What Felt Off?

The next morning, at Fugaku's House.

Sasuke stared at the sheet of paper covered in writing in his hands, his little face scrunched up.

He looked bewildered and... panicked.

The heading on the page read:

"Konoha New Year Celebration · Opening Address"

Below it was a long passage of flowery well-wishes.

Things like "May Konoha's light illuminate the road ahead," "As the old gives way to the new, may we build on the past and forge ahead," and "May the new year bring peace to the Shinobi World and health to our villagers."

They were all phrases Sasuke was too young to really understand.

But what baffled him even more was-

"Why do my clothes have to look feminine?"

Sasuke raised his head and stared incredulously at Genya, who sat across from him.

"And why do I have to give the address with... with a girl?"

He glanced at the girl kneeling beside him.

She was the candidate Mikoto had found according to Genya's requirements: Xuejian Uchiha, seven years old, one year older than Sasuke.

The girl was exceptionally beautiful, with cascading black hair, fair skin, and delicate features.

Most distinctive of all was her bearing: cool and aloof, with clear, innocent eyes.

Xuejian wore simple training clothes, sitting upright with a calm expression.

It was as though she was about to be told to attend an ordinary clan lesson rather than deliver an address before the entire village.

"Because you two look good together."

Genya spoke with a cheerful smile.

"Think about it, Sasuke. On New Year's Eve, with everyone's eyes on you, two lovely Uchiha children stand onstage and offer Konoha their heartfelt blessings. Isn't that a beautiful picture?"

"What's so beautiful about it?!"

Sasuke nearly jumped up.

"I-I'm going to become an amazing ninja like my brother! Not some... some... who stands onstage reading a script!"

"Some what?"

Genya raised an eyebrow.

"...Anyway, I'm not doing it!"

Sasuke turned his face away, but the hand clutching the script trembled, betraying his nerves.

Genya's smile stayed in place as he leisurely took a sip of tea.

"Sasuke, don't tell me you're... chickening out?"

Sasuke whipped his head around. "Who's chickening out?!"

"Then you're just... not up to it?"

"I-I can do it, of course!"

"Oh!"

Genya drew out the sound, deliberately looking Sasuke up and down.

"But look at you. Complaining about the clothes, complaining that the assignment is strange, shrinking away from everything... Tsk, tsk. So the Uchiha Clan's young master is just a little loser who doesn't even dare get onstage and speak."

"I'm not a loser!"

Sasuke's face flushed bright red, and he stood up, chin thrust out defiantly.

"There's nothing I, Sasuke Uchiha, don't dare to do!"

"Really?"

Genya pointed at Xuejian.

"Look at Xuejian. She's only a year older than you, but she didn't complain once when she heard she'd be giving an address. She's quietly getting ready. And you? A young master of the clan, whining about everything, refusing this and rejecting that. What kind of behavior is that?"

He deliberately put on an expression that said, "I understand, I understand."

"Forget it, then. If you really can't manage, we'll just have Itachi put you under a genjutsu. You can read the script while it controls you. The result will be about the same, anyway. It'll just disgrace the Uchiha a little!"

"Don't let my brother use genjutsu!"

Sasuke practically shouted it.

He took several deep breaths, his chest rising and falling, his fists clenched tight.

Gritting his teeth, he slammed the script onto the table.

"I'll do it!"

Sasuke glared at Genya, enunciating every word.

"It's just reading a script, isn't it? How could I, Sasuke Uchiha, possibly fail at that!"

Genya chuckled.

"That's more like it. Now that's the spirit the Uchiha Clan's second young master should have."

He stood, walked over to Sasuke, and patted his shoulder.

"Relax. We're not making you handle this alone. Over the next two weeks, I'll personally train you and Xuejian in stage presence, posture, and vocal techniques. I'll also help make the script sound more natural. You won't have to memorize all this flowery stuff."

Sasuke finally let out a breath of relief, but he still couldn't help asking.

"Then... do the clothes really have to be like that?"

Genya's expression turned serious.

"Sasuke, you need to understand that the heart of this address isn't what you say. It's how you look."

He pointed at Xuejian.

"Xuejian has a cool, aloof air, like moonlight. As for you..."

"You're refined and proud, with the Uchiha's noble bearing, but you need a little softness to make you seem less unapproachable."

"The feminine touches aren't meant to make you look like a girl. They're meant to bring out a genderless beauty! A quality that transcends gender... that belongs purely to beauty itself..."

"That quality is what moves people most, and it's also the best way to break down their stereotypes about the Uchiha."

Seeing that Sasuke was still conflicted,

Genya continued sweet-talking him.

"Think about it. When you stand onstage in that outfit, everyone in the audience, including those who usually think the Uchiha are frightening, will start to like the whole clan because they like you."

"This isn't a compromise, Sasuke. It's the smartest way to win respect and affection for your clan."

Sasuke fell silent.

He looked at Xuejian, who had been listening quietly all this time. She nodded at him, her eyes clear and resolute.

"I... I understand."

Sasuke finally spoke.

"I'll do a good job."

"Good!"

Genya clapped his hands in satisfaction.

"Then, starting this afternoon, you and Xuejian will spend an extra hour every day practicing the address. As for the outfits..."

He looked toward Fugaku and Mikoto, who had been listening to him talk Sasuke around.

"Clan Leader, Aunt Mikoto, please have Sasuke's and Xuejian's outfits made according to the original plan. Sasuke's should be primarily white, with silver detailing, and a cut that combines softness with a spirited edge. Xuejian's should be primarily black, also with silver detailing, emphasizing her cool, aloof air."

As Fugaku listened to Genya's usual sales pitch, he kept feeling that something was off...

But he couldn't quite put his finger on it...

"I've already passed on the instructions. They'll be ready to try on in three days."

Mikoto gazed tenderly at her son.

"Sasuke, I know you can do a good job."

Sasuke took a deep breath, picked up the script, and began reading.

Watching him, Genya chuckled inwardly.

Provoking the little brat's pride really was the most effective approach.

But he also knew that the real challenge had only just begun.

Getting a six-year-old and a seven-year-old to deliver an address calmly with everyone's eyes on them would take more than courage. It would take a great deal of training, too.

But Genya was confident he could keep Sasuke sold on the idea!