"…Hmph. Those Sunagakure fellows—this entire war started because their Third Kazekage went missing, and yet they're the first to push for peace talks…"
"Well, that's Suna for you," Senju Gen shrugged. "As Yuan once said—they're weak, but they love stirring trouble."
"I heard Kusagakure has a new leader named Gintoki. No one's heard of him before. The village is gathering intel."
"And the Land of Rivers, which leans toward Suna, just submitted an alliance proposal. A lot of rogue ninja are gathering there."
"As long as the Great Nations are still fighting, the smaller countries will only grow more chaotic."
"Gen, you really know a lot."
"Haha. Plenty of my clansmen work inside village departments—that's how I get the news."
Kagami joined in, "On the Kumogakure front, the Hyūga did well. Several Kumo sneak attacks were exposed by the Byakugan. They're furious."
"The Byakugan is practically cheating on the battlefield," Yuan said calmly. "It grants strategic superiority. I've said it before—if the Sharingan and Byakugan were placed before the Kage and they could only choose one… most would pick the Byakugan."
A faint fragrance drifted toward him.
He looked up—
And met a pair of clear autumn-like eyes.
Senju Yuki stood there, serene and elegant, placing dishes one by one before him.
"Yuki-san, thank you."
She rolled her eyes slightly.
Ever since Uchiha Tsukine had appeared claiming to be Yuan's fiancée, her heart had been restless.
Even meditation hadn't calmed it.
She had intended to leave after serving the food.
But today—
After tonight, he would be gone for years.
Her heart softened.
She poured two cups of sake, handed one to him.
"May your journey be safe."
Their eyes met.
There was something complicated in her gaze.
Yuan accepted the cup and drained it in one swallow.
"With Yuki-san's blessing, this trip will surely go smoothly."
A faint smile curved her lips.
She tilted her neck gracefully and emptied her cup as well.
Across the room, Gen blinked.
"…Why does my sister seem strange today? She actually toasted Yuan?"
He leaned toward Yuan and whispered loudly, "All the dishes tonight were made by my sister. She's usually too lazy to step into the kitchen."
In the Adjacent Room
Yuki and Izumi sat across from one another, sweets arranged between them.
When Gen's words drifted over, Yuki froze.
"That brat…"
Then Yuan's voice floated in from next door—
"These dishes are excellent."
"The charcoal-grilled slices are tender without being greasy."
"The braised beef is rich and juicy—you must have put great care into this."
Yuki's lips curled upward unconsciously.
Izumi watched her with a peculiar expression.
Yuki quickly composed herself.
"Izumi… what do you know about Uchiha Tsukine?"
"Brother said she's the fiancée the clan head arranged. She's the granddaughter of the Main House elder."
"Your mother must be pleased."
"She is… but also a little regretful."
Izumi hesitated, then added quietly—
"Mother and I… always hoped you would end up with my brother."
"W-What?!"
Yuki's heart skipped violently.
For a moment, she felt flustered—
But quickly masked it with a laugh.
"How could that be? Me and that guy?"
Izumi sighed.
"Tsukine-sama is Lady Mikoto's youngest sister. Itou-san's aunt. Now she's my brother's fiancée… My relationship with Itachi-kun is getting complicated."
Yuki covered her mouth and chuckled.
"That's easy. If you and Gen get together, everything simplifies."
"I-I'm not like that with Gen!"
"I'm serious. Don't you think Gen is just as good as Uchiha Itachi?"
Back in the Main Hall
After tasting every dish, Yuan set his chopsticks down and poured another cup of sake.
"Gentlemen. For our friendship—let us empty this cup."
They raised their cups together.
"To our friendship."
The sake burned warm.
Harukaze glanced at Kagami.
"If all Hyūga Main House members are like Kuanren… you must have it rough."
Gen snorted. "If we weren't avoiding escalation, I would've punched him."
Kagami said nothing.
He simply poured another cup and drank.
After a moment, he said softly,
"I only feel sorry for Neji-sama. The Caged Bird will be placed on him soon. He's talented… disciplined beyond his years."
"Hyūga clan law cannot be overturned," Harukaze said quietly. "Not even by the village."
Yuan let out a cold laugh.
"Even if the village could intervene, they wouldn't. Preventing the Byakugan from leaking aligns with their interests."
Silence fell.
Gen suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! I almost forgot—there won't be a Fifth Hokage."
He looked at Yuan gravely.
"Your prediction came true. The Third-sama is returning to power."
Yuan's fingers paused around his cup.
Golden light flickered faintly in his eyes.
The board was resetting.
And a new game—
Was about to begin.
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