"Yes, this afternoon! The lady of the Yamanaka Clan is named Rino Yamanaka, and she told me her daughter really likes our Sasuke! She said the Nara Family and the Akimichi Family will be joining us for dinner, too. Their children are about the same age as Sasuke and Naruto, so they might become classmates someday!"
At the thought of Sasuke and Naruto making more friends, Mikoto's voice grew excited.
As the children grew older, they would soon be attending the Ninja Academy.
Sasuke would be fine, but Mikoto had always worried terribly about Naruto going to the Ninja Academy. After all, everyone still saw him as the Demon Fox. Would he be ostracized and bullied at school?
If Naruto could make more friends before starting school, she would not have to worry about anyone bullying him at the Ninja Academy!
"Fugaku, come with me, too. The other husbands will all be there."
After Mikoto finished speaking, Madara and Fugaku exchanged a glance. This was certainly something the two of them needed to discuss.
"I'll go, Mikoto. I have a few things to tell Itachi in private. Take Sasuke outside first."
Once he had sent Mikoto and Sasuke away, Fugaku turned to Madara.
"Could this dinner be a scheme the Yamanaka Clan is plotting against us?"
Fugaku could hardly be blamed for his suspicions. The Yamanaka Clan's invitation had come far too abruptly. Their families had never been particularly close, and why had this invitation happened to coincide with Madara leaving the village?
"I'm not sure. Judging by my encounter with Rino Yamanaka, it should have been a coincidence, but we can't rule out the possibility that they're using it to plot something. Father, I'm counting on you to keep a close eye on Mother and the others at dinner."