"You're awfully slow! Is this really the discipline of an Uchiha shinobi?"
Before Uchiha Douhuan and his two companions could speak, a jonin from the Utatane clan cut in with a sharp remark.
Two civilian ninjas, who had been about to greet Douhuan, froze on the spot, caught between pride and caution. Offending either the Uchiha or the Utatane was the last thing they could afford.
Douhuan turned his head, smirking faintly in contempt, then stepped toward the two civilians with an easy smile and offered his hand.
"I'm Uchiha Douhuan. It's an honor to be working with you."
The two men, startled yet flattered, quickly shook his hand. None of them had expected the new head of the Uchiha clan—already a legendary name from the Three Wars—to be so approachable.
"Nagai Seiichi. I hope Clan Leader Douhuan will look after us on this mission."
"Kuroki Ryuta. With you here, I feel confident we'll succeed."
"Not at all. This mission depends on everyone's cooperation," Douhuan said warmly.
But the Utatane jonin, Tatsuneju, grew irritated at being ignored. "Didn't you hear me? You show up late and don't even bother to apologize?"
"As far as I recall," Douhuan replied coldly, turning back to face him, "we're not past the meeting time yet."
Behind him, Uchiha Inahori and Uchiha Zaidou opened their Sharingan in unison, the crimson glow filling the air with unspoken pressure.
"And tell me," Douhuan's eyes shifted, the three tomoe revolving slowly, "did your elders never teach you to show respect to the strong?"
Inuzuka Fuu, Gekkou Hayate, and Uzuki Yugao, who had meant to greet Douhuan, stopped where they stood. Even the two Hyuga shinobi, arms crossed, simply observed in silence, their expressions unreadable.
"Enough. Everyone's here—let's move out," Kakashi interjected, stowing away Xiao Liu Bei and stepping forward.
"Since the captain has spoken, let's go," Douhuan said lightly, letting his Sharingan fade as his smile returned.
Though the first meeting had been far from friendly, the group submitted their departure papers at the village gate and set out under Kakashi's lead. The mission wasn't urgent, so their pace was steady.
According to reports, Orochimaru had been sighted near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice. The group moved north.
On the road, Inuzuka Fuu's ninja hound, Momaru, padded over to Douhuan more than once.
"You've got quite the nose," Douhuan said, amused. He pulled raw meat from a sealing scroll and fed it to the dog.
After eating, Momaru gave a contented growl and licked his palm.
"Huh? That's unusual," Inuzuka Fuu admitted in surprise. "Momaru doesn't usually warm up to Uchiha."
"Well," Douhuan chuckled, "I'm one of the few in my clan without a summoning contract with the ninja cats. My summon is a hawk, so I keep raw meat on me. Perhaps that won him over."
"I see," Fuu grinned.
That brief exchange closed the distance between them. The Inuzuka clan, after all, valued those who treated their dogs well. Soon after, Hayate and Yugao came forward to strike up conversation too.
As days passed, camaraderie grew. Even the two Hyuga shinobi eventually softened after Douhuan broke the ice with them. By contrast, Utatane Neju and Mitomon Hayabusa—who had been hostile from the start—gradually found themselves isolated.
By evening, the group reached Tansho Street in the northern Land of Fire.
"It's late," Kakashi said. "We'll rest here tonight."
No one objected. Kakashi was about to lead them into a modest inn when Douhuan spoke up.
"How can we possibly rest in a place like this?"
"Hmph. We're on a mission. You don't get to be picky," Tatsuneki sneered. "If you're not satisfied, you should head home."
Douhuan ignored him. "Since fate has brought us together as a team, tonight's expenses are mine. Captain Kakashi, I trust you have no objection?"
"None at all," Kakashi replied.
"Good," Douhuan said, heading deeper into town.
The others hesitated, especially the two civilians, but once Kakashi followed without hesitation, they all went after him—leaving Tatsuneki and Hayabusa standing in the cold.
Douhuan led them to the most luxurious hot spring inn in the city. He booked a private suite for each of them, then proposed they go out for drinks. Everyone agreed.
They expected him to take them to a small barbecue place. Instead, he brought them to the finest restaurant in the city—the kind that usually catered only to nobles and wealthy merchants. Even Inuzuka Fuu, a respected member of his clan, had never dined in such a place. As for the civilian jonin, they could barely afford new ninjutsu, much less luxury like this.
Naturally, everyone sat with stiff restraint at first.
Douhuan, seated at the head, raised his glass. "Friends, thank you for your courtesy. Since you're here, relax. The Uchiha clan has always been generous to those we call our own."
"That's true!" Inuzuka Fuu laughed, lifting his drink. "I'll drink to that—I recognize you as my friend!"
One by one, the others followed, and the ice broke.
When the cups were emptied, Kakashi finally spoke up. "Douhuan, you're not even of age yet. Isn't it a little early to be breaking the three prohibitions of shinobi?"
Douhuan shot him a glare. "And someone who spends all day clutching his dirty books has the right to lecture me?"
The table erupted in laughter, the tension melting into lively chatter.
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