Konoha Notes.

Chapter 495 Cricket

Chapter 495 Cricket

After handling this oversight, which was neither a major nor a minor matter, Xiuji's stomach voiced a rather straightforward protest.

He hasn't had irregular eating habits for a while now.

As a ninja, you are disqualified.

As an ordinary person, I would give you full marks.

He then turned to the operative beside him: "Want to eat?"

Yamato, still wearing a mask, politely declined at first: "The information about the bamboo tug has not been fully compiled yet, so—"

Then, without any formalities, Xiu Si waved his hand and left the branch building alone.

As an area that rarely rests, the number of shops in the stadium area at this time is far greater than in Konoha Village.

There are many options to choose from, but if you're eating alone, the places you can go to are limited.

As he pondered, Shuji saw three figures from behind.

From tallest to shortest, silver hair, black hair, black hair.

He stepped forward.

"Shall we eat?"

All three people turned around at the same time.

Sasuke was the first to react. His black eyes widened slightly, then his eyebrows lowered and his jawline tightened.

It was an expression somewhere between politeness and instinct. It showed a desire to maintain basic decorum, yet an inability to conceal the pent-up anger that had been building up since noon.

"Mr. Shuuji."

The voice was clear and upright. The expression was strained.

Kakashi's hand landed on Sasuke's shoulder.

The silver-haired Jonin gestured to shoo him away: "Go away, go away, it's none of your business."

"Tonight, it is the disciple's turn to invite the master."

Sasuke instinctively shrugged, trying to shake off the hand.

The next second, they froze again.

He recalled the conversation at noon.

A man who needs gossip as conversation starters. A man who needs to relinquish a little respect to feel satisfied.

He gritted his teeth and turned his face to the other side.

He didn't shake his hand.

Shuji watched this scene and waved to Itachi.

Itachi walked over and lowered his head slightly.

Shuji raised his hand to cover his mouth, leaned close to Itachi's ear, and whispered in a very low voice.

"—Doesn't it look a lot like this? Clearly not wanting to be masturbated but forcing yourself to—"

Itachi looked at Sasuke intently.

Sasuke's face was turned away, leaving this side with a stubborn profile and one ear. His cheeks were slightly puffed out, his shoulders were taut, and Kakashi's hand was still resting on them.

Itachi nodded.

"Yes."

Sasuke's eyes widened.

What did that man say? What does "similar" mean? Why did my brother nod?

Then, the weight on my shoulders suddenly disappeared.

Kakashi removed his hand from Sasuke's shoulder. The silver-haired Jonin casually moved towards the two of them.

His steps were small, his toes barely touching the ground, his posture somewhere between unintentional and deliberate—a model of eavesdropping.

Sasuke's attention was instantly drawn back from Itachi.

"Kakashi Hatake".

Kakashi stopped immediately when his disciple gave him a low shout.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just too curious!"

Kakashi apologized verbally, but his head kept tilting towards Shuji and Itachi.

Sasuke was furious: "Brother!"

Seeing Uchiha exhale, Shuji contentedly removed his hand from his mouth: "I'm going to eat some noodles, I won't bother you anymore."

.

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the nearest ramen stand, his steps light and cheerful, even his back view exuding joy.

Kakashi watched the departing figure, a hint of regret in his voice: "Ah, gone."

Itachi returned to Sasuke's side.

Sasuke's gaze followed Shuuji's retreating figure as he disappeared into the crowd before turning to Itachi. He composed himself and asked, "What did he say?"

Before Itachi could speak, Kakashi had already returned to his position, standing beside Sasuke with his hands in his pockets, his tone serious: "Yeah, what did he say? Itachi!"

Sasuke turned around and sneered at him: "This has nothing to do with you!"

At noon, he actually felt that compared to that person, Kakashi Hatake could barely be considered a good person.

He carefully considered Kakashi's request and used his apprenticeship fee to treat him to a meal. Since he was treating Kakashi, it was only natural to invite his older brother as well.

That's when I ran into that man again in the venue area.

Now all he wants to do is drag out that overly naive version of himself from noon and give him a good whack on the head.

Kakashi raised his hands.

"Actually, there is a little bit. How should I put it, it's an emotional component."

"Look, the person being talked about is my disciple, and also my subordinate."

"Neither as a teacher nor as a superior can tolerate such a thing happening."

Then Kakashi went to accuse Itachi: "As the older brother, what have you done?!"

"How dare they bully their own brother with outsiders!"

Sasuke stood still.

Even though he knew Kakashi was just putting on an act, he couldn't help but agree.

Yes.

He looked at Itachi.

As the older brother.

What are you doing?

Despite the two gazes directed at him simultaneously, Itachi's expression remained unchanged. He simply looked back quietly.

"Forgive me, Sasuke."

It won't happen again next time.

Sasuke stared at him for a while, finally managing to suppress his anger. He turned and walked towards the nearest restaurant. He lifted the curtain halfway, then stopped. He turned back.

Kakashi and Itachi haven't caught up yet.

Not only did he not follow, but Kakashi was moving closer to Itachi, probably asking about what had just happened.

Sasuke turned back, grabbed Itachi, and dragged him forward.

The restaurant was dimly lit. Sasuke ordered a small private room, then picked up the menu and began ordering with a blank expression.

"Salted grilled saury, eggplant in miso sauce."

Kakashi's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Sasuke-kun actually remembers. I, Sensei—"

Tempura.

Kakashi's smile vanished.

Sasuke didn't look at him, turned another page, and said in Itachi's direction, "Grilled meat skewers, braised beef tongue, salt-grilled chicken wings."

He handed the menu to the waiter before sitting up straight.

Throughout the entire process, Rong maintained a gentle smile.

The food hasn't been served yet. The only thing in the private room for now is the steam rising from the teacups.

Sasuke held up his cup: "The Second Hokage once had six members of the Shadow Guard."

Her voice had returned to its usual calm. This was a prepared topic, requiring no emotional involvement. Tonight's meal was bound to yield some results.

"The Third Hokage, Uchiha Kagami, Akimichi Torifu, and the two advisors now."

"For the last person, I only found his name. Shimura Danzo."

"In the public records, apart from the fact that he made meritorious contributions as a comrade-in-arms of the third generation, everything else has been hidden."

"Shimura Danzo was active during the reign of the Third Hokage. As far as I know, he was ultimately convicted of treason."

"What did he do?"

Kakashi sighed. "I see. That's the real purpose of tonight's meal."

"However, you've definitely come to the right person."

He glanced at the itachi beside him.

"Both Itachi and I are connected to Danzo's death."

"Unfortunately, the other party involved was just chased away by you."

Sasuke's expression changed.

"Mr. Shuuji?"

Then he retorted, "You were the one who drove him away, weren't you, Kakashi?"

"The people responsible for executing him," Kakashi said, "are Shuji and your brother."

Sasuke couldn't help but think of it.

If the death of the second-generation disciple is related to these two people, then it means that investigating who Shuji is and finding out the whereabouts of Shimura Danzo are essentially the same task.

more than.

He raised his gaze, first looking at Kakashi, then at Ryo. The Director of the Joint Affairs Bureau, and his assistant. Shuji's relationship with the Fifth Hokage was beyond question.

In other words.

It involves more than three people.

There is also the fifth generation.

The shadows that person was involved with were the Second, Third, and Fifth Generations.

Neither Kakashi nor Itachi spoke for the time being.

As the dishes were being served one after another, Kakashi cleverly moved the tempura he disliked to Itachi's side, and subtly placed the grilled meat that Itachi disliked over Kakashi's side as well.

Sasuke snorted, but ultimately didn't care. Ordering a dish that neither of them liked was already his greatest revenge.

Instead, we waited for what would happen next.

Kakashi then said, "If I had to describe that person, he'd be an ambitious schemer."

"He made many contributions to the village, and after the death of the Second Hokage, he and the Third Hokage together supported Konoha at that time."

"But he longed to guide Konoha's future himself and was firmly hostile to everything unstable in and outside the village in his eyes. He ignored the village's will and wanted to solve everything in his own way."

"Shuji had a different view on this, so he first brought back the Fifth Hokage to assume the position."

Retrieved.

Take office.

Sasuke repeated these two words in his mind.

This happened five years ago.

At that time, the third generation was still in office. This statement—

He recalled the tone of that man's voice when he discussed who would succeed him as Hokage with his father two years ago. He also recalled the tone of that man's voice when he expressed his expectations for him a year ago.

"Danzo was the Third Hokage's assistant," Kakashi said. "After the Fifth Hokage took office, he naturally had his own people to choose from. That's when he lost his power."

Sasuke naturally knew who the Fifth Hokage was: "So, it's because he's unwilling to have his position taken away by Mr. Shuji—"

"No, to be precise, the one who took Danzo's place was me," Kakashi said. "Shuji is now in the Fifth Hokage's position."

"But that conclusion wasn't exactly wrong. He was dissatisfied with it and, in his attempt to regain power, did things that went against the interests of the village, and was then killed by Shuji and your brother."

"Is that all?" Sasuke asked. If that was the case, he had misjudged the focus of the mission assigned by the Second Hokage. So the fundamental task was still to investigate Shuji.

"That's all," Kakashi replied.

Sasuke then wanted to ask about other basic information about Shuuji.

Before asking, he also inquired, "What are the destabilizing factors in the village?"

Perhaps this is something the second generation wants him to know?

Kakashi didn't say anything, but simply picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Itachi looked at his younger brother and said, "The Uchiha clan, that is, our clan."

Sasuke's train of thought faltered for a moment.

How could the Uchiha clan be a destabilizing factor in the village?

But he didn't say those words aloud. The expressions on the faces of his clansmen when they talked about the Hokage, the things they discussed repeatedly in the meeting room, and recently—

The question that once existed but was put aside has now resurfaced.

"————Why?"

"6

he asks.

"Is it because of our clan's yearning for the Hokage?"

"There are people all over the village who aspire to become Hokage," Kakashi said.

Sasuke thought of Green Aoi again.

"Is it because those who yearn for Hokage and actually have the opportunity are not qualified?"

This time, he didn't wait for Kakashi's reply, nor did he wait for Itachi's reply.

He continued speaking, as if talking to himself.

"Power? No, our race possesses sufficient power."

"So, loyalty?"

"Aren't the Uchiha clan loyal enough to the village?"

"Is it still a matter of insufficient talent?"

He recalled the reason why he had been taken to see the second-generation leader.

Because Naruto's strengths are more conventional. Because that person believes he needs another point of reference.

"—Trust?"

Sasuke's voice was very soft.

Why are people not trusted? How can we gain their trust?

"Is strength, loyalty, talent, plus the skill of words enough to earn trust?"

Itachi put down his chopsticks.

"Strength, loyalty, talent, words. These things can only earn a portion of trust. They are not enough for someone to entrust their future to you."

Sasuke was about to ask another question when Itachi pointed to the table: "The food is almost finished."

Sasuke looked down. Apart from the tempura, Kakashi had already eaten most of the food on the table.

Beneath his mask, his food was bulging, but the silver-haired ninja chewed at an undiminished pace, his voice muffled: "Are you all full? I'm still a little hungry. Can we order another round?"

Itachi got tempura, just enough to fill his stomach.

Sasuke swept the last bit of food into his own bowl, not adding any more for Kakashi. He also chose to ignore the silver-haired Jonin's comment that the hospitality he received was insufficient.

How much money does he earn? According to the rules, when you go out to eat, only the elderly should pay the bill.

People should be grateful that someone as unscrupulous as Director Hatake can afford to eat this much.

On the way back to the village, Sasuke didn't continue the previous topic. The remaining answers would probably be found during the investigation of Shuji.

He walked for a while before speaking.

"I am very grateful to Mr. Shuji."

"But brother, can't you just tell him to stop—"

He paused for a moment.

"My brother has never been treated like this by Mr. Shuji, has he?"

"I don't know," Itachi said.

"?"

"I don't know if you'll use me as a topic of conversation, senpai." Itachi's smile remained unchanged. "As long as you don't care, Sasuke."

"In that case, maybe one day, the senior will invite you to join us."

95

Sasuke remained silent: "Doesn't this still mean we can only go along with that person's wishes?"

"Yes," Itachi admitted, "What you want to do, senpai, is very difficult to oppose."

"Of course, if you have enough influence to make the seniors wary, he might hold back a bit—"

"In front of you."

Sasuke Uchiha felt a wave of helplessness. Did this mean that even if he really became Hokage, he wouldn't be able to escape that man talking about him behind his back?

Is there really no difference between becoming Hokage and not becoming Hokage?

"After all, the senior has worked hard for so long."

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