Is Sasuke not worthy of the eldest daughter of the Hyuga family?

Night falls.

Beneath the crescent moon, a gentle evening breeze blows. Butterflies flutter by the streetlamps at the corner, their shadows dancing among the swaying trees, revealing a hint of the night's coolness.

At the Uchiha Clan's main residence, Mikoto has prepared a meal. Itachi sits quietly beside her, gently lifting some dumplings with his chopsticks and feeding them to Sasuke. Sasuke spits them out, flailing his little hands wildly.

"Chop—"

The study door slowly opens, and a group of Uchiha emerge, holding their heads, looking sickly.

Several elders follow behind, supporting each other as if they had weathered a storm.

Damn it! Liu Yun's brat is too talkative. From this afternoon until now, everyone has been listening to his nonsense on an empty stomach.

He spouts one principle after another, but few are actually useful. The entire speech is either in classical Chinese or so convoluted it gives you a headache...

One moment he's saying "the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting," and the next he's grandly proclaiming "victory lies in strategy." He starts by reminiscing about the glorious achievements of the Uchiha ancestors, then immediately shouts for the Uchiha to be great again!

He just rambles on and on, his thoughts jumping so fast that even the Body Flicker Technique couldn't keep up!

I have to admit, this kid's writing is truly excellent, and he's good at expressing himself. His language is concise and smooth, his word choice simple yet not crude, and his writing style is elegant without being vulgar.

At crucial moments, he knows how to use contradictions and conflicts to grab attention, and he constantly builds anticipation, allowing every Uchiha to perfectly immerse themselves. The climax piles upon climax, making it impossible to stop, which is why a small gathering has dragged on until now...

After the meeting, everyone suddenly realizes that after such a long and intense discussion, the only resolution reached is—to mobilize the entire clan's strength to hold a lavish birthday banquet for the clan leader's second son, Sasuke Uchiha!

No one objects to this, after all, it's just a birthday banquet, and the Uchiha have plenty of money. Moreover, the proud Uchiha will not tolerate being told they are inferior to the Hyuga! But what truly concerns everyone is that Qing Xuan's words clearly have hidden meanings. Even the usually shrewd Elder Shana can tell that he must be plotting something in secret, but is deliberately refusing to reveal it.

The clan's elites know full well that this seemingly simple birthday plan is likely related to the upcoming delegation from the Land of Clouds, and may even involve the Hyuga Clan. Those present are all shrewd individuals; how could they be easily fooled by a few pretty words? They intended to probe for information indirectly.

But this guy doesn't play by the rules. He mixes nonsense with his own agenda and starts confusing them right from the start! The stalemate between the two sides has reached a point where they can't stand it anymore.

Fine! We won't listen anymore. Just give us orders when something needs to be done.

Qing Xuan, you can discuss it with the clan leader slowly! We're out!

Farewell!

Watching the backs of his clan members, their spirits crushed and their steps hollow, Fugaku rubbed his forehead, a headache forming.

He himself had been attacked by Qing Xuan's indiscriminate rhetoric and his mind was now a jumbled mess, causing him a slight headache.

"Uncle, don't forget to take me with you to visit the Hyuga tomorrow."

Qing Xuan's smile behind him was full of malice. Fugaku couldn't help but shudder, his gaze involuntarily swept over Sasuke, who was being fed a pill by Itachi, and he sighed deeply.

"Qing Xuan, this matter..."

"Sasuke is my brother."

Qing Xuan's small face was serious and earnest, his tone even carrying a hint of accusation: "Do you think Sasuke isn't worthy of the Hyuga's direct heir?"

Fugaku's expression grew increasingly unsightly. "Setting aside Sasuke's own opinion for a moment, the matter of the Uchiha and Hyuga forming an alliance faces numerous difficulties. Not only will many people jump out to oppose it, but even the Hyuga main family will not agree!"

Qing Xuan said indifferently, "You don't need to worry about this, Uncle. As long as the plan proceeds smoothly, I can guarantee that no one will disagree. As for Sasuke..."

He looked at Sasuke, who was still trying to refuse the pill, and said, "He can't disagree with a wife he gets for free, can he? Especially when she's the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family! She's more than enough for him! Besides, he will inherit the position of clan leader in the future. The Hyuga family has no sons, so the Hyuga and Uchiha will both be his. What reason would he have to disagree!"

Fugaku was stunned. After serious thought, if all of this were true, then Sasuke would definitely be making a huge profit! What reason would he have to refuse?

Seeing Fugaku's loosening expression, Qing Xuan raised an eyebrow, feeling that this matter was settled. "Besides, we're not asking you to do anything specific. I'm just suggesting we hold a birthday banquet for Sasuke, and tomorrow you take me to visit the Hyuga. It's all very simple, isn't it?"

"Alright..." Fugaku nodded. Just as he was about to say something more, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

Black clothing, arm guards, a half-white mask, and short chestnut hair like a midnight ghost in the cold wind.

It was Ling, who had been following behind Tsunade.

"Lord Qing Xuan!"

Upon seeing Qing Xuan, she opened her mouth slightly. Her clear voice held a hint of anxiety, yet she found it difficult to speak.

Seeing this, Fugaku snorted and returned to his room. He had been talking all night and was hungry. He didn't want to get involved in Tsunade's affairs at all.

The night of Konohagakure spreads like ink. The lanterns at the street corner sway gently in the evening breeze, casting orange-red light spots on the bluestone path. The wooden cart of a mobile liquor stall creaks, and the copper bells hanging under the eaves ring clearly with its movement, like scattered notes in the night wind.

Coarse pottery wine jars are arranged on the elmwood countertop, wisps of rice-scented mist rising from their openings. Iron kettles are simmering over a few charcoal stoves, the boiling water causing the lids to jump slightly, tapping out a rhythmic clack in the silent alley.

The canvas canopy erected in front of the stall is slightly weighed down by the night dew. Droplets of water occasionally condense and drip from the edges, forming dark circles on the dirt ground where low stools are placed. A few worn and polished wooden stools surround a small brazier, on which skewers of saury are being grilled. Oil seeps out and splatters in tiny pops in the charcoal fire. The fish skin gradually curls into a golden hue, and the charred aroma mixed with coarse salt drifts into the damp night mist.

The intermittent sound of a shamisen comes from the alley entrance. The night is deep now, and the drinkers have all left.

The paper lantern hanging on the cart's shaft spins in the night wind, light and shadow flowing across the liquor banner, making the words "Drunken Moon" flicker on and off. In the distance, the silhouette of the Hokage Rock blends into the night. Only when a patrolling ninja flashes across the rooftops do their kunai occasionally reflect a cold light, only to be swallowed by the warm scent of alcohol again.

Qing Xuan, who arrived in a hurry, pays the owner using the lantern light. He looks at Tsunade, still slumped on the wooden counter, deeply intoxicated, with an expression of disappointment.

"I remember Uncle gave her enough money this morning, right? How can she still owe so much?"

Ling, who followed, scratches her head, her face behind the mask showing an embarrassed grimace. "Yes... it's like this. After shopping this morning, Lord Tsunade suddenly became unhappy, so she..."

"Went gambling again?"

Seeing the young girl's silent acknowledgment, Qing Xuan's face immediately darkens.

"Liu Yun... Liu Yun, don't go! I miss you so much..."

Muddled ramblings come from the drunken woman's mouth. Seeing her tearful state, Qing Xuan's eyes narrow.

Gamblers are not to be pitied!

"Haku, go to my room and get the erhu!"