The First Step of a Dream

"Boss, three servings of dango, please."

Yayoi and Yan pulled back the curtain and called out to the boss behind the counter.

The boss made a gesture of understanding.

The two were regulars at this dango shop. Usually, when Yan craved something, they would grab some dango after school before heading to train.

Yayoi still remembered the dream Yan had once declared.

"I'm going to eat all the dango in the Ninja World."

The girl who always had a smile in his memory was right beside him now.

"This is the first step towards realizing Yan's dream,"

Yayoi said suddenly, resting her chin on her hand.

"Yes, but next time I want to eat dango in the capital of the Land of Fire."

Yan placed a delicate finger to her lips, thought for a moment, and then suddenly seemed to have her next goal.

"The Land of Fire?"

Yayoi also recalled the order of this world: the Daimyo managed the economy, and ninja villages managed the military.

Daimyo were aloof figures to ordinary people, while ninja were a high-paying profession that didn't engage in production.

Ordinary people could barely make ends meet, and that was even in prosperous regions.

"We'll have to wait until we become ninja. It won't be easy to go to the capital.

And there's the threat of war. We might have to wait until the war ends to go."

Yayoi's gaze drifted, lost in thought.

"Then we'll wait until the war ends. Yayoi-kun, let's ask the Hokage for an escort mission together."

Yan seemed to imagine them going to the capital of the Land of Fire after the war ended.

She had heard that it was filled with a dazzling array of goods, where all sorts of merchants gathered, and its prosperity even surpassed Konoha's.

"Of course."

Yayoi would never refuse Yan's request.

"Yan, do you think we could take control of the Land of Fire?"

"Does Yayoi-kun want to be the Daimyo?"

Yan seemed a little surprised.

In the understanding of ninja, the idea of replacing a Daimyo had never even been considered.

"Perhaps I could become the person behind the Daimyo."

"The person behind the Daimyo? Does Yayoi-kun want to be a honored guest?"

"No, higher than that. If that day comes, will Yan help me?"

Yayoi turned her head to look at Yan.

"Of course."

The answer came from Yan in a matter-of-fact tone. A gentle breeze blew, rustling the girl's hair.

They both smiled.

Just then, the dango arrived.

Yayoi picked up a skewer of three-colored dango, blew on it, and offered it to Yan's mouth.

Yan took a bite, and the sweet, delicious dango released its fragrant sweetness on her taste buds.

Watching the gluttonous Yan, Yayoi quietly gazed at her eating.

Crisp bird songs briefly lingered in the sky, and the warm sunlight fell on Yan's shoulder-length purple hair.

War was approaching, but youth should not be wasted.

"It's them."

Rin, who was walking down the street preparing to buy something to eat, suddenly saw a flash of brilliant purple.

As she got closer and looked a little, she saw Yan happily eating dango.

Without a doubt, Rin knew who it was.

Uesugi Yayoi.

Over the years, they had made many secret transactions, and Yayoi had even shared the secret of the Byakugan with her.

Rin couldn't quite understand the technical terms Yayoi used.

But she could learn.

After spending several months after school in the library, she finally understood some of it, and that event shocked Yayoi for an entire year.

What a hardworking child. With such resolve and persistent spirit, how could she not become strong?

Years of dealings had made their relationship much more harmonious.

Sometimes Rin would even joke with Yayoi, but the little purple-haired person beside him was too much of an eyesore.

Hate the Uchiha Clan.

And upon seeing Yan and Yayoi at the same moment, Rin hesitated for a moment.

She was increasingly ostracized within her clan, the Main Family's rejection of the Branch Family, and the Branch Family's rejection.

Like an anomaly, the Branch Family seemed to reject her even more.

It was only because she didn't have the Caged Bird, and despite being from a Branch Family, her Caged Bird was repeatedly delayed because she had an uncle who was an Elder of the Main Family.

People are like this; rather than hate the masters they dare not, they prefer to vent their resentment onto those of the same Branch Family.

What could attract more hatred than a Branch Family member without a Caged Bird?

Rin envied Yan.

At the start of school, she envied Yan's optimism, envied Yan's personality.

Later, she envied Yan's ability to make good friends.

But after much hesitation, Rin still decided to leave.

This did not belong to her.

Loneliness was always like this; a cold demeanor and complex experiences had forged a heart that had long been numb.

Suddenly, a voice came from the shop, a face she had seen countless times at night, looking at her with a smile, holding a skewer of dango.

"Rin, want to have a skewer of dango?"

Yan obviously also noticed Yayoi's voice and followed his gaze outside.

Then a pair of pure white eyes met hers.

"Okay."

This time, Rin did not hesitate.

Friends, they were friends to begin with, and Yan was merely one of Yayoi's friends.

Rin pulled open the curtain, ignored Yan's probing gaze, and sat down with grace.

"Rin, what a coincidence."

Yan smiled, her gentle smile warming the heart.

"Mhm."

Rin's expression was minimal, nodding to confirm Yan's thought.

This expressionless, natural demeanor also put Yan at ease.

Rin was always like this; it was a bit strange, but harmless.

"Want to eat dango?"

Yayoi picked up a skewer of dango and offered it to Rin.

"Is it good?"

"It's delicious."

Yan said without hesitation.

"It's sweet. If you like this taste, then it must be delicious food."

Yayoi described it.

Rin took a gentle bite.

"How does it taste?"

Yayoi asked softly.

"It's as delicious as you said."

"Want another skewer?"

"Okay."

High-Class Restaurant

After bidding farewell to Rin, whom they had coincidentally met, the two began to choose a location for the banquet.

They finally settled on this high-class and expensive restaurant.

A dazzling array of high-class dishes filled the table.

Among them, the lightning beef from the Land of Lightning and the seafood from the Land of Water were the most prominent.

These were not even things ordinary distinguished guests could eat; Yayoi mentioned Tsunade's name to get unimpeded access.

"Another bottle of sake, my treat today."

Tsunade said heartily to the waiter.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Having just won the war, the Sannin's fame was unmatched.

Upon seeing Tsunade, the waiter's eyes practically sparkled.

He quickly responded to Tsunade's command.

"Little Yayoi, where did that brat Shengshu go?"

Everything was ready, but the headcount was incomplete. Tsunade looked around, unable to find her younger brother.

Yayoi shrugged, indicating he didn't know.

"You little brat, daring to stand up even his own sister."

Yayoi could feel Tsunade's fist hardening. Upon closer inspection, he realized Chakra was covering her fist.

This was monstrous strength, a special ability of the Senju Clan.

In fact, anyone who could perfectly control their Chakra and cover their entire body could achieve this.

The aura and power unleashed at full force could easily shatter a wall.

"Sister, look who I brought!"

Just then, Shengshu's voice rang out. At the entrance, Shengshu was pulling along a pale, effeminate man with black, shoulder-length hair and dark eyeshadow.

"Orochimaru."

Seeing Orochimaru, Tsunade then looked at Shengshu and lowered her fist.

"And me, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku."

At that moment, a hearty voice sounded from behind Orochimaru.