Uchiha Hikaru got up from the bed and rubbed his forehead.
Anko stirred slightly at his movent, pulling the white quilt closer and mumbling sleepily, "How long did you sleep? You go first... I need a bit more rest..."
Her voice gradually faded, and soon the room was filled with her soft, steady breathing.
Hikaru reached out, gently pulling the quilt up to cover her more fully. He brushed his fingers across her cheek a few tis before slipping out into the living room. He picked up his clothes from the floor—scattered from the night before—and got dressed. Today, he planned to head to the Konoha Police Departnt to deal with so paperwork.
As he passed by the window, he realized the sun was already high in the sky, hanging directly overhead.
The autumn sunlight wasn’t as oppressive as sumr’s heat. Though the wind stole warmth from the skin, the sun’s rays offered a pleasant touch of warmth in return.
It was nearly lunchti. Considering the energy he had burned last night, Hikaru changed his plans. Instead of the police departnt, he veered off toward the Akimichi clan’s barbecue restaurant.
He entered a private room and ordered everything on the nu marked as recomnded.
The waiter took the nu and quietly exited.
Hikaru was pleased. He poured hot tea from the clay teapot into a ceramic cup and began sipping, slowly savoring the flavor as he waited for the food.
A few minutes later, freshly prepared cuts of at arrived. The waiter laid them neatly on a tray beside the grill in the center of the table.
Hikaru picked up a slice of marbled pork belly with his black chopsticks, transferring it from the smooth white plate to the silver sh grill set above the red-hot charcoal. As the at hit the surface, it sizzled. Waves of heat radiated upward, rendering the fat until it glistened and bubbled. The aroma filled the small room.
One after another, he placed the rest of the pork belly onto the grill. Then he turned over the hourglass set beside him and waited calmly for the sand to run out.
In the next room, Akimichi Choza, Nara Shikaku, and Yamanaka Inoichi were enjoying their own al. A tower of empty grilling trays had already ford beside Choza, while Shikaku and Inoichi kept the at rotating on the fire.
Just then, the restaurant owner entered.
Choza looked up, surprised. "Toudou, aren’t you the boss? Why are you out here serving tables yourself? And in such a hurry, too. Soone making trouble?"
Seeing Toudou’s anxious expression, Choza felt a flicker of unease.
Shikaku set down his chopsticks, placing a hand on Choza’s shoulder. "Easy. Ever since the Police Departnt reforms, public security has gotten better. It probably isn’t troublemakers. Let him explain first."
Toudou bowed his head respectfully and said, "Clan Leader... Uchiha Hikaru just arrived. He’s in the private room next to yours."
"What? Uchiha Hikaru?" Choza’s expression tensed. "What’s he doing here? Is he alone?"
Toudou nodded. "Yes. He ca by himself. Ordered a lot of food. I overheard the staff talking in the back and thought I should inform you right away."
Choza frowned, unsure how to respond.
Inoichi spoke up. "Brother Toudou, please return to your duties. We’ll handle this."
Toudou bowed again and left. As Shikaku had said, trouble in the store had beco rare lately. Even the occasional drunk was handled swiftly by the Police Departnt—dragged off and fined, nothing more.
Business was booming now compared to before.
After Toudou left, Choza turned to his friends, worry in his eyes. "What do you think he’s doing here? Just ca for barbecue?"
Inoichi sat cross-legged, deep in thought. He couldn’t guess Hikaru’s intentions.
Shikaku tapped his fingers on the table, silent for a mont. Then he said, "It’s not coincidence. All three of us clan heads just happened to be here? Hikaru probably knew that. He’s here to gauge our position."
"You think the Uchiha have caught wind of Root’s actions?" Inoichi’s eyes narrowed. "That incident the other day..."
Bang!
Choza slamd his fist down. "Root... Damn Root. I don’t know what the Third Hokage is thinking, letting them demand clan mbers—children, no less! It’s unforgivable!"
Shikaku let out a sigh. There were no comforting words. His own clan had lost two children to Root’s so-called ’recruitnt.’
"The Uchiha may have figured out what Root is up to," Shikaku said. "Even if things seem peaceful, tensions are rising. A clash with the village leadership is coming."
Choza’s anger faded into resolve. "Shikaku... You always know what to do. What now?"
"Don’t worry," Choza added. "Whatever you decide, we’re with you. Ino-Shika-Cho moves together."
Inoichi nodded in firm agreent. They’d been through decades of war and politics together. They trusted Shikaku completely.
Shikaku paused his fingers. Then he stood.
"Let’s go. Since Uchiha Hikaru is here, we shouldn’t avoid him. I won’t make a decision until I speak with him."
Choza and Inoichi exchanged glances, then stood up to follow.
The red walls and soft orange lighting in the private room gave it a cozy warmth. Hikaru was now on his third round of grilled at.
He placed the final slices onto the grate and poured another cup of tea. The fragrance of the fresh brew washed away the heaviness of the food.
A voice called from outside the door.
"Sir, there are three guests who would like to see you."
It was Toudou, announcing them politely.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow. Visitors? At this ti? Could it be... the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads?
"Co in," he said.
Black spiky hair, a crimson mane, and a pale yellow ponytail stepped into the room.
Just as he had guessed.
Uchiha Hikaru imdiately started processing all the intelligence he had on the trio.
"I’m surprised the three of you would co to visit soone like , a re deputy clan leader," he said calmly.
Shikaku chuckled and waved a hand. "Please, Deputy Clan Leader Hikaru. You’re also the deputy head of the Police Departnt and the rising face of the Uchiha. That’s hardly ’re.’"
Hikaru observed them closely.
Choza had oil stains on his robe. All three slled heavily of charcoal and roasted at—stronger even than in Hikaru’s own room. Faint traces of sake hung in the air. Clearly, they’d arrived before him. A coincidence, perhaps. Or not.
The man who opened the door earlier—Toudou—was plump, but his skin was soft and uncalloused, suggesting he didn’t do manual labor. Yet he had pen-calluses, aning he did bookkeeping. Definitely the owner.
Hikaru’s mind worked swiftly. His sudden appearance likely stirred their suspicion, especially after Root’s recent action of seizing clan children—including Neji, as Hiashi had confided. Ino-Shika-Cho must have lost people too.
The threads of information wound tighter, weaving into a clear answer.
Hikaru poured three cups of tea and slid them across the table.
Then he said sothing that made all three clan heads freeze.
"Shisui’s death was Danzo’s doing. The Uchiha clan loosened control of the Police Departnt recently. I believe so of your clans’ shinobi applied to join?"
Beads of sweat ford on Shikaku’s brow. His relaxed expression tightened, and his fingers stopped tapping.
Hikaru—just sixteen years old—had set the terms of the eting in one sentence.
He had poured tea, seemingly lowering his guard... only to strike with a direct accusation.
A masterstroke of political pressure.
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