After the maid prepared the tea, she went downstairs, leaving only Hakushi, Uchiha Shikora, and the Jonin Uchiha guard in the living room.
Uchiha Shikora finished his tea, glanced around the living room, and then said, "There's still not much obvious change here compared to the past. Ever since she was a child, Ruri has been quite a special kid. So, how is it, getting along with her? Sometimes it's not easy, is it?"
He smiled kindly on his face.
"I don't think she's particularly hard to get along with."
After Hakushi finished speaking, he silently observed Uchiha Shikora.
Wearing a black kimono that's gone out of style but finely made, a head full of white hair, pronounced wrinkles and a thin face, with a beard beneath his chin.
He should be considered the slender type, and his posture was somewhat stooped, but what he gave off wasn't a sense of frailty, but an aura of dignity and authority.
He must have been a battle-hardened ninja in his younger days.
Even now, in retirement, the aura of an elite ninja only grows more profound with age, making him appear extraordinary.
"Elder Shikora, are you here to see Ruri for something?"
"It's nothing important; mainly, it's been a while since I went out for a walk. I happened to pass by here today, so I came in to have a look."
Elder Shikora spoke with a casual attitude.
Because Hakushi didn't know much about Elder Shikora, he couldn't be sure if he really just came by on a walk.
But this reason was quite plausible, showing no flaws.
However, he'd heard from Ruri before that Elder Shikora was the leader of the Uchiha Radical Faction, holding a position in the Uchiha Clan even higher than the Clan Leader.
It's said he was once a follower of Uchiha Madara; ever since Second Hokage Senju Tobirama passed away, the Hokage faction led by the Third Hokage was deeply wary of the old man's abilities.
Though on the surface, he's just a once-mighty, now retired, and detached old hermit.
For Shikora's idle questions, Hakushi simply answered one by one. After all, he's Ruri's mentor—he couldn't afford to be careless.
"Have you two considered marriage?"
Elder Shikora suddenly asked, as casually as before, as if it was just idle conversation.
"Huh?"
Hakushi was momentarily stunned.
It wasn't so much the question that surprised him, but rather how it was suddenly brought up. It felt strangely awkward.
"I don't know why today's young people are so wishy-washy. In our day, as long as both sides took a liking to each other, they'd usually marry in the first or second year."
Elder Shikora seemed to be complaining.
Hakushi smiled awkwardly.
"After this New Year, you'll both be eighteen, grown adults. It's time to consider marriage. Being a ninja is extremely dangerous—they could die anytime—so it's best to leave descendants early."
Elder Shikora muttered in a low voice, sounding just like any old man eager for grandchildren.
Words like that felt like cursing people to die. So unlucky, Hakushi grumbled inwardly.
But since the other was an elder, Hakushi could only complain in his heart.
"Well, I will seriously consider it with Ruri."
Elder Shikora finally smiled in satisfaction, continuing to sip his tea.
"Alright, it's about time—I should go."
"So soon? Why not stay for dinner?"
Hakushi stood up with Elder Shikora, trying to persuade him to stay for dinner.
"No need to trouble yourselves. I really just wanted to take a walk, see if the village nowadays is any different. The older one gets, the more attached they become to the past."
Hakushi could only nod in agreement.
In front of Elder Shikora, even the Third Hokage addressed him as a junior, let alone a new-generation ninja like Hakushi.
But when he thought about someone at this age still worrying about the affairs of the Uchiha Clan, and serving as the leader of the Uchiha Radical Faction, Hakushi realized Shikora might not be as weak as he appeared—at least, his ambitions from younger days hadn't been extinguished.
He had Hakushi stay at the door, while Elder Shikora, accompanied by the Jonin Uchiha guard, continued walking forward, not returning the way they came. Was he really out for a stroll?
Standing at the doorway, Hakushi pondered. He really couldn't figure out what Elder Shikora was planning. Anyway, as long as it had nothing to do with him, there was no need to be obsessed with it.
"Are you really going to do this, Elder Shikora?"
As they walked on, the Jonin Uchiha guard at Shikora's side couldn't help but ask.
"Rika, this is the only way out for the Uchiha Clan now."
The kind smile on Elder Shikora's face vanished, becoming deep and indifferent.
"If Ruri finds out, you'll die. You should know better than me what kind of person she is."
"For the stronger, more vigorous Uchiha flame, isn't it worth being glad that my old bones still have a role at this age?"
Jonin Uchiha Rika sighed.
Yes, as Ruri's mentor, Elder Shikora couldn't possibly not understand her character.
It was only after realizing this that he made the decision to sacrifice himself, if necessary, to protect the clan.
"The Uchiha Clan now is just like me walking this road. Senju Tobirama forced our clan to this path—there's no other way."
An old man deep in years walked along the road under the heavy night, unable to see any light.