Caught by a Dog (Please Read On)

Dig him out?

Tsunade's beautiful eyes paused slightly. She found Uchiha Fugaku's choice of words a little strange.

But she did not dwell on it.

Since he had agreed to help with this, her purpose in coming here had already been achieved.

Recently, apart from visiting izakayas and casinos, she had spent all her remaining time searching for the Youth she had met at the izakaya that day.

Unfortunately, things had not gone as she wished. Tsunade had never encountered him again...

As for why she wanted to find him, the reason was actually very simple.

She wanted to make up for her "regret."

On August ninth, Nawaki's birthday, she had gone to an izakaya to drown her sorrows. When she woke up, she saw a Youth.

Recognizing the fan crest on him as the symbol of the Uchiha clan, Tsunade had jumped to the conclusion that this naturally evil brat had been secretly drinking.

As a result, she had gone over and disrupted his little celebration for becoming a genin...

Of course, it was only a minor matter. Perhaps even the Youth himself had already forgotten what happened.

But Tsunade still remembered the things he had said.

He said he wanted to become Hokage.

He said he longed for the familial affection of an older sister.

And when she had accused him of secretly drinking, Tsunade still remembered the grievance in his voice with perfect clarity.

The guilt in her heart was like aged wine, growing stronger and stronger. For the past two days, she had not even been in the mood to drink or gamble.

She wanted to make up for something.

At the very least, she wanted to see him once.

That was why, after failing to find him, she had come to the Security Force.

"Then I'll leave it to you," Tsunade said, sounding somewhat more relaxed.

"Please trust in our Security Force's capabilities." Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "In that case, Lady Tsunade, please give me a general description of his appearance."

So Tsunade roughly described Uchiha Chi's appearance.

His height, clothing, features, and hairstyle.

She did not know whether it was an illusion.

But as she described him, Uchiha Fugaku's expression gradually became strange.

Especially when she mentioned the Youth's distinctive hairstyle, Uchiha Fugaku's expression became particularly colorful.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked, studying Uchiha Fugaku's expression in confusion.

"Nothing..." Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.

"Before noon tomorrow, I'll find him in the clan grounds." Uchiha Fugaku hesitated, then asked Tsunade in a low voice, "Where would Lady Tsunade like to meet?"

If possible, he hoped that wherever Tsunade chose to teach that clansman a lesson would not be too conspicuous.

After all, no matter how it was spread, the Third Hokage's student beating up an Uchiha clansman would not sound good for the Uchiha's reputation.

"Here will do." Tsunade answered without much hesitation. "Just give me some privacy when the time comes."

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Tsunade in surprise. The Senju princess, famous for her temper, was unexpectedly easy to talk to now.

If she fought here, it would also be much easier to clean up afterward...

Thinking that, Uchiha Fugaku nodded and respectfully said to Tsunade, "Then at noon tomorrow, I will bring the person Lady Tsunade wishes to see here."

Tsunade nodded in satisfaction, rose to her feet, and left with her people.

Once Shizune gently closed the office door.

Uchiha Fugaku did not sit down immediately. Instead, he silently walked to the window and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

He had actually already guessed who Tsunade was looking for.

There was probably only one Uchiha with a handsome face and curly noodle hair, and he had happened to interact with him recently.

Uchiha Chi.

As the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku did not particularly like this Youth.

It was not that there was anything wrong with his character. On the contrary, the fact that he had discovered the spy Danzo planted in the clan grounds before the Security Force did left no doubt about the Youth's sharpness and patience.

Yet he still could not bring himself to like him.

Whether it was their meeting in the clan grounds or their second chance encounter at the ramen shop.

The gentle smile on the Youth's face always gave him the sense of an arrogance that came from deep in his bones.

All Uchiha were proud, but Uchiha Chi felt different.

He was clearly only a genin, yet Uchiha Fugaku felt as though he could slip beyond his control at any time.

That feeling was familiar. It involuntarily reminded him of the child at home, Uchiha Itachi.

When other children could barely speak clearly, he had already been able to sense the existence of Chakra. Even the Third Hokage had personally praised Itachi as a genius.

Such plainly visible talent likewise gave Uchiha Fugaku the feeling that he was beyond control.

Yet his heart was filled with pride, and even a trace more confidence:

Even if he himself could not make this ninja clan great again, his child would surely be able to accomplish it all.

Uchiha Fugaku firmly believed that.

The next day.

Naka River.

After gathering beneath Hokage Rock, Uchiha Chi, Kakashi, and Might Guy arrived here.

Facing the cool morning breeze.

Uchiha Chi sat on a stone beneath a locust tree, eating a warm beef flatbread while watching the two crisscrossing afterimages on the shore with relish.

Kakashi and Might Guy were dueling.

Might Guy's Taijutsu was clearly more refined. Every movement was a moment more crisp and efficient than Kakashi's.

With such advantages accumulating, the gap became considerable. He was faintly beginning to suppress his opponent.

But this was an unrestricted duel, so it clearly would not remain a contest of Taijutsu alone.

At the instant Might Guy's body stiffened after one move.

Kakashi leaned slightly aside and jumped backward. As he widened the distance, he flung three sharp Kunai from his right hand, aiming at Might Guy's eyes, heart, and thigh respectively.

Might Guy hurriedly yelped and twisted his body, barely dodging the Kunai in a comical, bizarre posture.

But in that opening, Kakashi had already burst forward from where he stood, using the Body Flicker Technique to reach where Might Guy would land.

He narrowed his eyes and twisted his body. In the blink of an eye, a Chakra Dagger appeared in his hand.

With fierce Blade Light wrapped around it, Kakashi gripped the hilt and slashed upward at Might Guy's chin!

Might Guy yelped again, pulled out a pair of nunchaku from behind his back, and skillfully deflected Kakashi's Chakra Dagger.

Then came the clash of metal as the two launched into an intense exchange of Taijutsu and weapons.

Just then—

Uchiha Chi finished the beef flatbread in his hand as well.

Hearty Meal!

Just as he rubbed his stomach in satisfaction after eating his fill, he suddenly heard a clear chime beside his ear.

[Detected confusion from Uchiha Fugaku!]

[Received 10 points and increased Defense by 2%!]

"?"

Uchiha Chi stared dumbfoundedly at the system, slowly producing a huge question mark.

He had not even taken a dump, yet he felt like a dog had set its sights on him.