Chapter 20: A Birthday Party Interrupted
The streets and alleyways of the Uchiha clan district were immaculately clean. Although located within Konoha, Liumu felt the people here seemed more insular, more tightly knit.
Outsiders rarely ventured into the Uchiha compound. On one hand, the clan was indeed somewhat xenophobic, and no one liked being looked down upon. On the other, it might have been due to the political tensions simmering at the top.
After walking several hundred meters, Liumu and Rin arrived at the gate of a modest house. From a distance, they could already hear the lively sounds of chatter and play from inside.
"Quite a crowd!" Liumu remarked to Rin with a smile. "Wasn't Obito pretty lonely before? Why so many people today?"
Rin glanced at Liumu with a knowing smile. "Since you and Kakashi graduated, Obito seems… different. He works much harder now, whether it's theory or ninjutsu practice. And he socializes with classmates a lot more."
In Liumu's memory, Obito only had eyes for Rin. Aside from the few boys who happened to be close to Rin, he generally kept to himself. But from Rin's description, he'd clearly changed.
The two stepped inside. A group of kids sat around the engawa, eating watermelon and chatting animatedly, the atmosphere warm and boisterous.
"Rin! Rin! You're here!"
The moment they entered, Obito spotted Rin. He quickly wiped the watermelon juice from his hands and rushed over to greet her. But as soon as he did, he noticed Liumu following behind her. Obito froze mid-step.
"Liumu?"
A year apart, and Obito, like the other classmates, had visibly grown, both in height and bearing. Liumu could see the subtle changes.
Obito's attire was still his usual style, though perhaps because he was at home, he wasn't wearing his goggles today. His neatly cut hair was oddly… pleasing to the eye.
Wait a minute… Liumu suddenly realized something, muttering to himself, "Why am I so focused on other people's hair now?"
...
...
Liumu's appearance was a surprise to everyone. As one of the geniuses who had graduated at five a year ago, discussions about him and Kakashi among the students had gradually faded over the year.
"Have a seat," Obito said to Liumu with a cool expression, before immediately turning his beaming smile back to Rin.
"Here, your birthday present. Happy birthday, Obito." Rin handed over a colorfully wrapped shuriken. Obito accepted it with an embarrassed, red-faced smile. "Thank you for the gift, Rin."
"Ugh…"
Liumu sighed inwardly. They were only six or seven years old. At this tender age, Obito already knew how to orbit a girl. Was he far-sighted, or… just precocious?
At the party, Liumu felt somewhat out of place. Kakashi wasn't here. Guy wasn't here. Even Akimichi Choza, whom he used to get along with, seemed absent. Moreover, after such a long separation, the classmates who were once familiar with him now seemed hesitant to approach, whispering among themselves instead.
...
He didn't know how much time had passed. Just as Liumu, bored out of his mind, was about to excuse himself and head home, a sudden clamor of hurried footsteps erupted outside Obito's house.
The footsteps grew louder, closer. With a loud BANG, the gate was shoved open violently.
The man leading the group was tall and slender. He wore his forehead protector around his waist, and on his left arm was the distinctive red armband of the Konoha Military Police Force.
The tall, thin man strode in, followed by a stream of other Uchiha clansmen.
"Brother Yan? What are you…"
As the host, Obito heard the commotion and immediately recognized the leader. He ran out of the house, coming face-to-face with the tall man. "What's going on?" he asked, looking up.
Uchiha Yan ignored Obito's question. His cold eyes swept over the gathered students, finally locking onto Liumu, who was standing off to the side in the yard.
"Take him."
Uchiha Yan ordered the men beside him.
Although Obito didn't particularly like Liumu, he was a guest in his home. He couldn't just stand by and watch a guest be taken away.
So, as the Uchiha men moved to act, Obito suddenly stepped in front of them. "What's this about? He's my classmate. Why are you taking him?"
Seeing this, Uchiha Yan stepped forward, placed a hand on Obito's head, and moved him aside. He then addressed Liumu directly. "You're Liumu, correct? Come with us quietly. I'd prefer not to disrupt Obito's birthday party."
Uchiha Yan was currently a squad captain in the Konoha Military Police Force, the red armband a symbol of his rank. As a leader, he was well aware of Liumu's… history.
His purpose for leading a squad to apprehend Liumu was to vent the collective resentment of the Uchiha clan.
All eyes in the room were now fixed on Liumu. Meeting Obito's confused but determined gaze, Liumu replied to Uchiha Yan, "Since so many rats have gathered this time, I might as well clean house all at once today."
Why the Uchiha were targeting Liumu, the others didn't know. But both Uchiha Yan and Liumu understood perfectly.
Liumu's punch hadn't just shattered a stone statue; it had shattered the Uchiha clan's dignity within Konoha. Even though the higher-ups hadn't allowed them to pursue Liumu too aggressively, for Liumu to brazenly appear on Uchiha territory now was a blatant insult, a declaration that he didn't consider them a threat.
Faced with Liumu's provocation, Uchiha Yan and his subordinates activated their Sharingan in unison.
In an instant, Liumu found himself surrounded by a circle of glowing, crimson eyes. He'd stumbled into the heart of 'Pink-Eye Syndrome' central.
"Captain, let me teach this brat who doesn't know his place a lesson."
With that, a slightly chubby man beside Uchiha Yan shot forward, his fist howling toward Liumu's face.
As members of the Military Police, they no longer cared about the village rule against private duels. At worst, after subduing Liumu, they'd all serve detention together.
But what no one expected was…
Liumu simply sidestepped the charging man's punch with casual ease. The chubby attacker, unable to adjust mid-air, watched as Liumu calmly raised a knee.
THUD.
A sharp cry of pain. The man crumpled to the ground like a cooked shrimp, curled around his midsection, unable to get up.
"Don't bother coming one by one," Liumu said, his voice flat. "Just come at me together."
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan 20% off for a week
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
✨✨ I'll release an extra chapter for every 5 reviews! ✨✨🥳🥳 For every 50 power stones! 🥳🥳
Lets hit the goal of 30 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕
I believe we can do it! We are at 14 members currently.