Listening to their leader's complaints, the three scantily clad female Chūnin from Kusagakure all sneered inwardly. No one had acted more ingratiatingly than he had!
"Look at you three, flaunting yourselves like that. It's disgusting! Do you really think you can become a noble's wife by going with him? No chance! He's just an out-of-touch, spoiled rich kid. Get a grip!"
The captain's earnest advice was met with disdain from the three women. While he had a point, what if? What if one of them got pregnant? That would be a surefire way to turn their lives around, from lowly Chūnin in this small ninja village to the wife of a noble from a major nation. It would be a dream come true!
Even if they didn't get pregnant, what if he liked them enough to come back and continue their relationship? Being a concubine wouldn't be so bad.
Seeing through their thoughts, the captain shook his head and sighed, "You're overthinking it. That rich kid has some really weird tastes. You have no chance."
The three women remained unconvinced, still believing that they should seize any opportunity, no matter how small.
...
After a week of travel, the Kusagakure ninja who had volunteered to escort Shinji returned to the village. He didn't even take a break before rushing to the house of the red-haired woman. He had received a message on the way back confirming that the seeds were indeed real, proving that their guest was a high-profile figure who needed to be treated well.
"Where is she?!"
Finding only a small child in the tiny house, the Kusagakure ninja was anxious. This woman had been specifically named by the guest, and if anything had happened to her, it would be a disaster!
...
In the emergency room of Kusagakure's hospital, the red-haired woman looked in astonishment as the male ninja berated the nurses.
"A thirty-something Genin? Why bother treating him? Let him die! Even if he survives, he's useless!"
"A Chūnin with both legs blown off… what's the point of treating a cripple? Can you reattach his legs?"
"Hemorrhoids… seriously? Just cut them out yourself! What do you need her for?"
"These patients, those over there, and the ones in those two rows, you handle them. If they can be treated, treat them. If not, let them die. From now on, this woman will only treat important ninjas essential to the village!"
"Who says so? I do! If you have a problem, take it up with the village leader. See if he listens to you or me!"
As the upper-level ninja spewed spit and scolded the head nurse, the red-haired woman suddenly realized something. Was this change in attitude because of that man? Wasn't he only supposed to help her daughter? Did he provide extra favors?
Overwhelmed with gratitude, the woman regretted not giving him something in return. He had done her a huge favor without receiving anything in return.
The Kusagakure ninja approached her, looking down with a bit of disdain. "You look exhausted. Take some time off and rest. I'll send someone with some chicken, fish, and fruit for you later."
The woman nodded slightly in gratitude and slowly walked away.
Watching her leave, the Kusagakure ninja began to daydream. If that noble had given such valuable seeds this time, what about next time? Or the time after that? Kusagakure might just rise to greatness because of this encounter!
Imagining himself as the village leader in ten or twenty years, all because he had wisely befriended a noble, the ninja couldn't help but smile. Now that's a real turnaround! Those women? They couldn't compare to his achievements!
...
Summer is the season that most easily brings a sense of peace.
The drowsy afternoons, the annoying yet soothing cicadas, the sun-baked roads, the deserted streets, and the shopkeepers leaning on counters, lazily fanning themselves...
Hiruzen Sarutobi, hands behind his back, walked through Konoha under the hot sun, feeling content.
One could criticize Hiruzen's political actions, but his love for peace and this village was undeniable.
Seeing children running past him, laughing and playing instead of napping at home, he kindly reminded them not to run in the streets and to be careful.
Watching these carefree children, Hiruzen remembered his own childhood, playing with Danzo in these very streets.
...
As he neared Konoha's gates, Hiruzen noticed a group of ninjas excitedly chatting about something.
"Danzo's stock went up again!"
"When will it drop? I bet my month's salary on it dropping this time!"
"I told you it won't drop. It's been rising for six months, only dipping a few times by a few hundred ryō. Have you seen it drop significantly?"
"I saw the Hokage bet on it dropping, so I followed suit."
"Hahaha! I bet everything on it rising! Made a tidy profit this time. Dinner's on me tonight!"
"Barbecue?"
"Ramen!"
Hearing their conversation, Hiruzen realized they were running a betting pool on the weekly assassination orders against Danzo. It was strange. Every week, a mission order to assassinate Danzo would mysteriously appear at the village gate's registry. The identity of the sender was never discovered.
The mission's payout only increased, usually by about a hundred ryō each time. The orders often included new information about Danzo's secrets and hobbies, like his obsession with cats or his unrequited love for the Cat Granny, which had spread throughout the village!
Even the Cat Granny had sent a message through a cat to tell Danzo she wasn't interested and he should stop fantasizing. She was a beauty after all!
For the past six months, this had been the village's entertainment. Every week, Hiruzen would take the latest Danzo stock quote to Danzo and laugh about it together.
"Ahem!"
Coming up behind the group, Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"Lord Third!" ×n
The ninjas instantly stood to attention, fearing they'd be accused of gambling.
"Still no leads on the culprit?"
"Forgive us, sir! The mission order appeared on the registration desk without a trace of the perpetrator!"
"Stay vigilant and catch the prankster soon. I need to give Danzo an explanation."
Taking the latest mission order, Hiruzen feigned seriousness.
"Yes, sir!" The gate guard saluted heavily but then whispered, "Lord Third, this week's order is a bit…"
"What is it?"
Hiruzen opened the order and read it. Upon seeing the line "His first kiss was with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi," he blushed but quickly composed himself.
"This is just a prank! Don't believe such rumors!"
Leaving that stern message, Hiruzen tucked the order into his robes and walked away toward his current office.
Ignoring the matter for now, he wondered what treats to bring the kids training underground. Candy? No, too much sugar could cause cavities, especially in this heat…
Finally, Hiruzen headed to his office with a large bag of ice pops, humming a tune.
...
Since Hiruzen joined Root as a gardener, Danzo hadn't smiled—not even his usual sinister grin.
This old colleague was driving him mad!
Every day, Hiruzen brainwashed Danzo's subordinates with the Will of Fire! Many of Danzo's promising recruits, who were supposed to be emotionless, now greeted Hiruzen with childlike innocence.
Infuriating!
Watching Hiruzen hand out ice pops to the kids he had once trained to be emotionless, Danzo felt suffocated with rage.
"Time for training!"
"Why the rush, Danzo? The kids need a break and some water. Pushing them too hard will only harm them."
"This is my Root! Mine! I make the rules!"
If he wasn't so restrained, Danzo would've hit Hiruzen with his cane.
"I know. I'm just making a suggestion."
Seeing the kids comparing him to Hiruzen, Danzo felt helpless. If this continued, they'd all side with Hiruzen in a few months! He had to change this inevitable outcome.
Hiruzen, you think I don't know your tricks? You underestimate me! I'll show you how to fight fire with fire!
"Ahem, training will be swimming practice at the cool stream behind the mountain. No one wants to slack off, right?"
Instantly, the kids' eyes lit up with excitement, and they moved closer to Danzo.
Nice move, Danzo. Hiruzen mentally praised him while realizing his mistake.
In this heat, the allure of a cool stream outweighed the appeal of ice pops. He had underestimated the competition!
"Yesterday, Suna sent over some watermelons. How about chilling them in the stream for a sweeter treat? A reward for the hard-working kids."
Seeing Hiruzen's grin, Danzo silently cursed his opponent. Watermelon by the stream? That's a perfect summer combo!
"Physical and endurance training must match the intensity! Yashiro, bring the beef we got from the farmers and the barbecue tools."
The kids were now completely stunned.
What had happened to Danzo?
...
By the mountain stream, Hiruzen sat under a tree, watching the kids splash around, and suddenly remembered something.
"Danzo, here's this week's update."
Seeing the folded paper, Danzo scowled. He'd lost count of how many times this had happened. Who was targeting him?
"Danzo, this one's different."
What? Did my stock finally drop?
Danzo thought, feeling irritated. Did it need to drop?
Seeing the payout had risen to 150,000 ryō, Danzo's anger lessened slightly.
But when he read "His first kiss was with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi," he crumpled the paper in fury!
The rumors were getting out of hand!
"Danzo, I don't know who's behind this, but they know us both very well! They even know such secrets!"
Danzo, still fuming, looked at Hiruzen in confusion.
"You forgot? When we were four, in a summer like this, we played by the river. I nearly drowned, and you gave me mouth-to-mouth…"
Hiruzen's voice trailed off, his face reddening.
"You were awake?!"
Danzo felt like coughing up blood.
You weren't unconscious?!
How did you know I gave you mouth-to-mouth?!
I thought you woke up at the hospital!
Hiruzen quietly turned away, his ears turning red from Danzo's perspective...