Plum Sauce * Shopping

In the end, the fight didn't happen.

Hashirama ignored Madara all afternoon.

When the document was handed to him, he turned his face away, avoided eye contact, and spoke in a stiff tone.

Tobirama sat in his seat, reviewing documents. He looked up, glanced at Hashirama, and then at Madara.

What's wrong with those two idiots now?

Izuna didn't show up all afternoon.

At first, Ban didn't pay any attention.

Izuna's workload has gradually increased in the past few days.

He needed to supervise the Amusement Park, and he was also busy with the Theatre Troupe's rehearsals. Tobirama originally wanted to take over the school regulations, but he found that Izuna's plan was better, so he had to do that job as well.

In addition, the people he employed Eight Gates from various ethnic groups, and he was often so busy that he was nowhere to be seen from morning till night.

But the sun shone in through the window, climbing from the floor to the base of the wall, and then from the base of the wall to the door frame, Izuna's seat remained empty.

When Izuna still hadn't arrived by the time he was supposed to leave work that evening, Madara couldn't sit still any longer.

When Rokuhiko came to hand over school affairs, he stopped him.

Where is Izuna?

Surprisingly, Rokuhiko actually knew, but he looked troubled and hesitated for a moment before speaking, "... Reporting to Lord Madara, Lord Izuna and Hikaku are wandering around."

Ban was stunned. "Wandering around?"

Rokuhiko nodded. "Just wandering around."

"In the literal sense?"

"Yes," said Rokuhiko, "I cannot fathom Lord Izuna's intentions at all."

Hashirama looked up from the documents. He hadn't wanted to look at Madara, but he couldn't resist his curiosity.

"Could it be that they're scouting the location?" he asked.

Rokuhiko looked at him, her eyes filled with a sincere hope that "now that you put it that way."

"It doesn't look like it," he said. "Their route of movement is very strange."

First, they went to the Training Ground, stood there for a while, and then turned back, passing through the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Afterwards, they headed east along the main street, paused briefly on the outskirts of the Senju Clan Compound, and then left.

The two continued walking until they reached the entrance of the Hyuga Clan Compound. Lord Izuna glanced inside a few times but didn't go in.

I stood near the Akimichi clan's territory for a while.

Then they strolled around the Commercial Street a few more times.

"That's all I know about Lord Izuna's actions; I don't know where he went after that."

Hashirama was puzzled. "What... is he doing?"

Tobirama asked, "He just went to take a look, and didn't do anything?"

Rokuhiko nodded. "Yes."

Ban stood up from his chair, piled the task reports on the corner of the table, and reached for his coat draped over the back of the chair. "I've finished mine, so I'll go home now. You two continue."

He said this while his coat was already draped over his shoulders and he was walking towards the door.

Rokuhiko stood there for a moment, and after confirming that he had nothing else to report, he left.

Tobirama and Hashirama exchanged a glance.

Hashirama spoke first, "Isn't he just too careless?"

Tobirama continued reading the document in front of him. "I don't think Izuna would do anything."

Hashirama paused for a moment.

"... While I think so too," he said, "Tobirama, we still need to have a bit of a questioning spirit."

Tobirama didn't even look up. "Give me a break. You're just trying to slack off. Don't even think about leaving the Hokage Building until you meet your performance targets for today."

Hashirama wanted to cry but couldn't shed a tear.

Madara found Izuna at the Training Grounds inside the clan's territory.

On the south side of the Training Ground, next to several Old Cedar Trees, their shade spread out, cutting the glow of the sunset into fragments.

Izuna and Hikaku stood by the shade of a tree, facing five Uchiha clansmen who stood in a row, their expressions focused.

"Yes, that's it." Izuna's voice came from under the shade of the tree. "I wonder if it can be achieved."

The leader of the five Uchiha Ryo, pondered for a moment, then nodded, "We can give it a try."

"Okay. Let's rehearse tomorrow."

Uchiha Ryo bowed his head respectfully. "Yes, Lord Izuna."

The five men bowed and withdrew, their footsteps overlapping as they walked away along the stone path beside the Training Ground.

Hikaku remained standing in the same spot, respectfully standing behind Izuna.

In the past, his respect stemmed only from his recognition of Izuna's Strength.

He didn't think this was the original Uchiha Izuna. The two had vastly different personalities and completely different ways of doing things.

Hikaku that he was another person with the same name.

But things are different now.

He genuinely felt that the person in front of him was awe-inspiring.

"Lord Izuna, how did you know—"

"Izuna."

Izuna turned his head, the twilight falling on his face, the lines from his brow bone to his jawline clearly illuminated by the last rays of daylight.

Upon seeing the person who arrived, his eyes lit up. "Brother!"

Hikaku lowered its head and greeted, "Lord Madara."

Izuna waved to Hikaku, "I'll be going now, see you tomorrow, Hikaku."

Hikaku seemed to want to say something, but after hesitating for a moment, it nodded. "See you tomorrow, Lord Izuna."

Izuna and Madara walked side by side into the depths of the clan's territory.

The dirt road on the Training Ground narrowed underfoot, winding past a few Cedar Trees before turning onto the path leading to the main road of the tribe.

Madara walked on the inside, Izuna walked on the outside, childishly following the raised edge of the stone path, as if walking on a log bridge.

"What were you talking about just now?"

Izuna looked down at his feet. "It's just a concept. But nothing's finalized yet. I'll let you know once it's settled."

He suddenly turned around and said, "Hey bro, let's go to the market first. What do you want to eat tonight?"

"Inari Sushi."

Izuna paused, speechless. "I'm serious. You know I wouldn't do that."

"Let's eat out," Ban replied lazily. "I'd have to cook at home, too tiring."

Izuna tilted her head and looked at him with disdain, "I think you're just a glutton."

Madara finally turned to look at him, a faint smile in his eyes. "What, you're allowed to eat Three-Colored Dango, but I'm not allowed to crave Inari Sushi?"

So that's not a staple food--

"There's rice there, so why doesn't it count?"

"Wow! Brother Ban! You're hopeless with your sweet tooth! No sweets allowed at the dinner table!"

Ban turned his head away, "I won't, and what kind of logic is that? It's all about eating, why can't we eat sweets at the dinner table?"

Izuna's expression was subtle. "It smells off."

Ban looked at him as if he were a spoiled child. "Is this why you sealed the plum jam in the scroll?"

Izuna's eyes widened. "Don't you think plum sauce and grilled fish go awry? Grilled fish should be seasoned with salt! The moment you poured the plum sauce on, my world collapsed!"

"You're just not used to it yet -- it's actually quite delicious, give it a try, it won't hurt you to try."

An elderly man on the Izuna subway phone exclaimed, "Brother, you're my own brother, how could you possibly eat such wicked food? I'm truly amazed..."

The two went to the market to do some shopping.

It's called a farmers' market, but it's actually just an alleyway nestled between residential buildings.

It wasn't even completely dark yet, but the vegetable vendors had already started packing up. Half a basket of radishes remained in their bamboo baskets, the leaves drooping listlessly.

Most of the ice on the fish stall had melted, and a thin layer of water settled at the bottom of the wooden basin. Several mackerel lay side by side on the ice shards, their gills still looking fairly fresh.

The tofu shop owner is stacking empty wooden crates onto a cart.

When Izuna first went to the market with Madara, he discovered that his brother was even better at bargaining than he was.

His aura was intimidating; just standing there, he exuded a menacing presence. Even with his hair pulled back, he still looked incredibly dangerous. In particular, everyone in the village knew that he was Madara Uchiha, and everyone had to be extremely careful when speaking to him.

At this very moment, he was squatting next to the fish stall, picking and choosing.

The boss stood to the side, rubbing his hands together, looking like he was about to break out in a cold sweat.

"This one," Madara pointed.

The shopkeeper immediately took out a net and caught the fish. "Sir, you have a good eye! This one just arrived this morning. Look at its gills—"

"This one arrived yesterday afternoon," Ban said. "It's not fresh enough."

The boss paused for a moment.

"Make it cheaper, I'll buy one more," Ban said.

The shopkeeper called out the price, "Four yuan and fifty-eight cents a pound, I'll give you four yuan!"

"Okay, weigh out two for me."

"Okay!"

Izuna readily agreed and pulled out his money pouch.

Further ahead are vegetable stalls.

Radishes, cabbages, potatoes, and a small pile of bok choy, the leftovers, were piled at the bottom of the bamboo basket.

Izuna squatted down and rummaged through the pile of bok choy. After a couple of turns, Madara placed his hand on Izuna's shoulder.

"That one." Ban raised his chin.

Izuna followed his gaze.

Diagonally opposite, an old woman squatted in a corner, with a piece of indigo-dyed cloth spread out in front of her, on which were stacked five or six small white cabbages.

The old lady didn't call out; she just squatted there, her hands tucked into her sleeves and her chin hidden in her collar.

Izuna walked over.

The old woman looked up; her face was full of wrinkles, making it impossible to tell her exact age.

Izuna squatted down, picked up a small bok choy, turned it over to examine it, and found it looked fresh, with some soil still on the roots.

"Grandma, how much are these bok choy?"

The old lady quoted a price. It was more expensive than the previous restaurant.

Just as Izuna was about to speak, Madara squatted down behind him. He took the small white cabbage from Izuna's hand, twirled it around, and put it back on the cloth.

"This price," Ban quoted a number. Lower than the old lady's, but higher than the previous one.

The old lady looked at him. He looked at the old lady.

"I'll take them all," said Ban.

The old lady was silent for a while. Then she gathered the four corners of the cloth, weighed it, and handed it over along with the bok choy.

Madara took it, Izuna counted out copper coins from the purse, placing them one by one into the old lady's palm.

The old woman tucked the copper coins into her sleeve, bowed slightly to him, stood up, and slowly walked away with them tucked into her sleeve.

Izuna held the bag of bok choy and watched the old lady's figure disappear around the street corner.

"Elder brother."

"Um."

Izuna stared at the blank panel with nothing on it except for a name, and said, "This is the first time I've ever met this old woman."

"She had nothing to sell before, so she moved here when the village was expanded. Her son is a craftsman, but he doesn't want to help her. Now she lives alone."

How did you know?

Ban glanced at him. "Who do you think did the housewarming registration in the first place?"

In Izuna's mind, there was an image of Madara sitting behind his desk, staring with his Red Eyes, with a long line of people in front of him.

In an instant, he understood why they had chosen Brother Ban to do this; with this formidable killer in charge, the registration process would definitely go smoothly.

Izuna reached out and patted Madara on the shoulder. "As expected of my brother."

Ban, confused, said, "Let's go buy Inari Sushi."