hand to pat her head while swearing to myself internally that I would try my possible best to make up for the lost time and also make her as happy as possible.