An awkward setup for making friends

Everyone present looked stunned.

None of them had imagined that Yan Uchiha's life used to be quite that miserable.

Especially Itachi and Obito.

Both were Uchiha, and they knew better than outsiders what kind of life their clansmen ought to have.

"What the hell were those people in the clan doing?" Obito curled his lip. "Even I can't stand hearing this."

Itachi kept his face taut and said nothing for a moment.

He was angry too, but this was his own clan's business. As the Clan Head's son, there were things he couldn't casually say to outsiders.

Minato Namikaze's brow twitched.

But like Itachi, he didn't add anything.

Yan Uchiha's experiences troubled him too, but he had seen far too many people in Konoha whose lives were even worse than Yan's.

Born a commoner, he had seen what true misery looked like.

Besides, this was an internal Uchiha affair. He belonged to the Hokage's faction, so it really wasn't his place to interfere.

If a few careless words set the Uchiha against the village, the situation would become impossible to salvage.

At that thought, he smiled.

"Ayame, you're worrying too much."

"Yan doesn't need our pity. He now possesses the Mangekyo and has already become a high-ranking Elder of the Uchiha."

"All the hardships he suffered as a child have now become nourishment, allowing Jin to truly stand on his own."

"Of course, I'd be happy to become friends with Jin."

"So don't worry. Leave this to me."

Minato Namikaze spoke with genuine sincerity.

He was right. Yan Uchiha didn't need anyone's sympathy, because he was strong in his own right.

Still, he didn't mind befriending Yan Uchiha, and the reason was simple.

Yan was different from the other Uchiha. He had none of their usual faults, neither arrogance nor