"You're late. Is this the Uchiha's idea of ninja discipline?" As Seiryu's team arrived, the Koharu clan jōnin was first to speak up.
The two civilian ninjas, about to greet Seiryu, froze, caught between offending either side—after all, both Uchiha and Koharu were not to be trifled with, even for special jōnin.
Seiryu glanced at the speaker, sneered, and ignored him. Instead, he approached the civilian ninja with a warm smile and extended his hand.
"I'm Uchiha Seiryu. It's an honor to work with you."
The two civilian ninjas were taken aback that the new Uchiha clan head, famous since the Third Great War, could be so approachable.
"Nagai Seiichi. Please look after us, Clan Head Seiryu."
"Kuroki Ryuta. With you here, I'm sure the mission will go smoothly."
"No, we'll all need to work together." Seiryu laughed.
Koharu clan jōnin, seeing Seiryu's group ignore them, grew angry. "Didn't you hear me? You're late and didn't apologize!"
"I believe it's not yet time for our scheduled meeting," Seiryu replied coldly.
Behind him, Inaho and Zaito activated their Sharingan and stared at the man.
"Besides, didn't your elders teach you to show at least basic respect to the strong?" Seiryu's three-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly.
Inuzuka Kaze, Hayate, and Yugao, who had wanted to greet Seiryu, now just watched. The Hyuga stood by, arms crossed, watching coolly.
"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's go," Kakashi said, closing his book and stepping forward.
"If Captain Kakashi says so, let's go." Seiryu deactivated his Sharingan, smiling again.
Though the first meeting wasn't pleasant, the group checked out at the village gate and departed together.
There was no rush—they didn't need to hurry.
According to intel, Orochimaru had been seen near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Fields, so they headed north.
On the road, Inuzuka Kaze's dog, Kuromaru, kept coming over to Seiryu.
"You've got a keen nose," Seiryu laughed, pulling some raw meat from his scroll to feed Kuromaru.
After eating, the dog barked happily and licked Seiryu's palm.
"Huh? Kuromaru's never been this friendly with a Uchiha before. Strange," Inuzuka Kaze said, surprised. The Inuzuka and Uchiha clans weren't enemies, but the Inuzuka's dogs and the Uchiha's ninja cats didn't get along.
"It's probably because I'm one of the few Uchihas without a ninja cat contract. My summon is a hawk, so I always carry raw meat. He must smell it," Seiryu explained.
"Got it," Kaze laughed.
With this, Kaze and Seiryu got along much better—the Inuzuka were always friendlier to people who got along with their dogs.
Hayate and Yugao soon joined in too.
As time passed, everyone got more comfortable—even the two Hyuga, after Seiryu's effort to break the ice, chatted a bit. The previously unfriendly Koharu and Mitokado ninjas gradually found themselves isolated.
By evening, they reached Tanzaku Quarters in the north of the Land of Fire.
"It's late, let's rest here tonight," Kakashi said.
No one objected. Kakashi led them to a small inn, but Seiryu spoke up: "How can anyone rest well in a place like this?"
"Hmph, we're on a mission. Who are you to complain?" the Koharu ninja sneered. "If you're not happy, go home."
Seiryu ignored the mockery and said, "Since we're all on the same team, tonight's expenses are on me. Kakashi, any objections as captain?"
"No problem," Kakashi replied.
"Good." Seiryu headed toward the town center.
Everyone hesitated, especially the civilian ninja, but seeing Kakashi follow Seiryu without hesitation, they followed, leaving the Koharu and Mitokado ninja behind.
Seiryu took the group to the town's most luxurious hot spring hotel, got everyone a suite, and then suggested they all go out for drinks. Everyone agreed.
They'd expected maybe a meal at a barbecue restaurant, but Seiryu led them to the fanciest restaurant in town.
Places like this catered to nobles and wealthy merchants. Even Inuzuka Kaze, who wasn't low-ranking in his clan, had never dined here; the civilian jōnin, always saving up for jutsu, didn't dare dream of it.
So everyone sat a bit nervously.
Seiryu, at the head of the table, raised his glass first.
"Thank you all for coming. Since you're here, relax—Uchiha is always generous to friends."
"Well said!" Inuzuka Kaze drained his glass. "You've got a friend in me!"
After a round, Kakashi commented, "Seiryu, you're still underage, aren't you? Not great for a ninja to break the three taboos so soon."
"Says the guy who clings to his dirty books," Seiryu retorted.
Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere grew warm.