A Belated Leave Notice (Revised)

Someone who has had a high fever for four consecutive days crawled here to submit a leave request.

I caught a viral cold. The day before I fell ill, I was thinking of finishing my drawing and updating it as soon as possible, but the next morning I was punished by a high fever.

The highest temperature reached 39.8 degrees Celsius.

To be honest, I look really bad right now. The fever has gone down, but my head is still spinning.

Trying to resume work tomorrow

(Why won't you let me post this until I've written a thousand words?)

(Write something down)

(Revised March 16)

Shūichi stood on the Training Ground, his hand still in the palm strike position, but his mind had already wandered far away.

Why is Tetsuya so happy?

He thought about it and realized that the problem wasn't so complicated after all.

It must be that Izuna promised some benefits.

For example, raising the Hyuga Clan's profile and promoting reforms. After all, he had heard about the Theatre Troupe; it seemed to be very popular in Kyoto, and the fact that the clan attached so much importance to it already spoke volumes.

If the Hyuga Clan gets involved, they might be able to reverse the current public opinion, and subsequent reforms within the clan could proceed more smoothly.

It is entirely beneficial and has no drawbacks.

That should be it.

... is that so?

Shūichi's mind flashed back to how worthless Tetsuya looked on the first day he left, and he felt somewhat uncertain.

He practiced until evening, sweating profusely. After finishing his practice, he drank some water, rested for a while, and then went to his room.

The Hyuga Clan is a large family, with a clan territory the same size as other clans, and even slightly larger due to the difference in the number of members.

However, unlike other families where each household lives in its own small house, the Main Family of the Hyuga Clan lives in the same large mansion.

The mansion is divided by corridors and garden landscapes, making it look like a series of courtyards.

We eat breakfast and dinner together, but that's the only time we get together.

Shūichi's father said it was for the sake of the Main Family's cohesion, but judging from the deserted state of the dinner table, Shūichi really couldn't see how such a gathering could bring a group together.

At other times, everyone does their own thing and no one pays much attention to anyone else. Unless necessary, everyone stays with their family or friends.

But things seem to be a little different lately.

He stopped as he passed the Tea Room.

The Tea Room was lit, and Tetsuya and Akari's voices could be heard coming from inside, as if they were talking about something.

After a while, Akari left the Tea Room, apparently preparing to rest.

Lian should be in her room.

It's unbelievable that people from the Branch Family could live together with members of the Main Family; it's truly amazing.

Shūichi stood under the corridor, hesitating for a moment.

In the end, he went over and knocked on the door frame.

"Come in."

Shūichi went inside.

Tetsuya was sitting at a low table with a bowl of tea in front of him. Tetsuya was somewhat surprised to see him.

"Shūichi? Is something wrong?"

Shūichi sat down opposite him.

"Um..." He chose his words carefully, "Young Clan Head, have you... been going to Uchiha Izuna's place Tenten lately?"

Tetsuya nodded.

"Right."

"You... are you happy?"

Tetsuya paused for a moment, then smiled.

Is it obvious?

Shūichi nodded slightly.

Tetsuya picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

"Hmm..." he drawled, "Well, how should I put it, I'm really quite happy."

Shūichi waited for him to continue.

Tetsuya looked at him and suddenly said, "You want to know why?"

Shūichi of hair.

"Why don't you just go see for yourself?"

Shūichi was stunned.

"Huh?"

"Meet me at the entrance tomorrow morning." Tetsuya stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "Let's go together."

"Wait, I'm not..."

"See you tomorrow, I'm going to rest now."

The footsteps faded into the distance and soon disappeared from sight.

Shūichi sat there, staring blankly at the steaming bowl of tea in front of him.

Wait, wait.

Was Tetsuya really this decisive and efficient?

In his memory, Tetsuya was a gentle and steady person who always thought things through before taking action.

Even in battle, he is always cautious, and sometimes he wonders if he is too indecisive.

But the person he just saw was completely different from the Tetsuya he remembered.

What's going on?

Isn't the Young Clan Head afraid I'll cause trouble?

Am I really going to see Uchiha Izuna tomorrow?

What to do? Go or not?

After a great struggle between heaven and man, the final result is probably already clear to you all, so there is no need to say more.

Now that we've decided to stay here, our only goal is to find Uchiha Izuna's weakness, and then...

Shūichi stared intently at Izuna.

Defeat him.

Izuna paused for a moment.

Although the melody is quite cheerful, this is clearly a battle theme.

It's quite rare to hear this in Theatre Troupe.

Izuna quickly learned who the song was from.

That sneaky little genius from the Hyuga Clan.

I've been hiding in a corner watching him since morning, my eyes filled with a serious determination to find his weakness.

Hey, I just can't find a way in.

Izuna withdrew his gaze and continued rehearsing.

After the rehearsal ended, he told Hideki and Shinya to continue practicing, then waved to someone not far away.

"Hey, Setsuna, come here."

Uchiha Setsuna, who was resting under the shade of a tree, looked up and walked over.

"What is it, Lord Izuna?"

Izuna gestured with his lip Shūichi Shuichi.

"Do you see that child?"

In Setsuna, I followed his gaze. Shūichi was crouching behind Prop Pile, only half his head showing, thinking he was hiding very well.

"Um."

"Go and beat him up."

Setsuna:...?

"Then teach him Kyudo."

His expression became somewhat subtle at that Setsuna.

"... Give him a beating?"

"Yes, beat him up. Then teach him Kyudo."

Setsuna was a moment of silence.

He wasn't quite sure what Izuna meant by that request.

Why not just ask him to teach you? If that kid's a troublemaker, he could just teach him a lesson himself. Why bother mentioning "giving him a beating"?

"Lord Izuna," he began hesitantly, "What is this...?"

"That kid is so hostile towards me." Izuna scratched the back of his head. "I feel all hairy on the back of my head now. He's been staring at me since this morning."

Setsuna replied, "Yes, Lord Izuna. No problem, Lord Izuna."

Then he turned around and strode off in that direction.

Izuna opened his mouth as if to say something, but Setsuna had already walked away.

He watched as the Setsuna briefly circled around, silently walked to the Prop Pile, bent down, and picked up the child who was still squatting.

Shūichi froze, his hands and feet dangling in the air, like a cat being grabbed by the scruff of its neck.

"Huh--?!"

Shūichi suddenly turned around and looked at Setsuna.

When did this person appear?!

Shūichi tried to struggle, but Setsuna had already dragged him outside.

He walked quickly, without looking back.

Izuna stood still and blinked.

"... Uh," he said softly, "I hope the child will be alright."

A lazy voice came from behind me.

"It's that kid's own fault for letting his murderous intent hurt you."

Shinya leaned against the shade of a tree, holding Biwa in his hand, with an expression of watching a good show.

Hideki snorted beside him.

"He brought it on himself."

Tetsuya walked over from the side and looked in the direction where Setsuna had disappeared with Shūichi.

"Well," he said, "It's good to temper one's arrogance."

Izuna glanced at him.

"Is that your cousin?"

"Um."

Aren't you afraid he'll get beaten up too badly?

"I believe you know what Setsuna 're doing," he said. "Besides, you want to start making changes with that child, right?"

"As expected of Tetsuya, his mind is as sharp as ever."

You flatter me.

"So," he turned his gaze to Tetsuya, "What did your family say? Is it really okay for me to make these arrangements on my own?"

Tetsuya crossed his arms.

"What are you saying?" he said casually. "My entire clan of several hundred men couldn't defeat you, so we have no right to refuse your demands."

Izuna blinked.

"That's different..."

"What's different?" Tetsuya interrupted him. "Ultimately, after that day, our clan should have bowed down to you personally. We should thank you for not doing so."

Izuna stood there, silent for two seconds.

Then he visibly withered away.

"... I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice muffled, "I'm too strong..."

Tetsuya's lips twitched as he looked at him.

"... Lord Izuna."

"Um?"

"You're so annoying."

Izuna raised her head, her face still showing grievance.

"I apologized."

Tetsuya sighed.

"Why are you apologizing? A win is a win, a loss is a loss. We were simply outmatched, we accept it." He paused, "Besides, you didn't use this against us; instead, you've been helping us find solutions. The people in the tribe may not say it, but they all know it."

"But Setsuna is Uchiha, and it's impossible for an Uchiha to teach Hyuga like this..."

"It's just a person named Setsuna teaching a student named Shūichi. The clan won't have any objections."

Izuna's eyes instantly welled up with tears. "Tetsuya..."

"What?"

"How can someone be so reliable... Damn it, I feel tears welling up in my eyes."

Tetsuya took a step back.

"What kind of description is that? It's disgusting..."

"Because even Hashirama thought what I was doing was wrong," Izuna followed, her tone tinged with accusation. "He said, 'Isn't this too direct?' 'Won't the Hyuga have something to say?' Sigh, only you agreed with me without hesitation."

Tetsuya took another step back.

"I was just telling the truth..."

"You're such a reliable man." Izuna nodded, his expression serious. "Very well, I admit you're Akari's fiancé."

"I don't need your approval, okay?" he said, his tone wary. "By the way, what do you want? Stay away from me!"

Izuna opened his arms.

"Come give me a hug~"

"Don't want!"