Relying on Love

"Welcome to the Chunin Exams, brought to you by Fuyou's leading brand, Fuyou Milk Tea! Drink milk tea, watch the matches, and cheer for the shinobi!"

"Refreshing passion, boundless energy!"

"Let's welcome the lucky contestants who have advanced to the third round!"

As the announcer's voice boomed from the stage, the audience in the surrounding stands froze.

This, this, this... this is not the Chunin Exams they were used to!

Especially the leading shinobi from the other Ninja Villages. The thought of the unfair treatment their participating ninjas had endured in the Forest of Death just a few days prior filled them with rage!

They were just children!

Why were they subjected to such treatment?

When they heard about it, they trembled with anger, breaking out in a cold sweat, their hands and feet turning ice-cold. Especially when they saw their village's ninjas, with their bottoms sticking out, lying on hospital beds, biting down on the bedsheets as if in unspeakable pain, their anger intensified.

Konoha has fallen!

They heard that even Konoha's Legendary Sannin almost attacked them. This... this is truly detestable!

They are heroes!

Heroes who sacrificed for their village!

The scabs on their pants and the dirt on their bodies were symbols of their heroism.

The fallen Konoha could not bear the future of being the number one Ninja Village; they, the Cloud (Stone, Mist), would surely take its place.

Many ninjas from outside the village smirked, looking at the comical scene before them with disdain. The stench of merchants had already permeated all of Konoha.

Was Konoha... still a pure Ninja Village?

They sighed, looking at the free milk tea in their hands, which bore the words "Fuyou Milk Tea." They shook their heads and muttered to themselves, "Konoha! It has fallen!"

With that, they took a light sip of the milk tea, a faint sneer on their lips.

Meanwhile, on Konoha's side.

Their faces twitched at this unusual opening ceremony. How did that Uchiha Fuyou manage this?

The Hokage actually agreed to this?

This is not the Will of Fire!

However.

Little did they know, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also forcing a smile as he faced the gaze of the spectators.

He had thought Fuyou would just hang a few banners. The Forest of Death was vast; there was plenty of space for him to hang them. He never expected... Fuyou would even arrange for the announcer Jonin.

He maintained the calm smile of the leader of the number one Ninja Village, but inwardly he sighed, I didn't charge enough!

"Brother, why are you staring at me like that? Eat your fries, eat your fried chicken! Today is about relaxing, don't think about other things."

"..." Uchiha Fugaku looked at the cheerful expression, silent for a moment, and then said with his usual stoic face, "How... how did you do it?"

"Do what?" Fuyou blinked, then, as if suddenly understanding, nodded and looked seriously at Fugaku. "All the wealth I have now, I earned through my own hard work and the efforts of all my partners. I haven't taken a single cent from the family!"

"That's not what I'm asking," Fugaku's mouth twitched. He glanced at Fuyou and, with a blank expression, pointed at the banners and then at the announcer ninja below. He paused, "How did you do it?"

It's one thing to have advertisements hanging everywhere, but the announcer ninja was even advertising for him?

Would the Third Hokage and the others agree to this?

Impossible.

However.

Seeing that Fugaku was asking about this, Uchiha Fuyou's lips curved slightly, and with a calm smile, he said nonchalantly, "With love!"

"The Hokage felt my Will of Fire and was moved by my burning heart's love for Konoha, thus granting me this opportunity. I thank the Hokage and all the shinobi of Konoha."

"...Heh."

I'd believe a ghost before I believe you!

Fugaku let out a cold laugh, not believing a word this guy was saying. Yet, his gaze towards Fuyou held a hint of complexity.

His younger brother from before...

He was so cute and earnest, always diligently studying and training. Why had he become so glib now?

What had he gone through?

After all, the Uchiha Clan were all upright and straightforward people...

Before he could finish his thoughts.

"Now, Konoha shinobi - Uchiha Obito will face the ninja from Kusagakure..."

"Please have both ninjas come to the stage."

Hearing the announcer's words, Fugaku's lips stiffened again. He said no more, silently watching the young man in the Uchiha clan's attire below. His eyes were once again filled with a touch of complexity, and he let out a soft sigh, "Sigh~"

He sighed.

"Sigh~" A sigh came from beside him as well.

Uchiha Fuyou looked at the blonde young man with a strange sun mask who had come over with Kushina, surprised. He paused, hesitated, and then asked, "Brother Minato, what's wrong?"

Did he break out in pimples?

"Fuyou, Clan Head Fugaku!" Minato, still wearing the mask, spoke in his usual leisurely tone, though a hint of bitterness seemed to be hidden within it. "Sorry to bother you, we'll sit here too."

"Mm." Fugaku nodded, acknowledging the greeting, but his eyes... looked at Minato strangely.

Was it... sympathy? Helplessness? Annoyance?

How strange!

"Your subordinates are competing up there. As their supervising teacher, is it really okay for you to be here as a spectator?" Uchiha Fuyou asked Minato, confused. "Don't you need to go up and watch them?"

"It's better if I don't show myself right now." Minato's voice held a hint of a wry smile. "Don't worry, I've already asked other Jonin team leaders to help."

If he showed up now... it would cause chaos.

See those other village shinobi over there, with their butts sticking out, clinging to the railings?

That's right.

Just a few days ago, they were lying in hospital beds.

"Alright, I can probably guess what's going on," Uchiha Fuyou said with a polite smile, pausing for a moment. "I believe... things will get better and better!"

With that said.

He perked up again, excitedly pulling out the snacks he had asked Rin to prepare and stuffing them directly into the hands of the two little ones beside him... Itachi and Shisui.

Maybe it's been a while since he last saw him, but Itachi looks like he's lost a lot of weight!

"Bro, are you starving the kids at home?" Fuyou asked indignantly, stroking Itachi's head. "Look! What have you done to the child? Come on! Eat more! If you want anything in the future, come find your uncle!"

"..."

Starving, my foot!

He's talking nonsense.

Did you even see Itachi's chubby cheeks?

But Fugaku didn't say anything, continuing to cross his arms and stare blankly below.

Itachi... hesitated, then shook his head and said softly, "Uncle, Itachi has already eaten and can't eat this."

"It's fine, snacks go in a different stomach. Don't mind your dad. It's cute for kids to eat more and grow up fair and plump!"

As your uncle, how could I harm you?

Fuyou smiled kindly and patted Itachi's head. "What a sensible child! Why doesn't Fugaku give you any snacks?"

Look how cute he is now, unlike his silly self later on.

"I..." Itachi was stunned.

"It's okay! Eat! If you don't eat, you're not giving uncle face!"

"..." Itachi stared blankly at Fuyou, then at his father, who said nothing, and happily nodded, "Thank you, Uncle!"

Actually, he quite liked eating!

Shisui... politely refused, shaking his head and smiling gently. "I don't need any, Lord Fuyou. I'm currently training and need to control my diet."

"Training is when you should eat more!" He's still bringing up the Will of Fire theory even while watching matches?

Kid!

What are you trying to do?

Uchiha Fuyou's mouth twitched, and then he continued kindly, "Eat more! It'll help you grow. Come on, don't be shy, my family runs this business."

"I..."

"Stop with the 'I', just eat! Oh, right." Uchiha Fuyou seemed to remember something, and pulled out a book titled "The Tale of the Resolute Shinobi". He narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, saying, "Shisui likes reading so much~ I have a book here too. It's written by the great literary master of the Ninja World, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, and the successor to the Will of Fire—Lord Jiraiya himself. It's full of Lord Jiraiya's own views on the Will of Fire, and I believe you'll definitely like it."

The struggling author humbly begs for votes! Sigh~