From downstairs, Ōnoki could see Uchiha Yin standing by the window, watching him with a smile.
At that moment, Ōnoki was glad he had not gone soft and tried anything just now.
If Uchiha Yin had caught him, Iwagakure would have been finished.
Ōnoki gave up on taking the stairs and flew up to the window. As he looked at Uchiha Yin, it was hard to tell whether the expression on his face was a smile.
"Lord Yin, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself. What do you think of Iwagakure's scenery?"
Uchiha Yin could hear the displeasure in Ōnoki's voice, of course, but he pretended not to notice.
"Compared with Konoha's lush mountains and clear waters, it falls rather short. Still, it's pleasant enough to look at!"
It sounded like a decent assessment, but everyone there knew how sincere he was being.
Even so, they did not dare voice their anger.
Uchiha Yin had always enjoyed seeing that look on other people's faces. He looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, after receiving Ōnoki's instructions, Kitsuchi headed home.
It was the weekend, so Kurotsuchi was at home.
Kitsuchi stopped at the door. His legs felt as though they weighed a thousand pounds; he could not lift them.
His wife had been tidying up. When she looked up and saw him standing in the doorway with his head bowed, she came over at once.
She smiled brightly. "Why are you standing out there? Don't you recognize your own front door?"
With that, she took his arm and pulled him inside.
Kitsuchi did not resist. He followed her in without a word.
He wanted to smile at his wife, but right then, he simply could not.
At last, his wife realized something was wrong.
A hint of worry appeared on her face.