A Family Dinner, Izuna Uchiha's Helplessness
In the afternoon Sasuke was repeatedly overwhelmed by Izuna Uchiha at the Training Ground, leaving him sore and in a sorry state. As his mother, she saw this and felt heartbroken. All she wanted was to have a hot meal to help her son recover and loosen up his muscles.
Long tables filled the courtyard, with steaming dishes arranged in a staggered pattern.
Mikoto served the last bowl of rich miso soup, and with a gentle touch, she wiped away the light sauce residue from Sasuke's lips.
Fugaku sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm and serene.
Madara and Natsu sat on opposite sides of the long table, Sasuke squeezed into the middle, chopsticks in hand, eating with great gusto, his little mouth constantly moving, enjoying his meal immensely.
A gentle evening breeze and warm, soft lamplight bathed the room, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere—a typical and heartwarming evening scene for the Uchiha Clan.
Only one person stood out, seemingly out of place amidst the warmth of the fireworks.
Izuna Uchiha sat quietly at the table, his bowl and chopsticks neatly arranged in front of him, untouched.
His gaze slowly swept across the table, passing over the charred and fragrant grilled fish, the steaming miso soup, and a plate of refreshing and flavorful pickled vegetables, before finally settling gently back into his outstretched palm.
The body, Impure World Reincarnation, has long since lost the ability to perceive food and drink like a mortal.
To him, the steaming hot dishes on the table were like a painting; he could see their vibrant appearance, but he couldn't feel their temperature, smell their aroma, or taste their flavor.
His face still wore his usual gentle smile, but a hint of melancholy lurked in his eyes, unnoticed by anyone.
Watching the fireworks rise and the aroma of delicious food waft through the air, yet feeling completely isolated from this warmth, this empty sense of loss is far more agonizing than physical exhaustion.
Sasuke buried himself in eating half a fish before belatedly noticing the unusual situation beside him.
The child was straightforward and innocent, without many hidden agendas, and immediately asked, "Izuna Uchiha- senpai, why aren't you eating? Mom's grilled fish is so delicious!"
A casual question instantly froze the relaxed atmosphere at the table.
Mikoto's wrist, holding the soup bowl, paused slightly, and her movements quietly stopped.
The fish meat held between Fugaku's chopsticks dangled in mid-air, hesitant to fall.
Even the usually calm Ban suddenly stopped chewing, leaving only the soft rustling of the evening breeze in the courtyard.
Natsu remained unmoved throughout the room, calmly swallowing the rice in her mouth, picking up the teacup beside her, taking a small sip of tea, and quietly waiting for what was to come.
Izuna Uchiha chuckled softly, his smile gentle and open, without a trace of embarrassment or bitterness.
"I can't eat right now because of my condition." He spoke gently, turning to Sasuke and patiently reassuring him, "Why don't you eat this too? Don't waste this whole table of good food."
Sasuke seemed to understand, but he was too young to comprehend the constraints of the Impure World Reincarnation body. However, he vaguely sensed the somber atmosphere and obediently lowered his head to Lami, saying nothing more.
Ban slowly placed the chopsticks on the rim of the bowl, his fingertips lightly tapping the porcelain edge, and remained silent for a long time.
After a long silence, his deep voice slowly rose, the tone deeper and more steady than usual, carrying a power that penetrated the heart.
"I will find a way."
This was not a perfunctory consolation, nor an empty promise; it was a conviction etched into his very bones, a steadfast belief that remained unchanged through a thousand years.
Izuna Uchiha turned to look at his older brother beside him, his eyes crinkling with a genuine smile, "Of course I believe you."
Natsu put down his teacup, the bright lamplight reflecting in his eyes, his tone calm and composed.
"I've already instructed Vallen and Caesar Clown to prioritize this project in their research and development plans."
The cultivation of the Rinnegan takes time and cannot be rushed.
However, given the existing Gene Serum research and development system, it is not entirely impossible to allow the Impure World Reincarnation body to regain some bodily sensations and restore basic senses such as taste and smell.
He looked at Izuna Uchiha, his tone somewhat comforting. "Until then, we can only trouble you to feast your eyes."
Izuna Uchiha paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, a gentle yet warm laugh.
"It's alright. I've waited far too long; what's a little extra time compared to this meal?"
He looked up at the table full of family members, his eyes filled with tender warmth. "At least now, I can sit peacefully next to my elder brother, enjoying a family dinner with everyone. In the past, this kind of life would have been a dream come true for me."
Ban did not respond, his expression remaining indifferent, but his fingertips twitched slightly as he picked up his chopsticks again, precisely picking up the most tender piece of fish belly meat from the grilled fish in front of him and gently placing it into his bowl.
Without a single superfluous explanation, everyone in the room understood perfectly well—he was taking this long-absent moment of earthly warmth on Izuna Uchiha's behalf.
Mikoto lowered her eyes, quietly wiping away the moisture from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, then raised her hand and silently added a spoonful of warm miso soup to Sasuke's bowl.
Fugaku remained silent, but the usual composure had faded from his eyes, replaced by a softer look.
The Dusk outside the window completely sank into the deep night, and the evening bells of the Naka Shrine in the distance rang out gently, penetrating the tranquil evening breeze.
The courtyard was warmly lit, gently enveloping the people sitting around the table.
Overcoming a thousand years of separation and enduring long periods of loneliness, at this moment, they are the Uchiha roam the Four Blues, and also each other's warmest and most precious family.
The warmth of the family dinner still lingered in the courtyard lights, and the evening breeze carried a faint aroma of fish that lingered for a long time.
After the banquet ended, Sasuke got up and helped Mikoto clear the dishes.
The boy shed the restlessness of his daytime training and the liveliness he had displayed at the dinner table. He deftly stacked the empty bowls and plates and carried them step by step into the kitchen.
The soreness all over my body hadn't completely subsided by the afternoon, and my movements were occasionally tinged with a barely perceptible stiffness, yet I performed with exceptional focus.
The four people inside the courtyard then left.
Night completely enveloped Origin Island, and lights from the tribal settlements along the way lit up one after another, dotting the deep darkness.
The road was quiet and deserted, with only the evening breeze rustling through the woods.
Located deep within the clan's territory, the Naka Shrine has been a forbidden place for the Uchiha clan to discuss important clan matters and decide on their future direction since ancient times.
Before even stepping into the shrine's gate, the four of them could see three figures standing quietly, already waiting silently at the foot of the stone steps.
Upon seeing the arrival of the group, the three bowed respectfully and solemnly.
Fugaku slightly raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to rise, his voice calm and even. "Rise, all of you. I've summoned you all so late at night because there's an important matter to decide."
As everyone took their seats, the atmosphere instantly shed all its homely warmth, leaving only a pure power struggle and ethnic considerations.
"The Navy's full-domain expansion plan has been officially implemented, recruitment points in major sea areas have been fully opened, the patrol fleet density in the first half of the Grand Line has doubled, and regular garrison forces have been deployed on all main shipping routes."
The World Government simultaneously issued a ban, strictly prohibiting naval officers from initiating conflicts with the Uchiha Clan without authorization, clearly indicating a strategy of maintaining stability, observing the situation, and biding their time.