Ino-Shika-Cho

Uchiha Senya rose from his bed and rubbed his head.

Anko was also stirred awake by Senya's movements, but she merely pulled the pristine white quilt tighter around herself, mumbling something unintelligible.

"What time is it already? You go ahead, I need to sleep a bit more..."

As she spoke, her voice gradually faded until only the sound of Anko's light snoring could be heard.

Senya reached out to tuck the quilt around Anko, gently stroking her cheek a few times.

He walked into the living room to put on the clothes that had been discarded on the floor the previous night, preparing to head to the Police Force to handle today's paperwork.

Stepping out through the window, Senya realized the sun had already climbed to its zenith, hanging in the center of the sky.

The autumn sun was not as scorching as the summer heat, and while the gusts of autumn wind stole the warmth from his body, the sunlight spilling down still provided a hint of comfort.

It was just in time for a meal, and having expended quite a bit of energy last night, Senya changed his direction, shifting his destination from the Police Force to the Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurant.

Senya arrived at a private booth and ordered every recommended dish on the menu.

The waiter took the menu and left without any unnecessary fuss.

Senya was quite satisfied with this; he poured tea from the pot into a cup and began to sip slowly, waiting for the meat.

A few minutes later, the freshly sliced meat was brought over by the waiter and placed on the rack to the side.

Senya skillfully used his black chopsticks to lift the red-and-white marbled pork belly from the smooth, white plate and placed it onto the silver iron grill set in the center of the brown wooden table.

The moment the pork hit the grill, the scorching heat waves radiating from the glowing charcoal beneath the iron mesh made the pork belly sizzle.

Milky, translucent fat was rendered out by the high heat, releasing wave after wave of aroma that filled the private booth.

In no time at all, Senya had placed all the meat from both plates onto the grill.

He flipped the hourglass on the side and waited quietly; when the countdown ended, it would be time for Senya to start eating.

In the adjacent booth, Akimichi Choza, Nara Shikaku, and Yamanaka Inoichi were dining together, and a tall stack of empty plates had already piled up beside Akimichi Choza.

Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku were busy working to replenish the grill with more meat.

Just then, the restaurant owner suddenly entered.

Akimichi Choza stopped his chopsticks and looked at Akimichi Todo.

"Todo, aren't you the owner? Why are you serving customers yourself? And why are you rushing in like this? Is someone causing trouble in the restaurant?"

Watching the anxious expression on Todo's face, Choza couldn't help but imagine something unpleasant.

Shikaku set down his chopsticks and placed a hand on Choza's shoulder.

"Choza, ever since the Police Force reform, the village's security has been much better than before. It's likely not someone causing trouble; let Todo tell us what's going on first."

Todo then revealed something the three men in the booth had not expected.

"Clan Head, Uchiha Senya has suddenly come to our barbecue restaurant. He's in the booth right next to yours."

"What? Uchiha Senya? Why is he here? Who is he with?"

Todo shook his head.

"I don't know why he's here. He's alone in the booth and ordered quite a lot of meat. I heard the waiter mention it in the back, so I came to tell you immediately."

Choza didn't know how to handle this situation for a moment.

At this point, Inoichi suddenly spoke up.

"Brother Todo, go back to your work. Leave this matter to the three of us to handle."

Akimichi Todo exited the booth and returned to managing the restaurant; after all, Shikaku was right—since the Police Force reform, almost no one caused trouble in the shop, and the occasional drunkard was always taken away and fined by the Police Force.

This had made business much better than before.

Seeing Todo leave, Choza narrowed his already small eyes, his face full of distress as he looked at his two companions.

"What do you think it means that Uchiha Senya showed up so suddenly? Could it just be a coincidence that he came for barbecue?"

Inoichi sat cross-legged opposite them, head bowed in thought; he couldn't quite grasp Senya's intentions.

Shikaku tapped his fingers on the table, pondering for a moment.

"It shouldn't be a coincidence. With the three of us clan heads gathered here today, this newly appointed Vice Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan likely caught wind of some intelligence and came to probe us."

"Could it be that the Uchiha Clan has discovered the movements of Root?"

Inoichi suddenly looked up, recalling Root's actions from a few days ago.

"Thud!"

Choza slammed his fist onto the table.

"Root, that damned Root! I don't know what the Third is thinking, allowing Root to demand people from our Ino-Shika-Cho! And they only want the children! Damn it!"

Shikaku sighed heavily; even he didn't know how to comfort Choza, as it wasn't just the Akimichi Clan—the Nara and Yamanaka clans had also had two children taken away by Root.

"Root's actions may have already been detected by the Uchiha Clan or Uchiha Senya."

"Although the village looks much more stable than in the past, there are undercurrents moving in the shadows. The Uchiha Clan is likely lying in wait; the time for a confrontation with the village's high-level officials is not far off."

The worry on Choza's face was replaced by a look of determination.

"Shikaku, I know you must have a way. What should we do this time?"

"Shikaku, rest assured. No matter what choice you make, we will follow you without hesitation. We, the Ino-Shika-Cho, have always been a single entity."

Inoichi, like Choza, offered Shikaku a firm gaze. They both trusted Shikaku, who had weathered decades of storms by their side since childhood.

Shikaku's fingers stopped tapping on the tabletop, and he stood up.

"Let's go. Since Uchiha Senya has arrived, we cannot be rude. Let us meet him first. I dare not make a choice lightly right now."

"But after speaking with this newly appointed Vice Clan Head, I will make the correct choice."

Choza and Inoichi exchanged glances, nodded, and rose together to follow behind Shikaku.

The red walls and orange-yellow lights of the private room whetted Chiba's appetite; this was already the third round of barbecue he had finished.

Placing the last few slices of plum-blossom pork onto the grill, Senya poured himself a cup of tea. The fresh tea emitted a delicate fragrance, which he sipped slowly.

The tea washed away the lingering greasiness of the grilled meat from his palate.

"Guest, there are three people here to see you."

Dodo spoke from outside the door on behalf of the trio.

Senya raised an eyebrow. Who would come to visit at this hour? Three people—could it be the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans?

"Come in."

A black pineapple-style haircut, a red spiky haircut, and a light yellow ponytail.

The three walked into the private room and sat down across from Senya.

Unexpected, yet within reason—it really was these three clan heads.

Senya immediately began to sift through all the information he possessed regarding the Ino-Shika-Cho.

"I wonder what business the three clan heads have with a minor Vice Clan Head like me at this hour?"

Shikaku waved his hand with a smile.

"Vice Clan Head Senya, you flatter us. You are the Deputy Chief of the Police Force and the Vice Clan Head of the Uchiha clan; how can you call yourself a 'minor' Vice Clan Head? That is being far too humble."

Senya observed the three sitting across from him.

There was a grease stain on Choza's chest, the scent of charcoal on all three of them—heavier than the scent in his own room—and a faint trace of alcohol on their persons.

Senya understood. It seemed they had arrived earlier than him, and it was a coincidence that he had come to the Akimichi family's barbecue restaurant today.

The person who opened the door earlier had a stout build and skin much smoother than the average person, suggesting he didn't do manual labor, yet there were calluses on his hands from years of holding a pen; he must be the shop owner.

Therefore, it was his own act of coming here for barbecue that had led these three clan heads to associate it with recent events.

Coupled with the fact that Hiashi had told him just a few days ago that Root had taken Neji away, it was likely that many direct-line ninjas from the Ino-Shika-Cho had been taken as well.

All known information intertwined in Senya's mind, and finally, he deduced the ultimate answer.

Senya lifted the teapot, poured three cups of tea, pushed them in front of Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi, and said something that caught the three of them completely off guard.

"Shisui's death was the work of Danzo. We Uchiha have recently relaxed the authority of the Police Force; I recall that many ninjas from your Ino-Shika-Cho families have applied to join."

Cold sweat began to trickle down Shikaku's temple, and his brows furrowed tightly. This Uchiha Senya was clearly only sixteen years old; how could he possess such terrifying negotiation experience?

He had taken the initiative to pour them tea, and they had assumed he was going to show weakness, yet he had opened with such a sharp topic right from the start.