The three banquets, with only this last one being the main event, were the real purpose for which Hiruzen had provided the funds.
Tatsuma waited two days before delivering the invitation. Fugaku did not reply, but Tatsuma didn't mind and continued with his daily routine.
He trained in the morning, sparred with Minato at noon, and in the afternoon, visited BBQ Q once again.
Having come three times in four days, Tatsuma clearly noticed that the welcoming smiles had changed, becoming warmer and more enthusiastic.
It wasn't just because Tatsuma had come many times, but because each time he brought people of significant status. If they could keep Tatsuma as a customer, they could also keep the important guests that came with him.
Tatsuma knew that BBQ Q was bound to be disappointed with him, as he wouldn't come here if he had to spend his own money. It's not that he didn't want to; rather, he was unwilling to spend that much.
Excluding drinks and some high-end, even reservation-only dishes, the average cost per person at BBQ Q was between 5,000 and 10,000 ryo. Given that Tatsuma earned tens of thousands of ryo from a single mission, it seemed like he could easily afford it.
But Tatsuma had a large family to support, and all of their expenses fell on his shoulders. Although the Senju Clan's territory now only had two households, the area was so large that water, electricity, and maintenance costs were significant and required a large sum of money each cycle.
Moreover, as the last representative of the Senju Clan, Tatsuma had to pay for village activities, as well as for the weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies of acquaintances. On top of that, he had to make generous offerings during the holidays.
Nine years ago, when Tatsuma had just arrived in this world, having 2,000 ryo on hand would have given him some peace of mind. But now, if he had less than a million ryo left, he would feel anxious.
However, Tatsuma had become accustomed to this anxiety. After all, in his previous life, he had dealt with mortgage and car loan debt. This kind of stress was simply an "internal drive."
So Tatsuma had adapted to the competitive lifestyle and downgraded his spending habits, without letting it affect his normal rhythm of life. The high spending and service at BBQ Q couldn't change his frugal mindset, so he didn't need to go through the difficult adjustment from luxury back to simplicity.
Arriving early at BBQ Q, Tatsuma confirmed his reservation again before waiting in a private room. Just ten minutes before the scheduled time, there was some commotion outside the door.
"Tatsuma, long time no see."
The door opened, and Fugaku and Yashiro appeared. Fugaku gave Tatsuma an awkward smile, which didn't match his otherwise fierce expression.
He knew very well what this banquet meant, after all, it had originally been discussed between his father and him. The only difference was that the host had changed from Uchiha to Tatsuma.
As a result, Fugaku couldn't assume a superior attitude; he couldn't even maintain the typical Uchiha posture, because how could someone act haughty while asking for a favor?
Tatsuma sized up Fugaku, whom he hadn't officially seen in years. Fugaku was becoming more and more like the person Tatsuma remembered—although he had a fierce face, there was a clear aura of helplessness and powerlessness surrounding him.
"Fugaku, Yashiro-san, please have a seat."
Tatsuma guided the two to their seats and then instructed the server at the door to inform the kitchen to start serving the dishes. Of course, not all of them were ready-to-eat. There were some finished dishes, but most were cuts of meat waiting to be grilled, as this was a BBQ restaurant, and grilling it fresh was part of the experience.
"Hello, would you like help with the grilling?" a chef in charge of tableside cooking asked. Tatsuma shook his head and replied, "No, I prefer to do it myself. Could you please close the door on your way out?"
"Sure."
The chef didn't ask further questions, and after leaving the private room, he closed the door. Seeing this, the server at the door also stepped away.
What Tatsuma had said was simply to close the door, but the underlying message was that he didn't want to be disturbed. The more attentive a restaurant was to its service, the more its staff understood such unspoken cues.
In contrast, those restaurants where the staff constantly hovered around the guests, disregarding their wishes, could hardly be considered as offering high-quality service.
"Here, try this. Just a little salt, and it's already delicious."
Although both sides knew they had important matters to discuss, neither was in a hurry to start the conversation. Instead, they ate the grilled meat while chatting about past battlefield experiences, occasionally laughing together.
Fugaku's hand occasionally rested on the table, as if he wanted to reach for something—but there was no alcohol. Tatsuma hadn't ordered any because the budget was tight. Fugaku glanced at Yashiro, then back at Tatsuma, and said, "Back on the battlefield, I often heard comrades talking about wanting to drink, and I didn't quite understand the sentiment at the time. Lately, I've begun to grasp their mindset. Alcohol truly is something intertwined with life; it's hard to separate from it."
The hint was clear enough at this point. It wasn't that Fugaku really wanted to drink, but rather, some things are easier to say under the pretext of alcohol.
Tatsuma flipped the meat on the grill, put down his serving chopsticks, and with a smile, said, "In a certain sense, alcohol is indeed closely tied to life, but there's also a saying: drinking leads to trouble."
Hearing Tatsuma's words, Fugaku's expression darkened. He understood that Tatsuma—or rather the Hokage's side—intended to address the matter openly and directly, instead of relying on vague hints.
This made things more difficult, because promises made under the influence of alcohol can be disregarded, and such promises often come with ambiguous wording that creates more advantageous conditions for oneself.
But what does "drinking leads to trouble" mean? Naturally, it refers to serious matters. The village can certainly discuss serious matters with the Uchiha, as any changes within the clan could easily affect the entire village. But can the Uchiha discuss serious matters with the village?
After all, when internal struggles involve using outside forces to suppress "one's own people," even if such an approach succeeds, it will leave a lasting stigma.
Yashiro, who had received Fugaku's subtle hint, was already prepared to step out and order some alcohol. However, after Tatsuma mentioned "drinking leads to trouble," he felt awkward. Although the clan head had signaled for him to order drinks, Tatsuma had politely declined. Following the custom of respecting the host, Yashiro couldn't insist on ordering alcohol now.
Neither of them expected that after trying to build rapport, their efforts to make a request and seek a favor would be blocked. How could they bond without drinking? After all, they weren't exactly close friends.
Tatsuma noticed their discomfort but had no intention of smoothing things over. Even if the two had misunderstood, Tatsuma and the interests he represented would still be the ones benefiting.
Of course, Tatsuma wasn't going to let the conversation stall or fail entirely, as he didn't have the money to host another banquet. So, he opened his mouth and said:
"Fugaku, you should already know that I visited the Uchiha clan's territory a few days ago."
"Of course, I actually wanted to attend Tenko's birthday banquet as well. After all, he's a genius of the clan. I even heard yesterday that ANBU is scouting him. Regarding that matter, we Uchiha fully support it."
With a topic to discuss, Fugaku breathed a sigh of relief and quickly spoke up. However, after saying so much, he realized that Tatsuma had already taken control of the conversation, leaving him in a completely passive position. Tatsuma hadn't even said much, yet Fugaku had already spilled everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube—how embarrassing.
Tatsuma's face showed a faint, subtle smile. Fugaku was just too easy to handle. They hadn't even touched on the main issue, and Fugaku had already agreed to one of the conditions.
After a brief pause, Tatsuma shook his head and said, "That's not what I want to talk about. After all, Tenko joining ANBU benefits both the village and the Uchiha, and more importantly, it's Tenko's personal choice that matters."
With just one sentence, Tatsuma made the condition seem like a given, directly taking away one of Fugaku's bargaining chips. Fugaku's face darkened further, but he couldn't argue against it, so he could only nod in agreement.
"Yes, we only aim to support the development of our clan members. But, Tatsuma-kun, what were you about to say?" Fugaku had no choice but to accept the loss, and finally, Tatsuma spoke.
"What I wanted to say is that while I was within the Uchiha territory, I overheard some remarks... unfavorable to the unity of the village."
Did Tatsuma actually hear these things? No, but it didn't matter. As long as such sentiments existed within the Uchiha, that was enough.
As soon as the conversation shifted to serious matters, both Fugaku and Yashiro became solemn. The topic Tatsuma raised was extremely sensitive. After a moment of silence, Fugaku finally responded:
"That's true, but the vast majority of the Uchiha are loyal to the village and committed to maintaining its unity. However, with such a large clan, there are still some remnants of the past. Of course, I'm not trying to make excuses. We bear undeniable responsibility for these issues, and going forward, the Uchiha will definitely conduct internal purges and reforms to safeguard the village's unity."
"Historical issues, I understand. But some aspects of history should remain confined to books or memories. Certain misguided ideologies and attitudes, or the individuals who embody them, need not continue to exist or persist."
Tatsuma's words seemed light, but they struck Fugaku and Yashiro like a heavy hammer. The "individuals" he referred to were, of course, people. If people "need not exist or persist," that implied wiping them out entirely.
Even within the Uchiha clan, such an extreme measure had never been taken. After the incident with Uchiha Setsuna, neither the village nor the Uchiha pursued the families or descendants of those involved. But what Tatsuma was suggesting now... Fugaku's jaw clenched involuntarily, his breathing became heavy, and his already intimidating eyes turned even more fierce.
Yet Tatsuma appeared unfazed, maintaining eye contact with Fugaku. He knew that behind Fugaku's fierce exterior was a core of weakness.
As if to further provoke, Tatsuma added, "Fugaku, you should know that I'm a doctor. I've seen far too many cases where people, out of fear of facing a problem, let a small illness grow into something serious, even terminal. When necessary, sometimes a person has to amputate a limb to save their life. On the battlefield, there are times when sacrificing a pawn is the only way to save the king. The same applies to a clan or a village."
Tatsuma leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as he continued, "If, after you became the clan head, these voices still continue to influence the direction of the clan, stirring up others, then your position as clan head will eventually become nothing more than a joke."
"Fugaku, if you don't make decisive decisions, you'll only invite chaos. Do you want to truly control the Uchiha and lead it toward better development, or are you content with just being a nominal Clan Head, preserving a laughable façade?"
Upon hearing this, Fugaku fell silent. There was so much information in Tatsuma's words. Not only did they reveal the village's stance toward the radical faction within the Uchiha, but they also showed the village's deep understanding of the internal changes happening in the clan.
His upcoming succession as Clan Head was something that had never been publicly announced, not even within the Uchiha. Yet, the village already knew.
Fugaku couldn't help but reflect on what Tatsuma had said. Could he truly secure his position as Clan Head if those people continued to exist? Could he even be a good Clan Head?
After a long pause, Fugaku finally asked, "What kind of assistance can the village provide?"
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