After leaving, Uchiha Fugaku headed toward the Great Elder's residence.
After all, he still needed to ask about the medicinal herbs he had tasked him with purchasing yesterday.
"Granny Cat, actually, I, Uchiha Setsuna, have admired you for a long time."
"Ever since I met you that day, there's been no room in my heart for anyone else."
"For you, I chose never to marry..."
"I love you, Granny Cat."
????
Good grief, was the Youth-Preserving Pill that effective, or was the young Granny Cat just too irresistible?
Was this really the Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan—Uchiha Setsuna, the Iron-Blooded?
But it looked like the Great Elder had liked Granny Cat for ages.
Had seeing Granny Cat young again stirred his heart?
No wonder the Great Elder was the only one among the elders who'd remained single all these years. He'd already given his heart to someone.
Should he give him a hand?
But Granny Cat already had a granddaughter, Xiao Huan. Would that be inappropriate?
With that thought, Uchiha Fugaku quietly left.
It was just a tiny bit of a shame. If only he'd brought a recording device—then he could have recorded it and teased the Great Elder about it for an entire year.
Of course, Uchiha Fugaku wouldn't actually expose his own Great Elder's embarrassing moment on the spot.
After all, he was already quite old. What if he was so mortified that he flew off to the Pure Land?
Fugaku still needed him to help with the work.
Then Uchiha Fugaku gave a soft cough from a distance before heading toward the Great Elder's courtyard.
He opened the courtyard gate and saw Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna sitting upright, sipping tea.
When Uchiha Setsuna saw Uchiha Fugaku arrive, he couldn't help asking,
"What brings the clan leader to my place?"
Seeing Uchiha Setsuna putting on airs, Uchiha Fugaku forced back a laugh and said,
"I came to ask you about Granny Cat."
Granny Cat? Could the clan leader have found something out?
At the thought, Uchiha Setsuna's heart suddenly lurched.
No way.
But as a Great Elder, he was used to keeping his composure. He quickly calmed himself and said,
"Clan leader, are you here to ask about the medicinal herbs I'm purchasing?"
Uchiha Fugaku replied with an obvious hint,
"More or less. Isn't Granny Cat involved in the herb procurement?"
Uchiha Setsuna understood what Uchiha Fugaku was hinting at. Remembering the cough that had alerted him, he immediately began to panic.
Could he really have found out?
Thinking of his uncontrollable confession, Uchiha Setsuna suddenly wanted to die.
No, no, no. He had to stay calm.
The clan leader definitely wouldn't spread the matter around.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have warned him.
He would pretend nothing had happened and report only on the herbs.
Uchiha Setsuna cleared his throat and said,
"Clan leader, I've already given Granny Cat the order and the deposit for those medicinal herbs."
"She's already arranging to gather them as quickly as possible. It should take between half a month and a month."
"After all, ten million worth of medicinal herbs is no small amount."
"It'll take quite a while to collect everything."
"Oh, and Granny Cat said she's very grateful to the clan leader for the gift."
After hearing Uchiha Setsuna's report, Uchiha Fugaku smiled and said,
"Great Elder, from now on, leave anything involving Granny Cat to you."
"For example, the medicinal herbs, as well as purchasing weapons and all kinds of supplies."
"And you've been alone for so long. It's about time you found someone to keep you company."
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Setsuna's old face flushed red. He immediately suppressed it with chakra and said,
"Clan leader, I've devoted myself wholeheartedly to the clan. I have no room for romantic entanglements."
"Clan leader, you really shouldn't—"
Under Uchiha Fugaku's amused gaze, Uchiha Setsuna finally stopped trying to clear his name and slowly shut his mouth.
Then he accepted the assignment.
But looking at Uchiha Setsuna, Uchiha Fugaku knew that even if he gave him all these chances to spend time with Granny Cat, he might not visit her often.
If that was the case, he might as well give him another push.
"By the way, Great Elder, you know I've been busy with the clan's Taijutsu training lately."
"I'd like you to pass a message to Granny Cat for me."
Hearing that Uchiha Fugaku wanted him to pass along a message, Uchiha Setsuna immediately understood that this was a chance for him to spend time with her. He agreed at once.
"Understood, clan leader."
Seeing how readily Uchiha Setsuna agreed, Uchiha Fugaku smiled warmly at him and said,
"Here's the thing, Great Elder."
"Although I asked you to pass along a message for me, I don't want you to tell her that I asked you to."
"I want you to just tell her yourself."
????
Hearing this, Uchiha Setsuna suddenly had a bad feeling.
But since he'd already agreed, he could only grit his teeth and listen.
Then Uchiha Setsuna heard Uchiha Fugaku say something he couldn't understand.
"Granny Cat, I like you."
????
He understood "Granny Cat," but what did "I like you" mean?
How had he never heard that phrase after all his years in the Shinobi World?
What country's language was it?
Or did it come from some tiny country whose location he didn't know?
But after hearing the phrase, Uchiha Setsuna relaxed. It wasn't anything embarrassing.
And it would give him more chances to spend time with Granny Cat. What was there not to like?
Seeing that Uchiha Setsuna could barely hide his excitement, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help smiling fondly to himself—though it was really a mischievous grin. He felt that his mission was complete.
My poor Great Elder, Uchiha Fugaku can only help you this far.
Whether you succeed or not is up to you.
Then Uchiha Fugaku left the Great Elder's residence and went back to study the Qi Cultivation Formula.
Meanwhile, the Great Elder was lost in happy fantasies about seeing Granny Cat again.
Before long, he found himself muttering over and over,
"Granny Cat, I like you. Granny Cat, I like you..."
The phrase was a bit of a tongue twister, but I, Uchiha Setsuna, absolutely couldn't forget it.
Before you continue