Watching Tsunade and Nawaki's horseplay, not only Mito but even Kushina beside her burst into laughter.
"Mito-sama, the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Elder Ashina of the Uzumaki Clan, and Elder Fusano request an audience."
The voice outside cut short the cheerful atmosphere inside and also saved Nawaki's ears.
"Enter!"
The gate opened, and four people walked in.
The extra person was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
With the Kazekage from the neighboring village here, how could he not tag along?
Originally, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't wanted to let him in.
But he claimed he was the Uzumaki Clan's son-in-law, which made him half an Uzumaki—why shouldn't he be allowed in?
Left with no choice, Sarutobi Hiruzen allowed him inside and simply followed.
"Mito-sama!" x4
"All of you may leave. Ashina, stay and keep me company a while."
"Yes." x6
Soon everyone withdrew, leaving only Ashina behind.
"Ashina, we haven't seen each other in nearly ten years, have we?"
"Yes, Mito-sama!"
For a long moment the room sank into silence.
The two looked at each other—one with white hair, the other still in high spirits.
Yet they were only five years apart; Uzumaki Mito was actually Ashina's cousin.
Both had survived since the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period).
Uzumaki Ashina was merely sixty-eight; with the Uzumaki's average lifespan of a century, he was still in his prime.
"Back then, Konoha..."
"It's all in the past."
"...Mm..."
One couldn't bear to part with his elder sister, traveling thousands of kilometers, yet unsure how to face her because of old events.
The other missed her younger brother, yet didn't know how to begin because of those same events.
And so...
The room fell silent once more.
Outside, Sayan was frantic with impatience.
[What are you doing in there, keeping quiet? On the road you were the most anxious—300 kph was too slow and you made me drive a sand-dragon all the way!]
"Elder Ashina! Don't forget to tell Mito-sama: Sunagakure wishes a hundred-year alliance with Konohagakure; the Kazekage is willing to marry Tsunade-hime!"
Sayan's booming voice burst through the door, shattering the silence inside.
"Heh-heh, the Kazekage... actually..."
"Drop dead, you scumbag—daring to set your sights on me!"
"Agh! They're murdering the envoy!"
Before Ashina could think of how to praise Sayan, the fight outside had already begun... Inside, Ashina and Mito talked for a long time; outside, the others had long since gone about their own business.
As for the Sunagakure group, they were settled in Konoha's official guesthouse.
Evening came before Ashina returned to the guesthouse.
"Well? Did Mito-sama agree?"
"No. Ane-ue (Elder Sister) said she's lived long enough; Hashirama is probably already impatient waiting below, so she refused treatment."
"Oh well. So when do we hold the wedding between me and Tsunade?"
Ashina: "..."
[How am I supposed to bring that up!]
"Fine, fine. We'll head back after Mito-sama's funeral."
The next day, Sarutobi Hiruzen was supervising the construction of the Kyūbi transfer altar.
This was a major matter; if he didn't watch personally, he couldn't feel at ease.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly without a hitch.
"Whew—finally finished. Go inform Mito-sama: it's ready; the Kyūbi transfer can proceed anytime."
"Yes!"
"By the way, what are the Sunagakure people doing right now?"
"Except for the Sandaime Kazekage, the rest are inside the Senju compound."
"?!"
Hearing that Sayan wasn't in the Senju compound, Sarutobi Hiruzen's alarm bells rang—something was off, twelve kinds of off.
"What's he doing? Is he visiting Konoha's clans?"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, leaning close to the Anbu operative.
"Something this important, why didn't you report sooner? Hm~!"
Facing his Hokage, the Anbu stammered,
"R-reporting to Hokage-sama, the Sandaime Kazekage has not visited any clans."
"He hasn't?"
"He hasn't!"
"Really hasn't?"
"Really hasn't!"
Hearing the Anbu's confident answer, Hiruzen grew uncertain, then as if struck by inspiration asked,
"Then is he with Danzō?"
"No!"
"So he's gone to some important place?"
"He hasn't!"
"Oh~! I get it—he must be peeping at the women's bath!"
"I knew that lecherous Sandaime Kazekage wouldn't pass up such a perfect chance in Konoha."
"Hokage-sama..."
"That damned Sandaime Kazekage—no wonder he came; so that was his plan!"
"Hokage-sama..."
"Just wait—I'll catch him red-handed and ruin his reputation!!!"
"Hokage-sama!!!"
Hiruzen, lost in visions of catching the Kazekage, was jolted back by a shout.
"Hm? What happened?"
"This isn't it?"
"Isn't it? It could be!"
"It really isn't!"
Hiruzen: "..."
"Then what is he doing!"
"He's on the street... playing with children."
Hiruzen: "..."
[I don't get it, and I'm deeply shocked!]
Reconnaissance? Sayan figured the moment he stepped into Konoha there was no need—those sensors saw everything crystal-clear!
On a Konoha street...
A bowl-cut kid squatted on the roadside, crying.
A blond youth walked up, crouched, and said,
"Yo~ young Kappa, did you lose something?"
"Let me guess—did you drop this candy? Or this manual that makes you strong? Or this money to cure your mom?"
Hearing something crucial, the bowl-cut kid jerked his head up.
Tear-filled eyes fixed on the pouch in the man's right hand.
He wanted to say he'd lost that very pouch.
But his mouth opened and closed without a sound; finally, spent, he sobbed,
"I... hic... didn't... hic... lose... anything!"
"Waaah..."
Just when the kid thought the man would walk off to ask someone else,
the next words sounded like the most beautiful sentence in the world.
"Such an honest child—then as a reward, let me treat your mom!"
"Eh! Really? You really can?"
"Of course—consider it a reward for being honest."
...Rich and poor—two words found everywhere.
If the center of Konoha, the clan districts, counts as the rich area,
then the edge near the barrier is the slums.
No roads, no guards, maybe even intruder shinobi.
In such a place stood a lone household.
A single-story wooden house, fenced yard, a wooden post nearby and a patched sandbag.
Inside the fence sat a green-clad middle-aged man on the front steps, lost in sorrow.
"Dad."
"Guy!"
Hearing the familiar voice, the man looked up to see his child who'd just run out.
Naturally,
father and son couldn't avoid a passionate reunion.