Shin Uchiha had long known about Yugito's weakness for food. Seeing her expression, he immediately understood what she was thinking. He lightly tapped her little nose and said with a smile:
"Then go down and let Izumi and the others know. Otherwise, they'll worry when they realize you're missing."
Yugito naturally had no objections. She flipped over and leaped down.
Shin Uchiha shook his head with a smile and said nothing more.
Only a short while later, Yugito nimbly returned to the rooftop. She looked at Shin Uchiha with anticipation shining in her eyes and said:
"Shin, I've told little Izumi and the others. Let's hurry!"
Shin Uchiha had naturally heard her shouting earlier. Seeing the eager expression on her face, he smiled and nodded.
"All right, let's go."
With that, Shin Uchiha rested his hand on Yugito's shoulder, and the two vanished from the spot.
Humm...
With a faint hum, Shin Uchiha and Yugito appeared in a valley wreathed in mist.
"Shin Uchiha, you're here..."
At the sound of that voice, Shin Uchiha and Yugito turned their gazes toward a rather tall man nearby.
Unfortunately, the man wore coarse hemp clothing and a bamboo hat wrapped in black cloth, giving him a mysterious air and making it impossible to determine his true identity.
Shin Uchiha naturally knew who he was. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as he took in the man's attire, but he still nodded to him and said:
"Sorry for the trouble. I thought you'd settled in the ancestral grounds and withdrawn from worldly affairs."
The man fell silent for a moment before replying calmly:
"It's nothing. You're the Uchiha Clan's leader now. As long as you remain strong, our clan won't decline. I'm merely doing what little I can."
He paused, then continued with