285. Izuna's Crush

"Why Has Business Declined?"

The girl with braided hair carefully arranged a box of bright yellow fruits, then lifted her head to glance at the quiet storefront. Her name was Uchiha Mihoko, and she pouted with frustration.

Her family’s fruit business always maintained a good reputation, especially their lemons, which were widely praised. They even had several regular customers who came by routinely to purchase them.

But lately, for reasons she couldn’t fathom, business had taken a nosedive. Neighbors who used to frequent the shop now went out of their way to avoid it. Groups of elderly women would gather and whisper while pointing at her, leaving Mihoko utterly confused.

"Could it be that someone got sick from eating our fruit?"

At this point, Mihoko was willing to believe it was an issue with their products, rather than suspecting foul play.

While she was lost in thought, a swaying figure appeared at the shop’s entrance. Upon seeing a customer, Mihoko’s delicate face instantly brightened with a polite, practiced smile. She bowed deeply in a classic 90-degree gesture and greeted in a sweet, girlish voice,
"Welcome! How can I help you today?"

However, before she straightened up, the sight of familiar loafers caught her attention. Recognizing the customer, her polite smile turned into a warm, genuine one.

Her black eyes sparkled with innocence as she spoke in a familiar tone,
"Lord Izuna, are you here for lemons again?"

The casually dressed Uchiha Izuna stiffened for a moment at her smile, but quickly reverted to his usual carefree demeanor. He swayed slightly, speaking with a nonchalant tone,
"Just wandering around~"

Shifting the leather wallet tucked under his right arm to his left, Izuna wiped his nose awkwardly, avoiding eye contact with the radiant Mihoko.

"I see," Mihoko responded, a trace of disappointment flashing across her face. She had hoped for a sale to offset some of their losses. It seemed today’s revenue was destined to be zero.

"Well, since I’m here anyway, give me ten pounds of lemons," Izuna said, noticing her fleeting disappointment. He quickly pulled a large bill from his black wallet and handed it over. However, his eyes avoided her entirely, one looking at the sky and the other at the ground, as if refusing to focus on the lively young girl in front of him.

"Please wait a moment!"

Mihoko’s excitement caused her to jump up in delight. Her playful demeanor caught the attention of two onlookers hiding nearby—Uchiha Gin and Uchiha Madara.

"So, little cousin likes this type, huh? No wonder he ignores all those girls in the clan throwing themselves at him," Gin remarked, clicking his tongue in amusement.

"But it’s not like he’s paying her any real attention either," Madara argued, watching Izuna’s dodging gaze.

"You’re hopeless. No wonder you’re single," Gin replied, smacking Madara on the head.

"Ow!"

"Quiet down and just keep watching."

Back at the shop, Mihoko handed the weighed lemons to Izuna, her smile unwavering. Izuna was her best customer, coming by every one or two days to buy lemons in bulk.

But she couldn’t help her curiosity anymore. Tilting her head slightly, she asked softly,
"Lord Izuna, can you really finish all these lemons by yourself?"

"I don’t eat them. They’re gifts," Izuna replied, using his usual carefree demeanor to mask his nervousness.

"Gifts?" Mihoko wondered aloud. Who would need so many lemons? Isn’t that a bit excessive?

"Yeah, my cousin loves lemons," Izuna said. While buying fruit was his excuse to visit Mihoko, it was true that his cousin appreciated the lemons, never once refusing them.

Meanwhile, the two spies weren’t the only onlookers. A group of elderly women nearby had been watching Izuna since he arrived.

"Look at that—Uchiha Izuna is visiting that young girl again," one whispered, cracking a sunflower seed.

"Goodness, Mihoko is only fourteen this year, and Izuna is..."

Hearing the gossip about his little brother, Madara’s expression darkened. His sharp gaze locked onto the women, silently vowing to deal with them later.

"Shh! Keep it down. Lord Izuna is the clan leader’s brother. Poor Mihoko, though—she’s likely to end up as one of their playthings soon."

At this, Madara froze. What?! How did this rumor include me now?!

Just as he was about to confront them, Gin grabbed his arm, stifling laughter.
"Let it go. Just treat it as a joke."

But the women continued, escalating the absurdity.
"And his cousin—didn’t he recently lose his job? I heard he’s been loitering around aimlessly and even took over the ice cream shop owned by that mother and daughter. Truly disgraceful!"

"Crack!"

The sound of sanity breaking.

"Calm down, big brother! You have to stay calm!" Madara, now holding the enraged Gin, felt a rare sense of satisfaction as he urged him to stay composed.

Back at the shop, Izuna quickly grabbed the lemons and prepared to leave, feeling as if his heart might burst from staying any longer.
"Well, I’m off now," he said.

"Leaving already?" Mihoko pouted slightly, disappointed. Her hands fidgeted nervously, her eyes showing a hint of reluctance.

Noticing her hesitation, Izuna took a deep breath and asked casually,
"Something wrong?"

"No, it’s just... business hasn’t been great lately. I was hoping you might help me find out if something’s wrong with our fruits," Mihoko admitted, summoning her courage to voice her concerns.

"Is that so?" Izuna’s carefree demeanor faded, replaced by a sharp edge. A faint, oppressive aura leaked from him. Someone dares to sabotage Mihoko’s family business? Unforgivable!

"It might just be a slow season," Mihoko stammered, unnerved by Izuna’s sudden intensity.

Realizing he’d scared her, Izuna quickly reined in his aura and patted his chest confidently.
"Don’t worry. I’ll look into it for you."

"Thank you so much, Lord Izuna! You’re such a good person!" Mihoko said with a deep bow.

"It’s nothing," Izuna replied, his heart soaring. He’d spoken more with Mihoko today than in the past combined. With a spring in his step, he walked away, his posture exuding newfound confidence.

"Notice anything?" Gin asked Madara once Izuna was out of sight.

"Not really. He’s just buying fruit," Madara replied, still puzzled by Izuna’s odd behavior.

"Hopeless," Gin muttered, shaking his head. Wait until he finds out who taught Izuna that outfit. There’ll be hell to pay.



"Idiot!"

Someone's already pressed you face-to-face with their ultimate move, and you're still busy buying gear.

"Let's go find the person involved!"

Shaking his head, Uchiha Gin led Uchiha Madara in the direction their little cousin had taken.

"Today is a great day~"

Humming a little tune, Uchiha Izuna strolled with the practiced swagger of someone who looked like they belonged, his gait screaming "true streetwise swagger." If a stranger saw him, they'd immediately peg him as someone who lived for the act of aimless wandering.

As Izuna replayed snippets of his earlier exchange with Miwako in his mind, a large hand suddenly clapped onto his shoulder, startling him so much that he froze on the spot, nearly wetting himself.

Everyone knew that the Uchiha family had issues with awareness from behind; sneak attacks from the rear always caught them off guard.

"Who dares?! Don’t you know who I am? My brother is going to be Hokage, you ba—"

Izuna's daydream of dominance was rudely interrupted as he turned around to chew out whoever had touched him. But upon seeing two very familiar figures staring at him with straight faces, he instantly deflated. His lips curled into a fawning smile.

"Oh, what a coincidence! Big brothers, are you also out for a stroll?"

The Uchiha's self-proclaimed "streetwise young lord" straightened up on the spot. However, paired with his "modern" attire, it only made him look ridiculously out of place.

"You brat! Dressed like this and parading around town, you're bringing shame to the Uchiha clan!"

True to his role as clan leader, Uchiha Madara immediately went for the jugular, slapping down a "shame on the clan" accusation.

"Wait! I'm being wronged here!"

Hearing this, Izuna flailed about in protest.

"Still denying it? Where did you even learn to dress like this? Spit it out, now!"

Madara's sharp gaze swept over Izuna's eye-catching outfit, his expression turning stern. The more he looked, the more he sensed something vaguely familiar about it, though he refrained from commenting further.

Off to the side, Uchiha Gin couldn't help clicking his tongue.

Madara really had a way with words, as if working as an intern in the Hokage's office had sharpened his rhetorical skills.

"Oh, come on, Big Brother Gin, wasn't it you who recommended this style to me?"

"Huh?"

Gin, who had been enjoying the show, froze mid-snack. He began scrutinizing Izuna's "trendy" outfit from head to toe, his eyes filled with a mix of suspicion and regret.

Come to think of it, had he... really suggested something like this?

"Stop talking nonsense! Don’t think just because Big Brother Gin spoils you that you can do whatever you please!"

Unconvinced by Izuna's defense, Madara scoffed. He refused to believe Gin had anything to do with it.

"Ahem. Let’s put aside the outfit for now. There’s a more pressing issue at hand—Izuna's personal matters."

Knowing he'd been caught, Gin cleared his throat and steered the conversation away, shifting the focus to Izuna’s behavior.

"Personal matters? His behavior alone is the biggest personal issue here!"

Madara wasn't about to let it go. Despite Gin's attempts at diplomacy, he was determined to get to the bottom of where Izuna had picked up his fashion sense.

"Big Brother Gin, I really have no idea what you’re talking about!"

Cornered by Gin's knowing stare, Izuna averted his eyes, feigning ignorance.

"Oh? Still playing dumb? Your little stunts have become the talk of the clan! Do you really think your disguise is that convincing?"

Gin knocked on Izuna's forehead before recounting the rumors flying around the clan.

Apparently, second-in-command Uchiha Izuna had been abusing his influence, trying to take over the local fruit shop owner’s daughter, Mihoko. The neighborhood was up in arms about it.

"What?!"

To Madara, the news was even more shocking than it was to Izuna. His eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw dropping wide enough to fit three lemons inside.

"I didn’t! I’m not! Don’t slander me!"

Horrified that his actions had somehow spiraled into such a public scandal, Izuna turned red with anger and loudly protested his innocence.

"Oh? So you're saying the rumors are false? Should we head back and issue a formal statement to clear your name?"

"Wait, wait, wait! Not all of it’s untrue."

Caught off guard, Izuna quickly blurted out, his tone panicked.



The moment Uchiha Gin mentioned making this matter public, Uchiha Izuna’s expression became somewhat awkward. His previously firm tone softened, and he no longer dared to meet his elder brother’s righteous gaze directly.

"Izuna, this is a crime!"

At this point, even if Uchiha Madara wasn’t the sharpest in interpersonal matters, he had a rough idea of what his younger brother was thinking. Shutting his open mouth, he furrowed his brows into a deep frown and started lecturing with heartfelt frustration.

Based on age, his younger brother was approaching 30, while that girl from the fruit shop was probably only half his age. If Izuna really pursued her, his future would look quite grim.

"I don’t have that kind of intention! I just wanted—"

Seeing his elder brother misunderstand, Izuna quickly shook his head like a rattle drum. He had never considered having any inappropriate interactions with Uchiha Mihoko at this stage.

"Don’t even think about it!"

As the deputy head of the Uchiha clan, even the slightest improper thought about a young girl was unacceptable, even if it was just fleeting.

"Brother!"

Flustered, Izuna’s eyes turned red, and his sharp aura erupted uncontrollably as he stood his ground against Madara’s oppressive presence.

"You still don’t repent!"

Madara, shocked that his usually obedient brother would stand up to him over a woman, felt a deep pang of heartbreak. He couldn’t understand why Izuna would go to such lengths over something as trivial as a girl.

Fearing that the situation might escalate, Uchiha Gin quietly stepped between them. Looking at the gathering crowd, he said, "Both of you, calm down. This isn’t the place for such discussions. Let’s settle this back home."

With that, he pulled both of them towards the clan leader’s residence.

Throughout the journey, neither Izuna nor Madara spoke, both seething internally and convinced they were in the right.

Once back at the residence, Gin dismissed the servants and sat them down at the table. Taking the lead as the eldest, he began, "Izuna, apologize to your brother first."

Earlier, Izuna had, for the first time in his life, confronted Madara in public. In an era where hierarchy and respect for elders were paramount, this was akin to defying the heavens. Thus, Gin first demanded that his youngest cousin apologize.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you, Brother."

Having calmed down, Izuna lowered his head and apologized to the grim-faced Madara.

"Hmph! If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were the Hokage just now!"

Madara, while mostly appeased by Izuna’s sincere apology, still couldn’t help but maintain his tsundere attitude, a trait notorious among the Uchiha.

"Alright, alright. Let’s focus on Izuna’s issue now," Gin interjected, unwilling to let the matter drag on.

"Izuna, don’t blame your brother for his sharp words. The girl’s age... well, it’s a bit too criminal."

With the tension eased, Gin decided to address the matter directly.

"I can wait!"

Unexpectedly, Izuna had a "Prince Genji" mindset.

"Really? But weren’t all your, uh, materials for casting mature types? How did your preferences change so drastically in real life?"

Perplexed by his cousin’s sudden change in taste, Gin recalled the "supplies" Izuna had gathered in the past.

"!!!"

"Don’t be surprised. All your ‘materials’ passed through my hands."

Seeing Izuna’s stunned expression, Gin calmly revealed a long-kept secret.

Indeed, all of Izuna’s casting materials came from Uchiha Jiro, whose supplier was none other than Gin. This was how Gin knew the specifics of those materials.

Having one’s preferences exposed was more humiliating than physical exposure.

Blushing furiously, Izuna pointed at Gin with a trembling hand, speechless for a long while.

"You—"

"Just be honest."

"Hah... It’s the feeling of love."

Realizing he’d been completely exposed, Izuna decided to stop hiding and admitted his feelings openly.

"See if I don’t beat you to death for having such thoughts about a young girl! This is outrageous!"

Seeing Izuna’s brazen confession, Madara angrily grabbed a chair, ready to enforce family justice, but Gin quickly stopped him.

"Mihoko is already fourteen. In the past, she could’ve been married by now!"

To defend his love, Izuna argued fervently, even pulling out outdated traditions to justify his intentions.

"Seriously, little cousin, do you hear yourself?"

Gin shook his head and replied, "The past is the past. This is now."

With the founding of Konoha, Hashirama Senju had implemented many laws, including detailed marriage regulations. One such law stipulated that women could only marry at sixteen or older. Based on current laws, Izuna was headed straight for a prison cell.

"I know you’re in a hurry, but take it slow."

"I’m not in a hurry! Brother is the one rushing things!"

"Say that one more time, I dare you."

"Do you really like Mihoko?"

Scratching his head, Gin confirmed again, "You’re serious about her?"

"Yes! I’ll marry no one but her!"

Completely overwhelmed by love, Izuna nodded fervently.

"Does she like you? Does she want to marry you?"

"...Does she even know you like her?"

The barrage of soul-piercing questions left Izuna speechless, his face turning red with embarrassment.

"Hah, so it’s just unrequited love!"

Madara finally found a chance to mock him, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"You’re in no position to criticize! At least he likes a woman, not some wooden statue!" Gin retorted.

"I’m just taking my time getting to know her!"

Recalling Mihoko's radiant smile, Izuna grew confident and declared, "With my charm, it’s only a matter of time before I win her over!"

Gin couldn’t help but cringe at Izuna’s overconfidence and flashy gestures, feeling as if his sugar levels were spiking.

"Fine. As long as you don’t resort to underhanded tactics, I’ll support you."

Sighing, Gin reluctantly nodded, acknowledging Izuna’s determined look.

"Brother, are you serious?!"

Madara, who had been expecting Gin to punish Izuna, activated his Sharingan, glaring at Gin in disbelief.

"As long as Izuna doesn’t cross any lines and genuinely pursues her, it would be a blessing for our family."

"And how is that, exactly?"

Madara frowned, still unable to see how this could be good news.

"Well, that’s a long story..."

Gin, with a hint of nostalgia, looked up as if remembering the past. After a moment, he continued, "Our uncle, on his deathbed, asked me to look after your marital prospects."

Hearing about their father, both brothers fell silent, their earlier animosity replaced by sorrow.

"For years, I’ve watched you two. Madara... let’s not even go there for now."

If Izuna hadn’t shown an interest in women, Gin’s meticulous planning might have failed entirely.

"At least now, Izuna likes someone—and it’s a woman. Even if she’s a bit young, it’s not a big deal. Like he said, he can wait."

"Most girls grow into fine women. Wooden statues, however, don’t."