Hyuga Hiashi's Astonishment

Sasuke and Naruto rushed to the entryway one after the other.

Uchiha Mikoto hurriedly picked up the two schoolbags on the sofa and chased after them, chattering away at Sasuke and Naruto.

In short, it was just to behave well at school.

The moment Takuya pushed the door open, he saw Uchiha Itachi returning covered in sweat.

"Father."

Uchiha Itachi greeted respectfully.

"Mm, out training again bright and early?"

Takuya said with a smile.

In the few days since Itachi came back, he would go to the compound's training ground to work out early in the morning.

"Yes, Father."

As soon as Uchiha Itachi finished answering, he saw Second Pillar, who had just come out, throw himself onto him and call out onii-chan in a spoiled tone.

Seeing his dear younger brother, Uchiha Itachi also wore a rare, gentle smile.

At that moment, Naruto followed right behind and also shouted as he hugged Uchiha Itachi: "Itachi-nii-san!"

The smile at the corner of Uchiha Itachi's mouth widened a fraction more, and he affectionately stroked Sasuke and Naruto's heads.

"You two, listen well to the teacher's words at school.

Alright, hurry to school now, don't be late."

Uchiha Itachi said with a smile.

Naruto boisterously said: "Stupid Sasuke, let's race to see who gets to school first!"

Sasuke kept a cold face and ignored him.

Feeling a bit bored from being ignored, Naruto walked with his hands behind his back and his head lowered, wondering what to think about.

Uchiha Itachi stood at the doorway and watched their small figures disappear into the end of the street, then only shook his head and went inside.

Hearing the door open, Mikoto thought her husband or children had forgotten to take something, and when she came out of the kitchen to look, it turned out to be Itachi back.

Mikoto asked with a smile: "You're back, you haven't eaten yet, have you?"

Itachi indicated that he had eaten on the way back, and speaking thus, he entered the bathroom to take a bath.

Mikoto didn't bother about this eldest son either. Her eldest son had grown up, and for a period of time before, she had worried quite a bit about his mental state, but now he seemed much better, lacking that sort of look where he kept everything bottled up inside, so she felt a good deal more at ease and returned to the kitchen to continue washing the dishes.

Stepping out through the gates of the Uchiha Compound, Sasuke glanced sideways at Naruto beside him, feeling a slight internal surprise. What on earth was up with this idiot Naruto today? He had actually managed to stay quiet and not cause a fuss for five full minutes.

Yet this also suited his wishes just fine; quiet and peaceful, it would be best for things to stay this way all the way to school.

However...

"Sasuke!"

An explosive shout suddenly rang out by his ear, causing Sasuke to instinctively give a start. Regaining his senses, he glared with blazing eyes at Naruto, who was clutching his stomach and laughing uproariously.

"Naruto, you idiot, do you want a beating!"

Sasuke secretly clenched his fist.

Sensing trouble, Naruto's eyes rolled around craftily, and he hastily bolted away on his own two feet.

"Stop right there!"

Clenching his teeth, Sasuke gave chase. That idiot Naruto—he just knew the boy wouldn't be this well-behaved.

Running near the school, seeing two girls walking side by side ahead, Naruto's eyes lit up as he hurried over to greet them: "Good morning, Sakura!"

Sakura, with her wide forehead and pink hair, turned her head to look. It turned out to be Naruto; how wonderful it would have been if it were Sasuke.

Sakura thought to herself.

Ino, standing off to the side, said speechlessly: "Naruto, how come you didn't call out to me."

Naruto scratched his head. "Ino is here too, hehe."

He smiled awkwardly.

Ino rolled her eyes, suddenly catching sight of the figure appearing behind Naruto. Her eyes lit up, and she covertly nudged Sakura with her elbow.

Sakura looked over in dissatisfaction, and Ino whispered: "Sakura, it's Sasuke."

The next moment, Sakura heard a cry of pain from Naruto.

"Ouch."

Clutching his head, Naruto felt a large bump rising.

Sasuke, who had just let a trace of a smile show from getting his revenge, instantly reverted to his cold and haughty poker face upon noticing the gazes cast by Ino and Sakura.

"Sasuke, what'd you hit me for."

Naruto mumbled in dissatisfaction.

"That's payback for just now, you idiot."

Sasuke said with aloof detachment.

Watching the handsome Sasuke, Sakura's little heart went thump, thump.

Running into Sasuke first thing in the morning—oh heavens, my luck is just too good.

Sakura thought with her eyes sparkling.

Glancing over and seeing Naruto beside Sasuke, Sakura could not help feeling a pang of jealousy.

How come this idiot Naruto has been coming to school with Sasuke all the time lately?

She did not yet know that Naruto had already moved into Sasuke's house.

She would wait to find a chance to ask Naruto what the exact situation was.

Sakura thought sneakily to herself.

Watching Naruto beside her, who was holding his head and grinning foolishly, she suddenly noticed that he had actually undergone some slight changes?

He was no longer wearing that same orange outfit that he never changed out of all year round, but had instead changed into a nice-looking set of clothes.

Sakura fell into memories. It seemed Naruto hadn't worn orange clothes these past few days, had he?

When had it started?

Right, it started last week...

Sakura abruptly shook her head, banishing such a horrifying thought out of her mind.

Horrifying, Naruto, get out of my head already. Honestly, what does Naruto have to do with me anyway? No matter what he's like, it has nothing to do with me.

Sakura thought to herself in that manner.

Not far from them, at the very end of the street below, stood a grand and majestic building—the Hokage Building.

On the third floor, in the Hokage's office.

The high-ups of Konoha were gathered together in full force.

The Fifth Hokage Takuya, Hokage Advisor Nara Shikaku, Hokage Consultant Uchiha Sihu, and Hokage Consultant Hyuga Hiashi—these four newly elevated bigwigs had gathered here bright and early, preparing to hold a meeting.

Hokage Advisor Nara Shikaku glanced at Takuya, and upon receiving an affirmative nod, he stood up to report: "Lord Hokage, the village's finances are running rather low. Eight days have already passed since the date of the last fund allocation from the Land of Fire Finance Department. According to past precedent, regardless of the amount, it ought to have been sent over the day before yesterday."

Nara Shikaku stated his own speculation and analysis: "In my view, it should have been delivered on the day of the Hokage Ceremony. It must be that the message we sent to notify the Land of Fire Royal Family displeased them, causing their royalty to suppress the money-delivery team that should have set out, wishing to use this to keep a grip on us."

Before Takuya could speak, Uchiha Sihu leaped out, his hair and beard bristling with rage like a lion: "What! Such a thing actually happened? Simply outrageous! Those Land of Fire royals must truly be tired of living, Lord Hokage!"

Uchiha Sihu cupped his fist: "Lord Hokage, why not let me lead men to wipe out the Land of Fire Royal Family and have our village prop up an obedient puppet of our own."

As soon as Uchiha Sihu uttered those words, save for Takuya and Nara Shikaku whose expressions remained entirely unchanged, the remaining consultant, Hyuga Hiashi, was utterly shocked. He looked at the raging Uchiha Sihu, his expression seeming to say: My brother, are you serious? Wipe out the Land of Fire Royal Family?

He instinctively wanted to voice a stop, but abruptly he sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat amiss. With cautious judgment in his heart, he cast a glance over: the Fifth Hokage Takuya was expressionlessly looking right at him, while Hokage Advisor Nara Shikaku was sipping his tea with a look of utter composure.