The banquet hall in a side wing of the Palace blazed with lights, filled with the pleasing music of strings and flutes.
Dozens of exquisite low tables had been arranged according to rank and status.
The Daimyo occupied the seat of honor, with his senior ministers and nobles below him.
The members of the Uchiha Girl Group had been seated near the head of the hall, where they had an excellent view. As their lead singer and representative, Chinatsu had been placed just below and to the left of the Daimyo, drawing particular attention.
Though somewhat reserved, they conducted themselves with proper etiquette. Combined with the glow of their performance, this drew many admiring gazes.
Genya and his companions kept a much lower profile.
They arrived just as the banquet began, then very "considerately" chose two adjacent low tables in the farthest corner of the hall.
Genya naturally sat down beside Konan.
Pain followed expressionlessly, apparently intending to sit beside Konan as well, but the table had been designed for two, leaving little room.
Konan lifted her eyes slightly and gave him a glance with her cool gaze.
Pain paused. In the end, he silently turned toward the neighboring table.
Uchiha Itachi and Shisui Uchiha had already taken their seats there.
And so, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Pain, the self-proclaimed "god," and the Uchiha's two Mangekyo prodigies-three men with powerful presences-squeezed together at a table meant for two.
Once all three were seated, the atmosphere instantly became exceedingly delicate and... stiff.
The table had never offered much room, forcing the three to sit close together.
Shisui kept his back straight, his hands resting seemingly casually on his knees, yet ready to activate the Body Flicker Technique at any moment.
Itachi lowered his eyelids as though studying the wood grain of