Shizuka Nadeshiko!
Konoha, Hokage's Office.
The Wood Clone was reviewing documents in the Office when a member of the Code Deciphering Division pushed open the door with the latest news from Kirigakure.
"Lord Hokage, this is a secret letter from the Mizukage of Kirigakure."
Without even lifting the Shinki, he casually said, "Put it on the table."
The pretty young woman from the Code Deciphering Division didn't say much. After putting down the letter, she quietly left, but before leaving, she secretly glanced at Shinki several times!
After a while, the Shadow Clone Shinki finished revising the documents at hand and finally had time to open the secret message sent by the Mizukage...
The contents of the secret letter were simple: Mei Terumi had heard that Shinki had captured Chino and Fūshin, and wanted to extradite them to the Land of Water to use them for her purposes...
Shinki directly refused, replying, "These two have committed numerous crimes and evil deeds within the Land of Fire..."
In short, the reasons given by Shinki left Mei Terumi with no room for objection.
However, he added at the end that if Kirigakure was willing to invest in the development of Konoha, he might consider extraditing them...
"Those in positions of authority should fulfill their duties." Now that Shinki has ascended to the high position of Hokage, he's certainly enjoying his position; he should at least do something for the well-being of the village. ୧⍢⃝୨
A town near Konoha, within the Land of Fire.
Shinki and Naruto enjoyed life in the city.
"Is it really a good idea for us to sneak out like this? What if we get caught..." Naruto was still a little worried.
Shinki looked at Naruto speechlessly. "Are you kidding me? I'm the Hokage now. It's perfectly reasonable for me to go out and enjoy life a little..."
"Besides, we have important business to attend to today. There's this guy in the Land of Fire who invented a Game Console; let's buy his patent! (๑ت๑)"
Naruto was taken aback. "Is that Game Console you mentioned really that important? (꒪⌓꒪)"
Shinki: "It's alright. Now that the war has stopped, people's lives are stable, and their basic needs are met, so they can start thinking about spiritual fulfillment. Acquiring this might be a way for us to make a fortune..."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "So, the Thunder Train invented by those geniuses from the Land of Lightning must be even more profitable... Transportation is of paramount importance..."
Shinki glanced at Naruto with surprise. "Not bad, Naruto comes to economics. (^ワ^)b"
"Don't worry, I've already sent Sasuke and his Shadow Clone to negotiate with Thunder Train. I told them beforehand that we have to negotiate this deal no matter the cost!"
Upon hearing this, Naruto silently gave Shinki a thumbs up. "Judging from your attitude, you're planning to start a company and make money. ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )
Shinki shrugged and nodded. "Money has to be spent, you know. (ﾉ∇︎ )"
The two were talking in a Ramen shop, which was inexpensive and had quite a few customers.
At this moment, many people looked at the two of them as if they were fools.
"Trying to Ramen when you're already eating ramen, and you're here discussing acquisitions? Ridiculous..."
"They don't actually think they're rich, do they? Hilarious! (σ≧︎▽︎≦︎)σ."
"Judging from the style of their Forehead Protector, they're Ninjas from Konoha. How did the Ninjas of Konoha become so degenerate..."
Shinki and Naruto also heard the surrounding chatter, but they ignored it.
With their limited perspective, they'd never even eat four dishes in their entire lives! (′д`σ)σ
After a while, the Ramen was served, and Shinki and Naruto prepared to enjoy it.
Just then, a middle-aged man wearing glasses in the Ramen shop seemed to spot something, and with a "whoosh!" he darted out like a cheetah!
Outside the Ramen shop, the bespectacled man stopped a pair of women who were passing by.
Shinki took a closer look at the woman whose path was blocked. She was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, her hair was tied up high, and she had a heroic air about her. She was either Ninja or a Samurai!
"Shall we go up and help?" Naruto inherited the Fourth's spirit of chivalry and couldn't tolerate the slightest injustice.
Shinki: "No rush, that girl should have a way to handle it."
After Shinki finished speaking, the bespectacled man somehow produced a Puppet Mecha, numbered [99].
Naruto could no longer sit still. "That giant puppet is not something an ordinary person can handle."
Shinki remained calm and unperturbed. "The girls outside aren't panicking, so why are you in such a hurry?"
The next moment!
"Bang!!"
A loud bang echoed into the Ramen shop. Naruto looked up and saw that the Puppet Mecha piloted by the bespectacled man had been destroyed by the black-haired girl with a single kick!
Naruto: (꒪⌓꒪) b
"Well... it seems my worries were a bit unnecessary."
Outside the Ramen shop, the girl who kicked the Puppet Mecha to pieces and her attendant seemed to sense Naruto's gaze, and looked up at Naruto and Shinki...
After noticing the Konoha Forehead Protector on the two women's heads, they pushed open the door and entered the Ramen shop.
The older attendant beside the girl bowed and said, "Gentlemen, we are from Nadeshiko Village. We were on our way to Konoha because of a promise, but we lost our way here..."
The helpful Naruto replied, "Oh~ you're going to Konoha, right? After leaving the city, head northeast for about fifty or sixty li...｡◕‿◕｡"
"Thank you." The girl bowed in thanks, accompanied by her attendant.
Naruto chuckled and replied, "No need for formalities. May I ask, what important business do you have in Konoha?"
The girl's attendant answered the question, "Many years ago, Lord Jiraiya of Konoha fought against the former village chief of my Nadeshiko Village to a draw. Their duel was passed down to the next generation."
As he spoke, the attendant pointed to the girl beside him. "This is Shizuka Nadeshiko, the current village chief of Nadeshiko Village. We are going to Konoha to find Lord Jiraiya's disciple and fulfill our promise."
Upon hearing this, Naruto's eyes widened. "What a coincidence! We're Lord Jiraiya's disciples! (ﾉ∇︎ )"
The servant was also stunned, seemingly unable to believe that such a coincidence could exist. "Really?"
Naruto and Shinki nodded simultaneously. "Really."
Upon hearing this, Shizuka Nadeshiko's expression changed. She pulled out two Kunai from somewhere and pointed them at Shinki and Naruto respectively. "Then let's fulfill our master's promise and start the battle! (●･̆⍛･̆●)"
"When it comes to marriage, I won't lose! (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)"
A few black lines immediately appeared on Shinki's forehead. "Even if we're going to fight, we should wait until we finish our Ramen. (||๐_๐)"
"Wait... did you just mention 'marriage'? Isn't this just a normal friendly sparring match? ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞"
Suddenly, Shinki's eyes widened.
"No," the girl's attendant explained, "Nadeshiko Village is entirely matrilineal; there are only women in the village."
"Therefore, there's a rule in the village that candidates for village chief must challenge strong men from outside and bring the one who defeats them back to the village to be their husband..."
"So, this is a battle with marriage as the stake."
Naruto: "How can you do this? I'm not participating then, Shinki, you go! T_T"