Akimichi Torifu collapsed on a chair in the room, not wanting to move a single finger.
"...This is more tiring than the last ninja war..."
"Troublesome... my brain has almost turned into mush from calculating."
Nara Shikaku lay directly on the floor, looking like he had lost the will to live.
Only Sakumo, although also tired, was exceptionally spirited.
He looked at the almost empty shelves and the astonishing sales figures on the ledger, his heart bursting with satisfaction.
Just then, an elderly woman with white hair, leaning on a cane, walked into the shop.
She held nothing in her hands, just looking around the shop with her cloudy eyes.
"Grandma, are you planning to buy vegetables or meat?" Sakumo stepped forward and asked gently.
However, the old woman shook her head.
She didn't speak, but from her sleeve, which was washed white, she took out a bunch of wild flowers tied with a red string and handed them to Sakumo with trembling hands.
They were seemingly ordinary, yet extraordinary little flowers.
"Lord Sakumo..."
The old woman's voice was hoarse and aged. "Thank you... thank you all... and... thank Lord Hokage for me..."
She looked up, her cloudy eyes filled with tears.
"My son... died in the last war. I'm the only old woman left in the family... Before, it was hard even to get enough to eat... Now... now I can use the pension from the village to buy such good rice, such cheap meat..."
"Thank you... really... thank you..."
As she spoke, the old woman bowed deeply to Sakumo.
Sakumo's body trembled violently.
He looked at the old woman before him, at the crisscrossing wrinkles on her face and the sincere tears.
A huge flood of emotions instantly broke through his psychological defenses.
This is "protection."
Not just killing enemies on the battlefield.
But also allowing this mother who lost her son to eat a hot meal in her old age and live a stable life.
This heavy meaning came with weight, came with glory.
Hatake Sakumo's eyes felt a little hot.
He extended his hands, covered in lard, and solemnly accepted the bunch of wild flowers.
"Please rest assured."
"As long as we are here, as long as Konoha is here, we will definitely let you continue to live a good life."
With that, Sakumo also bowed to this ordinary old woman.
When the shop was ready to close and the three were counting the day's harvest.
A familiar figure walked into the shop with a smile.
"Yo, it seems I'm late."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the almost empty shelves and said with a smile.
"Lord Hokage!"
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen, the "Agricultural Big Three" who were paralyzed on the chairs immediately stood up in unison as if pressed by springs.
"Alright, alright, sit down, don't stand on ceremony."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand with a smile, signaling them not to be so nervous.
He didn't put on the airs of a Hokage, but strolled around the shop like an ordinary neighbor uncle visiting.
He walked to the rice shelf and grabbed a handful of "Hokage No. 1" rice.
The grains were full and crystal clear, emitting an enticing luster under the light.
"Mm, not bad."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction and walked to the vegetable section.
Only a few cucumbers and tomatoes with not-so-good appearance were left on the shelves.
He picked up a cucumber, smelled it, and a fresh scent wafted over.
"It seems that our Konoha's 'meat freedom' and 'vegetable freedom' are just around the corner."
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around, looked at his three capable subordinates, and praised sincerely.
"Well done, Sakumo, Torifu, Shikaku."
His gaze swept over their tired but proud faces.
"You have made a great contribution to the village, no less than any S-rank mission."
"It's all thanks to your leadership, Lord Hokage," Sakumo said from the bottom of his heart.
"Hahaha, I just did some talking. You are the ones who really worked hard."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, walked to them, and sat down naturally.
He didn't talk about work anymore, but chatted with them like an old friend he hadn't seen for a long time.
"Torifu, you guy, have you gained weight again recently?"
He patted Akimichi Torifu's round belly and teased with a smile, "I heard that in order to research how to make 'Konoha Pork' more delicious, you almost made the pigsty on the farm your home."
"Hehe, Hiruzen, this is called dedicating one's life to the village's barbecue cause!"
Akimichi Torifu scratched his head embarrassedly, but his face was full of pride. "You don't know, I recently developed a secret feed mixed with apples and honey. The meat of the pigs fed with it, tsk tsk, even smells fruity when grilled!"
"Oh? Then I must try it next time."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up, and he looked at Nara Shikaku who was still yawning beside him.
"Shikaku, you've worked hard too. I heard you stayed up for several nights to plan the crop rotation for the farm. I'll have the Medical Squad send you some special energy pills later."
"Sigh..."
The lazy expression on Nara Shikaku's face softened a lot. "Lord Hokage, don't tease me. I'm just afraid that there won't be fresh vegetables to eat in winter, which will affect my mood of lying down and watching clouds."
"Hahahaha..."
A hearty laugh rang out in the empty shop.
The four of them chatted like this, without the barrier of superiors and subordinates, without the identity of Hokage and subordinates.
Like a few old friends who had fought side by side for many years, sharing each other's joy and hard work under the setting sun.
At the end of the chat, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, took a bag of rice and the few cucumbers from the shelf.
"How much? I'll pay." He said to Shikaku with a smile.
"Eh? Lord Hokage, you..." Shikaku stood up quickly, wanting to refuse.
"Take it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stuffed a few bills into his hand and said unquestionably, "I'm also supporting your work. Besides, even brothers settle accounts clearly. This rule cannot be broken with me."
Shikaku had no choice but to accept it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen carried the bag of rice and the cucumbers, ready to leave with satisfaction.
Before leaving, as if he suddenly remembered something, he turned back to Hatake Sakumo and said, "By the way, Sakumo, if you have time tomorrow, bring Kakashi to my house."
"That kid Asuma keeps muttering at home every day that he wants to play with his white-haired brother."
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