The Awkward Ninja Clans, Minato's Admiration

"Are you sure you didn't see wrong? And he was wearing casual clothes?"

"Even if my eyesight were worse, there's no way I wouldn't recognize Lord Hokage." Shikaku Nara rolled his eyes, feeling somewhat helpless at his father's doubts.

"Casual clothes?" Jinichi Yamanaka and Torifu Akimichi lowered their heads in thought.

Like the other two, Shikaku was the same, his mind racing at high speed.

Casual clothes meant he was going as Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. Within the Uchiha Clan, there was currently only one person capable of inviting him.

Uchiha Qingguang.

But the crucial point was that the political purpose behind Qingguang's wedding was extremely obvious. If Hiruzen Sarutobi did not attend, Shikaku could simply pretend nothing had happened.

What troubled him was that he had gone—but in casual clothes.

He truly could not see clearly what Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude toward the Uchiha was.

Was he trying to appease the Uchiha in preparation for the imminent war, or did he intend to maintain the previous policy of suppression?

In just a few seconds, his mind ran through over a dozen complex calculations of possible relationships. In the end, there was only one option that guaranteed they would not make a mistake.

Shikaku turned to Torifu Akimichi. "Torifu, change into casual clothes and attend the Uchiha Clan's wedding. This time, we're counting on you."

"Just meet Hiruzen Sarutobi as a friend. Don't discuss any political matters—just make small talk."

Torifu Akimichi nodded, roughly understanding what he meant.

"So, you mean I should go mooch a meal?"

"More or less."

"Then I understand." Torifu Akimichi rose to his feet, unable to help looking forward to it.

This arrangement suited him perfectly.

After Torifu Akimichi left, Shikaku had Shikaku Nara return to the Uchiha wedding. He did not need to do anything proactively; he only needed to pay a little attention to the movements of the other ninja clans.

Jinichi Yamanaka looked at Shikaku with some confusion. "Is this really alright?"

"Even if he's wearing casual clothes, he's still the village's Hokage."

"The matter of the Uchiha is of great importance. They have been continuously suppressed since the Second Hokage's time, and even I find it difficult to discern the current Third Hokage's attitude."

"At this juncture, we don't need to make the right choice for certain, but at the very least, we cannot make the wrong one."

"For now, all we can do is play it safe." Shikaku sighed helplessly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage—did not possess the First Hokage's strength to suppress all the heroes of the ninja world, nor did he have the Second Hokage's forceful political methods. But when it came to manipulating people's hearts and weighing his options, he was exceptionally skilled.

For the sake of his clan, Shikaku had no choice but to be cautious.

At Naka Shrine, Shikaku Nara followed not far behind Torifu Akimichi and soon arrived.

The moment he entered the shrine, he discovered that nearly all the seats were already occupied, with only a few scattered spots left empty.

If he had not needed to return and relay the news to his father, he would not have ended up in this predicament.

Just as he was about to squat in a corner off to the side, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Shikaku, why are you wearing a wig today?"

Shikaku Nara jolted in alarm. When he turned around, he found Minato standing behind him.

It was someone he knew.

Shikaku Nara let out a sigh of relief and said quietly, "Don't expose my identity. My dad gave me a mission—keep it secret."

Minato did not quite understand the point of Shikaku Nara's disguise. He was only wearing a wig, while that lazy expression on his face had not changed in the slightest. Anyone who knew him should still be able to recognize him, right?

"Alright."

"Oh, right. Don't you have anywhere to sit? There are still a few empty seats over by Kushina. I'll take you there."

Minato's words gave Shikaku Nara hope. He did not want to keep squatting there, perhaps without even getting a bite of lunch.

"Then I'll be in your debt. Thanks!"

The two arrived at a round table near the front.

Nawaki, Kushina, Minato, and himself—aside from them, nearly everyone else was a peer from the Uchiha and Inuzuka Families.

They might not have been in the same grade, but they were all classmates at the Ninja Academy.

On the other side, Torifu Akimichi, dressed in a loose khaki kimono, sat beside Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen, it's been a long time. Ever since you became Hokage, it's been many years since we last sat together like this."

Seeing Torifu Akimichi arrive alone in such attire, Hiruzen Sarutobi also guessed the stance of the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans and smiled. "It can't be helped. It's all for the village."

"It's rare for us to get together. I heard there's even fine liquor from the Warring States Period today. Let's have some."

Wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, Torifu grabbed an apple from the table, stuffed it into his mouth, and began crunching away.

"Then I definitely can't miss that. Good thing I came—otherwise, wouldn't I have suffered a huge loss?"

The two sat there, chatting and laughing together.

But because of Torifu Akimichi's appearance, quite a few other clan heads found themselves in an awkward position.

They had all changed into kimonos bearing their family crests and had even brought expensive gifts. Many had already handed their gifts over.

Among the several clan heads, Shiki Aburame of the Aburame Clan stood at the very back of the crowd, ignored by everyone as though he were air.

He silently retreated into the crowd and sat down in a secluded corner.

Like the other Ninja Clan heads, he had come intending to make his stance clear and support Lord Hokage.

But now, with only Torifu Akimichi able to sit beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, none of the others dared step forward, making the situation rather awkward.

Fortunately, the Aburame Clan had even less presence than air, or he would have been one of those caught in that awkwardness.

Before long, Fugaku Uchiha and Inuzuka Gou arrived together and took seats at Hiruzen Sarutobi's table, both offering their greetings.

Besides the two of them, Akiya's father, Inuzuka, was there as well. Black Wind and White Mist stood by his side, unusually well-behaved as they guarded the table.

As time slowly passed, noon arrived. The banners on both sides were raised, and everyone fell quiet at that moment.

Qingguang, impeccably dressed in a magnificent black formal suit, stepped forward onto the stage.

He wore a smile as warm as sunlight and as refreshing as an autumn breeze.

"Dear guests, esteemed seniors, and adorable children—good afternoon, everyone."

Qingguang had not left anyone out, whether men, women, young, or old.

Everyone applauded. Minato, seated in the front row, especially watched the smile on Qingguang's face.

He could clearly feel that, for an instant, this senior's gaze had fallen upon him and met his own.

In that instant, he seemed to see a world filled with warmth, where everyone lived together in harmony and friendship.

Beautiful, pure, like something out of a dream.

"So this is Senior Qingguang?"

Before, he had only heard of Qingguang's deeds in the village and had never met him.

But after seeing him with his own eyes today, Minato silently resolved that he, too, would become an outstanding ninja like Uchiha Qingguang—someone who brought warmth to everyone.