Konoha.
Since the war, Kazuki has not returned to the village for more than half a year.
As leader of Root there were too many decisions and strategies that only he could handle.
The war, in which the four great shinobi villages allied with smaller ones to attack Konoha, plunged the shinobi world into flames.
Facing the situation of one against four, or even one against six or seven, Konoha has received nothing but good news so far, not a single bad one…
With the transmission of information, the legend about Kazuki has become more and more distorted, and there is a tendency to be mythical.
Along with Kazuki, the roots under Kazuki have also become famous.
In the past, the members of the root were synonymous with terror and darkness. Under Shimura Danzo, they were only known as a collective name, while the individual members were nameless, and all the achievements were attributed to Shimura Danzo.
But now...
Kazuki walked through the streets, greeting excited villagers. At the same time, he listened to the conversations around him.
Aburame Torune, Yamanaka Kaze, Yakushi Nonō, Hiruko...
These names were mentioned in all the major taverns in Konoha and were remembered as dazzling war heroes. They were no longer the roots whose names would not be remembered even after death but became the leaves that could be boasted in the sun.
Along the way, you can also hear the new students of the ninja school excitedly expressing their opinions to their parents, saying that they must work hard to practice in the future and strive to join the root where Kazuki-sama is.
A beautiful and hopeful panorama.
Kazuki smiled as he watched everything, walking calmly, his gaze reflecting nostalgia.
Tobirama caught that expression and felt a pain in his chest.
Konoha shone thanks to Kazuki, who could be said to have saved the village from destruction.
The villagers, enjoying peace in the midst of war, were unaware that their hero was burdened with crushing pressure, as if the sky were collapsing on him.
Tobirama found no words to describe his feelings.
"Tobirama, Konoha is getting better and better, which is really gratifying." Kazuki walked slowly, looking at the prosperous shops and the bustling crowds, and smiled happily. This smile was as gentle as always. "Is the village better now than when you were in power?"
"Much better, Kazuki." Tobirama stated without hesitation. "You'll make a better Hokage than I. I have no doubt."
Kazuki smiled and looked at the Hokage rock on the mountain. "Will I still have that chance?"
His voice grew calmer. "To be honest, Tobirama, I'm not even sure. I don't know what awaits me, or why I'm always the one who must face these challenges. It's as if fate is mocking me, throwing obstacle after obstacle in my way..."
He sighed and, with a wry smile, added, "If gods exist, they have a cruel sense of humor."
Tobirama was silent.
He could see that Kazuki's heart was confused.
"I don't want to continue with the matter of the stone tablet for now. I want to stay here a while longer," Kazuki said. "I haven't had any time for myself in a long time."
Tobirama nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. "Kazuki, do whatever you want. I'll support you in everything."
"Thank you, Tobirama."
Hearing this, Tobirama felt an even deeper pain.
It was he who should thank Kazuki!
Thank him for everything he had done for Konoha.
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails chakra inside Kazuki vibrated slightly, resonating with a nearby dango shop.
'The Tailed Beasts' chakra still yearns to reunite with its main body...'
Kazuki calmly observed the Rinne Sharingan, not giving it much importance.
Inside him were the chakras of the Four, Five, and Nine Tails. He didn't plan to use them for himself, but rather as a "snack" to tempt Kaguya...
And the only reason the Nine-Tails' chakra reacted like this was obvious.
Kushina was in that store.
Kazuki walked towards that dango shop, looking at the sign and location with an amused smile.
It was the store opened by Kojiro Inada...
The ninja academy student who had once allowed Tobirama to take the Will of Fire Exam in his place had now become a small-time boss thanks to Kazuki's financial support. His business was thriving.
Curious, Kazuki lifted the entrance curtain and entered the shop.
To one side, Kushina was enjoying her meal, skewering one dango after another with an expression of absolute delight.
Meanwhile, Kojiro was pacing back and forth serving customers, completely absorbed in his work. Despite the hustle and bustle, his face reflected genuine satisfaction. It was evident he enjoyed every moment of his work.
Tobirama blinked and immediately recognized that unfortunate young man who, at the time, had taken the blame for him, the zero-point Hokage.
In the past, Tobirama had asked Kazuki to help Kojiro with the intention of becoming a ninja.
However, Kazuki did something different: instead of training him, he provided him with a rent-free space so he could fulfill his dream of opening a dango shop.
At the time, Tobirama didn't understand the decision...
But as he walked through the shop door and saw the owner's hard work, the warmth of the atmosphere, the satisfied expressions on the customers' faces, and the laughter between bites, something inside him felt comforted.
While serving an order, Kojiro saw a familiar silhouette and his heart leaped. He immediately exclaimed with joy, "Kazuki-san! What are you doing here?"
"Long time no see, Kojiro-kun," Kazuki replied with a friendly smile. "Looks like business is going pretty well."
Kazuki greeted the other diners with a wave of his hand, indicating that he didn't want to interrupt their meal. The villagers, though excited, understood the message and continued enjoying their dishes.
"It's all thanks to you!" Kojiro said proudly. "Next month, I'll pay your rent with an amount equivalent to two S-rank missions!"
Kushina, who was about to stand up to greet Kazuki, froze upon hearing those words...
Was just preparing dango enough to complete two S-rank missions in a month?
That was more than the income of many Jonin, and also much safer...
"Why, Kojiro, do you think the rent is too high?" Kazuki smiled and said jokingly: "We are classmates. If you think the burden is too heavy, I will reduce it a little."
"Kazuki-san, it's not that!" Kojiro replied firmly, puffing out his chest. "Paying you rent is an honor for me!"
With a beaming smile, he added, "Have you come to eat dango? Please have a seat! I'll make you the freshest ones right now!"
Kazuki shook his head in amusement. Then, in a thoughtful tone, he advised, "You shouldn't feel honored about paying me rent. What you should really be proud of is buying this place and becoming its true owner. Be more ambitious, Kojiro. I'll be waiting for you the day you come to negotiate the purchase of the place."
Kojiro just smiled awkwardly, but a flicker of concern appeared in his eyes as he noticed Kauki's white hair. Without saying anything, he bowed respectfully and then hurried to the kitchen to prepare the best dish for his guest.
Tobirama, who was watching everything closely, was slightly surprised to see Kojiro's skill.
His movements were fluid, his speed outstanding... he had at least the foundation of an experienced chunin-rank ninja.
Would such talent be wasted running a dango shop?
However, seeing the passion with which Kojiro worked, Tobirama understood something deeper.
If he had become a chunin, he would never have earned so much money in a month. Besides, Konoha would have lost a prime dango shop.
In the midst of the ongoing war, that small shop represented something more: a haven of peace, a space where the aroma of homemade food invited calm and conviviality.
Thoughts swirled in the Second Hokage's mind as he looked around the bustling establishment.
"Kazuki, come sit with me!" Kushina called excitedly, motioning for him to sit across from her. "It's been a while since we've seen each other!"
Kazuki accepted the invitation and sat down. "Have you been doing well in the village lately?" he asked with interest.
Kushina sighed and shrugged. "Let's just say... sometimes yes, and sometimes no." In a somewhat subdued tone, she continued, "Days in the village consist of eating, training, and sleeping. It's not that I'm bad, but every time I hear news from the front, I get so nervous that I can't sleep."
She paused, then looked at Kazuki gratefully. "Thank you, Kazuki… If you hadn't gone to the battlefield in Iwagakure, I don't know how Minato would have been able to face those two Jinchūriki and all those troops."
During the days Kushina and the Nine-Tails were together, the bored fox chatted with Kushina. Although the Nine-Tails was partially freed under Kazuki's coordination and could lie freely instead of being hung in the sealed space, its bad habit of manipulating people's minds didn't change.
Upon learning that Minato was to face the Jinchūriki of the Four and Five Tails, the Nine Tails, with unusual patience, explained to Kushina the characteristics of his two fellow captives.
Kushina was frightened by the Nine-Tail and was extremely worried about Minato's safety all day long.
Even though she knew that Minato had the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kushina knew that his lover really had no way to deal with this kind of enemy with extremely strong defense. This is Minato's biggest weakness at present.
Fortunately, news from the front confirmed that Kazuki had eliminated both Jinchūriki of Iwagakure in one fell swoop.
When Kushina and the Nine-Tails found out, they both experienced mixed feelings.
Kushina was deeply grateful for Kazuki's support, but at the same time, she felt a slight pang of regret for Minato. After this, the possibility of her beloved becoming Hokage had almost completely vanished.
The Nine-Tails, for its part, understood Kazuki's terrifying strength more clearly. His ocular power and combat skills weren't just a facade; perhaps, they even far surpassed what he had imagined.
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