Kakashi could not help but break out in a cold sweat.
Even after entering the Uchiha compound, those prying gazes had not dispersed. It was as if eyes were hidden in the shadows all around him, eager to see straight through him.
Quite a few gazes even kept drifting downward over him involuntarily... Who could stand that?!
He could accept being watched—proper surveillance! Not this kind of appraisal, especially not an appraisal of that sort of thing, and by so many people at once.
Never in his life had Kakashi imagined he would find himself in such a situation.
The Uchiha Clan is way too hung up on this.
Kakashi could not help complaining inwardly.
Are people from this clan really that stubborn?
They cared far too much about their pride!
Itachi's face reddened slightly as he felt somewhat ashamed.
A guest had been formally invited, yet they had made him feel so uncomfortable.
Fortunately, they were about to enter the house.
Once they entered a room, the walls naturally blocked some of those prying gazes.
That greatly reduced the scrutiny.
Outside the room lay a tranquil courtyard, where a shishi-odoshi made its Zen-like sound.
Inside, the ones personally receiving him were the Uchiha clan head, Fugaku Uchiha, and Fugaku's wife, the clan head's wife, Mikoto Uchiha.
Mikoto held a child in her arms.
That should have been Itachi's younger brother, the Uchiha clan head's youngest son, Sasuke Uchiha.
Kakashi sat kneeling before a low table, with Fugaku and Mikoto seated across from him.
Itachi sat beside Kakashi.
The low table was laid with food served on separate plates.
"Please, help yourselves," Fugaku said, extending a hand with a broad smile.
Faced with such hospitality, Kakashi naturally would not refuse. He picked up his chopsticks, took some food, and put