Hesitant and dragging his feet.
By dinnertime, Qing Chuan had finally prepared himself and set off for the Clan Head's Residence.
His earlier clash with Orochimaru had yielded no real outcome.
That guy, already buffed by his "dark transformation," wasn't someone Qing Chuan could contend with at this stage.
The feeling of being toyed with only fueled Qing Chuan's frustration...
But.
To be honest.
Out of all the threats in Konoha, Orochimaru was the one Qing Chuan feared the least.
Orochimaru coveted his body.
Just as he had coveted Itachi, just as he would covet Sasuke.
Until—and even after—completing the Living Corpse Reincarnation, Orochimaru wouldn't harm him.
In fact, he'd go out of his way to protect and nurture his future vessel.
And when it came to matters of the soul...
Qing Chuan wasn't worried at all.
Zanpakutō... cuts through the soul itself!
In comparison.
Itachi's father, Uchiha Fugaku, was the one who truly unsettled Qing Chuan.
This man was an underestimated schemer in his own right.
A pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, hidden until the very moment of his death.
Perhaps.
If not for his desire to pave the way for his beloved son, Fugaku—with his Mangekyō, Susanoo, and even the Nine-Tails—
The outcome might have been different.
Qing Chuan didn't know.
What he did know was that tonight's dinner wouldn't be simple.
The journey wasn't long.
But by the time Qing Chuan arrived, he was far from early.
After nearly turning back eight times along the way, arriving on time would've been a miracle.
He'd even dressed in a kimono to avoid any mishaps.
The Uchiha Compound was situated on the outskirts of Konoha.
The Clan Head's Residence, however, was closer to the center.
The stark contrast in architectural styles made Konoha seem like a beast poised to devour its prey.
But upon closer inspection, it was the Uchiha wolves who seemed ready to strike back at the aging lion...
Fascinating.
But Qing Chuan had no mind to dwell on metaphors.
Prey or wolves...
In seven years, they'd all be gone.
The celebration for the Clan Head's son graduating early had drawn quite the crowd.
Of course... only Uchiha were present.
A major clan's dinner was no casual affair.
Qing Chuan glanced around.
The scale of it all made "banquet" a more fitting term...
Soon.
The gathering began, and the atmosphere grew lively.
Yet.
The conversations among the Uchiha seemed unrelated to the occasion.
Most were members of the Konoha Military Police Force.
Some joked about villagers freezing up in fear at the sight of them—
And took great delight in it.
Others grumbled about being stuck in the village for too long, their blades growing rusty.
It was as if this banquet, meant to celebrate the Clan Head's son becoming a shinobi, was just another clan ritual.
Qing Chuan paid it no mind, even feeling a bit relieved. As long as I avoid Fugaku and Itachi...
This might not be so bad.
Graduation... wasn't something he cared about anyway.
However.
Reality rarely aligns with wishful thinking.
Even with the crowd dulling his soul perception—
When that unmistakable gaze landed on him, Qing Chuan's heart betrayed him, pounding wildly...
The kid I've been deceiving...
His parents are looking right at me.
"Whatever."
Heads or tails, it's the same outcome.
Might as well bluff my way through this too...
After a round of mental pep talks.
Qing Chuan turned his head casually, meeting the gaze of the man at the head of the room.
Uchiha Fugaku's brow arched slightly.
He murmured something to his wife beside him, and Mikoto's eyes followed his line of sight.
Two against one.
Half of Qing Chuan's carefully constructed mental preparation crumbled instantly...
All he could do was offer a practiced, polite smile in response.
"My, what a lovely girl!" Mikoto covered her mouth with a light laugh, beckoning Qing Chuan over.
"Of course." Fugaku tilted his head, his usual sternness replaced with unmistakable pride.
"My son's taste was never going to be lacking."
Only in front of his wife did Fugaku ever drop his威严 facade.
And only when he was truly pleased.
Clearly.
Today, he was very pleased.
After the attack mentioned only by Shisui, the Third Hokage had humbled himself, visiting late at night.
He hadn't pursued the matter of the crippled Root operative, instead hinting at goodwill.
Even assigning his disciple, Orochimaru—who had taken only one student until now—as the girl's personal instructor.
A gesture of compensation.
Itachi's arrangements were equally dignified.
Though his Jonin Instructor was unremarkable and his teammates weren't from major clans—
This very setup would hone Itachi's leadership skills.
Fugaku was satisfied.
There was no denying it.
This girl was something special.
Her features were delicate, the makings of a true beauty.
Her manners were impeccable, unfazed even in such a grand setting.
Her talent was undeniable.
And most importantly...
Her Sharingan had awakened because of Itachi.
Fugaku knew what that meant...
As the girl approached gracefully, Fugaku cleared his throat, snapping his awestruck son out of his daze.
"Stop staring, Itachi. No one's going to steal her from you."
In his usual grave tone, Fugaku delivered the most absurd line.
But his son, who had inherited everything from him—including his discerning eye—seemed to have missed out on his occasional humor.
At his father's words, Itachi's expression grew resolute...
"Yes, Father."
"And I won't let anyone take Haruko away from me!"
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