Inside the barbecue restaurant.
"Let's celebrate Kurenai's recovery."
"Cheers!"
Kurenai Yuhi gathered with friends from her academy days, clinking glasses and celebrating.
"Kurenai, you just got out of the hospital. Are you sure you should be drinking?" Asuma asked, concerned, watching her take a sip of clear sake.
"What's done is done. Isn't it pointless to say that now?" Anko slapped him on the back, laughing.
"I'm fine; I've fully recovered," Kurenai assured from the other side of Anko.
"Asuma always worries about the silliest things," Genma teased from across the table.
Asuma sighed, "Fine, just ignore me then."
"By the way, Kurenai, did you meet with the Hokage today?" Genma asked.
"Yes, about my promotion to Special Jounin," Kurenai nodded. "I got the official papers."
"That's amazing, Special Jounin," Yugao said, a bit envious.
"Well, maybe if you'd taken the assessment, you'd have passed too," Anko shrugged.
"I don't think I'm quite ready yet. Besides, not everyone passed, right?" Yugao chuckled.
"Ebisu, Aoba, and Raidou didn't pass because they're idiots. You're different," Anko smirked.
The three mentioned men rolled their eyes as Anko mocked them.
"Yes, sorry for holding everyone back," Aoba sighed.
"Just train harder and take the test again," Gai, who was devouring the barbecue, chimed in. "If you want, I can help create a detailed training plan for you."
"No thanks; I'll stay an idiot," Aoba said, making everyone laugh, especially Anko, who held onto Kurenai's shoulder, laughing hysterically.
"Speaking of which," Kurenai suddenly remembered, "didn't Kakashi quit the Anbu? Why isn't he here?"
"Oh, we invited him," Asuma sighed. "He just didn't come."
"Why? Does he have a mission? He should be less busy now that he's left the Anbu," Kurenai asked, surprised.
"That's just Kakashi," Guy said. "It's not unusual for him not to show up."
"Alright then," Kurenai shrugged.
Guy wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "There's something you might not know—Hokage-sama appointed Kakashi as a Jounin instructor."
"A Jounin instructor?"
Everyone paused, considering what it would be like for Kakashi to lead a team of students.
"For his students' sake, I hope they have good luck," Ebisu said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Oh, Gai, didn't you also become a Jounin instructor recently?" someone asked.
"Yes, I met a special child at the academy. He still has a few years before graduation, but I wanted to learn how to guide him personally," Guy smiled.
"A special child? He must be a genius, right?"
Guy thought for a moment, then smiled. "Actually, it's the opposite."
Everyone looked at him, puzzled, but he didn't explain further.
"Asuma, you have no interest in being a Jounin instructor?" Anko asked, turning to him.
"Why would I? Spending all day with kids? Who knows if they'll turn out to be little terrors," Asuma grumbled, resting his cheek on his hand.
"Being a Jounin instructor means being responsible. Just look at Asuma; maybe it's best he doesn't impact the future of the village," Genma joked.
"Just eat your meat!" Asuma retorted.
Kurenai thought about the Jounin instructor role, and her mind drifted to an appointment letter she'd seen today in the Hokage's office.
Could he end up becoming a Jounin instructor?
Why did she think of him all of a sudden? Besides, someone like him would never take on that responsibility.
Kurenai sipped her drink, hoping to quiet her thoughts.
...
The clan leader's residence wasn't large, just a typical home with a courtyard.
Ren walked in with Mikoto, taking a casual look around. It was the same as when he had visited before.
Crossing the yard, they entered the living room.
"It seems they haven't returned yet. Please, make yourself comfortable," Mikoto said, gesturing for him to sit.
She placed her shopping bag in the kitchen and soon returned with tea.
The room was traditional, sparsely decorated, with only a low table in the middle facing the hallway.
"Is Clan Leader Fugaku busy most days?" Ren asked as he sat on a cushion by the table.
"He does have a lot to handle," Mikoto replied with a smile.
"Being a clan leader and managing the entire Uchiha clan must be demanding," Ren remarked.
Mikoto placed the tea set on the table in front of him and began arranging cups.
"Earlier, you mentioned that we Uchiha should let go of the idea of keeping ourselves isolated. Is that correct?" Mikoto asked quietly.
"Just something I said offhand."
"Even offhand, it's quite thought-provoking," she smiled, leaning forward to pour the tea.
From this angle, Ren could see the soft hair at the back of her neck and smell a faint fragrance—not of the tea.
He lightly touched the tea cup and said, "The village's reconstruction is nearly complete. The houses damaged in the attack are gradually being restored."
"But many houses are now empty, left without owners, scattered across the village."
As the hot tea poured into the cup, it made a soft splashing sound.
Still leaning forward, Mikoto asked, "Ren-kun, are you here on behalf of someone?"
Ren remained calm, "What do you mean?"
"Do you think this proposal is truly beneficial for the Uchiha?"
"Isn't it?"
"If we lost our land, the Uchiha would be a joke."
"You should consider what could be gained. It only requires a small sacrifice."
Mikoto was silent for a moment.
"That cat... was it you?"
She raised her head, meeting Ren's calm gaze.
He remained expressionless, "What cat?"
Mikoto smiled. "Nothing, perhaps I was mistaken."
"Once, Sasuke found a cat he really liked, but one day, it just disappeared."
"It was just a cat," Ren replied lightly.
"Children tend to treasure such things," Mikoto said.
"Please, make yourself at home. I'll go prepare lunch."
She placed the teapot on the table and started to rise.
Ren frowned slightly and suddenly grabbed her wrist, halting her movement.
The grip was firm enough to cause her discomfort. "Are you planning to starve me?" he asked.
"Mikoto-san," Ren spoke quietly.
The living room fell silent.
Outside, the afternoon sun cast shadows, splitting the room into patches of light and shade, enveloping them in a muted, dim corner.
"I'm back!"
A voice sounded from the entrance, and a figure appeared in the doorway.
When he saw Ren gripping Mikoto's wrist, his expression instantly changed.
"Let go of my mother!"
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