After completing his mission, Madara planned to go to the civilian market to buy some ingredients and head home. However, when he was halfway there, a clan uncle he didn't interact with much stopped him and stuffed a mission Scroll into his hand. Madara initially thought he was supposed to give it to Uchiha Ryo, but then the uncle told him it was for both Uchiha Ryo and himself.
This made Madara a bit confused. Normally, only two types of ninjas got mission Scrolls directly from the clan. One type was ninjas who hadn't completed enough monthly missions, and the other was those who had done an excellent job on their tasks and were thus assigned important missions.
Since Uchiha Ryo was still recovering from his injury, the clan specially allowed him to take on missions as he wished and didn't require him to meet the monthly mission quota. As for Madara, he always took on one mission after another. So, the first possibility was definitely ruled out.
[So, is it an important mission?] Madara looked down at the mission Scroll in his hand, his heart filled with excitement. [Am I getting closer to my big brother?]
However, before this excitement could show on his face, Madara suppressed it in his heart. [I'm still far from my big brother. I gotta work harder and can't get cocky about this little progress...]
Letting out a long breath, Madara put away the mission Scroll and walked towards the civilian market, thinking about what to cook for dinner. However, his brisk steps still revealed the young boy's little happy thoughts.
But all this light - heartedness disappeared when he returned home with the purchased ingredients and smelled the strong, almost bitter tea aroma filling the house.
Following the tea aroma into the house, Madara indeed saw Uchiha Ryo sitting upright in the inner room, with a tea set placed in front of him. The overly strong and bitter tea aroma was wafting from there.
"Is that you, Madara, coming back?"
"Yes, I'm back..." Madara peeked through the crack in the door. "Um... I got a mission Scroll from the clan uncle. He said it's for big brother and me. Do you know what's going on?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Ryo chuckled. "Then it must be about what I mentioned to the chief elder before... Put your things away and come here. I'll tell you about it."
"Sure, I'll be right back."
Madara replied and then closed the door. But at the moment the door closed, Madara frowned. He had only recently learned that his big brother could hold his liquor and liked to drink. So, he didn't know much about his brother's subtle drinking habits. However, he had long known his brother's tea - drinking habits.
When he was happy, Uchiha Ryo would brew fragrant, light, and sweet flower tea. When he was stuck on something, he would make clear and slightly sour fruit tea. In Madara's memory, Uchiha Ryo had only brewed this kind of overly strong tea that lost the original flavor of the tea leaves and even had a bitter tea aroma two times.
One time was when Uchiha Ryo first went to the battlefield, and the other time was when their mother passed away.
Neither of these occasions could be considered a good mood.
[Did something happen when he met those two guys?]
]After putting the bought ingredients in the kitchen, Madara had a touch of worry between his brows. [If only I were stronger, maybe I could be of some help...]
"Brother..."
Madara turned his head and saw Izuna clinging to the door frame. A smile appeared on his usually expressionless face. He waved to his younger brother and said, "What's up, Izuna? Do you want brother to help with something?"
"Didn't brother go on a mission with Uchiha Ryo?" Izuna walked up to Madara. "Did something happen during the mission? Brother looked a bit frightening when he came back..."
"Sorry, Izuna. I'm not really sure either. But it shouldn't be a problem (Mondai) with the mission..." Madara sighed. "I'll try to ask. Can Izuna help me wash the ingredients? I'll cook after I talk to brother."
Izuna nodded obediently.
Madara smiled and ruffled Izuna's hair. He planned to go find Uchiha Ryo, but just as he reached the door, he turned back. "By the way, do we have any snacks at home? Brother said having some sweet food when in a bad mood can make one feel better..."
"Ah, I know. Father bought azuki bean jelly yesterday." Izuna pointed to the top cabinet. "They're all in there."
"Let me see... Ah, there's only one piece." Madara looked a bit hesitant. "Father will want to eat it too, right?"
"Give it to brother first. Father won't mind." Izuna looked up at Madara standing on top of the cabinet. "Besides, Father ate a lot yesterday. It's okay if he doesn't eat today."
Madara thought for a moment and realized Izuna was right. So he reached out and took out the well - packaged azuki bean jelly from the cabinet. "Then I'll give it to brother first."
...
After sensing Madara had left, Uchiha Ryo's smile faded. After sitting upright for a moment, he reached out to pour himself another cup of tea that had become so strong it had lost its original flavor.
After discussing the plan with Uchiha Akihiko, Uchiha Ryo didn't stay at the clan's ancestral hall any longer. Instead, he went straight home.
It wasn't something to be happy about that his worries had become a reality. In fact, he was feeling anxious because of the hidden hand in the dark.
How many people were there on the other side?
How could he break their abilities?
Why were they targeting the Uchiha clan?
The other side...
Every unsolvable problem (Mondai) casts a shadow over his heart, but what was more crucial was his powerlessness in the face of this situation.
[The enemy is right in front of me, yet I'm helpless...] Uchiha Ryo rubbed the pattern on the teacup and pursed his lips slightly. [What use can I be now?]
Knock, knock.
"Brother, may I come in now?"
Hearing Madara's voice, Uchiha Ryo snapped back to reality. He looked up in the direction of the voice and showed a gentle smile. "Sure, just come in."
Only then did Madara open the door. He placed the sliced azuki bean jelly on the table and sat across from Uchiha Ryo. "… Is brother in a bad mood?"
Uchiha Ryo held a teacup in his hands. His lips still wore a gentle smile. He didn't try to hide his emotions deliberately. "Yeah, I'm in a bit of a bad mood."
Madara carefully observed Ryo's expression and tentatively asked, "… Can I do anything to help?"
"Madara, you're not capable enough yet," Ryo's smile widened a little. "Nor am I at present."
Madara was taken aback. "Is there something even big brother can't do?"
"Madara, I've told you many times that there's no one who can do everything in this world. The strength of all living creatures is only relative…" Ryo took a sip of his tea. "If one excels in something, one must have weaknesses. That goes for you and me too.
The investigations I tasked Akihiko and Hiro with have produced results, but in the end, I found that I couldn't get involved because of my lack of ability…
Alright, let's stop talking about these things that only bring us more trouble. Read to me the Scroll the clan uncle gave you."
Upon hearing this, Madara said no more. He just gave Ryo a worried look, then took out the Scroll and started reading.