Two years had already passed since the end of the Second Great Shinobi War.
Now they were entering the third year. That's right, the Lunar New Year had arrived.
Sunagakure paused its usual hustle and bustle. Red lanterns were hung on every household, their golden and crimson hues shimmering under the sunlight.
This brought a unique atmosphere to the desert.
Because the desert nights were extremely cold, especially in winter, Sunagakure's Lunar New Year festivities were held during the day.
Villagers strolled along the streets, sampling delicacies they hadn't had the chance to eat before.
Laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air.
Of course.
The Land of Rain was also celebrating.
Thanks to the continuous transportation of soil by the shinobi over the past two years, the perfection of hydroponics technology, and... the diligent efforts of a certain White Zetsu.
Sunagakure no longer suffered from food shortages.
In fact, most of the grain grown in the Land of Rain was sold in the Trade City.
They couldn't finish it. They really couldn't finish it all.
The villagers of Sunagakure could never have imagined a situation where they had more food than they could eat.
Inside a certain mountain in Sunagakure.
This mountain, like the one housing the lab, had been completely hollowed out, but its area was several times larger than the lab mountain.
It stood a full five hundred meters tall, with a layer every seven meters, totaling 70 floors. Each layer was covered with soil, and water dripped steadily from metallic pipes nearby. The soil was entirely planted with grains, vegetables, and fruits.
What!
If you ask where all that water came from.
Well, Sayan secretly stole it from Konohagakure and the Land of Rain.
Thanks to his increased strength, Sayan's fine control over chakra had reached its peak. He deliberately took some time to travel to the Valley of the End in Konohagakure and the Rain Mountain Range in the Land of Rain, opening up underground rivers from both locations and diverting them to Sunagakure.
As for why he went to the Valley of the End—wasn't it to protect historical relics? Those two massive stone statues were constantly being eroded by the river; what if they collapsed one day!
As for why he chose the Rain Mountain Range in the Land of Rain.
That was purely out of necessity.
Following the success of Sunagakure in hollowing out mountains, Iwagakure and Kumogakure also started similar projects.
Only Konohagakure had merely dug a tunnel.
This was understandable.
The Land of Earth was covered in yellow dirt, its environment only slightly better than the Land of Wind, so they definitely needed water for irrigation.
Kumogakure, on the other hand, figured that if the flooding was happening in the Land of Grass, it didn't concern them, but if the Land of Rain could suddenly grow crops, then it did concern them.
As for the Land of Fire, their land was so fertile; if they flooded it with water, wouldn't that be insane?
Therefore, Sayan went to the Rain Mountain Range simply because that was where the most water was available at the moment.
Getting back to the mountain cave.
The ceiling of every floor was covered with chakra light bulbs to provide the plants with warmth and sunlight.
At this moment, a man dressed in a researcher's uniform walked in.
He casually walked up to one of the layers and clasped his hands together.
[Mokuton: Rapid Growth Technique!]
The plants, which had only just sprouted, quickly grew at a visible rate.
"Phew~, done. They should be ready in about three more days."
"Oh dear~, I earned another hundred ryō today. I can buy more delicious things for Madara-sama."
"But Madara-sama is so old now, should I start preparing diapers? Oh dear~, that's another considerable expense."
"Oh, Kazekage-sama is really something. He covered the entire interior of the mountain with iron sheets, so I can't use Doton to move around anymore."
...
In the central plaza of Sunagakure, food stalls were overflowing with delicacies.
Bunpuku was walking through the crowd alone.
No, to be precise, it was one man and one beast.
Due to the addition of the Uzumaki Clan, Bunpuku's sealing techniques had improved.
Moreover, since Shukaku had been helping Sunagakure build roads for the past two years, a loophole was intentionally created in the sealing technique.
This allowed Shukaku to manifest a small clone at any time.
The small Shukaku was currently following behind Bunpuku, holding various foods in its hands and using its tail to feed the treats into its mouth.
"Oh ho ho~, delicious, truly delicious!"
"Hahaha, if Shukaku-sama likes it, please eat more! Try our three-color dango; they are absolutely sweet."
The surrounding vendors, upon seeing the talking Shukaku, showed no fear whatsoever, instead warmly inviting it to eat more.
This was thanks to Shukaku's road-building efforts over the past two years; its contributions to Sunagakure were obvious to everyone.
Now that the main roads were completed, travel had become convenient, and merchants from various regions had come here, improving Sunagakure's economic environment.
Furthermore.
Why should they be afraid?
Shukaku is so cute; even if it grows bigger, it won't hurt us.
What! You say Shukaku is a Bijū (Tailed Beast), and other villages' Bijū destroy villages and eat people!
Didn't we just say those were other villages' Bijū?
That's not Shukaku!
The truth was.
Ever since Sayan discovered that absorbing Shukaku's chakra could increase his fusion rate, Shukaku had never caused trouble again.
Every day, it was either being drained or on the way to being drained.
Therefore.
Cause destruction?
Shukaku declared that it was a civilized beast deeply influenced by Sunagakure's new philosophy and high education, unlike those savage beasts that only knew how to destroy.
Meanwhile, Sayan was enjoying the festivities in the same plaza with his wives.
The five of them ate, drank, and mingled freely with the surrounding crowd.
As for the three little ones, they had long since run off somewhere to play wildly.
"Sayan-papa, hurry up!"
Sayan, who was enjoying himself, heard someone call him, so he turned his head and saw Konan waving at him from a distance, urging him to come over quickly.
The group walked over.
They saw a corner of a wall where people were already squatting everywhere.
Chiyo, Uzumaki Rumei, Sasori, Hiroto, Muzuki, and the three little ones—a dense group of over a dozen people were squatting there.
"What are you all..."
Before Sayan could finish his sentence, the dozen or so people squatting by the wall simultaneously shushed him and gestured for him to look for himself.
"Oh, it's Ebizō and Elder Ashika. What's so strange about that?"
Sayan walked closer and saw Ebizō and Uzumaki Ashika sitting at a table on the other side of the wall, chatting with each other.
The usually shrewd and calculating Ebizō was now exhibiting a foolish, goofy look that was completely uncharacteristic of him.
"Huh~, Papa, don't you think it's weird? They're clearly on a date."
"What's strange about that? I even know that Ebizō fell in love at first sight."
"Huh!!!"
"Papa, can you tell us the details?"
Faced with Konan's coaxing and the curious stares of everyone except Chiyo.
Sayan had no choice but to push the topic onto Chiyo. After all, it was a subordinate's private matter, and as the Kazekage, he needed to protect his subordinates.
More importantly... what if Ebizō found out he spilled the beans and refused to sign his paperwork anymore!
However, if his older sister said it, there would be no problem.
Immediately, everyone turned their curious gazes toward Chiyo.
And Chiyo, who had been bottling up this secret for a long time, finally couldn't hold back when she saw the eager eyes of the crowd.
After all.
What older sister could resist sharing her younger brother's embarrassing stories?
"Ahem, the incident happened when we went to welcome Elder Ashika and the Uzumaki Clan. Ebizō and I were standing together. I remember Ebizō telling me..."
Ebizō: [Neesan!]
Chiyo: [What is it?]
[I think I might be in love!]
[Huh?!]
Chiyo turned her head in disbelief to look at the blushing Ebizō beside her, her lips trembling as she spoke.
[My little brother finally got a clue! Tell me who it is! I'll go talk to her for you!]
[Look, it's her!]
Chiyo followed Ebizō's gaze and saw Uzumaki Ashika chatting with the Kazekage.
Uzumaki Ashika exuded a cool, imposing aura. She was tall and straight, with bright eyes. Due to the Uzumaki Clan's physique, she looked like a girl in her early twenties, despite being in her forties. She wore the Uzumaki Clan uniform, which, though slightly faded, was very clean.
Chiyo then looked at her brother standing next to her and said.
[My dear brother!]
[What is it, Neesan! Do you also think we look good together?]
[I mean, maybe we should give up. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle her, and she'll treat you like a dog!]
[Neesan...]
[Yes, go on.]
[Am I really that pathetic?]
[Alas, Ebizō, that woman managed to save 97 Uzumaki Clan members while being hunted by numerous shinobi, and she still managed to feed everyone. Her capability is undeniable. I'm afraid you'll try to pursue her and end up being played instead!]
[What nonsense! What are you saying! I admit she is excellent, but it is precisely that excellence that deeply attracts me. This is the mutual attraction of highly intelligent individuals.
And!
Am I not excellent myself?!]
[So! Reviewing paperwork every day about how much dirt was dug up, how much grain was harvested, and which family lost a pet—is that what you call excellence?]
Ebizō [...].
Seeing her brother's devastated expression, Chiyo... grew even more excited.
Ohoho, so this is what it feels like to roast your younger brother. It's exhilarating!
[And... look at your age right now. Although you two are both in your forties, the visual difference is too huge!]
[Neesan...]
[If you walk out together, people will say Ebizō is an old bull eating young grass!]
[Neesan...]
[If our deceased parents knew this, wuwuwu, how am I supposed to face them!!!]
[Onee-san...]
[Speak up!]
[Is there a possibility... that we both deliberately used makeup to look older, and your brother is actually still very handsome right now!]
[Oho! Is that so!]
Seeing the foolish look in his sister's eyes, Ebizō knew that she... had forgotten.
[She was really just roasting me earlier!]
"Wait!!! It was like that?!" xN
After hearing Chiyo's story, the crowd gave her plenty of emotional affirmation.
"Hmm, I didn't expect Ebizō would actually succeed. It looks like they are getting along very well! It seems my previous worries were unnecessary!"
But no sooner had Chiyo finished speaking than she regretted it.
Because she saw what was happening on the other side of the wall.
Uzumaki Ashika was currently lifting Ebizō's chin with her slender, fair index finger.
Ebizō's face was completely flushed, and steam was starting to rise from his head.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Ashika smiled softly and spoke to Ebizō, her breath sweet like orchids.
"Are you a good boy?"
Ebizō, whose mind was already spinning wildly from the flirting, had lost all ability to think and only knew he had to obey.
"G-good... I'm good!"
"Then~~~~, call me Daddy!"
"D-Daddy!"
Chiyo: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Chiyo: "I take back my praise. He really is being treated like a dog!"
Inside an underground cave in the Land of Grass.
"Madara-sama~ Madara-sama~"
"Great! It looks like he's still sleeping!"
"In that case! Here I come~, Madara-sama!"
The sneaky White Zetsu walked into the cave.
Seeing that Madara didn't respond.
His actions became increasingly bold.
"Where should I put this? Hey hey hey, and this too, hehehe!"
"Idiot! What are you doing!"
"Oh dear! Madara-sama, you're awake!"
"I was arranging food for you. It's the Lunar New Year today, Madara-sama!"
"I brought you lots of food: three-color dango, takoyaki, watermelon, grapes, and tanghulu (candied haws). Oh dear! The tanghulu is too hard; Madara-sama might not be able to chew it. Should I feed Madara-sama?"
"Shut up, idiot!"
Looking at the stone table that had appeared before him, covered with steaming hot food, Uchiha Madara cursed Tobi as usual.
"Hand it over! This old man will prove to you right now whether my teeth are still hard or not!"
With that, he snatched the tanghulu from Tobi's hand and took a fierce bite.
"Ah~ Madara-sama is truly Madara-sama, so amazing! You can even chew the seeds. I've seen other people spit the seeds out when they eat this."
Seeing Uchiha Madara bite off an entire haw and chew it immediately, Tobi praised him sincerely.
Crunch! Crunch!
The sound of biting something hard and a cracking noise came from Uchiha Madara's mouth.
"Huh? Madara-sama? Are you alright? Actually, if you really can't chew it, don't force it. It would be..."