"You old fool, do you have a death wish?!"
After hearing Uchiha Yan's brilliant plan, Hōkaku jolted in alarm, his heart pounding so wildly that the fright practically gave him an arrhythmia.
He looked around in terror, afraid his demon of a cousin might suddenly appear and overhear this madness. Only after repeatedly confirming that no one was nearby did Hōkaku breathe a long sigh of relief at having escaped with his life. He shoved the deranged old man aside and walked away without looking back.
"I'm not crazy! Hey, don't go!"
Seeing Hōkaku leave, the old man hurried after him, shouting as he went:
"Think about it! Doesn't he treat Shingetsu like his own daughter? Besides, he's already getting on in years. If he doesn't find someone now, he'll never get another chance!"
Hōkaku thought it over. Actually, that did seem to make sense...
Desperate enough to try anything, Hōkaku had no idea he was playing right into the old man's hands. Like countless elderly men and women with too much time on their hands, Uchiha Yan's favorite pastime was urging the clan's youngsters to hurry up and get married.
Madara Uchiha's marriage, in particular, weighed on his heart like an enormous boulder. He worried about it over his meals during the day and in bed at night.
Just look at Hashirama Senju next door. His beloved son's wedding was already scheduled. Never mind the next generation-even the generation after that was on its way. Then there was Madara Uchiha, still all alone after all these years, who even had to steal his younger cousin's daughter. How could Uchiha Yan not be beside himself with anxiety?
"It's not as if you don't know. All the girls in the clan are scared of him..."
Hōkaku let out a forlorn sigh.