The morning sunlight had just crossed the outline of the Hokage Rock.
The figure of Farm Manager Hatake Sakumo appeared at the gate of the Ecological Farm.
He wasn't wearing his simple farmer's short coat, but a brand-new, custom-made dark gray work uniform.
The fabric was crisp and well-tailored, and on the back, an emblem representing the ecological farm, composed of rice ears and gears, was embroidered with silver thread.
His signature silver-white short hair was combed meticulously.
Hatake Sakumo's eyes were calm, his face solemn. What he exuded was not the earthy smell of the fields, but the fierce aura of someone about to go to the battlefield.
Today was the official opening day of the farm's direct sales store.
This was his new battlefield.
Sakumo didn't patrol the fields and pigsties first as usual.
When he arrived at Hokage Avenue, the sky was just getting light.
The street was still quiet, with only a few early-rising sanitation villagers sweeping the road.
Sakumo's gaze fell on a prime location on Hokage Avenue, a shop with a huge area specially approved by Lord Hokage.
The shop's signboard was covered by a red cloth, hiding the words on it.
But the brand-new facade and floor-to-ceiling glass windows all proclaimed its distinctiveness.
Sakumo pushed the door open and walked in.
A scent mixed with the fragrance of wood and the sweetness of fruits and melons wafted over.
The interior space of the shop was even larger and brighter than he had imagined.
Rows of shelves made of Chakra Concrete were neatly arranged, already filled with a dazzling array of agricultural products categorized by type.
The most prominent position was the grain section.
Sacks of rice stacked like city walls, with "Hokage No. 1 Special Supply Rice" written in red font on them.
Next to them were some medicinal rice packed in exquisite cloth bags, said to be cultivated by the Nara family, with calming and sleep-aiding effects.
Next was the vegetable section.
Cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce... freshly picked from the constant temperature barrier farm, each one so fresh it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.
But what made people drool the most was the meat section at the very back.
Akimichi Torifu, one of the "Agricultural Big Three," was shirtless, sticking out his round belly, directing several equally burly clansmen to hang freshly butchered sides of pork on special hooks.
That pork was the legendary "Konoha Pork."
Under the sunlight, they glistened with enticing oil, the pink lean meat and snow-white fat forming beautiful marble patterns.
"Hey! You guys, be gentle! Gentle!"
Akimichi Torifu's booming voice echoed in the empty shop. "This is the treasure of our Konoha Farm! Don't break it!"
"Yes! Clan Head!"
"And you! That piece of pork belly is hung too low! Hang it in the most prominent position! Let everyone who walks in see its perfect figure at first glance!"
He was like the most fastidious artist, arranging his proudest work.
In another corner of the shop, Nara Shikaku, the farm's chief planner, was in a completely opposite state.
He yawned, tears still in the corners of his eyes, holding a thick ledger, checking the price tags and inventory list of the goods.
"Cucumber... this price is good, as long as we can recover the cost."
"Tomato... hiss, Lord Hokage suppressed the price so hard..."
"Konoha Pork, pork belly... this price is reasonable. However, according to today's stock, I estimate it will be sold out before noon."
Nara Shikaku checked and complained non-stop.
"...Market research? Pricing strategy? Analyzing consumer psychology... My god."
Sakumo looked at these two companions with vastly different styles, a smile appearing on his face.
He walked forward and took the ledger from Shikaku's hand.
"I'll do it, you go to the back and rest for a while."
"Oh? Has the sun risen from the west? Manager Sakumo actually cares about a lazy person like me?"
Shikaku said exaggeratedly, but he unceremoniously stuffed the ledger into Sakumo's hand, then stretched and walked towards the lounge at the back of the shop.
"......."
Sakumo took the ledger and began to check it meticulously.
Time passed bit by bit in this tense and orderly preparation work.
The sky outside the shop grew brighter and brighter.
There were more and more pedestrians on the street.
Many early-rising villagers were attracted by this newly opened shop and the banner hanging at the door: "Konoha Ecological Farm Direct Sales Store Opens Today, 20% Off Everything, Welcome to Taste!"
"Hey, is this a new shop?"
"Konoha Ecological Farm? Is that the farm where Lord Sakumo is the manager?"
The crowd began to gather at the shop entrance, discussing animatedly, everyone's face full of curiosity and expectation.
Inside the shop, all preparations were complete.
Sakumo, Torifu, and dozens of ninja clerks drawn from various clans to help had all changed into uniform gray work clothes, standing at their posts, waiting in full battle array.
Sakumo stood in the very center of the shop and took a deep breath.
He looked at the growing crowd outside the door, at the expectant smiles on their faces.
In his heart, a nervousness even greater than when he faced ten puppets from Sunagakure alone welled up.
<><><><><
Read Advaned Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]