nside Konohagakure, the Hokage's Office.
At this moment, the office desk was piled high with documents.
Suddenly.
A hand reached out and grabbed a document from the stack on the left.
Three minutes later, the document was placed back into the stack on the right.
"Alright, hand these documents over to the Missions Department and have them distributed."
"Yes, sir!"
An Anbu member appeared from an unknown location, picked up the documents on the right, and left.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to take a smoke break.
Another Anbu member walked in, carrying a fresh stack of documents.
"Hokage-sama, these are the documents that were just sorted. They require your approval."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
"Put them on the desk!"
Staring at the documents that once again covered his desk, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a moment of confusion.
"This old man... I just finished approving a batch of documents, didn't I?"
"This is wrong! Terribly wrong! Why is the number of missions requiring my approval increasing so rapidly lately, and they're all commissions from Sunagakure!"
Meanwhile.
Inside a tall building in the New City of the Land of Rain.
This was the headquarters of the New City's Ministry of Commerce. There were seven such buildings in total, representing the seven major departments.
The seven buildings formed a circle, surrounding an even taller central building—the New City's Administrative Tower, where Sayan's future office would be.
Emmm... it could also be where Ebizō works.
At the top of the Commerce building, Kakuzu was reviewing the financial statements for the past month.
A subordinate walked in carrying documents and spoke to Kakuzu.
"Minister Kakuzu, these are the supplies to be sent to various locations..."
"Send the ones near the Land of Fire to Konohagakure, the ones in the Land of Earth to Iwagakure, the ones in the Land of Lightning to Kumogakure, and the ones near the sea to Kirigakure. In short, assign the escort mission to whichever village is closest to the destination. Understand?"
"Understood!"
"You may leave!"
"Yes!"
The subordinate immediately backed out and closed the door behind him.
"Well? Did he scold you? I told you so, but you wouldn't believe me! You newbies are so stubborn!"
The subordinate who had just exited heard his colleague's words and didn't know how to refute them, because everything he said was true.
"But why? If we transport these goods ourselves, it would clearly be cheaper than commissioning outside help."
"?! Do you even hear yourself? Let me ask you this: If our own people go to escort them, ignoring the escort fee for a moment, do we need to pay their wages during that period? Do we pay travel expenses? Accommodation and food costs? Do we reimburse weapons lost to bandits? Do we pay extra medical fees if they get injured? Factor all that in, and do you still think the commission is expensive?"
"I... I..."
The subordinate was speechless. Indeed, he had oversimplified the matter.
"So, never question Minister Kakuzu regarding money. He's the kind of person who can live for a week on a single coin. Questioning him is just asking to be scolded."
"Come on, I'll take you to familiarize yourself with how to post commissioned missions."
Back in the Konoha office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still smoking, deep in thought.
Because while he was smoking, ten more commissions had been delivered.
Ten might not sound like much, but only a few minutes had passed since he lit his pipe!
"BANG!" The sound of the door being shoved open echoed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even bother to lift his head, because no one except Shimura Danzō would dare to be so brazen!
"You again, Danzō? This old man has already told you that matter is impossible. Shinobi should..."
"Hokage-sama!"
"What happened?!"
Hearing a voice that wasn't Danzō's, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly stood up, his expression serious as he questioned the newcomer.
He believed that unless something major had occurred, no one would dare enter his office without knocking.
"Mito-sama, Mito-sama she..."
"Whoosh!"
"Clatter!" (The sound of documents falling.)
When the Anbu member looked up again, the office was empty.
The Senju Clan Grounds.
This location was right in the center of Konohagakure.
It symbolized the status of one of Konoha's founding clans.
But ever since Senju Tobirama ordered the integration of the Senju Clan into Konoha, the Senju Clan Grounds had gradually become quiet.
Today, however, the Senju Clan Grounds was unusually lively.
This was because Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the Shodai Hokage and the first Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi, was nearing the end of her life.
Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared at the entrance using the Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique).
Outside, the area was already packed with people; various elders and the heads of the shinobi clans had rushed to the location.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Mhm! How is Mito-sama?"
"She's inside!"
"It's Hiruzen, come in."
Mito's voice drifted out from the inner room.
Hearing Uzumaki Mito's summons, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped inside.
He saw a total of four people inside.
They were Tsunade, Nawaki, Kushina, and Uzumaki Mito, who was sitting in a chair.
Uzumaki Mito now had completely white hair and a face full of wrinkles, clearly having aged to the point where she could no longer maintain the Byakugō Seal (Strength of a Hundred).
Closing the door behind him, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and respectfully greeted her.
"Mito-sama!"
"Mhm, Saru. This old woman probably only has three days left to live. The transfer ritual can begin."
"Mito-sama, is there truly nothing that can be done?"
"Life and death are already predetermined! Besides, I am tired. Hashirama must be getting impatient waiting for me!"
"You may leave."
"Yes, ma'am!"
After Sarutobi Hiruzen left, Kushina and Nawaki could no longer control themselves and rushed into Uzumaki Mito's embrace.
"Grandmother!!!"
"Don't cry, children. Your grandmother has been tired for so long; it's time for me to rest."
"Tsuna-chan."
Seeing Tsunade, who was already sobbing uncontrollably nearby, Uzumaki Mito gently called her over.
"Grandmother!"
"Have Ashina and the others arrived?"
"The message was sent out two days ago. I believe Grandpa Ashina and the others will arrive soon."
"It's alright. It doesn't matter if they don't come. After all, this old woman failed the Uzumaki Clan."
"That's not true. Grandpa Ashina and the others will definitely come."
Watching Tsunade wipe away her tears while comforting her, Uzumaki Mito felt a warmth in her heart, immediately followed by a wave of guilt.
"My child, it's a pity I won't see you married, Tsuna-chan. In truth, Sayan of Sunagakure is indeed a good match. Unfortunately, your differing identities mean you are destined to be impossible! Unless one of you is willing to abandon absolutely everything!"
"Ah! Who would choose that scumbag!"
"Heh heh, that wasn't considered anything during the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period). To ensure the continuation of the clan, polygamy was actually the norm, especially for someone ambitious like Sayan.
Besides, you still keep that flower in your room. Don't think your grandmother doesn't know.
It's a shame! Given your status here, no one in Konoha is destined to treat you with genuine sincerity. They are either secretly insecure admirers or ambitious schemers who want to use you to become Hokage.
In the future, you might have a difficult time!"
"This tree of Konoha, although this old woman guarded it for Hashirama, it has ultimately grown crooked."
"Grandmother, I won't have a difficult time. I will make sure Nawaki marries several wives in the future!"
Nawaki, who was enjoying the drama involving his sister, suddenly heard her throw the 'melon' onto him. He froze for a moment, then, under his sister's murderous gaze, he said:
"Ah, right! I'll marry five!"
[Emmm... that's actually not bad! I heard a new nurse arrived at the orphanage. She's so pure and gentle. I'll make her my main wife someday! Hehehehe!]
"You child!"
Seeing her grandson already lost in a silly grin, Mito's face filled with helplessness.
"Ow, Big Sister, why did you hit me?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Tsunade landed a heavy punch on Nawaki's forehead.
"Stop hanging around that pervert Jiraiya! You never learn anything good!"
"Ow! Didn't you tell me to marry a few more wives, Big Sister?"
"And you dare talk back!"