That evening, Shin still arrived rather late for the banquet. He apologized, saying he had been delayed by some clan matters.
Jiraiya jokingly asked if Shin had been pouring his heart out to some young girl in the clan.
Shikaku chuckled and said that someone as serious as Shin hardly seemed like the type to have a girlfriend.
The people at the gathering were still the same few. They treated Shin far more warmly than before; the friendship forged by fighting side by side on the battlefield was different.
Even those with differing political views could sit together and drink without a care.
At the youths' table, Kamado had been forcibly dragged over by Guy to sit with everyone. They had all met him before, and knowing that he was Shin's personal guard, they did not exclude him.
They drank beverages and chatted merrily. Obito boasted the loudest, claiming that he had gained his clan's attention and would be specially groomed.
Genma Shiranui said disdainfully, "If even a dead last like you can be specially groomed, then your generation of the Uchiha Clan is really pathetic."
The whole table burst into laughter.
Obito grew irritated and came up with all sorts of reasons to refute Genma. Kakashi even piled on, saying Genma was absolutely right.
He turned to Rin, seeking comfort, only to find that her gaze was fixed elsewhere.
"Rin... Rin?"
"Huh?"
"What are you looking at?"
"I'm looking at... Lord Minato."
Obito scratched his head, wondering what there was to look at about Lord Minato.
At the mention of Minato, the youths immediately shifted topics. Asuma sighed that their victory in this war had been thanks to Lord Minato.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Ebisu said it was truly a pity that someone as outstanding as Lord Minato had