This doesn't seem like the style of the Hidden Cloud Ninja.
"Just now, the Third Hokage called us over, and it didn't seem like they intended to have a proper negotiation with the Hidden Cloud Ninja, otherwise, why call for me..."
Uchiha Yoichi picked up a piece of Magic Goat meat and swirled it in the pot. He really disliked being schemed against. Letting Sarutobi Hiruzen sit in the Hokage's seat always felt a bit uncomfortable.
Besides, he's been Hokage for over twenty years now; isn't it about time to change? Does he really plan to step down at sixty or seventy?
"Senior Sakumo, I've heard that the Land of Fire Daimyo will be attending this Chunin Exam?"
"That's right, the Land of Fire Daimyo and the daimyo of the three smaller countries, Land of Waterfall, Land of Grass, and Land of Rain, will be attending since it's a rare six-country joint Chunin Exam."
"Are you familiar with the Land of Fire Daimyo, Senior Sakumo?"
"I've had dealings a few times. During a mission in the past, I served as a guardian for the daimyo for a while, but that was a long time ago."
Uchiha Yoichi nodded, then said to Hatake Sakumo, "Could I trouble you to introduce me, Senior Sakumo? I would like to meet the Land of Fire Daimyo to discuss something.
Although I could seek him out myself, with your help, Senior Sakumo, the daimyo would take it more seriously."
Hatake Sakumo agreed without much thought, nodding, "Alright, the daimyo will likely watch the third round of the Chunin Exam, I'll help arrange a meeting for you then."
"Thank you, Senior Sakumo."
After speaking, Uchiha Yoichi then recommended a particularly spicy hot pot.
However, Hatake Sakumo quickly shook his head, refusing. If not for the half seafood broth, he'd want to leave immediately.
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The first round of the Chunin Exam ended quickly. Due to the large number of participants this time, Konoha adopted a laissez-faire approach, trying to eliminate the filler Genin in the first two rounds.
Therefore, the first round essentially supported mutual elimination among the candidates; as long as the methods weren't too subpar, the proctors turned a blind eye.
Exam room 201 eliminated seventy-two people. Just from Yuhi Kurenai's group Sound Genjutsu, over ten were disqualified.
Exam room 301 eliminated over fifty people, making the first round elimination rate quite high, nearly half of the participating Genin.
However, there were still too many ninja. Initially planned for team competition in the second round, but with nearly forty Genin squads, even after eliminating half, there would still be over sixty entering the third round.
Thus, the second round was changed to collecting information scrolls in the Forest of Death, with ten scrolls randomly placed. Only squads that found these ten scrolls could proceed to the third round.
Compared to the first round, the second round's difficulty increased several times.
The Forest of Death was prepared for evaluating Chunin to begin with, with giant beasts specially brought in by Konoha. If numbers decreased, Konoha would catch more from outside.
Not only do candidates have to guard against the beasts in the Forest of Death, but they also compete with other squads for scrolls, leaving only ten squads advancing to the third round already considered good.
Some might destroy the information scrolls if they couldn't get them, and though the Chunin Exam doesn't support killing, if a candidate were to kill and Konoha didn't notice, it would be fine.
After finishing their meal, Uchiha Yoichi and Hatake Sakumo went to the examination hall. They learned about the sudden changes to the second exam content after Kakashi and Yuhi Kurenai came out.
However, sudden changes during missions happen often. Kakashi once experienced a mission that shifted from protecting his employer to being framed for his murder, then fleeing from place to place.
"Yang Clan Leader."
Uchiha Obito approached, his voice filled with excitement upon seeing Uchiha Yoichi; his life now is much better than before, and because of Uchiha Yoichi, he receives many looks when wearing the round fan cloak.
"Obito, huh, keep it up, try to eliminate Kakashi in the third round."
This statement struck a chord with Obito, who responded with enthusiasm, "Yes, Yang Clan Leader, I'll do my best."
Kakashi rolled his eyes from the side; Yoichi, every time they meet, finds a way to trouble him.
After meeting with Yuhi Kurenai's three subordinates, Uchiha Yoichi initially intended to return to his home within the clan, but after a circuitous route, he headed toward the supermarket instead.
Yesterday, he noticed that Mikota didn't look well. He wasn't sure if it was exhaustion or something else, so he planned to check on her today.
He went to Uchiha Mikota's office, and upon entering, he noticed the desk was very tidy, but her face lacked its usual gentle expression, instead showing signs of worry.
"Mikota, what's wrong, what's troubling you?"
"Mr. Yoichi...."
Upon seeing Uchiha Yoichi, it felt as if Mikota found a sense of security. Before she could say anything, Uchiha Yoichi gently pulled her to sit on the sofa.
"Mr. Yoichi, I might not be a competent mother... last time, I forgot about meeting Itachi, and when I remembered later, no matter how much I tried to make up for it, it felt like I couldn't make up for that breach of trust...."
Mikota appeared very regretful. Though Itachi would still call her mother when she looked for him now, there seemed to be an unbridgeable gap between them.
"Mr. Yoichi, what should I do?"
Mikota, a bit despondent, held Uchiha Yoichi's hand, seeking comfort and support from him.
"Uchiha Itachi, huh? I recall he's only three years old; why don't you bring him to live with you? You were worried about being too busy last time I asked; living together, your worries would disappear."
Uchiha Yoichi caressed Mikota's soft, white hand, saying, "Don't overwork yourself; get some clan members to assist you. Working four or five hours a day should suffice. I spend less than two hours with the Security Team, so it's manageable."
"But Mr. Shinji has assignments from Fugaku....."
"Traitorous Ninja assignments mean nothing; I'm the Clan Leader, I'll speak to Uchiha Shinji. Mikota, you are Itachi's mother first and foremost."
Uchiha Yoichi advised, but as he glanced at Mikota's nyloned feet, he couldn't help but hold them.
Perhaps Uzumaki Minami's habit of placing her silk-clad feet in Uchiha Yoichi's hands whenever possible cultivated a special fondness for him.
"There's plenty of open land around my room, Mikota, you can choose a spot to build a house, then bring Itachi to live with you. It's futile to brood over past neglect; just make amends moving forward."
"Besides, you were indeed quite busy before; I shouldn't have piled so much on you, leaving you even without time to eat..."
Mikota was moved by his words, finding comfort in Uchiha Yoichi's concern and his willingness to resolve her worries....
"Mr. Yoichi, it was my decision before, it's not your fault; if only I had paid more attention...."
Mikota said, slightly blushing, her feet sensitive to his touch, quickly reacting; yet her mind still wandered to Itachi, leaving matters unsettled in such a moment....
"Mr. Yoichi, I..."
"I understand, there's time now, and I shall visit the Security Team later; Mikota, divide your work sooner, a single person cannot handle everything alone."
Having finished, Uchiha Yoichi placed Mikota down from his lap.
If he didn't help Mikota resolve this soon, she may even struggle to eat well over time; though he wasn't particularly fond of Uchiha Itachi, he didn't intend to trouble Mikota unnecessarily.
Before leaving, Mikota gratefully adjusted Uchiha Yoichi's clothes, despite them needing no adjustment, perhaps to rediscover the memories of being a wife.
After Uchiha Yoichi left, the burden within Mikota's heart slightly eased; past events wouldn't change, but she planned to make amends in the future.