Answer

Fugaku stepped off the stage in his dress shoes, and the red curtain closed again.

The villagers below could faintly hear footsteps behind the curtain, and all of them were filled with anticipation for the performance to come.

"I wonder what kind of performance it'll be. Bro, isn't one of your relatives in the Police Force? Got any insider information?"

"If you were asking about ordinary news, I might be able to dig something up. But preparations like this are classified! How could my cousin's wife's older brother's younger sibling possibly tell me something this important? Just wait patiently."

"Yeah, you're right. Then let's wait and see what kind of exciting performance the new Deputy Chief of the Police Force brings us. Could it be some kind of rap from Kumogakure?"

"Enough, enough. Stop guessing. You're being too noisy. Just wait quietly."

Several dozen seconds passed, and every villager below the stage eagerly awaited the performance.

"Fire Style—Great Fireball Technique!"

"Water Style—Water Wall!"

At either side of the stage, Inabi Uchiha and Fugaku suddenly unleashed ninjutsu. The blazing fireball was blocked and dispersed by the wall of water.

Quite a few villagers were frightened, but others felt no fear at all. Instead, they were captivated by the sight before them.

Water and fire collided, producing a great deal of steam that swiftly engulfed the entire stage in mist.

"Whoosh."

The red curtain opened.

Senya and Uchiha Izumi stood at the center of the stage. Uchiha Xiu and Uchiha Zhi led the other boys and girls behind them, forming a herringbone formation around Senya.

"Holy crap! Are all the men and women in the Police Force this good-looking?! I declare that joining the Police Force is now my lifelong dream!"

"S-So big and white..."

"You bastard! Who told you to stare at those girls like that? Don't look!"

"Looks like I'll have no choice but to find myself an Uchiha boyfriend in the future..."

Regardless of age or gender, the audience below had different thoughts in their hearts, but they all came down to one reason!

Senya and the eleven Uchiha he led had maxed out their appearance scores! They fulfilled everyone's fantasies!

The two red cloths at either side of the stage were also pulled aside by Fugaku and Inabi, revealing two enormous speakers to the audience below.

Gentle, melodious music drifted from them.

Izumi slowly raised the microphone to her lips. Her delicate mouth softly sang out lively notes, gently caressing the audience's eardrums.

"Here's a simple question."

"What is love?"

"Is it a kind of flavor, or an attraction~"

The girl's light, cheerful voice brought an unprecedented auditory feast to the audience below. They were immersed in the beauty she conveyed, and some of the older listeners had even closed their eyes and begun recalling the past.

Senya also raised his microphone. The moment he opened his mouth, his clear voice brimmed with sunshine and tenderness, like a boy deeply in love whispering sweet nothings to the one he loved.

"Since the day of my first love~"

"First came sweetness."

"Then soon after came wind and rain~"

Senya sang with complete focus, unaware that Yuhi Kurenai and Anko had already arrived and were standing on the rooftops on either side of the crowd.

As Anko listened to Senya's singing, she looked at Kurenai beside her with a smug expression.

"By the way, I was Senya's first love, Kurenai. I've got you beat in that regard."

Kurenai merely smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned.

"You were both still little back then. What did you know about love? It was just childish squabbling between kids. If you want to believe you were Senya's first love, then go ahead and be happy."

"You... Hmph. I'm Senya's first love anyway."

Anko stubbornly repeated herself, then turned her head away and continued watching Senya sing onstage.

Kurenai simply smiled and said nothing further.

In truth, Kurenai knew that, to Senya, perhaps the two of them together counted as his first love. Whether beneath that tree during the mission or on that night not long ago, she and Anko had always happened to be there together at the crucial moments.

Anko and Kurenai continued watching Senya's performance, quietly listening to his voice.

The singing between Senya and Izumi continued. Sometimes they sang solo, sometimes in duet, while the audience below remained immersed in the experience the song brought them.

The two onstage moved closer, gazing at one another as they sang in unison.

"So how long is forever?"

"Forever is brief, forever is slow."

"Everyone has their own calculation."

"Mysterious promises and vows."

"Even lies must be understood for oneself."

"Perhaps years, perhaps an instant."

"You have your own Answer."

After they finished singing, Izumi swiftly turned around to face the audience below.

Seeing Izumi's shy appearance, with the earring beneath her hair faintly flushed red, Senya shook his head with a soft laugh and turned to face the audience as well.

"This is the song Answer brought to you by our Police Force. We hope every young person can find your own Answer, and we hope the older generation can hold fast to your Answers. Let's work together to make Konoha even better!"

Quite a few elderly people in the audience held their spouses' hands, as though they had returned to the days when they were young and deeply in love.

Some elderly people shed tears instead. Their other halves had already departed in war or on missions, but when they thought of the beautiful village they had now, their eyes gained a little more hope and longing.

"All right, everyone. It's getting late, so this Police Force celebration has come to an end. You may leave now."

The crowd below began to stir, and those in the back were already preparing to leave.

At that moment, Fugaku picked up the microphone below the stage again.

"Oh, right, everyone! Every customer at the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant can eat and drink for free tonight! The Police Force is covering the entire bill! We've already had the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant set up tables outside tonight as well! Hurry over!"

The moment those words were spoken, the ninja leaped directly onto the rooftops and rushed toward the barbecue restaurant.

After all, an ordinary ninja's expenses were nearly all spent on weapon maintenance, equipment, and logistical supplies. What little remained had to support their families, so they usually only visited the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant once a month.

Now that the Uchiha were willing to treat the entire village, they absolutely could not miss this opportunity. They had to hurry over first and secure seats indoors.

"Let's go, everyone! Our destination is the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant! Move out!"

"Today, we're going to eat our fill! Let's give the Akimichi Clan's chefs a proper lesson!"

"A free meal! I love free meals! Wait for me! Don't run so fast! Save me a seat!"

Whether ninja or ordinary villagers, everyone's faces were filled with sincere smiles at that moment.

Far away in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the scene outside the Police Force through his crystal ball using the Telescope Technique while handling documents.

"We have to thank that boy Senya. I never expected him to stabilize and soothe the Uchiha at just sixteen."

"He's even made most of the village see the Uchiha in a new light."

"If this child's strength and character prove worthy in the future, then what would be wrong with giving the position of Hokage to him, to the Uchiha Clan?"

"Teacher Tobirama... if you knew of this in the Pure Land, you would surely think the same, wouldn't you? Are you satisfied with the Answer I've given..."