Undercurrents

Inside Uchiha Mokuen's home, Uchiha Izumi sat at the dining table, staring at Obito in astonishment, her tone laced with disbelief.

"Obito, you really became the clan head?"

Obito tapped his chopsticks against Uchiha Izumi's head, his expression helpless.

"How many times do I have to tell you? You need to call me Brother Obito."

"Hmph, I won't. You're only four years older than me."

Uchiha Izumi gave a dainty huff, then asked with a face full of worry, "Does that mean you're going to move out from next door?"

"Are you reluctant to see me go?"

Obito pinched Uchiha Izumi's chubby little cheeks with a grin, teasing, "As long as you obediently call me Brother Obito from now on and let me pinch your cheeks, I won't move."

"Really?"

Uchiha Izumi's eyes brightened. For once, she let Obito pinch her cheeks, squirmed a little, and whispered, "Brother Obito."

Uchiha Mokuen sat at the head of the table, watching the two bicker with amusement, and spoke up to defend his daughter.

"Izumi, Obito isn't moving anywhere. He's just teasing you."

"Stinky Obito!"

Uchiha Izumi looked indignant, shook her head to knock Obito's hand away, and snorted coldly.

"I'm never talking to you again."

Uchiha Naomi wore a gentle smile as she stood up to put food on Uchiha Izumi's plate, saying softly, "Izumi, it's not good for a young lady to lose her temper so often."

Uchiha Izumi pouted and turned her head away. Uchiha Mokuen laughed, patted Izumi's head, glared at Obito, and said loudly, "You brat, you're a clan head now, yet you still love teasing your little sister."

"Exactly, Obito is a bad brother."

Uchiha Izumi nodded with a huff, glaring at Obito with her large eyes.

Obito didn't panic at all, looking at Uchiha Izumi with a smirk. "Senior Fugaku intends to have his son, Uchiha Itachi, study under me. I heard he just started the academy too. Izumi, do you know him?"

"I... I'm his classmate."

Uchiha Izumi's face flushed slightly, and she pretended to be indifferent.

"Is that so?"

Obito nodded with a knowing look, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes as he said loudly, "That's troublesome. My Izumi is so cute, she must be very popular in class. I'll have to warn that kid to stay away from our Izumi."

"You... I forbid it!"

Uchiha Izumi couldn't keep up the act anymore, looking anxious.

"Why is that?"

Obito feigned ignorance, his expression full of confusion.

"I..."

Uchiha Izumi's face was so flustered she looked like she was about to cry, and she covered her face in frustration.

"Stop teasing her."

Uchiha Mokuen doted on his daughter most; seeing Uchiha Izumi's anxious state broke his heart, and he frowned at the troublemaking Obito.

"You lied to me again?"

Uchiha Izumi moved her hands away, looking at Obito with disbelief.

"A man's mouth is a lying devil."

"Izumi, you have to learn from your mistakes."

"I'm educating you; it's for your own good."

Obito pinched Uchiha Izumi's cheek, his tone full of sincerity.

"Really?"

Uchiha Izumi was a bit dazed, looking at her smiling parents for confirmation.

"Of course."

Obito nodded solemnly, pulled a sapphire necklace from his robes, and placed it around Uchiha Izumi's neck. He smiled and said, "Look, Brother Obito even prepared a gift for you."

"It's so beautiful."

"Thank you, Brother Obito!" Uchiha Izumi laughed in surprise, clutching the necklace to her chest like a treasure.

Obito patted Uchiha Izumi's head, his expression full of tenderness. "As long as you like it."

Obito had put a lot of thought into this necklace; not only did it have Clear Mind and Deflection Field charms, but he had also added Focus Study and a Spirit Gathering Array. This would help Izumi stay focused while studying, and it didn't require her to channel mana, as the necklace would slowly replenish its own energy.

Uchiha Mokuen looked at Obito with kindness, his tone filled with emotion. "You've truly grown up. If your brother and sister-in-law could see you yesterday, they would be very happy."

Obito nodded with a smile, then suddenly slapped his forehead, looking annoyed. "Oh no, I still have things to take care of."

At the Nara Clan compound, Nara Shikaku looked Uchiha Obito over and smiled. "An honored guest has arrived. I wonder what important business the Uchiha Clan Head has?"

Obito looked at the inseparable Ino-Shika-Cho trio, took a sip from his teacup, and said bluntly, "Why ask when you already know the answer, Clan Head Nara?"

"Oh?"

Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza exchanged glances. Shikaku narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "How do you want to cooperate?"

"The Nara Clan will serve as our medicinal herb supplier. The Uchiha Clan will prioritize purchasing all medicinal supplies from the Nara Clan."

Obito never liked to beat around the bush; he was direct and to the point.

Nara Shikaku frowned in thought for a moment before shaking his head. "This matter is of great importance. I must report it to the Hokage and let him make the decision."

"If the profit isn't enough, just say so, Clan Head Nara. There's no need for excuses."

Obito dipped his finger in his tea and drew a circle on the wooden table, then drew three lines through it, dividing it into two large sections and one small one.

"As far as I know, the Third Hokage has been carrying out the Second Hokage's legacy, constantly trying to change the situation where the clans hold too much power in the Hidden Leaf."

"Ino-Shika-Cho and other small and medium-sized clans need to unite with the Third Hokage to resist the Uchiha Clan, which dominates the village. Yet, you also secretly guard against the Third Hokage, needing the Uchiha—the largest clan in the Hidden Leaf—to stand at the front and draw the fire."

"Your relationship with the Third Hokage isn't as good as it appears on the surface."

Nara Shikaku remained expressionless, unmoved. "With wolves in front and tigers behind, survival is difficult. We have no choice but to be cautious."

"Fine."

Obito smiled. As he stood up and walked toward the exit, he said loudly, "The later you place your bet, the less you will receive. You will change your mind soon enough."

Yamanaka Inoichi frowned as he watched Obito's retreating figure. He turned his head and asked, "Shikaku, who do you think will win this time?"

Nara Shikaku used his tea to redraw the circle on the table, dividing it into three equal parts, a thoughtful look on his face.

"That depends on whether the Hokage can replicate it."

Akimichi Choza, true to form, hadn't stopped eating. He asked skeptically, "If even you can't replicate it, Shikaku, can the Hokage really do it?"

"The Hokage does have two genius disciples, after all."

Yamanaka Inoichi gazed into the distance, his expression tinged with worry.

Inside the Hidden Leaf Hospital, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as he looked at the head of the medical department. "Still haven't replicated it?"

Matsumoto Kenro, the head of the medical department, wiped the sweat from his forehead. His voice carried a hint of helplessness and shame. "The reactions of these potions are extremely complex. The formulas we've reverse-engineered either explode during the refining process or prove completely useless."

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a long breath, a large smoke ring hanging in the air. He lowered his head in deep thought for a moment before clapping his hands lightly. A ninja dressed in Anbu gear appeared silently and knelt before him.

"Recall Tsunade and Orochimaru from the front lines."