Konoha Year 39.
May.
The final month of spring.
Without anyone noticing, someone's twenty-third birthday was fast approaching.
Enka Uzushio City—
The first newly built major city in the Land of Fire since the end of the First Great Ninja War, constructed amid growing frictions between nations.
The city was filled with architecture inspired by various ancient styles.
There were two main entrances into the city.
Above the gate, three large characters were carved:
"Enka Uzushio City."
Anyone entering would first see a wooden statue:
a shinobi wearing an Uzushio forehead protector and another wearing a Konoha forehead protector, their hands tightly clasped together.
It was a striking sight—one that made people stop and look.
Some nobles and merchants who even owned cameras took photos here as souvenirs.
Kaito led the four children into the city.
Immediately—
"Waaah—!"
"Whoa—!"
"Wow—!"
Their voices rang out one after another.
"Alright, alright. I'll take you to eat later," Kaito said lazily.
He had wanted to come here ever since he heard the city was completed two years ago. Unfortunately, his journey that year took him from the Capital of Fire all the way toward the Land of Lightning, passing through the Land of Udon instead.
Incidentally—
the specialty of the Land of Udon really was udon noodles.
"Long live the Director!" ×3
"Long live Teacher!"
Meanwhile, deep within Enka Uzushio City—
Inside the City Lord's Manor.
The former son of the Uzushio Daimyō had just concluded a cooperation agreement with a beautiful young woman.
"Pleasure working with you."
"City Lord Uzumaki Masato."
"No need for formalities—just call me Masato," Uzumaki Masato sighed.
"Our branch of the Uzumaki clan has decided to live as ordinary people. We won't involve ourselves in shinobi conflicts anymore."
"Oh?"
The young woman gently fanned herself and smiled.
"You see things quite clearly, City Lord Masato. Much better than my runaway fiancé, at least."
—Fukuyama Sawa
One of the Land of Fire's Ninja Bank representatives, and the manager of the Konoha branch.
"Hahaha! Any man who could marry someone as beautiful as Miss Sawa must have accumulated eight lifetimes of fortune," Masato laughed.
In truth, Masato genuinely envied her.
For Enka Uzushio City to develop, loans from the Ninja Bank were essential—
to open a branch here for investors, merchants, and travelers to exchange currency.
When construction finished two years ago, Masato—well aware of economics due to his background—knew that without unique city characteristics, investment would never come.
Thus, massive loans were taken for city redevelopment.
Now, seeing the city's growth, the Ninja Bank had proactively approved a branch here.
A city without money, without value—
would never have a bank.
After discussions ended, Masato escorted Fukuyama Sawa outside.
Waiting at the entrance were hired Konoha guards.
"You're really slow," a woman sneered.
"Hmph. Is that how you treat your employer?"
Masato watched two beautiful women glaring at each other and wiped sweat from his brow.
Why would Miss Sawa hire a Konoha kunoichi who clearly has beef with her…
"Alright, alright," Shiranui Genma jumped in.
"We're bodyguards, Ryuun. Don't offend the client."
Hyūga Suzuka nodded gently.
"Hmph."
Yūhi Ryuun thought to herself:
If this woman hadn't specifically requested her—and if the mission slots hadn't included Genma and Suzuka, and allowed a visit to the newly built Enka Uzushio City—
She wouldn't have come at all.
Two Special Jōnin.
One Jōnin.
The escort lineup was absurdly luxurious.
Fukuyama Sawa walked down the street, one arm folded, the other fanning herself, preparing to head to the station and return to Konoha.
Then she noticed three children who clearly looked like they'd never seen the world.
On her right—Shiranui Genma.
On her left—Hyūga Suzuka.
Behind—Yūhi Ryuun.
Yahiko lifted a handmade pinwheel the shop owner had given them as a free gift.
"Konan, look! What's this? A pinwheel! I've never seen one before! Back in Rain—uh—back home!"
Nagato exited a convenience store, eyes wide.
"They even have convenience stores here… and everything's so cheap. Not like the prices back home."
Konan looked around at people wearing new, high-quality clothes.
A trace of envy flashed across her eyes.
"Well… this is the Land of Fire," she said quietly.
The three had removed their forehead protectors, blending in as ordinary kids.
Nagato had grown his hair longer again, covering his Rinnegan with bangs.
"Hmph~ Kids from other countries?" Fukuyama Sawa scoffed.
"Of course the Land of Fire's cities are the best. Do you really need to say that?"
The three fell silent.
Faced with her noble attire and obvious wealth, they instinctively felt inferior.
"Heh… sorry about that," Genma chuckled awkwardly, whispering an apology to the kids.
The three didn't mind and turned to leave—
—but Nagato suddenly froze.
At the same moment, Hyūga Suzuka and Yūhi Ryuun both stopped.
Suzuka hadn't forgotten the intelligence leak incident during the Second War.
"Stop."
Yahiko turned, confused.
Suzuka activated her Byakugan.
"How did orphans from the Land of Rain enter the city?"
"And how did you bypass the Land of Fire's border defenses?! Speak!"
The words hit like a thunderbolt.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan froze.
Fukuyama Sawa also stopped and turned back.
"Do these children have a grudge against you?"
"Kaito once saved one of them," Yūhi Ryuun explained.
"As for the rest, I don't know."
"I won't forget it."
Suzuka's veins bulged as her Byakugan pierced straight through Nagato—
seeing the Rinnegan and his enormous chakra reserves.
"That time…"
"It was you who sold out me and Captain Kaito, wasn't it?!"
"???" ×3
The three stared at each other in disbelief.
Sold out who?! We didn't do anything!
"Sold out Kaito?"
Fukuyama Sawa's tone turned icy.
Her grip on the fan tightened.
Behind her, Ryuun and Genma both radiated hostility.
"Arrest them," Sawa ordered coldly.
"Bring them to Masato—no. Take them back to Konoha for interrogation."
From the shadows, having followed all along—
Black Zetsu: "..."
I knew it! I knew it!
You bastard—you're trying to get Nagato killed!!
Black Zetsu was on the verge of tears.
Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato instantly formed a triangular formation.
Ahead—Yūhi Ryuun and Hyūga Suzuka prepared to strike.
Genma positioned himself to protect Fukuyama Sawa.
Then—
A calm voice descended from above.
"Oh?"
"Did my subordinates offend you somehow?"
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