Invitation

At the end of November, after the Ninja Academy went on break, the daily running training finally led to an "encounter."

While running, there was always an urge to chase after a bus pulling away from its stop—let alone a flash of green.

Konoha's proud Azure Beast sped past him. Sasuke hurriedly accelerated after him, closing the distance slightly.

As though deliberately provoking him, Might Guy actually maintained that distance from him as they ran. For a short stretch—truly just a short stretch, lasting less than half a minute.

"Uchiha boy, go forth and shed the sweat of youth!"

He turned back and gave Sasuke a thumbs-up, his teeth sparkling brightly...

Then he sped up and vanished in a puff of dust.

The title of Konoha's White Fang should have gone to you instead.

Now that they had met, shouldn't protagonists in novels start clinging to powerful thighs, taking a master, and learning the Eight Inner Gates?

Yet Guy just ran off. Over the next half month, Sasuke only ran into him once more. The two encounters combined had lasted less than a minute.

The "encounter" had really just been an "encounter."

Even when he pushed his running speed to the limit and used Chakra, he could only sustain it briefly. At nearly 25 m/s, he still could not catch Guy.

Could it be that only "Muggles" incapable of using ninjutsu could earn Guy's favor?

Once the greenhouse was completed, Sasuke built several livestock sheds afterward. They were made of brick, stone, and cement, with hardened cement floors for easier hosing and cleaning. With his Shadow Clones helping out during their spare time, the work was finished in just a week.

The cement, steel bars for the gates, and rustproof paint cost a little money. The remaining bricks, stones, roof tiles, and such were taken directly from other houses in the Uchiha Clan Grounds. The actual amount he paid out was less than twenty thousand ryo.

No one lived in those houses anyway. They would be destroyed sooner or later, so he might as well tear them down himself.

Besides, with his other plan, keeping the Uchiha Clan Grounds too well-preserved would instead invite wolves into the house.

For crops to flourish, fertilizer was essential. If he wanted to farm, raising some livestock was unavoidable. There was no chemical fertilizer here, and a dignified Uchiha like him could hardly go around carrying other people's night soil.

Judging from Konoha alone, people here did not value food production in the slightest. The scattered fields in the village were all managed by the major clans' subordinates. The highland plains atop Hokage Rock had not yet been planned or developed. Compared to the village, the amount of farmland was not small. He had surveyed it himself—barren land simply would not do.

It was not that the Uchiha did not know how to farm. Yet the frighteningly low yields were somehow the norm.

For Konohagakure, with a population of hundreds of thousands, local food production was practically optional.

They relied entirely on grain merchants under the daimyo to sell food here, with the rest imported from nearby small countries such as the Land of Vegetables and the Land of Fields.

The control over logistical supplies for a military stronghold was, it could be said, completely out of their own hands. What kind of ridiculous mess was that? It was a miracle Konoha had not collapsed already, even with some military strength in hand.

Ninja work was so precarious—who had the mood to farm?

Then stop being ninjas! Please.

The Shinobi Sect's method for bringing everyone together had been turned into endless fighting. The ancient Six Paths geezer was probably close to tears.

The New Year was approaching. After wasting another day with the four little ones, Shikamaru came to find him.

He looked somewhat hesitant. "On New Year's Eve, do you want to come to my house and celebrate with us?"

(New Year's Eve refers to the day before the New Year. That night is also called New Year's Eve, similar to the domestic New Year and Lunar New Year's Eve.)

If it were not so obvious from his expression that he had come with a mission—and if their genders were different—anyone would misunderstand.

Sasuke from the original story would definitely have refused something like this, right?

Seeing hesitation appear on Sasuke's face, Shikamaru hurriedly added, "Of course, if you don't want to, then forget it."

"Can I ask something? Is this your Ino-Shika-Cho annual gathering? Is it appropriate for an outsider like me to join?"

Shikamaru's answer was somewhat different from what Sasuke had expected.

"No, the Ino-Shika-Cho New Year gathering is usually arranged a few days after the New Year. Though we do get together from time to time normally."

"I was just thinking, if there's no one at your house, spending the New Year alone..."

Sasuke winked at Shikamaru, signaling that there was someone behind him.

"If it's only me, wouldn't that be too abrupt? After all, I'm still an Uchiha..."

Shikamaru sensed something was off. Before he could speak, Naruto's calm voice sounded from behind them.

"Sasuke, are you going to Shikamaru's house on New Year's Eve?"

Though he had been prepared, Shikamaru still shuddered.

Dad said he could make friends freely, but if he really invited Naruto home... Even if it did not affect Dad's work, Mom probably would not look kindly on him. She did not seem to approve of Naruto very much.

But if he answered wrong, would all his efforts over these past months go down the drain?

There was definitely a solution. Even if this move went badly, he could make up for it with the next one.

Several possible outcomes surfaced in his mind. Though he felt a little sorry for Mom, the most beneficial option was...

"Naruto, you're here? We were just talking about going to find you. Want to come to my house and celebrate with us?"

"Sure, sure! I've never been to Shikamaru's house before!"

Normally, as long as he did not have to be alone, Naruto was fine with it—even if he ended up causing trouble and getting chased down, beaten, and scolded. Since Shikamaru had invited him, Naruto could not find any reason to refuse.

After extending the invitation, they said goodbye. Shikamaru let out a deep sigh. Things had not developed according to plan. He needed to discuss it with Dad.

The family meeting ended.

Shikaku Nara apologized to his wife once again. "Yoshino, I'll have to trouble you with this."

Just thinking about it left Yoshino Nara physically and mentally exhausted. "Are you trying to work me to death? Next time, just let the children get together and play on their own. Why do you have to drag the adults into it?"

After complaining, she glared fiercely at Shikaku. "The extra expenses compared to previous years are coming out of your allowance!"

The next day, though there were still several days before the end of the year, everyone was already used to Sasuke not coming over to play with them for several days in a row. Training and burying himself in the library seemed far more interesting to him.

Shikamaru was heading out to meet the others when, at the street corner only a few steps away, he unexpectedly ran into Sasuke. Sasuke was clearly waiting for him, but Shikamaru did not think he had suddenly decided to join them today. After all, they had just wasted an entire day together yesterday.

"What is it?"

"I wanted to ask how many people will be there."

Shikamaru immediately understood what Sasuke meant. "Don't bring anything. It's just an ordinary meal and chat. If you had parents coming along, then bringing something would be understandable, but you..."

(You're just a child.)

Sasuke was smart; there was no need to spell it out. When others were around—especially someone as sensitive as Naruto—Shikamaru paid more attention to his wording. But when chatting privately with Sasuke, as long as there was no malice, Sasuke did not particularly mind people mentioning his family situation.

Sasuke did not take Shikamaru's words seriously. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. So how many people exactly? Tell me, or I'll overprepare."

Shikamaru was speechless. "Honestly, I can't do anything with you. All three of our families are coming, plus you and Naruto."

Sasuke had clearly considered that possibility. "So they really are all coming."

"Seriously, don't overthink it. It's just everyone getting together at the end of the year."

Sasuke was somewhat helpless as well. "It can't be helped. There's only me left in the Uchiha now. When I'm out in the world, I represent more than just myself."