"Why're ya lookin' at me?"
Saitama held an animal leg in his hand, tearing off big chunks of meat. He tore off a big chunk, chewed it a few times, then swallowed.
"Is this how you normally eat?" Shizune felt her head pounding slightly. Beneath Saitama's composed exterior, he ate like a beast.
"I only have time to eat like this today since I don't have any missions," Saitama said while mentally giving another thumbs up to Konoha's food supply.
"Well, you can actually eat slower. Nobody's competing with you for food."
Shizune glanced around and gestured that there weren't any other people nearby.
"What do you mean?" Saitama didn't feel there was anything wrong with how he ate. He hadn't made any noise while eating, nor had he disturbed anyone nearby—though the only person close by was Shizune—and so he looked slightly puzzled, stopping what he was doing as he looked at her.
"Nothing. You can continue eating!" Shizune shook her head quickly and avoided looking into his eyes.
"Hmph!"
Saitama continued eating, feeling that Shizune was being somewhat inexplicable. He figured girls her age were just moody like that.
In this way, Saitama alone finished five portions of food—an animal hind leg weighing about two pounds each, devouring four of them, and that's not even counting all the other food.
"Phew! That was great!" Leaning back against his chair with both hands on the table, Saitama relaxed completely.
"Are you done eating?" Shizune stared at Saitama after seeing him pack away such an enormous amount of food; her expression had become numb.
"Yep, more or less!" Without thinking, Saitama grabbed a toothpick from the table and once again silently praised Konoha's logistics support.
"Then shall we go?" Shizune signaled to Saitama while picking up the lunch she had brought for Tsunade from the table.
"Yeah, yeah!"
Saitama slowly stood up, a toothpick dangling from his lips, heading outside.
"Hey, Saitama!"
Just stepping out from the tent, Saitama ran into Uchiha Mori, who was coming in for dinner.
"Hmm?" Saitama waved his hand lazily, continuing to flick the toothpick around inside his mouth.
"What's going on here? Hmmm?" Uchiha Mori raised his eyebrows teasingly at Saitama, mischief gleaming in his eyes.
"What else would I be doing here besides eating?" Saitama gave Uchiha Mori a sideways glance. Instantly, he could tell what dirty ideas Mori had brewing inside his head, twisting pure friendships into something else.
"You two aren't...?" Uchiha Mori smirked and bent both of his thumbs.
"Hmph!"
Without another word, Saitama grabbed the blushing Shizune standing beside him and quickly walked away.
"Saitama!"
Uchiha Mori called behind him. Saitama turned around.
"Jia You!" He mouthed silently and gave a fist pump.
"Boring!"
Saitama turned back and kept walking away, dragging Shizune along. He definitely didn't want Uchiha Mori messing up their pure friendship—at least, that's how he saw it.
"S-Saitama!" After walking a few steps, Shizune softly called out.
"Mm?"
Looking down, Saitama saw Shizune hesitating, like she wasn't sure what to say.
"What's wrong?"
Saitama looked clueless as ever, watching Shizune's still-slightly-flushed face.
"Can you let go of me now?" After saying that, Shizune's whole neck turned red, and she stared at the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Oh! I thought something else was going on. Didn't you grab me and refuse to let go?"
Saitama released her hand and gave her shoulder a pat right after letting go.
"T-then I'll be going now..." Shizune said, not looking up.
"Oh, sure thing! Same place tonight?" Saitama nodded while gently ruffling her hair.
"Okay!" At this moment, Shizune seemed just like an ostrich, not daring to raise her head at all.
Without another word, Shizune hurried off in another direction while Saitama strode back to his tent.
...
With a flap!
Shizune pulled open the tent flap. Tsunade was still flipping through some documents on the table. A map was spread out across the long table, marked with numerous symbols.
"Back already?" Without even lifting her head, Tsunade knew immediately it was Shizune since only she dared to enter this tent without permission.
"Mmm!" Shizune's voice sounded a bit odd, prompting Tsunade to frown slightly and put down what she was holding.
"What happened?"
Looking up, Tsunade noticed Shizune's face, which still had a faint blush while her smile radiated subtle joy.
"Eh? Nothing at all." Shizune placed the meal onto Tsunade's desk, covering her face with both hands.
"Won money? But how come? This is the Ninja Camp!" Tsunade said suspiciously, casting a doubting gaze at Shizune.
With a loud creak!
Shizune dragged a chair away from the table and dropped into it, hiding her face in her hands and ignoring Tsunade completely.
"Hmph!" With a disapproving sound from Tsunade's mouth, she proceeded to unwrap the meal Shizune brought back and began eating. Still, her curious eyes never ceased glancing over at Shizune.
Actually, Tsunade didn't even have to think twice — she knew the change in Shizune had to do with that kid Saitama. But intentionally, she refrained from pointing it out, choosing instead to tease her own disciple.
"Youth really is something else," Tsunade thought, smirking slightly, then seemingly recalled something else, causing a shadow to pass briefly through her eyes.
...
"The sunlight today feels especially pleasant!" Standing in front of his own tent, Saitama observed as many Uchiha ninjas lounged about nearby, basking in the sun.
"Captain!" Today, neither Uchiha Yan nor Uchiha Huo were on missions. The two brothers were chatting with other ninja when they naturally called out upon seeing Saitama.
The other ninja chatting with the two brothers were also from the Uchiha Clan, and each greeted Saitama respectfully. After all, Saitama currently was the star ninja of the entire camp — over the past few months, undoubtedly the shiniest figure!
"Saitama!"
"Saitama!"
"Yeah, hello there!"
Nodding, Saitama politely responded with a greeting of his own.
"What are you talking about?"
"Just trying to guess when we'll strike next. Everyone's been wound up lately — can't wait to get moving again!"
Uchiha wore a visibly excited expression as he rubbed his hands together nonstop.
"Tch!" Turning around, Saitama walked away. He understood the Uchiha's constant enthusiasm for battle, but he found their lack of respect for war disturbing.
Taking an afternoon nap in weather like this was a blissful thing to do after lunch.
Saitama returned, lay down on his bed, gazing at the top of the tent with a slight smile, his mind filled with Shizune-sama's shy laughter from earlier.
In Konoha's camp, there was absolutely no worry about enemies causing trouble here—at least for now there was no need to be concerned. So Saitama slept with peace of mind.
...
"Clan Head, the above is the situation regarding the Uchiha on this battlefield. Please rest assured, I will manage everyone properly and won't let you down. Also, the Uchiha clan won't suffer unnecessary losses. Furthermore, Saitama Uchiha's talent truly exceeds expectations..."
"Hmph!" Uchiha Tianming set aside the brush pen, read through the letter once again, rolled it up carefully, and wrapped it, preparing later to send it back to Konoha Village using a ninja pigeon.
This was his monthly routine—reporting a summary of the Uchiha clan's current affairs to Fugaku Uchiha in Konoha Village.
These past few months, every time they communicated, Uchiha Tianming had openly expressed his fondness for Saitama in his letters. To him, Saitama wasn't just an immediate asset to the Uchiha now, but also represented future prestige. At least that's how he saw it!
"Whoosh!" Mori Uchiha pulled open the curtain dramatically and strode in carrying food.
"Have something to eat—it's still warm." Mori placed the meal on the table, gesturing toward Tianming.
"Alright, thank you," said Tianming as he rubbed his eyes, starting to eat. He'd been busy all day, barely finding time to eat, relying on others to bring meals for him.
Recently, everyone at the upper echelons faced similar situations; after deciding to take initiative and strike first, they needed a comprehensive plan. Thus, daily high-level meetings were held to discuss strategies, besides consulting their own advisors or consultants regularly. Time was naturally tight.
"Just saw Saitama Uchiha having lunch—he's unusually mature for his age!"
Mori leaned on the table, chatting casually with Tianming during this rare downtime.
"Oh? What happened?" Tianming paid especially close attention to Saitama, curious about anything involving him.
"I saw that boy having lunch with Tsunade-sama's apprentice—the short-haired kunoichi who's always by her side. Their connection seems closer than just mentor and student!"
Mori wore an amused expression, lightly tapping his fingers on the edge of the table, clearly in a good mood.
"Haha! Now that really is interesting! Wonder if Tsunade knows yet," Tianming laughed, swallowing a rice ball with a grin.
"Not sure about that, but probably she does," Mori shrugged helplessly.
Suddenly, Tianming thought about adding another line to the letter he'd just sealed—that Saitama Uchiha appeared to have fallen into love!
The Clan Head would definitely find that amusing. Tianming couldn't help imagining what expression his father might wear upon reading it.
...
"Alright! Everyone has arrived!"
Tsunade sat calmly at the head of the table while Homura Mitokado took his place beside her. All other high-ranking officers had also taken their seats.
After saying that, Tsunade couldn't help but glance toward Saitama, who stood behind Uchiha Tianming and Uchiha Mori. Her gaze was full of hidden meaning.
Saitama sat upright, staring intently at a single strand of hair sticking up from the forehead of Uchiha Mori—who stood stiffly due to poor sleeping posture—and observing its movement as Mori shifted his head. Naturally, he noticed Tsunade's gaze, but feeling slightly guilty, he simply pretended not to see it!
"We've already discussed this for many days. Today we should finalize our plan. Does anyone have any requests they'd like to bring up?"
Tsunade tapped the table a few times with her fingers, signaling this was the final moment for confirming plans. Any questions could still be raised for further discussion.
"Ahem!" Hyuga Xin raised his hand, indicating he had something to say.
"Hyuga Xin, what are your thoughts?"
Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses, signaling for Hyuga Xin to speak.
"Our Hyuga clan has no issue serving in reconnaissance, but why were the Uchiha assigned as support units responsible for evacuating the injured? Isn't the Uchiha clan always known for combat prowess?"
Hyuga Xin wore a clearly discontented expression, keeping his eyes fixed on Uchiha Tianming sitting across from him the entire time.
"Hmph! This was Tsunade-sama's arrangement. Why are you looking at me?"
Uchiha Tianming snorted coldly and turned his head sideways, looking at Uchiha Mori sitting beside him.
"Well..." Homura nodded thoughtfully. He understood the reasoning internally—it all aimed to prevent the Uchiha Clan from appearing overly significant during wartime.
The Third had long harbored intentions to retire, while the Uchiha held unnatural ambitions toward the Hokage position. Preventing them from gaining major achievements in war also served as a form of restriction.
Looking slightly conflicted, Homura felt assigning the Uchiha as support troops wouldn't satisfy everyone, so he immediately suggested: "How about transferring the Uchiha into the Vanguard Division and swapping them with the original Third Division?"
Homura looked toward Uchiha Tianming and another Jonin, seeking their opinions.
"I don't have any issues. I'll follow whatever arrangements are made!"
This ninja came from common folk and supported the Hokage faction, naturally having no objections.
"The Uchiha have no objections either!" Uchiha Tianming nodded.
"Alright then! No other problems?"
Tsunade glanced at others present. Truthfully, she'd never fully agreed with placing the Uchiha at the rear lines. Now that someone else raised and resolved the issue, she felt quite satisfied internally.
"Then it's settled! Everything will proceed according to plan. We must commence operations by dawn after tomorrow. Our counterattack against Mist must be swift, precise, and merciless!"
Tsunade stood up, speaking in a serious tone. As soon as she rose, the other ninjas likewise stood, gazing solemnly at Tsunade.
Homura swept his gaze around the room, lips curving into a smile. He had high hopes for Konoha's forces. While Mist might prove troublesome, that's just how war is—but victory would still be Konoha's.
As Homura Mitokado thought this, a glint flickered in his eyes. Light from inside the tent glinted off his glasses, concealing the look in his eyes.
"Finally over!" Saitama stretched his back as he spoke to Uchiha Mori.
The two were walking along the path in the camp. The meeting had just ended, and they were heading toward Uchiha's residence.
"Now comes the truly difficult part!"
Uchiha Mori looked up at the endless sky, reminded of many things.
"Who says otherwise? Still, who cares?" Saitama shrugged.
"That's right. We all know you're amazing, moving freely within the battlefield!"
Uchiha Mori threw a slap toward Saitama's shoulder, but Saitama dodged it effortlessly.
"Saitama, you need to be careful! Mist still has some people deserving your attention, especially the Seven Legendary Shinobi, who are famed across the entire Shinobi World. You've already become Mist's number one target, way above almost everyone else on their elimination list! Don't let them gang up on you—one opponent's manageable, but several at once could be deadly!"
Knowing he shouldn't undermine Saitama at this moment, Uchiha Mori couldn't help but issue a reminder.
"I understand. I won't underestimate my enemies."
Saitama gave a firm nod, his fingers trailing along the hilt of the sword at his waist.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>