Emotions had reached this point, and with that unreliable Hashirama stirring up trouble, what was originally just a formality had developed to the point where Akira had to give a so, called "return speech."
Akira, who was not interested in becoming famous, was not prepared at any level, but fortunately, Mito was the princess of the Uzumaki clan. Although she was a bit useless, she was very familiar with things like dealing with people.
Therefore, Akira, who knew nothing about public speaking, lowered his guard and served as a mouthpiece.
"Thanks to everyone for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend my welcome ceremony. I, Senju Akira, and Uzumaki Mito feel very honored. I hope everyone will enjoy the banquet that follows…"
"Tch!"
Akira instinctively sensed that there was an issue and immediately stopped speaking.
Although he had no experience giving a public speech, those lines just now did not sound like a "return speech" at any level.
Therefore, Akira could only ask Mito in a low voice.
"Mito, these lines don't seem right. Also, I just returned, why was your name included?"
However, facing Akira's question, Mito's already flushed face became even redder, but her family's education allowed her to calm down quickly.
"Oh, Brother Akira, but I just remember saying this."
As if to increase her credibility, Mito batted her big sparkling eyes at Akira while speaking.
Seeing that Akira appeared unconvinced, Mito made an innocent (●′w`●) face at him.
Having lived with Mito for over ten years, Akira knew right away she was setting a trap. He had no idea what the trap's trigger was exactly, but he knew not to step into it.
Without saying anything else, Akira tapped Mito on the head for causing trouble on an occasion like this, then turned toward the audience below the stage and raised his voice clearly.
"That's it. Disband."
After saying that, Akira vanished from the spot without paying attention to Mito, who flinched slightly from the flick of his fingers.
Mito immediately looked around after realizing Akira had disappeared, but couldn't locate him. Hashirama, eager to cause further embarrassment, pointed subtly in a direction off-stage.
Upon confirmation, Mito grinned and darted off toward where Akira had gone.
"Brother Akira, wait for me!"
Their little "performance" drew good-natured laughter from the audience below. To them, the teasing between these young lovers was amusing and harmless.
For the few observers harboring ulterior motives, though, it was heavy news that the Senju and Thousand Stars, renowned for wisdom and strategy could stumble when it came to matters of love. (T/N: i'm a bit confused on who is thousands stars? I think its one of MC's nickname? Cause its not a clan.. and its not the uzumaki too cause the uzumaki translate to whirlpool or something similiar to that and the senju means thousands hands, not stars..)
In case conflict ever arose with the Senju later on… this detail might come in handy.
Everyone had their own thoughts about what just unfolded, but Hashirama couldn't be bothered to analyze any of it. After seeing how entertained the audience was, he stepped forward onto the stage and shouted out his announcement with a wide grin stretched across his face.
"Well, let's start today's banquet!"
Cheers thundered up from the crowd instantly.
...
Even though the atmosphere remained joyful on the surface, after declaring the event open, Hashirama pulled Tobirama aside and began searching for Akira, who was currently being pestered by Mito again.
"Mito, I've gotta deal with clan matters. Go have fun by yourself."
"Don't want to!"
Mito grabbed his hand again, with a smile on her face that said she had no intentions of letting go.
"If you don't play with me, I'll tell my father you hurt me. I don't think you want that kind of news spreading."
Akira stared down at her with an aching head. He had no idea when Mito, someone he raised himself, learned how to threaten people so smoothly.
He wasn't scared of her father in any serious way, but she had gotten hurt earlier because he'd wanted her to stop being so damn useless.
It wasn't hard to imagine how that would look if Hashirama stepped in later. He'd take Mito's side without batting an eye, and suddenly Akira would be painted as the bad one.
Mito looked up at him proudly, an invisible devil's tail practically swishing behind her, and added cheerfully,
"To make up for it, I want you to go shopping with me."
Just when Akira resigned himself to signing this new unequal treaty, he sensed two familiar chakra signatures approaching fast: Hashirama and Tobirama.
"Hashirama, you've been here this whole time?"
"Just arrived," Hashirama answered casually, but a second later he couldn't stop himself from grinning stupidly. "Right about when you told Mito to go entertain herself."
"…Meaning you saw everything?"
Akira winced and shifted his gaze to Tobirama in search of backup. Mito clinging to him publicly wasn't part of any plan, and it could affect how others viewed his position beside Hashirama down the line.
Tobirama immediately caught on to what he needed and spoke firmly but politely toward Mito.
"Mito, we've gotta speak with your brother Akira about some things. We'll return him to you afterward."
Mito recognized Tobirama's serious tone right away. Her face fell ever so slightly, but she loosened her fingers from around Akira's wrist without protest.
"Oh…"
Hashirama stepped forward right away, his palm gently smoothing Mito's hair before offering a playful grin of reassurance.
"Little Mito's welcome too!"
"Really?"
"Certainly."
"Alriiiight!"
Mito lit up and threw her arms around Akira again. Just when she seemed fully charged with excitement, her cheeks went red and she turned toward Hashirama bashfully.
"Th-Thanks Lord Hashirama!"
"No formalities, Akira's my cousin. You're welcome to call me Big Brother too."
"…Brother Hashirama…"
It took everything she had to say it out loud, and once she did, Mito shrank behind Akira's shoulder again while holding onto his clothes tightly.
"Hahaha…"
Hashirama laughed openly at her display, and when he nodded in approval, Akira said nothing further and accepted that things were simply out of his hands today.
Tobirama remained quiet beside them for a moment before stepping forward and cutting off his brother's momentum with a perfectly timed reminder:
"Big Brother."
"…Got it."
Hashirama sobered quickly and turned toward them both again with calm authority restored in his voice.
"Let's go to my study."
Akira followed without questioning the shift in tone. There could only be one reason they had summoned him so immediately, it had everything to do with his recent encounter with Madara.
Even though Mito looked excited to tag along, Akira made up his mind quickly and turned to speak directly to her before they entered deeper into private clan discussions.
"Mito, it's better if you don't know what we're about to talk about."
To his surprise, Mito nodded without complaining this time and gave a small smile before stepping aside willingly.
"I understand. I'll go shopping on my own. You take care of your work."
"Alright."
Akira watched her walk off down another corridor before returning his focus squarely on Hashirama.
Only for Hashirama to suddenly give him an exaggerated thumbs-up.
"…What's this about?"
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