At the same time, within the Sarutobi clan compound…
An ANBU operative knelt on one knee before the Third Hokage and reported what had happened—Danzō sending someone to "invite" Arata.
This operative was the Third's spy within Root.
That wasn't unusual.
Whether Root or ANBU, both sides had infiltrators planted inside the other.
After listening, the Third said nothing.
He smoked quietly, thinking about what the information implied.
Because this spy wasn't one of Danzō's inner circle, he hadn't been able to learn the exact details.
After a long pause, the Third looked at the operative.
"I understand. Return to your post."
When the operative vanished, the Third finally smiled.
"So Kakashi didn't exaggerate at all."
"Judging by how furious Danzō is… it wasn't Kakashi who knocked Yamanaka Fū out."
"It was Arata."
"I chose correctly… no, he's even stronger than I imagined."
Before tonight, he had believed Kakashi's report, but he hadn't personally confirmed whether Arata was truly as strong as Kakashi claimed.
Now, tonight's incident proved it.
Arata was far stronger than the Third had expected.
"No wonder Black Hoe Raiga died by his hand."
"Arata's ability is probably far beyond elite jōnin level… perhaps he has already reached Hokage-class."
"Twelve years old… heh. Very good. Very good."
Since he had already decided to make Arata his successor, the Third wasn't afraid of Arata becoming too strong and threatening him.
If anything, he feared the opposite:
that Arata wouldn't be strong enough to make the village accept him.
The next day, Arata woke up feeling refreshed—
as if nothing had happened last night.
After getting ready, he went to Honya Taiko's home.
Taiko and Yamada Kimura happened to have no missions today, so Arata came to explain why he had been absent from the squad for so long.
He rang the doorbell and waited.
After a moment, Taiko came out.
Just like the first time he had met her, she wore her long, waist-length blonde hair loose. A spotless white top, and a simple black skirt.
Minimalist, but the contrast with her hair somehow made the look even more striking—beautiful without feeling forced.
When she saw Arata, she froze.
Then her face lit up and she hurried toward him.
"Arata—you're back!"
She stopped in front of him, her large, bright eyes staring straight at him, openly delighted.
And she really was delighted.
Over this period, both she and Kimura had been unhappy about Arata being pulled away from their squad.
Kimura was mostly jealous—jealous that Arata got to leave the village with Kakashi on a mission. He wanted to go too.
Taiko, on the other hand, had been unhappy simply because she hadn't seen Arata for a long time.
Arata smiled.
"I went out on a mission recently. You two handled the team's work without me—thanks. That must've been tough."
Taiko shook her head.
"It wasn't tough. I know going with Kakashi-sensei is good for you."
"I also heard… you've already become a chūnin."
Her gaze held both envy and admiration.
Arata was the first chūnin among their class—and it had happened in less than two months.
And since she already liked him, that achievement only made her look at him with even more respect.
Arata waved it off.
"Just luck."
"Come on—let's go find Kimura. Tōichi-sensei said you're both off today. Want to hang out?"
Taiko didn't even hesitate.
"Yes. Of course!"
Even if Arata hadn't come to her, she would've gone looking for him.
With that decided, the two of them headed off to find Yamada Kimura.
After they left, on the second floor of Taiko's home…
A man and a woman stood by a huge floor-to-ceiling window, watching the two figures walk away.
They were Taiko's parents.
Her father was somewhat heavyset but tall—around 180 cm—with a dignified, authoritative face.
Her mother was also tall—around 170 cm—so standing beside him, she didn't look short at all.
They looked well-matched. No one would say her father didn't "deserve" her mother's beauty.
Taiko's father was Honya Shukuichi, one of the top ten richest merchants in the Land of Fire.
He and Taiko's mother—Senju Mei—were clearly the result of a political marriage.
But despite that, they lived happily together.
Shukuichi asked calmly,
"So that boy is Kagefumi Arata?"
Mei nodded.
"He really is a good child. Even setting aside strength, his appearance and bearing are not inferior to Taiko's."
"I don't think we need to interfere. Whether they end up together or not, Taiko won't suffer."
From just one look, Shukuichi already approved of Arata.
Of course, a big reason was that he had investigated Arata's background.
And after yesterday's move by the Third Hokage, Shukuichi's position had shifted.
When he first heard Taiko liked a civilian-born ninja, he hadn't liked it.
He could allow Taiko to be friends with another civilian like Yamada Kimura—
but if it became romance, if marriage was involved, Shukuichi would never approve.
Kimura, Arata—both would have been unacceptable.
But now, after the Third Hokage's clear signal and Shukuichi's own investigation…
he was beginning to believe in Arata's future.
In the end, in the shinobi world, strength was what mattered.
Mei nodded again.
"Before, I thought that child was too deep—hard to deal with."
"But now it seems he simply doesn't like attention."
"In any case, it depends on Taiko's choice and his future."
"If they truly have fate… and that child achieves something later, I won't oppose it."
Although the Honya household was ultimately controlled by Shukuichi, when it came to their daughter's feelings, he respected Mei's opinion.
Shukuichi watched until Arata and Taiko's figures vanished from sight, then turned away and left.
Mei remained by the window.
She cared deeply about her daughter's future happiness.
Taiko was born into a powerful family.
If she didn't find someone she truly liked—someone Shukuichi could also accept—
then her future would almost certainly be decided by a marriage alliance.
Mei didn't want Taiko to live unhappily.
Even though Mei herself had married well and lived happily, she knew that outcome was rare.
She had seen too many girls from major families married off and treated poorly.
That was why she paid such close attention to any boy Taiko liked.
If he wasn't good enough—or didn't treat Taiko well—Shukuichi would never approve, and Taiko's life could become very difficult.
In the ninja world, Taiko was already twelve.
As a noble-born girl, that wasn't "too young."
When Mei married Shukuichi, she was eighteen—
and they had been engaged at fourteen.
That was why Mei worried:
In two or three more years, Taiko would be at the age where she'd need to become engaged to a "matching" family.
If, before then, she didn't find someone she loved—and who could earn Shukuichi's approval—
then she would likely be forced into an alliance marriage…
and there was a high chance she would never be truly happy.
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