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Yan left without hesitation, leaving Chi Mi stunned.
"Yan, he…"
Yan's usual smile lingered.
"He's just trying to save face, don't take it to heart. He's a tsundere at heart."
"How do I put it… think of it as Uchiha Yan having become my shape."
"…."
What the hell!!
Chi Mi was dumbfounded. Is that really how you describe your relationship?
If I didn't know any better, I'd genuinely suspect there was something going on between them.
So… in the future, I'll also become 'your shape'?
As his mind wandered into questionable territory, Chi Mi's expression twisted.
He quickly shook his head and smacked his forehead, silently warning himself to stop with the crazy thoughts.
What a load of nonsense.
Yan could say it like that, but that didn't mean Chi Mi should follow along.
Seeing Chi Mi visibly disturbed and trying to avoid his gaze, Yan squinted as his smile faded into something more sinister.
"If your thoughts are this disorganized, I don't mind using a genjutsu to help you tidy up your brain."
I was just painting a mental image, did you have to take it so literally?
"I-I'm sorry, it's my fault."
Chi Mi immediately adjusted his attitude, not wanting to challenge Yan in the domain of genjutsu.
To be precise, no one in the Uchiha besides Shisui would even think of matching illusions with Yan.
"I'll seriously and thoroughly consider your proposal."
"That's enough."
Yan hadn't expected Chi Mi to jump to his side immediately. Willingness to consider was already more than enough.
"Well then, goodbye."
After seeing Chi Mi off, Yan silently hoped the guy had a strong heart.
The clan's hardliners were nothing like him.
Just a bowl of ramen and a few words to win over a capable person?
That was far too optimistic.
Yan had broader objectives. It depended entirely on how much strength the hardline elders still held.
He hoped they wouldn't disappoint him.
As the helper cleared the bowls and chopsticks, Yan debated whether to help with the dishes.
Just then, the person he'd been waiting for arrived.
"Nothing for me?"
The curtain was pushed open, and seeing the empty table, the newcomer held their stomach and flopped down, visibly disappointed.
"They don't feed you at the Hokage's office?"
Yan joked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't remind me," Tsunade muttered irritably.
"The old man's making me oversee everything. Where's the time for dinner?"
"Right, the village elders are so busy they can't even eat… yet they always have time to keep tabs on Uchiha."
Yan's tone dripped with sarcasm, his grin returning.
"…"
The brat still spoke with that venomous tongue.
Tsunade clenched her fist, ready to punch, but restrained herself.
"Cut it out with that tone. Today's the Uchiha clan meeting. Civilians can't step foot in there.
And your hardliners—those guys are a constant headache. You know what I mean."
No matter how strict surveillance became, no one could just barge into the Uchiha district.
If things escalated to that level, it'd mean outright war.
That's why the village only monitored from the outskirts using long-range means.
"The hardliners are a real issue. But the patriarch and I are already working on dismantling them.
That faction must be broken down.
Uchiha belongs to the village, and we won't allow any of our own to act in ways that jeopardize our clan or the village's unity."
You had to speak out when necessary—even if it came off as rehearsed.
At least it showed sincerity and a willingness to improve.
Bottling it all up and saying nothing was the real mistake.
That had been Uchiha's problem in the past—elders always holding their heads high, while Fugaku, the clan head, kept silent on everything.
Yan recounted the highlights of today's clan meeting.
Tsunade listened intently, nodding in satisfaction.
She could see Yan's sincerity.
He wasn't just spouting words—he had actually taken steps.
"The police department's structure did have issues.
Reforming it will definitely help promote cooperation and efficiency. That's a solid step forward."
The police department's framework had gone unchanged since its inception—outdated and rigid.
Meanwhile, even the Anbu had undergone several overhauls.
Uchiha's structure was long overdue for a revamp.
"Let's grab a proper meal and talk this through."
Tsunade didn't feel like talking on an empty stomach.
So it was blackmail, after all.
If you want food from me, just say it straight.
Tsunade requested barbecue—and even brought her assistant, Shizune.
As they grilled meat and sipped sake, Tsunade leaned back, satisfied.
She burped occasionally while ranting:
"That old man is seriously getting on my nerves.
'Don't do this, don't do that'—and those two fossils from the Elders' Council keep badgering me about Uchiha.
But listen, as long as you keep your promise, I won't treat you with prejudice.
Just know, not everything can be changed overnight."
Even as Hokage, Tsunade had to proceed step by step.
She still needed support from the Third Hokage and the elders.
She couldn't just cancel the surveillance on Uchiha outright—but she could ease off on some of the pressure.
If she could pry open even a small gap, things would become easier.
That alone was Tsunade doing her best.
To fully remove surveillance, the truth behind the Nine-Tails attack had to come out—
and Yan would have to be the bridge.
Yan, who had barely eaten anything, simply helped flip the meat with chopsticks.
He made a calm promise:
"As for the mysterious man behind the Nine-Tails incident, I'll do everything I can to uncover him, restore Uchiha's name, and resolve this feud."
"That would be ideal—but can you pull it off?"
Tsunade sounded doubtful.
If it were easy, Anbu would've done it by now.
The Nine-Tails incident was a scar on Konoha.
Even while blaming Uchiha, the village had tried to find the real perpetrator.
But they'd hit a dead end.
Just because they couldn't, didn't mean he couldn't.
"I'll try my best. The man had Sharingan and impersonated Madara Uchiha—there has to be something to trace."
"As long as your heart's in the right place."
If he found something, great.
If not, slowly diffusing tensions would suffice.
But the hardliners… they had to go.
That was Tsunade's line in the sand.
They were a bomb waiting to go off.
Even if they didn't represent the entire clan, any action they took would be blamed on all Uchiha.
"Once things are settled with Danzo, your people will be allowed to inspect the prison.
That's our way of reassuring the public and the DaimyĹŤ's office. But make sure Uchiha behaves."
Stuffed, Tsunade patted her belly and left with Shizune's help.
Yan stared at the bill and sighed.
These two women actually ate this much?
Not even pigs eat like this.
"My lord, the bill…"
The waiter gave a sheepish smile.
Yan stood, expressionless.
"I didn't bring any money. Send the bill to the police department and have them charge it to Uchihahiko. I'll handle it later."
"Yes, sir. Please come again!"
As long as the tab would be settled, the restaurant didn't mind.
Yan wasn't trying to be difficult—he'd just genuinely come out with barely enough cash for ramen.
Who'd have thought the Hokage would extort him for a full-blown feast?
So much meat. So much sake.
He wasn't about to create a shadow clone just to fetch money.
Outside, the "drunk" Tsunade suddenly stood up straight, startling Shizune.
"T-Tsunade-sama, were you faking?!"
Tsunade, cheeks rosy, whispered, "Keep it down. I didn't bring money either. I had to extort the brat. I helped him—he owes me."
"B-but…"
Shizune didn't know how to respond.
How are we supposed to live like this?
"I'm heading to the Hokage's office. You go home and rest."
Tsunade strode off confidently, leaving Shizune cold and teary-eyed on the empty street.
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade gave a full report of her meeting with Yan and the reforms discussed during the Uchiha clan meeting.
She also conveyed the guarantees made by both Yan and Fugaku.
After listening, the Third Hokage nodded approvingly.
"Well done, Tsunade. Compared to Danzo's aggressiveness, Uchiha's current stance brings far more stability.
I'm glad you didn't act rashly."
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