Reward and Punishment

This exhibition match was completed on the 24th, and Sahara Mizu's Jonin appointment reached his hands on the 25th.

At the same time, news reached his ears that three financial staff, two supervisors, and nine executive personnel had been detained or executed—these were the main managers of the Heroes Welfare Department and the Orphanage's financial system, primarily responsible for distributing and organizing the compensation and support funds for Konoha ninja families.

Among those executed, two were former Special Jonin, and one was a senior manager from a certain classified department.

Clearly, that last one was Danzo's man.

Sahara Mizu understood this was Lord Third Hokage's 'accounting' to him.

The world of shinobi was that simple and straightforward.

Once you demonstrated your value, everything that had once displeased you would be swept away with thunderous force.

To show the Hokage Building's stance on handling corruption and evil, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, specially held a press conference, loudly publicizing Konoha's thorough and decisive anti-corruption efforts, while also promising compensation to the affected parties.

That entire day's Konoha Daily News front page was filled with this report, and the whole village echoed with praise for Lord Third.

Only Sahara Mizu knew that all this was just the dumplings wrapped for his vinegar.

But so what?

Having the qualification to be used by others was actually a good thing, wasn't it?

"What a realistic world."

He thought to himself, putting down the newspaper in his hand, and turned to look behind him.

Then, he saw the girl who had just changed into casual clothes, slightly awkwardly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. When she spotted Sahara Mizu waiting by the street, the usually cool and beautiful face inadvertently showed a hint of nervousness, and she immediately broke into a small jog.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting long?"

Uchiha Yayoi seemed a bit unaccustomed to this kind of alone time with Sahara-kun, especially in such a crowded place. She tried hard to suppress her usual brisk demeanor from the Police Department, acting like a true young lady, striving to be gentle and refined: "The Police Department's been a bit busy lately, so I came out a little late."

Sahara Mizu turned to look at her.

The black hooded sweatshirt was a bit loose, concealing the girl's quite impressive figure, but the details still hinted at considerable proportions. The light-patterned plaid skirt just covered her knees, revealing two pale calves, and her feet were in her usual ninja sandals.

If he got a little closer, he could also catch a glimpse of the red-and-white war fan earrings hanging from her earlobes.

Even after a busy day on the streets, she carried a pleasant scent of Milan flowers.

And, most importantly.

The faint, pale blue halo above her head.

"Did you change clothes before coming, Yayoi?"

Seeming not to expect this question, Uchiha Yayoi paused instinctively, looked down at her casual outfit, and scratched her cheek: "It was too rushed, I only changed my jacket and skirt. Is it a bit rude?"

The girl's tone carried a hint of tension.

Sahara Mizu smiled gently: "No, I just meant it suits you very well."

He stepped closer to her side, slightly leaning in, and said deliberately: "And it smells really nice too."

"Mizu!"

Miss Yayoi was a little annoyed, but her cheeks were red, and she muttered in a small, dissatisfied voice: "If there's a sweat smell, just say it!"

"Then it's a nice sweat smell."

"Hmph!"

Before the slightly stammering Miss Yayoi could continue, Sahara Mizu had already started walking, heading toward the only Clan Commercial Street, which was gradually getting lively in the evening.

But his gaze still lingered on the top of Miss Yayoi's head.

"Mid-Level Heart Knot (Unlocked)"

Since parting that dawn, Sahara Mizu had met Uchiha Yayoi a few more times.

However, this Heart Knot prompt had never changed, leaving Sahara Mizu unsure where to start to gain Heart Points.

Left with no choice, he could only try to interact more.

But, reasoning from the solution to the 'Shallow Heart Knot' he had encountered before, wouldn't the 'Mid-Level Heart Knot' also need to be unlocked through methods related to the 'Heart Knot'?

Sahara Mizu thought this to himself, but his gaze caught the slight hint of joy mixed into Miss Yayoi's calm expression.

Clearly, she didn't seem to have any Heart Knot.

If that was the case...

He thought for a moment, then said casually: "Speaking of which, since the team disbanded, it's been a long time since we've gone out to eat together like this, hasn't it?"

"It's clearly because you never have time!" At this, Uchiha Yayoi was a bit annoyed.

Every time she tried to find a time to have a meal with him, this guy would keep making excuses for all sorts of reasons. Even their last meeting was a chance encounter during patrol.

But, thinking back to that night and what Mizu had said to her, Uchiha Yayoi couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.

Their relationship now... should count as 'almost lovers,' right?

If that was the case...

The girl thought to herself, her gaze unconsciously falling on Sahara Mizu's well-defined hands. Her small fingers mimicked the legs of a little person, restlessly and quietly inching closer.

"The Hokage Building has kept me pretty busy." Sahara Mizu turned his head and offered an apologetic smile.

That slight interruption startled Miss Yayoi into pulling her small hand back, and she quickly shifted the topic with a guilty air:

"Ah—right, right!"

"But still, Lord Mizu beat me to Jonin!"

"I guess this counts as Lord Third's compensation?"

Sahara Mizu smiled as if he didn't mind at all, stepping first into the booked barbecue restaurant.

The private rooms were easy enough to reserve these days. In wartime, the only people with the leisure to eat at a place like this were either high-ranking ninja clan members or ninja teams just back from the front lines—neither group was large.

After ordering a simple meal, he poured drinks for Miss Yayoi and himself:

"By the way, have you heard anything from Captain Oshima or Tomoya?"

"..."

Uchiha Yayoi's gaze dimmed slightly at that, the earlier cheer from being alone with him fading a little.

"They passed away at the end of last year."

Sahara Mizu seemed to pause in surprise, as if caught off guard, and only after a long moment spoke with some regret:

"...I see."

The two he mentioned were teammates from their old squad—only they hadn't been as lucky as him, finding work inside the village.

An ordinary Chunin or Genin on the battlefield didn't fare much better than moths diving into a flame.

Still, Yayoi quickly steadied her emotions and pretended to pout:

"Today's supposed to celebrate you becoming a Jonin, you know."

"Honestly!"

"Why bring up stuff like that?"

"Because it's just the two of us left." Sahara Mizu's tone carried a helpless note as he gazed warmly at the girl across from him. "But I guess that's the one good thing in all the bad news."

"Yayoi, you have to keep living, okay?"

"Oh, you." The girl pursed her lips in mock displeasure, refilling his drink. "It should be 'we both have to keep living,' right?"

Sahara Mizu paused at that, as if hesitating.

After feigning reluctance for a while, he finally spoke to her: "Actually, starting tomorrow, I'll be heading to the front lines with my squad for a high-level mission."

"..."

Miss Yayoi's hand, pouring his drink, froze for a moment.

The front-line battles were now at a full-blown stalemate.

Going to the most intense battlefield at this time—everyone knew what that meant.

Almost the moment those words fell, Sahara Mizu saw the pale blue halo above Uchiha Yayoi's head flicker twice, and even her heartbeat quickened by half a beat.

Yet, just a flash, and the halo returned to normal.

Sahara Mizu's expression stiffened slightly.

Then Miss Yayoi's voice seemed to lighten, as if she didn't care at all, and she laughed softly: "What, you were worried about that?"

"Yayoi?"

Before Sahara Mizu could ask, the girl went on on her own:

"If that's the case, then before you leave tomorrow, I'll give you a big gift."

"Something to keep you safe~"

"Huh?"

"No need to argue—it's settled!"

The girl set the tone with surprising firmness, a far cry from her usual act of playing the good girl, leaving him no room to argue.

Just as Miss Yayoi finished speaking, the charcoal fire and grilled meat arrived together.

Their conversation drifted back onto the track of a shy couple on their first date, chatting and laughing as they ate, as if they'd tossed everything else aside.

'Bringing up past sorrow didn't work?'

'Looks like the Mid-Level Heart Knot isn't triggered that way.'

'Or maybe I have to actively plant the right knot in Yayoi myself?'

Sahara Mizu was still mulling over this question by the time the meal ended.

After seeing Uchiha Yayoi home, he walked alone through the quiet, empty streets of the night.

Before long, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His form flickered.

When he reappeared, he was on the rooftop of another secluded building.

Before him stood the short, frail silhouette of Karatachi Yagura.

Those pale purple eyes glanced at him, a faint hint of amusement in their tone, their voice neither loud nor soft:

"Quite sharp."

"Ren."

"I thought a date with your little girlfriend from Konoha might have let your guard down a bit."

"That depends on what you've come for." Sahara Mizu said, leaning back against the railing at the edge of the rooftop, turning his head to face him in the evening breeze. "If it's just idle chat, I can drop all my wariness."

"Whether you manage to catch me off guard, that's your problem."

Seeing him in such a lax state, Karatachi Yagura showed no irritation at all. Instead, he took a scroll from his Ninja Tool Bag and tossed it over.

The scroll rolled across the rooftop floor, spinning twice toward Sahara Mizu, but he didn't bother to look down to pick it up.

Karatachi Yagura wasn't surprised. He slowly drew a kunai from his waist and quietly fixed his gaze on him:

"Besides that, Lord Third Mizukage also asked me to deliver a message."

"—Reward comes with punishment."

The moment the words fell.

Karatachi Yagura's small figure vanished without a trace.