Genya looked at everyone's tense expressions, sighed regretfully, and shrugged.
"All right, all right... you're right. We're still not quite ready."
"What a shame. I really wanted to see how powerful Susanoo could be on an open battlefield... oh well, I'll have to wait for another chance."
Everyone: "..."
Seriously, man? You actually considered it?
Susanoo? On an open battlefield?
Were you genuinely disappointed that you couldn't start a war?
Fugaku pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling drained.
Discussing anything with this brat required a strong heart.
"Back to business, Genya."
Fugaku forcibly steered the conversation back on track.
"We have to give the daimyo an answer. Will the girl group perform or not? How do we handle those outrageous remarks of yours? An apology is absolutely out of the question, but we can't openly break with him, either."
Genya dropped his joking expression and laid out his thoughts clearly.
"We'll go. Why wouldn't we?"
He looked at Chinatsu and the other two.
"Chinatsu, Akari, Akane, this is a perfect opportunity to make the Dawn Girl Group famous, and even expand its influence across the entire Land of Fire."
"Performing before the nobles and common people of the Capital will have ten times the impact of performing in Konoha. It'll do wonders for the Uchiha's public image, showing that we're skilled in both song and combat, and that we love peace and culture."
The three girls felt their enthusiasm and anticipation rekindle at his words, and all nodded.
"As for an apology and compensation..."
Genya sneered.
"They can forget it. I, Genya Uchiha, never regret what I say, and I never apologize for it."
"Especially not to nobles who sit in their palaces enjoying the peace ninja bought with their lives, yet constantly tell those same ninja what to