Chikage walked into the living room, his eyes gleaming at the lavish spread covering the table.
"Aunt Mikoto, your cooking is incredible."
"This pan-fried saury is miles better than anything from that barbecue takeout place."
Mikoto came out carrying the last bowl of soup and smiled as she invited everyone to sit down.
"Don't just stand there. Sit down and eat."
"Chikage, thanks for all your hard work today. Eat up."
Without the slightest hesitation, Chikage pulled out a chair, sat down, and used his chopsticks to stuff a large piece of saury into his mouth.
"Thanks, Auntie. Don't mind if I do."
Fugaku sat at the head of the table, watching Chikage dig in.
He simply couldn't reconcile the man wolfing down food before him with the expert who had taken out four Root elites in an instant.
Itachi sat across from Chikage, quietly eating his rice.
Chikage swallowed his fish, picked up the wine bottle, and poured Fugaku a cup.
"Come on, Uncle. Let's have a drink."
"Our Second Squad scored a huge victory today."
Fugaku raised his cup and clinked it against Chikage's.
He took a sip, set the cup down, and fixed Chikage with an intense stare.
"Chikage, tell me the truth."
"How exactly did you deal with those four Root elites at the border?"
Chikage's chopsticks paused.
He looked up and glanced at Itachi across the table.
Itachi immediately lowered his head and shoveled in two mouthfuls of plain rice.
Chikage put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.
"Uncle, didn't Itachi tell you?"
"I already said it was a good Samaritan who helped."
Fugaku snorted.
"Stop playing dumb."
"Itachi already told me everything."
"You shattered the sealing chains, used Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and even awakened your eyes."
"You've been hiding quite a lot,