025 Believe in Our Friendship

"Finally, they're gone." Uchiha Fuyou shook his head, watching the two groups depart. Then, looking at Rin, who seemed unenthusiastic, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing~" Rin smiled and shook her head.

"..."

This didn't seem like nothing. Otherwise, why weren't they eating the several plates of meat in front of them?

It wasn't like Rin's usual appetite~

Of course, Fuyou had a rough idea of what was going on.

It was probably because of Fugaku's words earlier... the Hyuga Clan's dirty dealings.

The branch family protected the main family their entire lives, their lives in the hands of the main family. So, in a way, they had no freedom at all, let alone anything else.

And the solution to this was simple...

Being strong was enough!

If Hinata married out, would the Hyuga Clan dare to place the Caged Bird on her and her children?

The moment such an idea might arise...

Naruto: Sasuke, someone wants to put the Caged Bird on my wife and child.

Sasuke: Then what are you going to do?

Naruto: Remember the blood shed by the Uchiha Clan on that dark, windy night?

The Hyuga Clan might face the same fate as the Uchiha Clan!

Fuyou patted her head and said with a smile, "Don't worry, you're mine. You'll be fine."

Dare to fight him, Uchiha Fuyou, for someone?

Did they see Danzō's current fate?

He hadn't been seen much lately. Ever since he established Root, that guy had been paranoid.

With this bounty order out, he probably felt like everyone around him wanted him.

He might even think his close friends wanted to take his head for money.

So, he'd been keeping a low profile recently.

He hadn't heard any strange news from Konoha since his return.

"Mhm~" Rin heard Fuyou's words, especially that familiar feeling, which made her face blush slightly. She remembered that time... she sat alone, watching enviously, and then a little boy walked up and happily asked her, "Want to play together?"

She felt a little lighter inside, nodded, and said softly, "I'm fine."

"Are you full yet? If you're full..."

Fuyou hadn't finished speaking.

"Still... still just a little bit." Rin lowered her head, seeming a bit embarrassed, and said softly, "Did I eat too much?"

"..." Fuyou looked silently at the tall pile of dishes beside her, then chuckled and said, "No, no, it's not too much at all. I'm not full either. Come on, let's keep eating!"

"Mhm~"

Time flew by.

The people who had come to show their support gradually left. Even Jiraiya left, stumbling out drunk. Before he left, he even grinned and invited Fuyou to the next round for some fun, making Rin glare at him.

That old scoundrel!

Was Uchiha Fuyou that kind of person?

He inquired about the location, planning to properly criticize him next time, and then kicked the old pervert out.

He actually dared to invite Lord Uchiha Fuyou?

He was underestimating Uchiha Fuyou!

The Great Elder and the old woman from the Hyuga Clan also left, arriving quietly and leaving quietly, without causing a stir.

Uchiha Fuyou had expected the Great Elder to talk to him about sponsoring the Uchiha Clan, but he didn't expect... they had genuinely just come to eat yakiniku with the old lady.

He had underestimated them!

He had truly underestimated them!

After eating.

The sky had also turned dark.

For many people, this might be the time for fun. So, as one group left, another arrived, and the shop remained bustling.

Uchiha Fuyou was once again amazed by Rin's appetite. Then, feeling extremely full, he accompanied Rin for a walk on the way back, treating it as a way to aid digestion.

At the same time.

Two simply dressed old men appeared at the entrance of [Fuyou Grill].

One of them held a pipe and was smiling as he looked around. Beside him... a man wrapped in bandages and tightly bound also scanned his surroundings.

His eyes, however, were filled with vigilance!

As if any diner around might try to steal his money?!

"Hello, please come this way!"

Under the guidance of the waiter, the two chose a slightly more secluded corner to sit down.

"The decor here is quite nice!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had undergone a simple disguise, nodded. He picked up the menu and said with a smile, "There are quite a few dishes too. That kid really has a knack for business!"

After speaking.

He looked at Danzo, who was still vigilantly scanning his surroundings, and sighed helplessly, saying, "Don't worry, no one will lay a hand on you in Konoha!"

"Hmph! A shinobi must always remain vigilant!" The old schemer Danzo completely ignored Hiruzen's words, snorted coldly, then took a sip of the hot tea handed by the waiter and said sternly, "Hiruzen, you're truly getting old!"

"..."

Still playing tough, huh!

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled helplessly and flipped through the menu again, "What do you plan to eat?"

"Whatever, old man. Let's finish eating quickly, and I need to get back. This is just a waste of time." Although he was in Konoha now, for some reason, he didn't see anyone as a good person.

Even though it was like this before, it had never been this severe.

As expected.

Konoha was getting worse and worse under Hiruzen's management, and even he, Danzo Shimura, was starting to feel uneasy.

Suddenly.

Danzō seemed to notice someone peeking at them from time to time for the past three minutes, and his heart immediately tensed!

Is it a hunter targeting me?

Staring at one spot for a long time without daring to meet my eyes, acting so sneakily... they must have ulterior motives!

Are they after my head?

Root! Root! Where is Root? Hurry up and send someone!

However.

His strange behavior also caught Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention while he was ordering, "What's wrong?"

"Someone is staring at me. We must quickly send Root shinobi to capture them. Perhaps there's some other conspiracy?"

"..."

Where?

A spy?

Hiruzen also became serious. By the time he saw where Danzo was pointing, he was speechless, "That's just a group of ordinary people. They're the family that runs the bathhouse in the village."

As expected, Danzo had been too nervous lately. If there were spies, wouldn't the Hokage, who constantly used his Sharingan and cared about all the big and small affairs of Konoha, know?

As for why they were looking at Danzo... it was probably because his heavily wrapped trench coat was too strange. Many people around were also glancing over from time to time.

Shaking his head helplessly, he closed the menu, finished ordering, and called a waiter over. After the waiter had moved a little further away, he said, "Don't be nervous. We're out to relax today. A mere 360 million Ryo isn't enough for someone to risk coming to Konoha..."

Before he could finish speaking.

A commotion suddenly erupted from the side.

It was a group of Konoha shinobi.

"Do you guys know? I heard the black market recently posted the highest bounty in history, even higher than the First Hokage's."

"I heard. It seems to have been increasing lately, and it's already up to 370 million."

"That's too high! Who is it? Why don't we team up and go for it?"

"Someone with such a high bounty can't be an ordinary person, not to mention higher than the First Hokage. Let's Genin forget about it."

"What if we succeed? Don't forget Mr. Fuyou's famous saying: you have to have dreams, what if they come true?"

"That makes sense! Then our dream is to take him down and claim the highest bounty!"

With that said.

A burst of cheers, daydreams, and clinking glasses!

"..."

Didn't you say there wouldn't be any danger?

Danzō, with a dark expression, turned his head to look at the silent Hiruzen, his eyelids twitching, and he felt uneasy all over, "Hiruzen, you..."

"It's nothing, relax. A mere three hundred... seventy million." Hiruzen smiled and shook his head, looking at Danzo affectionately, "You know! I would never make a move against my former close friend." After speaking, a portion of the meat had already been served, and he cheerfully beckoned Danzo, "Come, come! Let's eat! Let's eat! Do you want some beer? If you spend over three thousand, it's free-flowing. It's rare to have a break, how about... we don't go home until we're drunk?"

A mere 370 million... He was underestimating the friendship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura too much!

Believe it or not, even if Danzo got drunk and collapsed next to him, the Third Hokage, he wouldn't harm a single hair of his close friend!

Just 370 million Ryo!

However.

"No!" Danzō Shimura refused without hesitation.

Shinobi.

Drinking easily leads to mistakes; he decided to quit starting today.

However.

Who on earth would dare put a bounty on me? If I find out...

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Hiccup!"

As late autumn arrived.

The nights in Konoha also felt a bit chilly.

Just then.

After sending Hyuga Rinne home, Uchiha Fuyou watched her retreating figure, smiled, shook his head, sighed with emotion, and then turned to head towards his own house.

Then.

He froze.

Squinting his eyes at the figure that looked particularly lonely in the moonlight, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly, and he murmured, "You're already back?"

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