Chapter 15: Banquet

The most powerful asset of the Uchiha clan was naturally the Copy Wheel Eye; this was an acknowledged truth both within and without.

Thus they naturally took the Copy Wheel Eye as supreme—to awaken it and cultivate it was the proper path endorsed by all Uchiha clansmen.

Without the Copy Wheel Eye, one had no talent as a ninja.

Shisui was long accustomed to this mindset; even though he did not discriminate against clansmen who had not opened their eyes, he likewise believed such clansmen could not go far on the path of the ninja.

Sima Yi was speechless. A clan recognizing only one path was undoubtedly very dangerous, but the Uchiha's problems were simply far too many. He could only note them down one by one and did not say anything.

Next, Sima Yi transformed into a seeker of knowledge, laying out his questions regarding sealing techniques one by one, not minding the distinction between teacher and student in the slightest.

Shisui was a bit reserved at first, but as Sima Yi's questions deepened, he gradually set aside his role as student and explained each one for him.

The two thus swapped roles—by day Sima Yi acted as student, asking Shisui about cultivation questions; by night he became teacher, instructing Shisui.

So it went for ten days.

Word of relief finally came from the rear—they could go home! "Excellent, finally we don't have to stay in this godforsaken place anymore. I'm going back to drink, eat barbecue, and get a good night's sleep!"

Hui Uchiha cheered, snatching the order handed over by the ANBU member and planting a fierce kiss on it.

Seeing this, Shisui smiled and replied, "Thank you for your trouble. Please inform Lord Third that I will lead them back to Konoha as soon as possible."

The ANBU member's expression was hidden behind a mask; he simply knelt on one knee, nodded lightly, and vanished with a Body Flicker.

"Shisui, hurry hurry hurry, arrange it now, we set out today! Uncle Yi, stop reading, we can finally go back!"

Hui was rather impatient; because of the Mist ninja they had already stayed far longer than expected.

Sima Yi merely stroked his beard with a smile, but Shisui pondered for a moment and said with an apologetic expression, "Sorry, Brother Hui, but at the earliest we can't set out until tomorrow."

The relief ninja had already arrived in position; besides handing over the mission, he had other matters to attend to.

"Eh? All right then."

Hui nodded helplessly—Shisui was the commander, after all, and even though the two had a good relationship, he would not overstep him on such matters.

Sima Yi then casually suggested, "Since we're leaving tomorrow, why not hold a banquet tonight? Both to celebrate and to welcome the newcomers."

Shisui's expression paused; he quickly caught on and assumed a thoughtful look, then after a long while nodded, "Sounds good. Perhaps it is time to relax a little."

Hui's eyes went wide, staring at Shisui in disbelief. "Really? You're not joking?"

That earnest and serious Shisui actually agreed to hold a banquet?

And in the military, no less! "Of course. No drinking."

"Excellent, no problem! Drinking back home is just the same. Then I'll go take inventory of the supplies right now—the provisions taken from the Mist camp will come in handy!"

Hui was extremely excited; he was about to leave as soon as he finished speaking—he had long been bored out of his mind these many days.

"Wait a moment. Help me call over the squad leaders who came to support us that day. I happen to have some matters to arrange."

Hui nodded in agreement, assuming it was just the handover of sector duties, and did not ask further.

After he left, Shisui finally asked, "Teacher, you wanted me to hold a banquet earlier—why did you keep putting it off until now?"

Sima Yi set down his book and said without hesitation, "A general must constantly gauge the army's morale. If the army's aggressive spirit is not dispelled, trouble will arise over time. Appropriate relaxation is necessary."

"But why today?"

With the relief today, there were many people and many eyes—wouldn't relaxing like this invite criticism? "You wish to win hearts and restore the Uchiha's reputation, but you alone are not enough. You need more clansmen to lower themselves, engage deeply with the common people, and win their support."

"And today is an opportunity." Shisui thought deeply; he quickly thought of the nature of a banquet, and then of the current state of the ninja who had come to support them.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened, as if he had grasped something.

"Teacher means to use tonight's banquet to provide clansmen and other villagers an opportunity to interact?"

"Exactly. You are not a sovereign; you need not make others regard you with awe and distance. Only by letting them interact can they come to understand one another and thereby change their views."

Sima Yi explained solemnly, but in truth there were a few words he kept to himself.

The reason he spent time and effort getting them to interact was because these people were all ninja—all of them were targets worth winning over! And only ninja were the people in his eyes!

"It is even more so in the military, and even simpler. A pity the time is too short. If we had come a few months earlier—"

Sima Yi sighed; alas, the war was already over, or else there would have been far more room to maneuver.

"Teacher, you have already helped me a great deal. If not for you, our situation would only be worse." Seeing Sima Yi sigh, Shisui hurriedly offered comfort.

But unexpectedly, Sima Yi smiled instead upon hearing this. "Hahaha, no need for that. This old man was merely sighing offhandedly; I do not take it to heart.

Just remember: a person of magnanimity achieves greatness. To brood over everything in one's heart—is that not simply courting trouble? How could one endure long?"

Sima Yi's composed attitude immediately inspired Shisui; he always seemed to learn much from the man's every word and deed.

"Yes, Teacher!"

Sima Yi nodded and was about to say more when a report suddenly came from outside the tent.

"Lord Shisui, Koizumi Satsuki and the others have arrived."

"If so, then seize the opportunity and arrange it well."

The two exchanged a glance, and Sima Yi turned and left the tent.

Teacher, I will not let you down! The firm conviction in his eyes seemed to illuminate the Uchiha's path forward. Shisui gathered himself and immediately responded to the ninja outside the tent.

Of the eighteen squad leaders, four had died in the attack that night. The remaining fourteen stood quietly outside the tent.

Their expressions were joyful—the relief notice had already reached them. Being able to return to Konoha and reunite with their families was undoubtedly good news.

"Koizumi Satsuki, Lord Shisui asks you to come in."

A Uchiha clansman walked over. Everyone was puzzled—if it were merely a relief mission, it should not be issued individually. Could some new change have occurred? Koizumi Satsuki, whose name was called, was also taken aback; without overthinking, he quickly set down his tobacco, tidied himself, and walked in.

As soon as he entered the tent, he saw Shisui sitting at a desk, staring intently at a document.

He did not disturb him, standing quietly to one side. After a moment, Shisui finally seemed to notice and hurriedly rose.

"Jonin Koizumi, I was reading the report from the night of the attack and didn't notice you had already come in. I apologize."

Koizumi Satsuki waved his hands repeatedly at this. "No, it was I who did not announce myself. Please do not mind, Lord Shisui."

"From the post-battle report, Jonin Koizumi, you seem quite skilled at Fire Release. Even in those conditions, you could use Fire Release to protect the medical ninja."

Faced with Shisui's sincere praise, Koizumi Satsuki felt rather embarrassed—after all, his Great Fireball had only produced a wisp of white smoke, which the enemy had effortlessly extinguished.

If Shisui hadn't arrived in time, the medical ninja would have long since died beneath the Mist ninja's blade.

"No, not exactly. It's just that among the ninjutsu I know, the Great Fireball has the greatest power."

(End of this chapter)