Half a year has passed.
Inside Konoha, a newly built convenience store had appeared.
Its shelves were filled with neatly packaged seasonings meant to enhance flavor and aroma.
Its name was:
Akatsuki Mushroom Delights.
Right next door stood a cake shop with a familiar sign:
Sweet Home.
This cake shop had been around for quite some time.
At its entrance stood Sarutobi Shinnosuke, freshly returned from border duty.
The young man no longer carried the immaturity of his past.
His face, his demeanor—even his eyes—had grown noticeably more composed.
Wearing a chūnin vest, cake box in hand, he waved toward the shop interior where Nara Hane was minding the counter.
"Hane! I'll head off first then! I'll come again tomorrow!"
Watching Shinnosuke leave, the now more mature Nara Hane pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Teacher Shinnosuke, honestly…"
"I told him he doesn't need to support us every single day."
Wearing a pastry uniform, Akimichi Yumi lightly dusted the shelves with a small bamboo broom before walking over.
"Maybe sensei just wants to help in his own way."
"We always make his cakes a little bigger—and sell them at a discount."
"That way, it's not really wasting money, right?"
From the back kitchen, Yamanaka Taiji emerged.
His missing leg had been replaced with a simple prosthetic he'd paid for himself.
He lifted the curtain and sighed.
"This isn't about money anymore."
"I heard Lady Biwako's gained quite a bit of weight from eating cake. Her checkup even showed high blood sugar."
"Now the Hokage's family gets scared just seeing cake."
"And Asuma too—he's put on so much weight people laugh at him at the Academy."
Taiji rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"That kid Newshinnosuke keeps bringing cakes home like there's no tomorrow."
"But what can we do to stop him?" Yumi puffed her cheeks.
Hane slumped over the counter.
"So troublesome~~"
Next door.
Konan stood as the store manager, overseeing operations and personally tasting products.
Employees she'd hired were offering samples to passersby.
"Free tasting~ Free tasting~!"
"Rain Country specialties~ Mushroom Delights, please try~!"
Hearing the commotion, Nara Hane stepped out and leaned against the doorway, eyeing the booming shop next door.
"Just seasoning, and it's selling like crazy…"
"They say it's nutritious too. Good for health."
"And now they're even partnered with a major company."
Yumi peeked out behind her.
"So jealous~ Just selling seasonings and they're raking it in."
"Way more than we make selling cakes, right?"
"One tiny bottle goes for five hundred Fire Country ryō."
"Of course they're making money," Taiji muttered.
Meanwhile, in Amegakure—
The Akatsuki Chamber of Commerce had finally completed renovations.
Guards now stood at its entrance.
Many Rain genin who'd joined out of passion—but had no paid work—finally found employment.
Hanzo was optimistic about Akatsuki's future.
He granted policy support and slashed taxes to the minimum.
"The product line is still too small," Yahiko said.
"Nagato, should we think about building a railway? It'd improve Rain Country's transport."
"But we lack connections," Nagato replied.
"And funds are still limited. Without Miss Sawa believing in our mushroom powder and securing manufacturing contracts, we wouldn't have survived."
Inside the conference room, Yahiko slouched back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
Nagato sat upright, fingers interlocked on the table. Outside, rain continued to fall.
Yahiko watched insects circle the fluorescent light before sitting up.
"Railways aren't something we can handle alone."
Nagato hesitated. "Maybe we could approach Lord Hanzo… He might cooperate with the Land of Fire—"
"Nagato," Yahiko interrupted seriously.
"Did you forget what the Director said?"
"Money is one of the most important things in this world."
Nagato froze, thinking.
Yahiko continued.
"What benefit does building a railway give the Land of Fire?"
"That would be… uh…"
Seeing understanding dawn, Yahiko nodded slightly, then shook his head.
"There is none."
Nagato sighed. Small nations needed materials to grow—big ones didn't.
"So," Yahiko said,
"We need to find something inside Rain Country that's far more profitable."
"Only then do we gain bargaining power."
"But… do we even have anything valuable?" Nagato scratched his head.
"We do," Yahiko grinned. "Think carefully."
"…What?"
"Rain."
Nagato blinked.
"Rain's worth money?"
"Does the Wind Country lack water?"
"…Oh!"
Then his face fell.
"But how would we transport rainwater that far?!"
"Exactly," Yahiko said.
"So to transport water, we first research how to transport it efficiently."
"Like railways. Chakra-powered transport."
"Technology's advancing."
"Chakra-powered ships have gone through several generations."
"Even normal boats are being upgraded."
"If we let Lord Hanzo negotiate with Wind Country enterprises—"
"Rain Country gains profit and friendship."
Nagato stared in awe.
"Incredible, Yahiko… No wonder the Director believed in you. I can barely keep up!"
They drafted a proposal and submitted it to Hanzo.
Though Akatsuki earned mostly from mushroom powder shares—with the lion's share taken by Sawa and corporations—they still cleared over ten million ryō a year.
Hanzo reviewed the proposal carefully.
"Impressive, Akatsuki."
"In half a year, you've stabilized in Fire and Rain, boosted Amegakure's economy, and now propose such an ambitious—though flawed—plan."
"Flawed?" Yahiko asked, puzzled.
Hanzo descended the steps.
"Have you ever been to the Wind Country?"
"Railways require safety and continuity."
"But the Wind Country has massive desert creatures—some rival chūnin, even jōnin."
"That's why water prices there are high."
"Trade relies mainly on coastal ports."
"And second—your chakra-powered railcars still need research."
"Security, manpower, and war risks remain."
"So this plan… cannot yet be realized."
Yahiko bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Lord Hanzo."
Hanzo patted his shoulder.
"I'll keep this plan."
"When peace finally comes, I'll help make it real."
Before they left, Hanzo added:
"There's a small nation in the Wind Country—the Ancient Kingdom of Loulan."
"Exceptional mechanical puppet technology."
"You may enter as merchants."
"But do not reveal ninja strength."
"They no longer allow shinobi inside."
The two bowed in thanks.
Back in Konoha—
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kaori arrived at Akatsuki Mushroom Delights.
"I hear their seasonings are excellent. Even restaurants buy from here."
"Let's take a look."
They entered hand in hand.
Minato felt several gazes—
one filled with hatred.
A red-haired girl in ROOT tactical gear stood silently.
Why couldn't she live happily?
Why was she forced to become a butcher?
She was now fully ROOT.
—
Inside, Konan welcomed them cheerfully.
"Welcome~ What would you like?"
Shelves were lined with jars, vacuum-sealed seafood stored in chilled wall cabinets.
This idea—vacuum preservation—had come from Kaito.
It was how they secured major profit shares.
Minato smiled warmly.
"Senior Konan."
She blinked—then lit up.
"Minato! You brought your girlfriend?!"
Both Minato and Kaori turned red.
Konan laughed.
"Congrats on becoming Special Jōnin!"
Then she suddenly asked:
"By the way… has Mr. kaito come back yet?"
Minato stiffened.
"…Actually."
"He's been missing for a long time."
"No letters. No sightings."
"The village suspects he may have been captured—like Jōnin Nawaki."
Clatter.
The spatula fell.
Konan covered her mouth.
"…No way."
Minato quickly changed the topic.
"So—uh—what do you recommend?"
Konan shot him a look.
—Meanwhile, far away—
Kaito had simply forgotten to write to the Third Hokage.
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