"Don't get up to see me off—get some proper rest. I'm leaving now. Mwah." Isamu kissed Tsunade on the cheek and walked straight out.
"Take care on the road. I'll be waiting at home for you," Tsunade called after him.
"Mm, I know." Isamu stepped outside, making sure to close the door tightly behind him. This was his wife, after all—what if someone saw? He wore the expression of a doting husband.
(Author/Readers: What are you thinking? Do you really think we'd peek? ๑ Buddha ◡ Buddha ๑)
After that, Isamu leapt onto the wall and sprinted toward the Great Elder's house.
"No wonder they say a woman's tenderness is a hero's grave… It's absolutely true. It almost makes me not want to go on this mission. Still, Tsunade really is something else."
Thinking of Tsunade, a bit of drool slipped from the corner of Isamu's mouth, and a rather shameless grin spread across his face.
Soon, Isamu arrived at the Great Elder's house. He pushed the door open and rushed in, only to see ten people—including Uchiha Zhan—standing in the courtyard, fully armed and ready.
"Uh… Zhan, what's going on? Why are you all standing here?" Isamu asked, looking confused.
Uchiha Zhan didn't answer. Instead, he kept winking at Isamu, gesturing toward the house in the center.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you talking? What kind of look is that? Did you get a cramp?" Isamu didn't understand the signal and assumed something was wrong.
Damn it, you're the one with the cramp! How can you not get it? Zhan cursed inwardly, continuing to signal desperately.
"Uchiha Zhan, stand at attention! Uchiha Isamu, since you've arrived, come in," the Great Elder's voice came from inside.
Hearing this, Zhan immediately straightened, while Isamu walked inside, still confused.
Pushing open the door, he saw the Great Elder staring at him with a serious expression.
"Uh… Great Elder, what's wrong? Why the temper today? Just tell me who upset you—I'll deal with them for you," Isamu said with a flattering smile.
"Heh, who upset me? You still have the nerve to ask?" The Great Elder snorted. "I heard you were heading to the border, so I prepared a team for you yesterday and had them waiting. But look at you—everyone else is about to depart, and you haven't even gathered your people. I've been waiting all day!"
"Ah! You prepared the team yesterday? As expected of the Great Elder! With you around, life is so much easier," Isamu said quickly, piling on the flattery.
"Don't try to brush me off. I thought you had already recruited people from the village, and I was worried my preparations would go to waste. But clearly, that's not the case." The Great Elder took a sip of tea and looked at him sharply. "So tell me—what exactly have you been doing since yesterday?"
"Uh… well…" Isamu felt awkward. There was no way he could say he'd been "busy" with Tsunade all night.
"Although I won't interfere in your private life, there's something I must say." The Great Elder spoke earnestly. "As someone who has lived longer than you, I remind you—don't let yourself become complacent because of women. Especially someone with your strength. If you fall, what happens to our hundred or so Uchiha clansmen? You understand that, don't you?"
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right," Isamu nodded seriously on the surface, though inwardly he scoffed. Old man must've been quite the playboy himself… and now he's lecturing me. I finally have a wife—what, am I supposed to just stare at her every day?
"Good, as long as you understand." The Great Elder glanced at the time. "It's getting late. Take the team outside and depart immediately."
"Yes, thank you, Great Elder."
The two stepped outside.
The Great Elder looked at the group and declared, "Listen carefully! On this mission, you must establish the prestige of the Uchiha. Make the enemy tremble at the very mention of our name. Do you have the confidence?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" everyone shouted in unison.
"Very good. From this moment on, you are under the command of Uchiha Isamu. You will obey his orders unconditionally. Anyone who refuses will be expelled from the clan immediately. Understood?"
"Understood! We will follow his orders to the death!"
The Great Elder nodded at Isamu, who returned the nod before stepping forward.
He pointed toward the village gate.
"Everyone—target the Konoha gate. Move out!"
With that, Isamu took the lead and rushed forward.
---
At the Konoha gate, more than thirty people were already waiting.
"Big Brother Isamu, what's going on? It's almost ten—why isn't he here yet?" Jiraiya muttered, checking the time.
"Isn't that him now?" Orochimaru pointed ahead.
Swish, swish, swish.
Isamu and his group arrived.
"Isamu, you're finally here. We thought you weren't coming," Sakumo Hatake said.
"Yeah, Big Brother Isamu, you're too slow. You didn't come late because of… that, did you?" Jiraiya grinned mischievously.
Hearing that, everyone gave Isamu strange looks.
"Ahem—why are you all so nosy? Hurry up and collect your supplies so we can leave," Isamu said, quickly changing the subject.
"Right, let's move." Sakumo nodded.
The supplies were simple—just two scrolls each: one for ninja tools and one for food.
"Once we leave, we'll all be going separate ways. I'm really going to miss you guys," Jiraiya said dramatically.
"Spare me. You're making me sick," Orochimaru replied flatly.
"I'm heading out," Sakumo said, leaving with his team.
Another squad leader waved. "We're leaving too. See you all."
They quickly departed.
"Hmm… Byakugan?" Isamu watched one of the teams leave. "That squad leader is from the Hyuga Clan. I don't think I've seen him before."
"That's a member of the Hyuga Branch Family," Orochimaru explained. "His strength is said to be second only to the main family's head."
"Branch Family, huh…" Isamu frowned. "The Hyuga Clan really hasn't changed. Still as rigid as ever."
"Rigid indeed. The bigger the clan, the more rules they have. That's why I've never liked big clans," Jiraiya said.
"Jiraiya, that's a bit too broad," Orochimaru said, giving him a look.
"Uh—Big Brother Isamu, I didn't mean you! You're different!" Jiraiya quickly corrected himself when he saw Isamu narrowing his eyes.
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