Kazuki's Regret

"Boss!"

The two of them called out to Kazuki.

"B-Boss?"

"That's right!" Kazuki said with a smile. "These two are employees at my shop. I pay them wages; we don't do unscrupulous business."

Itachi and Shisui fell silent again.

You're incredible!

You're using jonin as employees!

Damn it, there were only around thirty jonin in the entire Uchiha clan, and only a little over three hundred in all of Konoha.

What shop in Konoha used jonin as employees?

You really are such a filial grandson!

"Lord Hokage!"

"Brother Kazuki!"

"Mm!"

"Sigh!"

"Sigh, my grandfather died such a miserable death. Not even his body remained."

Shisui and Itachi both bowed respectfully.

Naruto merely made people dislike him, while Kazuki took things to the extreme.

You couldn't possibly kill a child over a few pranks, could you?

"Lord Hokage, Brother Kazuki opened this... shop, so we came over to take a look."

That bastard moved fast.

Not long ago, Kazuki had fought Danzo and killed more than a dozen Root ninja on the spot, which had also made the Third Hokage wary.

Itachi: "..."

In the end, Kazuki got all the benefits!

The more the Third Hokage thought about it, the more his heart ached. After drinking a cup of tea, he turned and left.

Who would have thought that the moment he entered, Kazuki would want to cremate him?

If you could speak seriously for three sentences straight, I'd admit defeat!

"What?" Kazuki said unhappily. "Was I wrong?"

Otherwise, the Third Hokage would never have allowed these two to become a thing.

Shisui was about to speak when Itachi spoke first.

Kazuki stared blankly at the black-faced Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "...Would you like to try it personally?"

Given Kazuki's strength, it was hard for him not to be wary.

Itachi fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'll do my best!"

When he approached Fugaku's home, Setsuna happened to walk out.

When Itachi heard that Fugaku and Setsuna were together, his expression tightened.

Kazuki nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to head out, the bell hanging at the entrance rang.

Third Hokage: "..."

They were village elites assigned to carry out A-rank and even S-rank missions.

Even the shrewd and calculating Third Hokage nearly failed to hold it in.

She elegantly poured tea for the Third Hokage.

Seeing Kurenai Yuhi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyebrow began twitching wildly again.

As Kazuki lamented that he had not been able to cremate Kagami, Kurenai entered carrying tea.

In the end!

The Third Hokage decided to come over and see for himself.

Naturally, Danzo had shouted and raged: "That evil Uchiha must be plotting something!"

It was good that the two were together, saving him the trouble of meeting them separately.

Before Kazuki even had time to turn his head, he opened his mouth and said, "Would the customer like to cremate family and friends, yourself, or enemies? The price differs depending on who is being cremated."

Kazuki nodded and said, "They're both there? Perfect, I'll go too."

Kazuki said faintly as well, "With Shisui and me looking like this, Third Hokage, have you thought about what you'll say when you go down and meet my grandfather?"

The Third Hokage sighed. "Kazuki, you are an outstanding ninja with the potential to become Hokage. I hope you can focus more, even if only for the sake of your late grandfather, Kagami!"

"Welcome!"

His expression turned solemn.

Without realizing it, he had let himself put on airs.

And!

"Since you have already resolved to change the relationship between the village and the clan, once you become deputy clan head, I hope you won't hold any prejudice."

The Third Hokage looked at Kazuki, whose face was wrapped in bandages, then at Shisui walking out of the reception room, and was left speechless.

The Third Hokage said faintly, "Could it be that I merely wanted to see an old friend's grandson?"

"Besides, Grandpa will surely bless my business to prosper, so I can cremate the whole ninja world!"

I really want to hit him!

Thinking of the tormented Danzo.

Did this kid get overstimulated?

They had even specifically brought Danzo out of confinement to discuss it together.

"For example, your father. His gaze is fierce, and he looks like a bad person, but in truth, he isn't all that bad."

"Mm!"

Kazuki hurried off to find Fugaku and Setsuna as well.

"Therefore, you absolutely must not follow others in judging people by appearances. Otherwise, your father would have been hacked to death several times already."

Kazuki looked at the Third Hokage and said, "Did the Third Hokage come here to make a reservation for Lord Danzo? If it's Lord Danzo being cremated, I might have to pay out of pocket! No? Then is it Elder Mitokado or Elder Koharu? Those two can only get a discounted price! Still not? Don't tell me it's yourself? Has the Third Hokage grown tired of living?"

Third Hokage: "..."

"Well..."

"At home!" Nandou replied. "Elder Setsuna is there too. The two of them should be discussing something."

Brother Kazuki, you really went to great lengths for the shop!

Yūhi Shinkō had left behind many connections.

His expression was hard to describe.

"Oh!"

The Third Hokage's face twitched. Taking a deep breath, he tried to keep his voice gentle. "Kazuki, you're causing trouble again. You actually opened a Cremation Shop? If your grandfather Kagami knew, who knows how furious he would be?"

This was the daughter-in-law he had set his sights on, yet Kazuki had gotten the advantage.

The Hokage nodded lightly. Looking at the two of them, he finally felt a little like he was the Hokage.

Kazuki asked, "Where is the clan head?"

Itachi smiled faintly and was just about to speak when Kazuki's next words came out.

Kazuki sighed. "Otherwise, using my grandfather's body to kick off the shop's opening would have been very meaningful."

"Why are you two here?"

Kazuki nodded repeatedly. "When he died, not even his body remained. If he knew his grandson had opened a Cremation Shop, he would definitely be angry that he hadn't gotten to enjoy it."

Kazuki's identity was sensitive.

The Hokage did not become suspicious. Instead, seeing Itachi's expression, he understood many things.

Shisui rolled his eyes as he listened, wanting nothing more than to slap him.

His ambitions were lofty enough, too.

How good could he be as Hokage?

Kazuki's pranks were far more excessive than Naruto's.

"We have five tiers. The lowest is ordinary people, while the highest is Hokage Level. We guarantee treatment befitting a Hokage, allowing you to depart with a smile. May I ask, customer..."

It had made so many people in Konoha owe favors.

When he heard that Kazuki had opened such a thing, his jaw had nearly dropped in shock.

Kurenai herself was outstanding among female ninja. Becoming a jonin was only a matter of time.

Itachi looked somewhat nervous. "Go on!"

Those words were practically saying outright: could you be a normal ninja for a few days?

"He certainly would be angry!"

Kazuki looked earnestly at Itachi. "When dealing with people and matters, don't form preconceived notions. Face them with fairness and impartiality."

There was no helping it. Before Kazuki, the position of Hokage had far too little presence.

It was said that Kazuki had been sleeping at Kurenai's home these past few days. The two of them should already have made substantial progress.

"Itachi, you don't need to come. Help me watch the shop. If customers come, just cremate them—no, ask them how they want to be cremated."

Kazuki had let it slip and voiced his true thoughts. Seeing everyone's silent expressions, he quickly waved his hand and said, "I'll go finalize your position as deputy clan head. Don't worry, I'm confident. But Itachi, I hope you can promise me one thing."

Shisui: "..."

Without another word, Kazuki grabbed Setsuna and returned to Fugaku's home, followed by a howl.

"Clan head, I came to warn you! Your son wants to stab you, so watch your back!"