Treating You to Dinner, Uchiha's Future

The night was as dark as ink, and Konoha's streets were shrouded in a thin veil of mist.

The streetlamps' light diffused through the fog, making everything seem especially hazy.

Chiyo Uchiha and Tsunade walked side by side along the quiet street, their footsteps echoing through the empty alley.

Tsunade crossed her arms and looked straight ahead, her golden hair fluttering slightly in the night breeze.

"Thank you for what happened earlier."

Tsunade suddenly spoke, her voice a little gentler than it had been during the meeting.

Chiyo glanced at her.

"I merely spoke the truth. The importance of Medical Ninja is beyond question."

Tsunade stopped, turned to face Chiyo, and her bright brown eyes shimmered with complicated emotions in the darkness.

"But honestly, I never expected someone from the Uchiha Clan to stand up and support me."

Chiyo shrugged, his tone calm.

"The Uchiha are also part of Konoha, aren't we?

"Besides, I only did what I believed was right."

Tsunade stared at him for several seconds before suddenly chuckling.

"You really are different from the other Uchiha."

"Perhaps."

Chiyo looked up at the night sky, his voice low.

"Those who have experienced loss always know better how to cherish what remains."

Tsunade froze slightly, and the emotions in her eyes flickered.

"You... lost someone too?"

Chiyo fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"A few days ago, I went to Amegakure on a mission.

"His name was on this battle casualty list..."

Tsunade's expression gradually softened, and she let out a quiet sigh.

"War... it really is something hateful."

Chiyo looked at Tsunade.

"That's why I understand how you feel."

Hearing that, Tsunade unconsciously clenched her fist, only to loosen it again moments later.

She tried to keep her voice steady.

"He was still so young. He clearly could have survived..."

Chiyo knew she was talking about her Younger Brother, Nawaki, and said nothing.

He simply stood quietly beside her, letting the night breeze brush past the hems of their clothes.

Sometimes, silent companionship held more power than any words.

After a while, Tsunade seemed to have composed herself.

She tilted her head toward Chiyo, a faint smile curving at the corner of her mouth.

"Still, meeting you today has made me feel a little more at ease."

Chiyo smiled as well.

"It is my honor to put you at ease."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"You smooth-talking brat. Call me Lady Tsunade!"

"A brat? I'm not that young."

Chiyo said with a smile.

"Besides, you aren't that much older than me, are you?"

Tsunade gave a soft snort but did not refute him.

The two continued onward, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

"It's late. I'll take you home!"

"Hm? Is that all right?"

Tsunade was taken aback, thinking about the locations of the Senju Clan grounds and the Uchiha Compound...

They did not seem to be on the same route.

"Forget it. It's so late, and making you go out of your way..."

"It's fine. I wanted to walk around a little anyway!"

The two strolled forward as the night breeze swept by, carrying a faint chill.

Chiyo took off his coat and gently draped it over Tsunade's shoulders.

Tsunade paused for a moment but did not refuse.

"Thank you."

She spoke softly.

The two did not speak again along the way, yet the silence was not awkward.

Only when they arrived before the Senju Clan residence did Tsunade stop.

"We're here."

She turned around.

"Thank you for walking me home."

Tsunade hesitated, then suddenly said,

"If you're free tomorrow at noon, I'll wait for you at the Barbecue Restaurant."

Chiyo froze for a moment. Was this...

Noticing Chiyo staring directly at her, Tsunade's gaze darted away.

"I'm just treating you to a simple meal."

Chiyo nodded.

"All right. It's a deal."

Tsunade waved, then turned and walked into the residence.

Chiyo watched her figure disappear before finally turning to leave.

However, after he had taken only a few steps, several dark figures vanished from the shadows.

Naturally, Chiyo Uchiha could sense them.

But he paid them no mind and strode toward the compound.

Just as he arrived at the compound—

"Chiyo Uchiha."

A deep voice came from the shadows.

Chiyo stopped and slowly turned around, seeing Yashiro Uchiha standing not far away, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"Senior Yashiro, have you been waiting long?"

Chiyo's tone was calm.

Yashiro Uchiha looked at him coldly.

"The clan has business with you. Come with me."

Chiyo narrowed his eyes and fell silent for a moment.

"I'll trouble you to lead the way, Senior."

He did not refuse.

Following Yashiro Uchiha through the dim corridors, Chiyo watched the lanterns around them sway in the night wind, casting mottled shadows.

Deep within the residence, a spacious Japanese-style room came into view.

The moment he pushed open the door, a chilling, murderous air washed over him.

The room was brightly lit.

More than a dozen sharp gazes shot toward Chiyo in unison, as though they intended to pierce right through him.

The Elders seated on both sides all wore expressions of displeasure.

"Chiyo Uchiha, do you know your crime?"

An Elder with white hair and beard was the first to attack, his voice cold as a blade.

Chiyo's expression did not change. He gave a slight bow.

"I do not know how Chiyo has offended the Elders."

"Insolence!"

Another Elder slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet, glaring furiously at Chiyo Uchiha.

"Today, you publicly supported the Senju Clan's proposal at the meeting. Where does that leave the Uchiha Clan's stance?

"Have you forgotten the grudge between us and the Senju Clan?"

Chiyo raised his head, his calm gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"A grudge? May I ask, Elder, what is Konoha's greatest threat right now?"

"Foreign enemies, naturally!"

Someone snorted coldly.

"Exactly."

"The Second Shinobi World War has already begun. Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Amegakure are eyeing us like tigers. If something goes wrong in Konoha, we will be surrounded by enemies on all sides.

"If we still cling to old grudges, would that not be digging our own graves?"

"Absurd!"

An Elder sharply interrupted him.

"The Senju Clan has always excluded our Uchiha. What you did today will only chill the hearts of our Clan Members!"

Chiyo remained neither servile nor overbearing.

"Chill their hearts? Then may I ask, Elder, what position does the Uchiha Clan hold in Konoha?

"Have we truly integrated into the village's core? Have we not always been guarded against as outsiders?"

At those words, everyone was left speechless for a moment.

Chiyo took the opportunity to continue.

"When the First Hokage founded Konoha, he once said, 'The village is our shared home.'

"Yet now, our Uchiha Clan is gradually being marginalized.

"Why? I believe it is precisely because of our stubbornness and isolation!"

"Are you accusing the clan?"

Fugaku Uchiha, who stood nearby, spoke up to question him.

Chiyo looked at him and spread his hands.

"Cousin Fugaku, I am not accusing anyone. I only hope the clan can see reality clearly.

"With war upon us, Konoha needs unity. Take the First Shinobi World War—how did our old rivals, the Senju Clan, face that war?

"Their Clan Members bravely went to the front lines. No one knows how many died.

"Meanwhile, we Uchiha became the Guard Unit, protecting the village and avoiding the war's reach. Now, our clan has several times more people than the Senju Clan, perhaps even more than ten times as many.

"Lady Tsunade's Medical Ninja proposal concerns whether all of Konoha can achieve victory. If it succeeds—

"Not only will it save countless shinobi lives, it will also enhance Konoha's overall strength and prestige in the Shinobi World.

"In recent years, have we Uchiha achieved anything worthy of recognition?

"If we can seize this opportunity to contribute to Konoha—

"And use it to ease our relationship with the Senju—

"Perhaps even form a partnership, then our position in the village will certainly be different in the future!"

"Cooperate? With the Senju?"

An Elder sneered.

"You are too naive!"

Chiyo shook his head.

"The truly naive ones are those who cling to prejudice.

"Have you ever considered that if the Uchiha Clan were to lead the establishment of the medical system, or even, like the Senju Clan, perform great deeds during the war—

"Couldn't an Uchiha also contend for the Hokage Position?"

The words "Hokage Position" struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

The room instantly fell silent.

Chiyo pressed his advantage.

"Konoha's current leadership consists of the Third Hokage, who is steady and conservative, his partner Danzo, who is ambitious, and those Hokage Advisors...

"They have all inherited the Second Hokage's teachings deeply, and they are highly wary of us Uchiha.

"That is why we Uchiha have always been excluded from the center of power.

"If the Uchiha continue to think ourselves proud, guarding only our clan while ignoring the village—

"Then in time, the Uchiha and Konoha will inevitably stand on opposing sides.

"The clan's future will ultimately lead to a dead end!

"Rather than wait passively, why not take the initiative?

"My support for Tsunade today was precisely to show the village the Uchiha's breadth of mind and foresight!"

His voice grew more and more impassioned.

"Everyone, the times have changed!

"Past grudges should not become shackles that bind us."

The glory of the Uchiha Clan should not rest solely on the Sharingan's famed name. It should also be reflected in our contributions to the village!

Elders, you keep talking about the Senju Clan. Why don't you compete with the Senju Clan on this matter?

Could it be that the Uchiha Clan's contributions to the village are actually inferior to those of the Senju Clan?!"

As his words fell, the Japanese-style room became utterly silent.

Shock flashed through Fugaku Uchiha's eyes. He had never expected his cousin to possess such profound insight.

The elders looked at one another, unable to offer a rebuttal for the moment.

Fugaku Uchiha looked at Chiyo with a complicated expression.

"What you say... is not without reason. But this matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration."

Chiyo smiled faintly and bowed.

"Everything Chiyo has done is for the clan's future."

An elder snorted, though his tone was no longer as forceful as before.

"Hmph. Let's hope you're not merely arguing for your own personal gain."

Chiyo replied calmly.

"If you do not believe me, then wait and see. Time will prove everything."

The meeting ultimately ended amid silence.

As Chiyo left, he could feel the clan members' complicated gazes on his back.

He knew that today's war of words was only the beginning. The true challenges still lay ahead.

As he stepped out of the residence, the night breeze brushed against his face.

Chiyo let out a long breath.

He raised his head to look at the starry sky, a confident curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

Having lived in the Uchiha Clan for all these years, how could he not know what most of the clan members were thinking?

The present Uchiha were not the Uchiha Clan that Konoha had grown suspicious of after the Nine-Tails' Rampage.

Everything could be changed!

"The Uchiha Clan's future... once I have the strength, I'll rewrite it myself!"

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