Chapter 482: Walking the Baby in Tacit Understanding

Kushina couldn't understand why these two always invited Shinki for tea and meals when they had nothing better to do.

Don't they have their own clans to manage?

What annoyed her even more was their timing—they always showed up when she wanted Shinki's attention.

Shinki, however, was used to these invitations. He understood that Hiashi and Fugaku weren't doing this out of boredom but as a way to maintain their relationship with him.

Building a relationship wasn't always about grand gestures. Sometimes, regular interactions like sharing a meal or tea were enough to establish trust and familiarity.

While Shinki didn't feel obligated to help them in major matters, he didn't mind lending a hand with smaller issues.

So, as long as he had time, Shinki usually accepted their invitations. He knew that rejecting them repeatedly would only make them anxious.

The meeting spot was the same as usual, and this time, Hiashi and Fugaku had brought two one-year-olds with them.

"..."

Are you two bringing babies to lunch now? Or is this some kind of silent flex?

Shinki stared at the two children, momentarily speechless.

Despite his initial confusion, the sight of the toddlers made him smile. They were undeniably adorable.

In the original timeline, Hyuga Hiashi's eldest daughter, Hinata, was born relatively late, likely due to her mother's age. But with Hyuga Mehu gone, Hiashi had married a younger woman from the Hyuga main family, and the task of producing heirs had been prioritized.

As a result, Hiashi and Fugaku had become fathers at almost the same time.

Looking at the two children, Hinata and Itachi, Shinki felt a strange sense of amusement.

Both names and genders remained unchanged from the original timeline, but their birth order and circumstances had shifted dramatically.

As soon as Shinki entered the private room, Hiashi and Fugaku, who were kneeling on mats, rose to greet him.

"Master Shinki," they said in unison.

"Sit down. There's no need to be so formal," Shinki waved them off casually, taking a seat opposite them.

Cross-legged, of course—he wasn't about to endure the discomfort of kneeling.

"Walking the baby in tacit understanding now, are we?" Shinki teased after taking a sip of tea.

Hiashi coughed lightly. "I'm usually busy with clan affairs and don't have much time to spend with my child. I try to take her out whenever I can."

"Same here," Fugaku admitted, not bothering to make excuses.

Shinki smirked. "At least you're honest."

Soon, the food was served, and the three of them began eating while chatting about trivial topics.

The guards took care of the children, leaving the adults to enjoy their meal uninterrupted.

As they ate, Shinki observed the two children.

Itachi was quiet and composed, already displaying the calm demeanor that would define him later in life. Hinata, on the other hand, was all smiles. The little girl's cheerful grin and tiny front teeth were irresistibly cute, making it hard not to pick her up and spin her around.

After a while, Shinki turned to Hiashi. "How are things in the clan? The internal tensions—are they better now?"

Hiashi paused before nodding. "Yes. After some of the main family's privileges were limited, and the branch family's status and benefits were improved, the conflicts have lessened significantly."

Hiashi couldn't abolish the Caged Bird curse seal, but he had used Shinki's influence to restrict the main family's privileges and elevate the branch family's status. The branch family was no longer treated like slaves or punished arbitrarily.

With the branch family gaining respect and fair treatment, the grievances between the two factions had diminished.

"Many of the main family members protested at first," Hiashi added, "but with your support, their complaints didn't amount to much. The atmosphere within the Hyuga clan is much better now."

Shinki nodded in approval, then turned to Fugaku. "And the Uchiha clan?"

"Things are stable," Fugaku replied succinctly.

After dealing with the more troublesome elders and promoting those who had contributed to the clan, Fugaku had garnered strong support within the Uchiha.

Additionally, Uchiha's position in the village had improved significantly with Shinki's backing.

Even the notorious Police Department, once the subject of endless complaints, had seen its reputation improve.

"Tsunade isn't like the Third Hokage," Shinki remarked. "She'd never set up a 'Police Complaints Department.' That nonsense ended the moment she took office."

Instead, the police department had been restructured, with ninjas from other clans and civilians joining the force. Complaints were now spread across all members, rather than being solely directed at the Uchiha.

"Would you believe the police department's reputation has actually improved?" Fugaku said, still baffled. "It's strange—we haven't done anything differently."

Shinki chuckled. "Think about it. Who used to complain about the police department the most?"

Fugaku hesitated before answering, "Ordinary villagers. Ninja clans rarely complained."

"Exactly," Shinki said, putting down his chopsticks. "Before, the police department was entirely Uchiha-run. Now, with civilians and ninjas from other families involved, those same villagers aren't as likely to complain. After all, who wants to report their own relatives?"

Fugaku blinked, then sighed. "That makes sense, but it's still a bit ironic."

Shinki smirked. "Sometimes, the solution to a problem is simpler than you think."