Seeing that the two of them were on the verge of arguing again, **Uchiha Hikaru** made a decisive move, stepping in instantly and cutting off the confrontation before it could escalate—ending the "war" before it truly began.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"It's just a small matter. What's there to fight over?" Hikaru said calmly. "In my opinion… both of you are wrong."
The gazes that had been locked on each other instantly shifted, snapping toward Hikaru at the same time. In that moment, **Kurotsuchi** and **Yugito** formed a rare, tacit alliance.
"What's wrong with that?!" ×2
Hikaru raised both hands, palms facing down, pressing the air as if soothing restless chakra.
"Sit down. Let me explain it properly to you two."
Seeing his confident, unhurried expression, the two exchanged suspicious looks before finally sitting down with him around the low tatami table.
"Cough, cough~"
Hikaru cleared his throat deliberately and lifted his brows, signaling them.
Kurotsuchi looked confused, but Yugito immediately understood. After all, he and Hikaru had watched the sunrise together more than once—how could he not catch the hint?
Though clearly reluctant, Yugito still stood up, poured tea into Hikaru's cup, and forced a stiff smile.
"Teacher Hikaru… please have some tea."
Hikaru nodded in satisfaction and took a practiced sip, looking utterly at ease.
Standing off to the side, Kurotsuchi finally realized what was going on and silently noted it in her heart.
[So Hikaru likes playing teacher-student games…] (=_=;)
"I said earlier that what you two said was wrong," Hikaru continued. "But actually… you were also both right."
Yugito: (O_o)??
Kurotsuchi: (o_O)??
The two stared at Hikaru wide-eyed, suddenly feeling that this dignified, handsome, and seemingly reliable man was blatantly messing with them.
For a moment, they both wanted to flip the table.
But Hikaru remained calm and confident, like a strategist who already knew the outcome. He raised a finger and pointed at them.
"See? You're getting anxious again. You're angry, right?"
"That impatience is exactly why you both fell into the movie's trap."
The two froze.
They felt as though they understood something—yet not quite. The answer seemed right in front of them, but a thin layer of fog still obscured it, leaving an itchy, uncomfortable feeling in their hearts.
"Just listen to me," Hikaru said gently. "Let me tell you the rest."
"You said that pitiful people must have something hateful about them. That's true."
"But the reverse is also true—hateful people often have something pitiful about them as well."
"You said Princess Fengyun lived like a puppet for the first half of her life, with no sense of self. That's also true."
"But at the same time, that means she never developed the will to resist."
"You both have your reasons. But in my view, this isn't a problem with either of you."
"It's a problem with the screenwriter and the director."
Both Yugito and Kurotsuchi froze.
"Screenwriter…?"
"Director…?"
Hikaru nodded.
"Yes. Them."
"Movies are just like novels. They're created by people, and they inevitably carry the creator's subjective thoughts. Even if they try to be objective, they can never be absolutely so."
"Just like how Yugito hates spicy food, and Kurotsuchi can't stand overly sour flavors—everyone has their own preferences."
"There's no absolute right or wrong here."
"It's even possible that the creators deliberately designed the story to provoke disagreement. Only then will people argue, discuss it, spread it further—so more people come to watch, and they make more money."
After Hikaru finished speaking, both Yugito and Kurotsuchi fell silent, deep in thought.
They understood what he meant. As shinobi, they weren't so easily swayed—earlier, they had simply been caught up in their emotions after watching the movie. After all, this was supposed to be leisure time. No one wanted to keep their nerves stretched tight all the time.
Replaying the scenes in their minds, they realized how exaggerated and one-sided the film really was—magnifying Princess Fengyun's carefree childhood before brutally contrasting it with the destruction of her country and family.
Seeing them finally calm down, Hikaru quietly let out a breath of relief.
Good. If this had gone any further, today might've turned into a real disaster… (￣▽￣;)
"But don't take it too seriously," he added with a smile. "It's just a movie. Watch it for fun."
"This isn't the Ninja Academy—no need to analyze everything to death."
"Come on. It's getting late. I'll take you both out for barbecue."
...
"It's getting late. When will Lady Tsunade and Lady Shizune arrive?"
Inside **Konoha Hospital**, **Nadeshiko Tsubaki** lay quietly on the bed. A thin needle was inserted into the vein of her right hand, pale green nutrient solution infused with **Hashirama cells** dripping slowly into her body.
**Shizune** sat nearby, legs crossed, her face pale and stiff as she repeatedly reviewed the steps of advanced **medical ninjutsu** in her mind.
Only **Jiraiya** paced back and forth in the corridor beside the bed, head lowered, brows furrowed, muttering anxiously to himself.
"Jiraiya," Shizune said softly, "Lady Tsunade said she'll finish duties at nine. The operation starts at ten."
"It's only nine-thirty. There's still time. Surgery also requires preparation—you're not the one performing it, so why are you so nervous?"
Tsubaki curved her lips slightly, smiling as she watched Jiraiya's restless figure.
For some reason, the man she had once chased so boldly in her youth was starting to look… more and more appealing.
Is this what they mean by men becoming more charming with age?
What a pity. I'm old and worn down now. If I'd been braver back then… maybe I could've won him over.
Hearing her voice, Jiraiya stopped awkwardly. He scratched his head and laughed.
"Ah… is that so? I was just worried it might get late. I was thinking… maybe I should prepare some food for you."
Tsubaki watched his flustered expression and felt warmth bloom in her chest.
"Lady Tsunade said I can't eat for twenty-four hours before the operation," she reminded him gently. "I can only rely on IV nutrition."
"R-right… I see." Jiraiya nodded quickly. "Then after the surgery, I'll take you out for barbecue in Konoha!"
When she didn't respond immediately, his heart skipped.
Don't tell me… she doesn't like barbecue?
"If barbecue's no good, there's also Uchiha-style hot pot fish!"
"And if you don't like fish, there's—"
"Jiraiya," Tsubaki interrupted, smiling, "patients can't eat spicy or strongly flavored food for seven days after surgery."
"That's basic medical knowledge~ (´｀*)"
"Uh..."
Jiraiya froze.
His earlier anxiety vanished, replaced by a faint sense of loss.
So… I can't even invite her to dinner…
Seeing his dazed, almost childlike expression, Tsubaki covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her brows relaxed, and even the dull pain from her hidden illness seemed to ease.
"I heard there's a very good ramen shop in Konoha."
"Yes! Yes! Ichiraku Ramen!" Jiraiya lit up instantly.
"It's light, nutritious, and healthy! After the surgery I'll—"
"No," she said, smiling. "Just bring it back for me."
"I want to try Konoha's best." (´‿｀)