Mito's face was slightly flushed, clearly from having run herself ragged just now, but a smile curved her lips. "I sent her to catch some game for a barbecue. She's having the time of her life, hopping around like a monkey. Just as expected of someone with Uzumaki blood—so full of energy."
Xuan pursed his lips. He wanted to say that the girl had always been like that, but considering Mito's current excitement, he wisely kept silent.
"So, are you coming or not? What's the point of standing here alone looking at the scenery? You've been pretending to be brooding for decades. Aren't you tired?" Mito asked with a smile, clearly in high spirits.
Xuan gave a slight shrug. "When have I ever acted brooding in front of you? No, that's not right—I've never deliberately acted brooding at all, okay?"
Mito covered her mouth and snickered, then grabbed him and ran toward the distance. "Enough nonsense. It's been so long since you last grilled meat for me. Today, you're handling all the barbecue. No objections."
"..."
Clouds and mist curled around the hilltop. The neatly trimmed lawn swayed gently in the mountain breeze, while the old Uchiha clan grounds lay in the distance, half-hidden within the mist, carrying a faintly ethereal air.
A sparse grove stood nearby, filled with brightly colored birds flitting through the branches. Their incessant chirping rang in the air.
Many birds even perched on the trunks, hopping up and down as they watched the three people nearby.
Beside the blazing campfire, the three sat in different directions. A grill had been set over the flames, and a whole rabbit slowly turned atop it. Golden fat dripped down, making the fire hiss as its rich aroma spread through the air.
Tsunade quietly swallowed beside them. She glanced