Two days later.
The Police Department had finally finished handling all the follow-up work on the case.
The legitimate medicinal herbs were sent to the Medical Department, while the fake medicine was naturally destroyed.
Only then did Qingguang come to Fugaku's office. As soon as he entered, he saw Fugaku sitting with his head bowed, looking troubled and uncertain.
"Minister Fugaku, has something else come up?"
Qingguang's voice sounded like a gift from heaven to Fugaku, like a savior coming to his rescue.
"Qingguang, you came at just the right time."
Fugaku then poured out all his recent worries about Yashiro and Akiya's wedding.
Yashiro and Akiya's wedding wasn't just about the future happiness of the couple. It was also a political signal from the Uchiha Clan to the village, the Ninja Clans, and the common people.
But as things stood, apart from the Inuzuka Clan, whom the Uchiha could invite without question, the other Ninja Clans had no direct connection to the wedding. Figuring out how to get them to attend was Fugaku's biggest headache.
"Minister Fugaku, actually, what I came to talk about today is related to this too," Qingguang said with a smile.
"It's related to Yashiro's wedding too? Let's hear it." Judging from Qingguang's expression, Fugaku already knew the news would be good.
After all, he had seen Qingguang's skills at lying firsthand.
It wasn't that he was bad at it. He simply couldn't lie at all!
"Senior Saiyun wants to attend Yashiro and Akiya's wedding. She also asked me to find a reliable Genjutsu teacher for Haruga."
"Saiyun? Kurama Saiyun?" Fugaku asked, surprised.
Qingguang nodded.
What had happened between Kurama Saiyun and Qingguang's father, Kagami Uchiha, all those years ago wasn't a secret within the Uchiha Clan. Fugaku had heard about it from his father, Fugane.
Seeing Fugaku fall silent, Qingguang asked tentatively, "Minister Fugaku, should we send Senior Saiyun an invitation?"
"Hmm? Yes! Of course we should. I'll leave that to you."
"As for finding Haruga a Genjutsu teacher..."
Fugaku thought for a moment, then made up his mind.
"I'll teach her Genjutsu myself."
Hearing Fugaku say that, Qingguang was just about to refuse when Fugaku cut him off, making it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Qingguang, whether it's the changes in the Police Department, Yashiro's wedding, or this case, you've played a crucial role in all of it. You don't need to turn me down. Even counting the older generation of ninja, my Genjutsu skills are among the top three in the clan."
"Let me help you this time."
Kurama Saiyun was already one of the village's finest Genjutsu users. She had taught Qingguang Genjutsu herself, and now she was asking him to find Haruga a teacher.
There was no way Qingguang could teach Haruga himself. After all, if even Saiyun couldn't handle the problem, it wouldn't be easy for Qingguang, her half-student, either.
Qingguang had helped Fugaku with so many problems. Fugaku had to return the favor.
Faced with Fugaku's insistence, Qingguang finally nodded. "All right. When I deliver the invitation, I'll tell Senior Saiyun about it."
"Thank you, Minister."
As he spoke, Qingguang bent forward in a slight bow.
"Qingguang, you don't need to call me 'Minister.' It's too formal between us. We may not be brothers by blood, but we're closer than brothers."
"If you trust me, just call me Brother Fugaku."
Fugaku stood up, left his seat, and put an arm around Qingguang's shoulder.
"All right, Brother Fugaku."
"But during work hours, it's best to address each other by our positions."
Fugaku was delighted. "Ah, right. Exactly! We should use our titles at work!"
After a few seconds of happiness, Fugaku realized there was still a problem.
They could invite the Kurama Clan, but what about the other Ninja Clans?
At that, Qingguang gave him another reassuring smile.
Fugaku immediately realized he was saved.
That evening, after arranging the next day's patrol schedule, Qingguang prepared to head to the Kurama Clan's compound.
Just yesterday, he had been promoted to leader of the patrol group. In the Police Department, he was second only to Minister Fugaku, and held a position on par with the other group leaders.
Normally, he only needed to arrange the patrol roster for the following day and handle some paperwork.
After all, being a ninja was dangerous. Hikari, for instance, had burned off his eyebrows while practicing Fire Release Ninjutsu the day before. He'd taken half a month off and wouldn't return to patrol until his eyebrows grew back.
In the meantime, he planned to take a B-Rank Mission to help make ends meet.
Before long, Qingguang arrived in the suburbs of Konoha, at a cluster of small buildings with an old-fashioned feel.
The houses here were built of wood, and the walls along the streets were painted with all sorts of strange monsters and fantastical beasts.
Knock, knock, knock.
After Qingguang reached Kurama Saiyun's home and knocked, someone soon came to open the door.
"Qingguang, what brings you here?"
The one who opened the door was Ryuu.
"Come on in," Ryuu said.
Although Ryuu really didn't like Qingguang's father, Kagami, he found Qingguang himself hard to dislike.
He'd even be quite happy if someone like Qingguang became his son-in-law someday.
"Senior Ryuu, I came to deliver an invitation, so I won't come in."
Qingguang took out the invitation he'd received from Yashiro at noon and handed it to Ryuu.
"What's this?" Ryuu glanced down at the envelope in his hand.
"It's an invitation to Yashiro and Akiya's wedding. Senior Saiyun asked me to bring her one too."
Ryuu nodded. Though he was a little displeased, he didn't say anything about it. "You're sure you won't come in for a while?"
"No, I still have to deliver invitations to other people."
"Oh, right."
"I've already found Haruga a teacher. Brother Fugaku said he'd personally teach her Genjutsu."
Those words made Ryuu's earlier displeasure vanish completely, and a delighted smile spread across his face.
Who was Fugaku?
He was the son of Fugane, the current head of the Uchiha Clan; an Uchiha prodigy as famous as Qingguang; and, despite his young age, the head of the Police Department.
This was just too good!
More importantly, Fugaku had never had a lover. This was the Kurama Clan's best opportunity!
"Qingguang, thank you. I'll be sure to tell Saiyun. I'm sure she'll be very happy when she hears the news."
Only after seeing Qingguang off did Ryuu return to the house and go into the living room.
"Who was here?" Saiyun was picking through fresh chrysanthemum seeds, intending to select the plumpest, roundest ones to plant in preparation for the anniversary of Kagami's death next year.
"It was Qingguang. He came to deliver an invitation. He also said Uchiha Fugaku would personally teach Haruga Genjutsu."
Saiyun didn't respond for a long while. Ryuu was so startled that he didn't dare move.
After more than ten seconds, Saiyun finally furrowed her brows slightly and replied, "I see."
Although the outcome had been what she expected, she couldn't help feeling disappointed now that her hopes had come to nothing...
Before you continue