The Show Begins

The Daimyo ordered the sedan chair to stop.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze passing over the sedan curtain and landing on the four people by the roadside.

The three children remained bent over, and the one on the far right with her hair in a topknot secretly raised her eyelids for a moment before quickly lowering them again.

An adult Ninja stood in front of them, one hand still on the blonde girl's shoulder, his posture respectful but not servile.

"What mission did you return from?" Yuan Yusheng asked.

The adult Ninja bowed slightly. "Reporting to my Daimyo, the bandits have been quelled."

"Are there bandits in this area?"

"There used to be a gang that roamed the western mountain valley, robbing passing merchants," the adult Ninja reported calmly. "We received the mission three days ago and just wiped them out this morning."

Yuan Yusheng nodded. His gaze shifted from the adult Ninjas to the three children.

The children were still covered in fallen leaves from the forest, and the fabric at their cuffs and knees was stained dark with sweat. The chubby boy's backpack strap was crooked, but he didn't dare to reach out to fix it, so it just hung haphazardly on his shoulder.

"You've worked hard," Yuan Yusheng said. "You've done a great job in suppressing the bandits."

The adult Ninja lowered his head. "I dare not accept such praise; it is my duty."

"Since we're both going to Konoha anyway," he said, "Let's go together."

The adult Ninja paused for a moment, then bowed his head and accepted the order, "... Yes."

He straightened up and gestured to the three children behind him.

The three children straightened up and joined the Guard Unit behind the sedan chair, walking alongside the other attendants on foot.

Wakako was already curious about the lives of Ninjas, and now that she'd met these adorable kids who had just returned from a mission, how could she resist asking them questions?

She leaned halfway out of the sedan chair, one hand supporting the curtain and the other tucking her sleeve in, beckoning the three children to come closer.

She asked, "What are your names?"

The three children looked at each other.

The young girl spoke first, "My name is Ino Yamanaka, Daimyo's Wife."

"My name is Choji, um, Choji Akimichi."

"Shikamaru Nara."

Wakako's eyes curved into a smile. She held the sedan curtain with one hand, gathered her sleeve with the other, and leaned slightly forward.

She looked at the three children with curiosity; even by a nobleman's standards, the three children seemed quite endearing.

The little girl was youthful and beautiful, with blonde hair and blue eyes, long eyelashes, and a rosy face that made her very endearing. The boy with the pigtails had a lazy air about him, like Shintarō. The chubby little boy was plump but not greasy, with cute, squinting eyes, and looked very fortunate.

Coupled with the goodwill she had gained from the previous stage play with the Ninjas, she genuinely liked these three children.

This is Izuna's second tactic: before the curiosity dissipates, send people who can answer the questions they're curious about.

How old are you this year?

"Yes, madam, I am thirteen years old," Shikamaru replied.

"So young." Wakako's eyelashes fluttered. "So young and already going on a mission?"

"Yes, madam."

"Why?" Wakako asked, "Don't your parents give you living expenses?"

Shikamaru paused noticeably. Wakako sensed something was wrong and tried to end the conversation, but Shikamaru immediately replied.

"No," Shikamaru said, "We go on missions because we need to hone our skills. As for the reward for the mission—"

"It's pocket money, of course!" Choji interjected. "It can buy us barbecue several times a year!"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Choji, you'd better save some money. Otherwise, you might not have enough to give as a dowry when you get married."

Choji pouted, "Nothing's more important than eating."

Ino's lips twitched. "I'm really impressed with you..."

Shikamaru sighed, but he seemed quite happy. He turned his gaze away from his two teammates and back to Wakako's face.

"Reporting to the Daimyo's Wife, we usually save the money we earn from missions to buy daily necessities or Ninja Tools."

Wakako nodded and didn't continue the topic.

"You just finished a mission, right?" she asked.

"Yes, madam," Shikamaru nodded, "I just got back this morning."

"I know people from the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan. Are you also Ninjas from clans?"

"Of course! I'm from the Yamanaka Clan!" Ino said proudly.

"I am from the Akimichi Clan!" Choji chuckled to himself, his cheeks puffing up and squeezing his eyes into slits.

"The Nara Clan," Shikamaru said.

Wakako silently repeated these three names to herself: Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara.

Hmm, that sounds familiar, but I don't recognize it.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. There are so many Shinobi Clans in the Land of Fire, and she only knows about the Uchiha and Hyuga because of Izuna and Ren.

As for the other Shinobi Clans, they were merely useful tools in her husband's eyes in the past, so she naturally didn't pay much attention to them.

Now she's going to get to know them all over again! She's so excited just thinking about it!

"You three are from different races, but you're all subordinates of the same teacher?"

"Yes." Shikamaru nodded.

Are your tribes located far apart?

"It's not far," Shikamaru said. "It's all near the center of Konoha, about a five-minute walk."

Wakako glanced at her teacher and asked, "Who among you is he from the same family?"

"No, the teacher is a member of the Sarutobi Clan."

She looked at the teacher, "The Sarutobi Clan?"

The teacher nodded and replied with a smile, "Yes, my name is Asuma Sarutobi, madam."

Wakako had no concept of feuds between clans, but the Daimyo, the Envoys from other countries, and the people from other Shinobi Villages were quite astonished.

Goodness, there are people from four different families in one team.

Putting aside the Ino-Shika-Cho races, they were already renowned for their generations of friendly relations, and they needed to hire people from all three races to unleash their full fighting power.

But it's actually members of the Sarutobi Clan teaching the children of the three clans?

Even without the life-or-death struggles of the Senju and Uchiha, the relationships between Shinobi Clans wouldn't be very good, right?

They actually let outsiders teach the younger generation.

Why does this combination occur?

Have the relationships between the Konoha Shinobi Clans become this good?

"Do the three of you train together usually?" Wakako asked.

"Yes," Ino replied.

"So what do you do during training?"

"Practicing Ninjutsu, Shuriken throwing, teamwork," Shikamaru replied simply.

Teamwork?

"Two people provide cover while one person attacks. Or three people simultaneously attack the same target from different directions."

"Wouldn't that mean we'd be fighting all the time?"

Shikamaru gave him Dead-Fish Eyes. Wasn't that obvious? What Ninja didn't fight? But he couldn't say that, "... more or less."

"So, who's the best among you?"

"Ino excels in sensory perception and family secret techniques, Choji excels in Close Combat, and I'm better at controlling enemies," Shikamaru's answer was impeccable. "Each has their strengths, so it's hard to say who's the strongest."

Wakako laughed out loud. The child didn't answer her question, but she was happy because the deep affection between the three children inexplicably put her in a good mood.

Moreover, she found this child, who spoke like a little adult, increasingly interesting.

"Do you guys hang out together outside of training?"

"Meeting."

"For example?"

"Let's go out to eat together," Shikamaru said.

"Let's eat barbecue!" Choji immediately chimed in.

Who usually treats you?

"Asuma- sensei!" Ino and Choji exclaimed in unison.

Asuma looked troubled, as if he had remembered something that had given him a toothache, and couldn't help but sigh.

Wakako wondered why he had that expression, Choji's answer explained it to her, "Asuma- sensei will tolerate no matter how much I eat!"

Asuma rubbed his forehead, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Seeing Asuma's embarrassed expression, Wakako covered her mouth and chuckled twice, "He's really reliable."

"Please excuse my poor appearance, Madam."

As they spoke, the gates of Konoha became clearly visible.

At the end of the road, two huge green wooden doors stood open, flanked by two enormous Torii.

The door frame was made of stacked rocks and looked very sturdy.

Upon entering, the first thing you see is a signpost and a huge plaza. The plaza is very neat and beautiful, with green grass trimmed into specific shapes, flowers lining both sides, and white stone slabs paving the ground.

Just looking at everything in front of me is pleasing to the eye.

But there was no one at the door.

There were no officials in formation, no red carpet laid out, and no musicians playing music.

Only the gatekeeper dozing in the guardhouse and the two open gates remained.

Speaking of that gate, there is a peculiar symbol carved on the towering door frame—a leaf-shaped pattern with simple lines that outline the veins of the leaf.

That looks like the Konoha mark.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of earth and tender leaves. In the distance, birdsong drifted from the treetops inside the gate, two long calls followed by one short one.

No one spoke, but the group moved faster in unison.

They came closer.

Up close, the scenery of Konoha, seen through the gate, resembles a slowly unfolding scroll.

The main street begins beyond the square.

The stone-paved road stretched straight ahead, with newly built wooden houses on both sides, their roofs covered with dark brown Cedar Tree bark, and a few unlit lanterns hanging under the eaves.

The exterior walls of the house are painted a clean white, and some windows have small potted plants with green leaves hanging down from the windowsills, swaying gently in the cross breeze.

Looking further into the distance, you can see the center of the village.

A two-story wooden building stands at the end of the main street. It is red in color and shaped like a torch. The huge word "nin" on it can be seen from a distance.

After that, there were smooth rock walls that stretched all the way to the end of the village.

Looking at the scenery before her, Ino couldn't help herself.

She stood on tiptoe, took a deep breath, and shouted towards the door, "I'm back!"

The sound echoed in the doorway, startling the birds on the roof.

Choji's round face narrowed his eyes into slits. "Grilled meat, ramen, dango, fish balls..."

He counted on his fingers, "I really miss it... Anyway, let's try everything first!"

Shikamaru walked behind them without saying a word, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips as he gazed into the distance.

Asuma, along with his three children, bid farewell to the Daimyo and his entourage.

Ino turned around and waved to Wakako. Choji had already run three steps forward and then turned back two steps. Shikamaru bowed slightly, and then the three of them followed Asuma and turned into the alley.

Ino's voice drifted from the alley. "Just so you know, the barbecue is still from the same place as last time—"

The line continued walking, but still no one appeared to greet them.

Uchiha Takashi walked steadily to the side of the palanquin, but his brows were slightly furrowed.

There were no guides, no Procession, and no welcoming ceremony.

With the Daimyo himself present, how can we do without these? What is Lord Izuna thinking?

But regardless of whether anyone comes to greet you, registration is still mandatory.

Long first arranged for everyone to wait aside, while he went to register.

A simple wooden table sits under the shade of a large tree next to the main entrance.

A young man wearing glasses sat behind the table, flipping through a thick register.

Long walked over to him and said a few words.

After listening, the young man pulled a slip of paper from under the register and handed it to him.

Long glanced down at the note, then looked up, his expression blank for a moment.

Then he walked back to the sedan chair and bowed slightly towards it.

"Please, gentlemen, alight from your sedan chairs."

A moment of silence fell over the sedan chair. Yuan Yusheng lifted the curtain and looked at Long. "Why?"

"Because we need to change our mode of transportation for the rest of the journey, it will be easier for us to show you around Konoha."

Wakako peeked out from beside Yuan Yusheng. "How about changing our mode of transportation?"

Ishimi of the Land of Earth also lifted the curtain from his palanquin.

His tone was polite, but the condescension in it made people uncomfortable. "The palanquin is more comfortable. If you want us to get off, then the palanquins you Ninjas provide must be just as comfortable as ours."

Before Long could reply, a voice came from afar. "Don't worry, Envoy Excellency!"

A cry of an eagle slashed down from the sky.

He raised his head and looked towards the horizon.

The sound pierced through the treetops and clouds, landing directly above everyone's heads.

The horses pawed restlessly, and the Samurai's hands instinctively gripped their sword hilts. The sedan bearers looked up, their mouths slightly agape.

A huge eagle swooped down from the clouds.

Its wingspan covered half the sky, its wingtips slightly upturned, and every feather trembled in the airflow.

Uchiha Izuna jumped off the eagle's back.

When he landed, the wind blew his clothes up and down, making him look exceptionally light and agile.

He flashed a bright smile at the crowd, a tuft of hair on his forehead bobbing up in the breeze. He said with a smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's impossible to enjoy the scenery as one pleases from the sedan chair. Therefore, please alight from your sedan chairs and choose your preferred mounts for the rest of the tour!"

Before he finished speaking, more figures came from all directions.

A huge dog ran out from the forest path, its silver-grey fur gleaming like satin in the sunlight.

It was fitted with dark blue riding gear on its back, with delicate patterns embroidered on the edges.

There were four large wolfhounds lined up in a row on the side of the open space.

Following closely behind were deer that leaped gracefully down from the treetops.

The antlers were trimmed into rounded shapes, and a sash was tied around its neck, with a small silver bell hanging from the end of the sash.

Its steps were graceful and slow, its hooves making almost no sound as they trod on the stone pavement.

Then there was a cat. It jumped down from the roof, landing silently with its four paws. Its fur was dark gray with stripes, its eyes were amber, and the corners of its mouth naturally turned up, as if it were smiling.

It sat crouching at the edge of the open space, its tail slowly flicking.

Then came a fox, about the size of a small pony.

Its fur is bright red, with only the tips of its ears and tail being white.

It strolled out from the sparse, still-growing grove of trees by the roadside, walking leisurely. As it passed the cat, it glanced down at it, and the cat returned a lazy wink.

Each Summoning Beast was carried by a Ninja. They were all dressed uniformly, had good-looking appearances, and were pleasing to the eye at first glance.

"You may choose any of these Summoning Beasts you like," Izuna, opening his arms. "Ride whichever one you prefer."

There was a moment of silence in the air.

Then Wakako clenched her fist.

She stared at the large, dark gray striped cat, her eyes shining with an alarming light.

The cat saw her too.

Its ears twitched, it stood up, and slowly walked to the front of the line. It squatted down, wrapped its tail around its front paws, and tilted its head to look up.

Wakako's eyes gleamed with even greater delight, "I want to ride him!"

The cat lowered its head and spoke, "It's my honor to be chosen by the Daimyo's Wife, meow!"

Wakako shrank back. "The cat spoke!"

A low murmur arose from the crowd.

Wakako wasn't the only one who was frightened.

The Samurai immediately placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, and the Envoy from the Land of Lightning exclaimed, "What is this thing?"

The other Envoys remained silent, but the way they stared at the cat clearly indicated that they were reassessing the current security situation.

The Ninjas, however, all seemed unsurprised.

Only Izuna understands what this truly means for Ordinary People, and it must be explained quickly to dispel their doubts; otherwise, the subsequent plans will be difficult to realize.

He said, "Summoning Beasts are beings that understand human nature, but very few of them can speak human language."

"And the children present here today are among the best. They can understand all your requests, and they comprehend every word you say. Most importantly—"

He spread his hands and turned to the side, indicating, "They are all very strong, enough to protect your safety."

The cat narrowed its eyes, its tail held high, and meowed with a confident pride. "Yes, and we are all very strong, meow. I, Cheshire, will protect everyone's safety with my life, meow!"

The commotion gradually subsided, replaced by faces that were once again filled with renewed curiosity.

Once the doubts were cleared up, all that remained was surprise and anticipation.

Wakako had already grabbed Yuan Yusheng's sleeve and was pulling him towards the cat.

Yuan Yusheng was pulled back a couple of steps, but regained his balance. He sighed and asked the young man riding on the cat's back, "So, can two people ride? I'd like to ride with my wife."

The Jonin paused for a moment, then deftly flipped off the cat's back, the movement so light that it made no sound.

After landing, he bowed slightly to the Daimyo couple and handed the reins to Wakako.

"Please," he said.