"There won't be any missions for a while. You can move freely, but it's best not to relax too much. Stay prepared for combat."
"Yes!"
After lunch, Sakumo found the three of them and briefly reminded them, then they all went their separate ways.
Hakushi naturally returned to the Uchiha Clan Land with Ruri, to the mansion.
Having not returned to the village for several months, Hakushi felt like a lot had changed on his walk back, yet it also seemed like nothing had changed at all.
"What do you plan to do in the upcoming days, Ruri?"
Their break wouldn't be too short nor too long; estimated around half a month before the next tough mission arrived.
"Training."
Ruri answered succinctly.
"That's really typical of you. Lately, I've had some new ideas in my head, and after these past few months of missions, I think I can create some practical tools to aid in combat."
"How so?"
Ruri seemed quite interested in this.
"Smoke Bombs are not bad, but they're easily countered by Wind Escape-type ninja techniques, and they don't last long. They can be used for surprise attacks, but what if we add some poison gas to the Smoke Bombs? Even if the enemy uses Wind Escape to disperse the smoke, they would have inhaled a lot of poison by then, significantly weakening them."
Hakushi shared his idea, believing it to be feasible.
"Ninjas generally have some level of poison resistance, especially Hidden Sand Ninjas. If the poison isn't strong enough, it won't be very effective against ninjas."
"No matter how good their resistance, it has its limits. However, if we plan to fight with poison gas, we also need to prepare antidotes ahead of time and have our people take them to avoid being accidentally harmed."
"It's suitable for small-scale operations, but in large-scale battles, its effectiveness might backfire."
Hakushi nodded in agreement with Ruri's point.
In large-scale battles, the quantity of antidotes would be an issue, and poison gas is used together with Smoke Bombs; even if one withstands the poison gas, sight would still be obstructed by the smoke in the short term.
However, Hakushi never intended to promote this tactic widely; implementing it within Sakumo's team was sufficient.
After such a long time, Hakushi clearly understood that their team mainly carried out dangerous and critical confidential missions. Developing unique tactics suitable for Sakumo's team was quite necessary.
As they approached the mansion they hadn't seen for a long time, they suddenly saw a man and a woman standing at the doorstep, waving towards them.
No, more accurately, they were waving at Ruri, looking very happy and excited.
"Do you know them?"
Hakushi turned to Ruri, as he hadn't seen this man and woman in the Uchiha Race's area over the past couple of years.
"My parents."
Ruri answered calmly.
"!?"
Hakushi was a bit taken aback.
It was his first time meeting Ruri's parents; previously, he had only heard about them from Ruri. It was the first time he met them in person.
In fact, ever since Hakushi started staying at Ruri's house, he hadn't seen Ruri's parents return home.
Even during New Year's, they only exchanged some photos and letters. Ruri's yearly birthday and New Year gifts were simple—a passbook.
The passbook started with a 1, followed by numerous zeros.
This was the plain and boring birthday and New Year gift Ruri received every year.
"Long time no see, little Ruri. Have you missed mom and dad?"
The woman was dressed in luxurious, noble attire, her hair neatly updo with many adornments.
Despite looking somewhat overly gaudy and adorned, she didn't give off a vulgar aura.
Strange to say, it seemed as if such an aura was her natural disposition.
She rushed over, hugging Ruri tightly, nuzzling against her, causing Ruri's small face to scrunch up. Hakushi feared Ruri might accidentally launch a Fireball, reducing her mother to ashes.
"So noisy. I've told you many times, don't get your saliva on my face."
Ruri kept a stern face, seemingly serious in educating her mother.
"Don't say that, Ruri. Mommy hasn't seen you in a long time. Let mommy pamper her cute little...
Boom!
Hakushi facepalmed from behind.
Knew this would happen.
A wall of the manor burst open by a Fireball, billowing black smoke.
Ruri's mother's face was now coated in cold sweat, her neck turning mechanically with a clack, as if rusted, while the smile on her face had turned stiffly awkward.
"Geez, little Ruri isn't as obedient as she used to be. Back in the day..."
"Do you want me to throw you out? Or perhaps consider being burned? Drowning is also an option."
Ruri raised an eyebrow, seemingly reaching her limit of patience.
The woman in luxurious garb sighed, abandoning her aim to continue embracing Ruri.
To think such a cute daughter couldn't be treated as she pleased. If only they'd known earlier, they would've had a boy to play with instead.
Her daughter was not obedient in the slightest.
"Honey, how about we have another one? Little Ruri has grown up; she doesn't want mom and dad anymore."
"Clearly it's your fault, you know Ruri has grown up."
The man witnessing the mother-daughter interaction seemed troubled, scratching his head.
His daughter's strong-willed nature since childhood and her having reign at home were things he, as a father, had long been accustomed to.
"Oh my, you must be the little Hakushi that little Ruri often mentions in her letters?"