After parting ways with the White Fang halfway home, Uchiha Hayashi continued on alone, his gaze lingering briefly on Sakumo's slightly flushed face. It seemed the man was fully prepared to keep participating in the matchmaking efforts, no matter how awkward they became.
At times, Hayashi genuinely could not understand it. Someone as strong, composed, and handsome as Sakumo should not have struggled to find a partner in his younger years, yet he had ended up relying on arranged introductions.
Thinking it over, Hayashi concluded that Sakumo was probably never short on choices. That kind of person had to be careful. One wrong decision, and regret followed for life.
After all, many people looked good in their youth, only to grow increasingly unpleasant with age.
There was no need to look far for examples. Just look at Sarutobi Asuma and that thick beard of his.
Then another thought crossed Hayashi's mind.
What? The Third Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwako, was not pregnant yet?
Yet Yuhi Shinku's wife already was.
As Hayashi passed through the commercial street, he even spotted the couple shopping for baby supplies together. The scene was gentle and warm, filled with quiet happiness.
Curious, Hayashi tilted his head slightly and glanced at her abdomen. The loose clothing made it impossible to tell she was already two months along. Still, by his estimation, Yuhi Kurenai would likely be born sometime around May or June of the following year.
What a pity.
Such a beautiful woman, paired so early.
If only Shisui had been born sooner…
Hayashi coughed lightly and dismissed the thought. In any case, with the war finally over, a widespread baby boom across the village was inevitable.
When he returned home, Hayashi did not bother closing the door. Instead, he pulled over a chair and sat down casually.
On the windowsill, a crow held a tiny watering can, diligently tending to a flower pot. During the summer, it had eaten watermelon and absentmindedly spat seeds into the soil. To its delight, melon sprouts had grown. Ever since then, the bird had taken its duties seriously, watering and fertilizing the plant daily.
As for the fertilizer, the source was obvious. Bird droppings were plentiful, natural, and effective.
Whether that was comforting or horrifying depended on who you asked.
Hayashi found it horrifying.
He sighed inwardly.
This crow, known as Little Black, was one he had adopted two years ago near Uzumaki Mito's grave. When Hayashi was sent to the battlefield, he had entrusted its care to Uzumaki Kushina.
That decision, in hindsight, had been questionable.
Kushina could barely take care of herself, let alone a bird with a strange temperament.
Hayashi still remembered her bold declaration at the time. One hand braced against the wall, the other on her hip, she had confidently proclaimed, "Little Black, I promise I'll raise you big, fat, and shiny."
Less than a week later, the starving crow had been forced to fend for itself. Living off potato chips alone was not sustainable.
Since then, Little Black had developed a deep-seated fear of Kushina and immediately flew off whenever it sensed her presence.
After watching the bird for a moment and losing interest, Hayashi shifted his attention to the table and reached for a scroll.
Suddenly, Little Black stopped watering. Its posture straightened as it turned sharply toward the entrance, alert and focused.
Hayashi smiled faintly but did not put the scroll down.
A short while later, a familiar figure appeared outside the door.
Uchiha Fugaku.
So it was the young clan leader himself. Hayashi had half expected Uchiha Shan to come personally. It seemed his influence was not quite enough to warrant that level of attention.
"Young Clan Leader, it's been a while," Hayashi said calmly. "What brings you here today?"
Fugaku frowned slightly. "I told you before, don't call me that. Just call me Fugaku. Have two years really made us that distant? If we are being technical, you're already a jonin, while I'm only a special jonin. I should be calling you senior. Do you really want that?"
Hayashi laughed and raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Since you insist, and since you are older than me, I'll call you Brother Fugaku."
He gestured toward the room. "Come in. I'll make some tea."
Fugaku stepped inside and glanced around before sighing. "I told you long ago to live with me. You refused and insisted on staying in a place this small. You're a hero of the clan. Anyone who doesn't know better would think my father was deliberately mistreating you."
Hayashi smiled without responding. He prepared two cups of tea, handed one to Fugaku, and kept the other for himself.
As they talked, Hayashi noticed how much Fugaku had matured over the past two years. The battle at the Daimyo's residence had clearly changed him. He was no longer the youth who only dreamed of rushing into war.
Eventually, Fugaku's patience ran thin, and he brought up the real purpose of his visit.
"Hayashi," he said seriously. "Right now, you are the strongest among the younger generation of our clan. For this escort mission, most of the clan hopes you'll participate. They want to witness the strength of Konoha's Lightning firsthand."
So that was it.
A display of strength.
Hayashi stood up, his expression eager, but after a moment, he hesitated and shook his head, looking conflicted.
Fugaku noticed immediately. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Brother Fugaku, I'm an Uchiha too. Of course I want to go," Hayashi said sincerely. "But you know that Mikoto was injured during the war. She's still recovering and remains hospitalized."
"She hasn't been transferred back to the clan? We have skilled medical ninja."
"They can't treat her condition," Hayashi replied. "Even the Konoha Hospital couldn't."
Fugaku's expression darkened. "Then what can be done?"
"You know I studied under Lady Tsunade for a time. Given our history with the Senju, it wasn't easy, but I begged her. She agreed to examine Mikoto. The surgery is tomorrow. I can't leave."
Fugaku fell silent.
There was nothing wrong with the reasoning. The timing was simply unfortunate.
Hearing Mikoto's name repeatedly stirred a vague memory. The last time Fugaku had seen her, she was only around ten years old. Even if she had potential, she had not yet grown into it.
Still, Hayashi's concern was unmistakable.
After a brief pause, Hayashi continued, tapping his teacup lightly. "It's not that I don't want to go. I truly can't spare the time. Besides, it's only escorting Sunagakure forces out of the Land of Fire. There shouldn't be any real danger. Next time there's a risky mission, call me without hesitation."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Fugaku spoke carefully. "But this mission may involve combat."
He stopped abruptly.
The air seemed to shift for just a moment.
This was Hayashi's genjutsu at work.
He could not manipulate thoughts like Kotoamatsukami, but planting a brief false memory lasting a couple of seconds was effortless for him.
When Fugaku returned home, he would remember that he had never said those words.
As for whether Uchiha Yama could detect it, the answer was no.
Unless Fugaku's memories were directly examined, which only the Yamanaka clan could do, and there was no reason to involve them over something so minor.
If an ambush occurred later, the blame could not fall on Hayashi.
After all, no one could fault him for information that was never clearly stated.
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