"日斩!I've always thought we shouldn't get too involved with him. You know how hostile and distrustful the Uchiha Clan is toward outsiders." Danzo glanced hesitantly at the unremarkable stone by his feet and spoke slowly, his words betraying his lack of confidence.
Unlike the somewhat tense Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed completely calm and collected.
He casually put a nameless blade of grass into his mouth and chewed on it. Then he shrugged and replied with an unconcerned look, "If that's the case, why did you come along?"
At those words, Danzo, who had only just managed to keep his composure, seemed to snap. His face flushed red, and he took two quick steps forward.
He raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and slammed it furiously into the large tree Sarutobi Hiruzen was leaning against.
With a dull thud, the thick trunk trembled, and a few leaves fluttered down.
He glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, then gritted out in a low, furious voice, "How could you say something so hurtful? Don't you know I came because I was worried about you?"
The blow startled Sarutobi Hiruzen out of his wandering thoughts, making him jolt all over.
He hurriedly waved his hands and explained, "Oh, come on! I didn't mean it like that!"
Before he'd even finished, he leaned forward slightly, as if afraid someone might overhear, and lowered his voice further. "I went to ask my father about it yesterday. He told me that a little contact with him, the way we're doing now, can only do us good. And according to my father, Qile recently moved into that person's home..."
And so, the two of them began whispering back and forth.
Yet neither of them noticed how strange their positions looked...
Perhaps they were so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to notice three people silently coming up beside them.
They didn't realize it until Qile's amused, surprised voice rang out. "Hey! Look at you two. Are you playing wall pin?"
His sudden question cracked like thunder beside their ears.
They both froze, their expressions turning rigid as they stood there like statues.
After a long moment, they came to their senses and finally realized just how intimate and suggestive their position looked.
"Ahem... Well, Danzo got some sand in his eye, so I was just helping him blow it out." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded as he spoke, as if there were nothing unusual about it.
But inwardly, he was groaning. Coming up with that excuse was the best he could do. Was he supposed to tell them he and Danzo had been discussing the Uchiha?
If that person found out, it wouldn't just be embarrassing—he might actually die!
He knew the difference between physical death and social death!
Qile and the other two all regarded Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo with curiosity, suspicion, and even a hint of amusement.
Qile and his companions exchanged glances, seemingly unconvinced by the explanation.
Even Danzo, usually so gloomy and cold, instinctively wanted to object to Sarutobi Hiruzen's flimsy excuse. His lips moved slightly, but in the end, he couldn't manage a complete sentence.
After all, he couldn't think of anything more convincing to say himself.
He first gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a meaningful look, as if to say, No need to explain. I get it~
"Who are these two?" Unable to stand Qile's meaningful stare any longer, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to cut his losses and abruptly change the subject.
"This is Kagami Uchiha, my cousin. He should be about your age." Qile lightly patted Kagami Uchiha on the shoulder as he introduced him with a smile.
Then he pointed to the gentle-looking woman beside him and continued, "And this is Yeling. She takes care of my older sister."
Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had no wish to dwell on what had just happened, quickly replied to Qile's introduction. "Sarutobi Hiruzen (Shimura Danzō), pleased to meet you. I hope we'll get along."
Kagami and Yeling, standing nearby, smiled and returned their greeting with a polite bow.
Then Qile waved his hand grandly, putting on the air of someone with money to burn. "Do you two have anything in particular you'd like for lunch? I've brought plenty of money, so don't hold back. Just say the word."
But Sarutobi Hiruzen, the guest being treated, hurriedly waved his hands and politely declined. "That's very kind of you, but there's nothing in particular we want. You can decide. Right, Danzo?"
Danzo had been standing to the side in silence, apparently with no intention of joining the conversation. When Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly called his name, he paused, then quickly nodded along. "Ah... right, right."
Looking at the two men, who were clearly a little stiff and ill at ease, Qile's lips curled into a sly smile that gradually spread across his adorable little face.
He slowly began, "Oh? Is that so? In that case, when I just left the clan compound, I happened to see some of our clan members..."
But just as Qile was about to continue, Sarutobi Hiruzen cut in.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly interrupted him, speaking at top speed. "Oh, Danzo, I heard a new ramen shop just opened. I haven't had a chance to try it yet!"
Almost the instant Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, Danzo chimed in just as quickly. "Right, exactly! What a coincidence. I've heard about that new shop too. In fact, on the way here, the smell wafted over, and my mouth started watering!"
Seeing how perfectly in sync the two of them were, taking turns to back each other up, Qile added unhurriedly, "Oh? From the looks of it, you two don't seem too keen on visiting our clan compound?"
Faced with Qile's question, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo answered in perfect unison. "Of course that's not what we mean! We just can't resist the temptation of that new ramen shop."
Hearing that, Qile shrugged, looking unconvinced.
"Let's go try that new ramen shop first. We'll lead the way!" With that, the two turned and hurried off as if their feet were greased, apparently afraid that if they walked any slower, Qile might grab them and drag them into the Uchiha Clan compound.
Before you continue