Square Dance Diplomacy

"Thanks, Fuyou!"

"It's nothing, Minato. They're all Konoha's hope." Fuyou smiled faintly as he looked at Minato. "But being too naive or too extreme isn't good either. You've had it hard too, Minato."

"Yeah! Obito is too naive, and he cares too deeply about others. If something unexpected happens, he'll be devastated." Minato sighed and nodded. "Because of what happened to Lord Sakumo, Kakashi has always believed that missions are the most important thing. That's also why the Third Lord transferred him back at this time."

Minato remembered that on the day he returned, the Third Lord had met with him and spoken at length about Kakashi. He hoped Minato could guide him onto the right path and deepen Kakashi's Bonds with his comrades.

That was probably why he had put Obito and Kakashi together!

Obito.

He was also a ninja who possessed the Will of Fire.

Thinking of that, Minato looked at Uchiha Fuyou again.

With Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Fuyou, two ninja who possessed the Will of Fire, the Uchiha Clan would surely reintegrate into Konoha.

Just then.

"Minato!" A red-haired female ninja came skipping over. She seemed delighted to see Minato as she ran toward him.

"Kushina."

"Sister Kushina." Uchiha Fuyou smiled faintly and greeted Kushina before turning to Minato. "Then I won't disturb you two!"

Back when he was still a student, he had been quite familiar with Sister Kushina and Senior Minato.

"Won't you come with us? I'll treat you to ramen!"

"No! Your subordinates will keep an eye on the shop. Don't let Uncle Sato's current appearance fool you—he used to be quite an excellent Chunin! I won't interrupt your date." Fuyou winked.

"Sorry about that!" Minato blushed awkwardly and scratched his cheek.

"Come on, Minato, let's go!" Kushina, on the other hand, did not care at all. She boldly grabbed Minato and tugged him along, then said to Fuyou, "Nice work, Fuyou! It's been so long, and you still haven't come to see your sister, you little brat! I won't disturb you either!" She winked playfully. "And..."

"Are you having strawberries again today? I'll have the shop arrange it." Fuyou smiled helplessly as he watched Kushina wave goodbye and leave with the apologetic-looking Minato.

Was that lucky, or unlucky?

"Senior Kushina and Senior Minato make a very good pair!" Rinne's voice came from beside him.

Fuyou looked at Rinne, whose serene face held a faint smile as she watched Minato and Kushina's retreating backs, then nodded. "It's still early. How about... we take a walk?"

"Sure, Fuyou!" Hyuga Rinne's Byakugan seemed to brighten slightly. She nodded and walked beside Fuyou.

The two walked forward in silence.

The Third Ninja World War was approaching, so commercial trade within Konoha had not yet become particularly prosperous. Or rather... commerce throughout the entire ninja world was still developing. It could be said that it was full of both opportunities and risks.

There was not much to do in the village, so they simply took a walk. Minato and Kushina, for instance, would probably head to some deserted spot in the small woods behind the mountain to be lovey-dovey. Of course, nowhere in Konoha could escape the Third Hokage's ninjutsu.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina was destined to receive more attention than others.

"By the way, the Uchiha Clan's activities for the elderly have attracted quite a bit of attention. The elders on the Hyuga Clan's side also want to join, so my brother asked me to discuss it with you." Rinne looked a little embarrassed and stuck out her tongue playfully. "Actually, those old stubborn people in the clan are quite stingy. They refuse to pay themselves, but they also feel awkward about approaching the Uchiha Clan Head, so they wanted me to ask you instead. Should I refuse them?"

"No, this is great!" The corners of Fuyou's lips curled upward. He did not mind others taking advantage of him. It was only a little money; he could simply build a few more shops. What he feared was people keeping their distance out of respect. Still, this was wartime, so he had to be cautious.

"Any clan is welcome. If they want to come, let them come together. There are professionals to lead them, and more exercise is good for the elderly. Oh, right, what did the Hokage say? After all, we're in the middle of a war."

Not long ago, Hatake Sakumo had committed suicide out of guilt. Although he had ultimately been named a Hero of Konoha, the atmosphere in the village had become somewhat tense.

Would throwing a party at a time like this make the village chief think they lacked awareness of the bigger picture?

"The Third Lord strongly approves. He thinks the atmosphere in the village is still too tense. Although we are at war, he still hopes the village can relax a little." Rinne said with a smile. "That way, the village will have more vitality!"

She looked at Uchiha Fuyou's handsome profile. Back then, she had envied Fuyou's talent deeply and felt terribly inferior. Every time, she had been alone... yet Fuyou, who had still been a child himself, came to comfort her, encourage her, and train with her.

She just had not expected...

In the end, Fuyou had not become a ninja.

She spoke resolutely. "No matter what you choose to do, Fuyou, I'll support you!"

"???" Fuyou stared blankly at Rinne, who had suddenly said that for no apparent reason. Then he nodded with a smile. "Thank you!"

Being where he was today was also thanks to Rinne's help. He remembered that back then... everyone had mocked him, but only Rinne had stayed by his side. She had helped him choose a location, build the shop, and even work as a waitress with him.

They had made it through the difficult early days of starting the business.

"Oh, right, your brother, Clan Head Hiashi, should be getting married soon, shouldn't he?" Uchiha Fuyou seemed to recall something and frowned in distress. "I probably won't be able to attend his wedding. Rinne, remember to give my gift to Clan Head Hiashi when the time comes!"

Hyuga Rinne was the younger sister of Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga. However, her talent was insufficient. After her eldest brother inherited the position of head of the main family and her second brother inherited the position of head of the branch family, she could only become an ordinary ninja of the branch family.

An ordinary branch-family bloodline... their casualty rate was extremely high as they protected the main family's bloodline.

He remembered that she had once been a shy, insecure girl with no friends, no strength, and nothing but ridicule.

Who would have thought that she had now become such an impressive career woman?

Fuyou glanced at the particular pride of a Hyuga young lady. She truly was impressive!

However.

After he finished speaking.

Rinne fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I'll remember, Fuyou. When are you planning to leave? Do you need to commission an escort mission?"

"The day after tomorrow. The ninja world hasn't been very peaceful lately, so the sooner I leave, the sooner I can return. As for guards... there's no need. The caravan's guards will be enough." Fuyou sighed and looked toward the sunset. "The sun is about to set. I'll walk you home!"

"Mm!"

Meanwhile.

After Uncle Sato had taught him some ninja knowledge, and after completing several deliveries, Obito dragged his exhausted body home.

"I'm home."

However.

No one answered him again today.

It seemed to have been several days already. Every day when he returned, his grandmother was not home. It seemed that every morning and evening, she went out dancing or something with her friends.

Although he did not get to eat with his grandmother, Uchiha Obito was still quite happy that she could be so cheerful.

It was not good for Grandma to stay at home all the time.

Looking at the dinner already prepared in the pot, he sighed helplessly. "So today... I'll be eating alone again."

He had no idea what they were doing that had made Grandma so interested.

At the same time.

Within the Uchiha Clan compound.

An elderly Uchiha leaned on his cane and looked at Uchiha Fugaku before him. "Clan Head, I heard the clan has recently wasted quite a bit of money on those useless old people?"

"None of the clan's money was wasted, Great Elder!"

"Uchiha Fuyou..."

"He has already been removed from the Uchiha Clan. He is the Uchiha Clan's disgrace!"

"What about that money?"

"It is merely money he contributed himself out of gratitude for the Uchiha Clan's upbringing." Fugaku folded his arms calmly. "I have no authority to take it over either. He will arrange people to handle it himself."

"Foolish! If we had that much money, the treatment of our Uchiha ninja could be improved even further. Yet it is being spent on such useless things." The old man known as the Great Elder had a glint flash through his eyes. "I will personally go speak with that brat Fuyou!"

He remembered that back then... he had also taken quite good care of the Uchiha Clan's genius!