A Toast to the Third Hokage

"Inviting everyone to dinner was merely the Uchiha Clan Head's personal gesture. It won't affect the mission, will it?" Hyuga Ken'ya also stepped forward to side with Uchiha Toko.

Gekko Hayate, Uzuki Yugao, and the two Commoner Ninja did not speak up due to the ninja clans behind them, but their choice to stand beside Uchiha Toko was also a silent show of support.

After only one night, they had become the targets of American-style bullying.

And the instigator behind it all had not said a single word even now.

After the commotion died down, the group entered the town. As if sulking, Utatane Kui and Mitokado Hayate did not even greet anyone after entering the town, instead heading straight for the cheap inn favored by most ninjas carrying out missions there.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Toko led everyone into another round of feasting.

"Say, are we really just going to ignore them? What about the mission?" Kuroki Ryutai, one of the four jonin on this mission, still had some concerns. After downing a cup of wine, he could not help asking.

"Brother Kuroki, just relax. Whether they come or not makes no difference to this mission." Nagai Seiichi, the eldest among them, understood the situation perfectly. "That's Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. For ordinary jonin like us, having one more or one less won't make any decisive difference. When it matters, we'll still have to rely on Clan Head Uchiha and Captain Kakashi. We only need to do our supporting work. Haven't you noticed that even the Inuzuka and Hyuga have no objections?"

"Thanks to Clan Head Douhuan's generosity, we can enjoy delicacies from all over the Land of Fire even while on a mission. I propose a toast to Clan Head Douhuan." Nagai Seiichi raised his cup and spoke heartily.

"Big Brother Seiichi, you mustn't put it that way. This is simply what I ought to do." Uchiha Toko also raised his cup. "Ever since I was merely a child at the Ninja Academy, I had basked in the radiance of the Will of Fire spread by the Third. Being able to ease everyone's burdens—isn't that the finest embodiment of the Will of Fire? If you want to thank someone, then you should thank our Third Hokage, thank the Will of Fire!"

"Clan Head Douhuan is right. My thinking was too shallow." Nagai Seiichi said, "But as Lord Douhuan put it, a ninja like you, with such a profound understanding of the Will of Fire, is, in my eyes, practically an incarnation of the Third Hokage."

"Huh?" Uchiha Toko laughed. "What you said does make a little sense. In truth, I am an incarnation."

"During this mission, once we achieve results and earn merit, we must never forget the Third Hokage, nor must we forget the Will of Fire."

"Everyone, a toast to the Third Hokage! A toast to the Will of Fire!" After saying that, Uchiha Toko raised his cup high and drained it in one gulp.

"A toast to the Third Hokage! A toast to the Will of Fire!" After Uchiha Toko spoke, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao, the youngest people present aside from him, also felt their blood stir and emptied their cups.

The others responded in turn as well.

After several rounds of drinks, everyone had become more familiar with one another compared to yesterday, and they were far more at ease at the table. By now, a few traces of drunkenness had appeared on everyone's faces.

Just then, Nagai Seiichi suddenly sighed.

"Why are you sighing, Big Brother Seiichi?" Uchiha Toko asked when he saw this.

"My apologies, Clan Head Douhuan. I was being presumptuous. I'll punish myself with three cups later." Nagai Seiichi said, "Once I drink, I can't help thinking of my disappointing son."

"What are you saying, Big Brother Seiichi? You are a jonin of the village, one of its pillars. I imagine your son must be extraordinarily gifted as well." Uchiha Toko said.

"If only that were true." Nagai Seiichi sighed. "I only became a jonin of the village through luck, and all my ninjutsu was exchanged for within the village. While the village does not pursue jonin for teaching a few low-level ninjutsu to relatives or disciples, my son inherited the Chakra nature of my late wife, who died in battle six years ago. Even if I wanted to teach him, I simply lack the ability. If he graduates next year and fails to get assigned a good team leader, what then?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about this." Nagai Seiichi waved his hand. "I've spoiled everyone's mood. I'll punish myself with a cup."

"Well, you can't say that. Thinking for your son's sake is only natural. With a father like you, your son must surely be very happy." As Uchiha Toko spoke, the information regarding Nagai Seiichi surfaced in his mind.

Nagai Seiichi. Ninja registration number: 009841. Missions completed: 472 D-rank, 617 C-rank, 391 B-rank, 122 A-rank, and 4 S-rank. He was promoted to jonin during the Third Shinobi World War and excelled at Water Style. However, limited by his talent, his strength placed him among the weakest tier of Konoha's Jonin Squad. Moreover, as someone of commoner birth, he had no room left to rise any further.

His most likely fate was to die on some dangerous mission in the future, or to retire of his own accord.

However, it seemed this man was not so content with his lot. Having noticed that the Uchiha Clan might soon make a major move, he had recognized the opportunity within it. Eager to advance, he wanted to take a gamble.

"Big Brother Seiichi, have you considered having your son join the Military Police Force? Although the Military Police Force recently recruited a batch of newcomers, it will likely expand again once next year's Ninja Academy graduates finish school. If your son is interested, I can ask Captain Fugaku to keep an eye out for him."

Uchiha Toko naturally extended an olive branch. He truly did not fear the people beneath him having ambitions. So long as they were loyal to him, Uchiha Toko, what he could give them was far more than they could imagine.

"Really?" Nagai Seiichi asked in delighted surprise. "Then many thanks to the Uchiha Clan Head! This cup is for you!"

After Nagai Seiichi tipped back his head and drained a cup of wine, Inuzuka Fu beside him smiled. "Big Brother Seiichi, you've found a fine path for your son. The Military Police Force offers far better pay and benefits than ordinary ninja work. Several youngsters in our clan want to join the Military Police Force too."

"Is that so? Then why haven't I seen any children of the Inuzuka Clan on the application list?" Uchiha Toko asked curiously.

"The elders of the clan won't allow it." Inuzuka Fu said. "Our ancestors followed the Senju Clan, so our relationship with you Uchiha has never been particularly good. On top of that, most of your clan's Summoned Beasts are Ninja Cats, so after those youngsters got a beating, the matter was dropped."

"Still, our Clan Head has considered selling a batch of our latest-bred Police Dogs to the Military Police Force. After all, when it comes to tracking down criminals, Ninja Dogs are always more useful than Ninja Cats, aren't they?"