Let Uchiha Ye Say a Few Words

Ye kicked open the wooden doors of Naka Shrine, and the hinges let out a piercing creak.

The firelight flickered violently, its orange glow searing his silhouette onto the doorframe.

Behind him, Obito leaned on two broken branches, his shoulders unconsciously drawing inward.

Dozens of Sharingan turned toward him in unison. The pressure of being watched by everyone at once made his scalp tingle more than a Mangekyo's mental assault.

Nohibi strode at the front with his head held high and chest puffed out, looking as proud as if he had personally accomplished something earth-shattering.

"Ye is here!"

As those three words landed among the crowd, a buzzing wave of discussion poured into their ears from every direction.

The brazier at the center of the shrine crackled. Several white-haired Elders in the front row wore dark expressions.

The Elder seated in the middle, his white hair meticulously combed, was the first to rise.

His wrinkled face forced out a benevolent smile as he stepped forward to greet Ye.

"Ye, I heard that you single-handedly wiped out a hundred Iwagakure elites in the battle at Kannabi Bridge."

"You truly are the pride of our Uchiha Clan. Come, sit here. This old man saved you a—"

Before he could finish, Ye walked straight past him.

He casually found an empty seat in the middle of the hall and dropped into it, crossing one leg over the other. His tone was as impatient as if he were rushing to the next appointment.

"Can we get this started already? I'm in a hurry."

The entire hall fell silent for a second.

The Elder's outstretched hand hung in midair. His smile was welded to his face, leaving him trapped in an awkward limbo, as though someone had hit pause.

``` [Ding! Embarrassment Points from the