Dreams: The First Step

"Boss, three servings of dango, please."

Yayoi and Yan pulled aside the curtain and called to the owner behind the counter.

The owner gave them an okay sign.

They were regulars at this dango shop. Whenever Yan got a craving, they would often grab a few skewers after school before heading off to train.

Yayoi still remembered the dream Yan had shared back then.

"I'm going to eat every kind of dango in the Ninja World."

The girl who was always smiling in his memories was right there beside him now.

"You've taken the first step toward making your dream come true, Yan."

Yayoi rested his chin in his hand and suddenly spoke up.

"Yeah. But next time, I want to try the dango in the Land of Fire's capital."

Yan held a small finger to her lips as she thought. Then she seemed to come up with her next goal.

"The Land of Fire?"

Yayoi was reminded of how this world was governed: the Daimyo controlled the economy, while the Ninja Villages controlled the military.

The Daimyo held power over ordinary people, while ninjas did not produce anything themselves, despite earning high salaries.

Ordinary people could barely scrape by, and that was only in prosperous areas.

"Then we'll have to wait until we become ninjas. Getting to the capital won't be easy.

"And there's the threat of war, too. We might have to wait until it's over before we can go."

Yayoi's gaze wandered, his thoughts elsewhere.

"Then we'll wait until the war is over. Miyoshi-kun, let's ask the Hokage for an escort mission to the capital together."

Yan seemed to picture them traveling to the Land of Fire's capital together after the war.

She had heard the place was full of dazzling goods, with merchants of all kinds gathered there. It was so prosperous that even Konoha couldn't compare.

"Of course."

Yayoi would never turn down Yan's request.

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

"Does Miyoshi-kun want to become the Daimyo?"

Yan seemed a little surprised.

As far as ninjas were concerned, no one had ever considered replacing the Daimyo.

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

"The person behind the Daimyo? Does Miyoshi-kun mean becoming a distinguished guest?"

"No, something even greater. If that day comes, will you help me, Yan?"

Yayoi turned to look at her.

"Of course."

Yan answered as if it were only natural. A gentle breeze stirred the girl's hair.

They both smiled.

Just then, the dango arrived.

Yayoi picked up a skewer of Tricolor Dango, blew on it, and held it to Yan's mouth.

Yan took a bite. The sweet, fragrant dango blossomed across her taste buds.

Yayoi watched Yan eat with relish, quietly looking on as she savored each bite.

A clear birdsong lingered briefly in the sky, and the gentle sunlight fell on Yan's shoulder-length purple hair.

War was drawing near, but youth was not something to be squandered.

"So it's them."

Rin was walking along the street to buy something to eat when a flash of vivid purple caught her eye.

She took a closer look and saw Yan eating dango with a blissful expression.

Rin didn't need to guess who she was with.

Uesugi Yayoi.

Over the years, they had made quite a few deals in secret. Yayoi had even shared the secrets of the Byakugan with her.

Rin couldn't make heads or tails of the technical terms Yayoi used.

But she could learn.

After spending several months going to the library after school, she had finally understood some of it. The revelation had left Yayoi stunned for an entire year.

What a hard-working child. With that dedication and determination, how could she fail to grow stronger?

Their years of trading had also made their relationship much more amicable.

Sometimes Rin even joked around with Yayoi, but that little purple-haired girl beside him was such an eyesore.

That annoying Uchiha.

When Rin saw Yan and Yayoi, she hesitated for a moment.

The rejection she faced within her family had been growing, from both the Main Family and the Branch Family.

She was treated like an outsider, and the Branch Family seemed to reject her even more.

It was all because she didn't have the Caged Bird seal. She was a member of the Branch Family, yet her uncle, an Elder of the Main Family, had delayed placing the seal on her again and again.

That was how people were. Rather than resent the masters they didn't dare hate, they preferred to vent their resentment on members of the Branch Family like themselves.

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

Rin was very envious of Yan.

When school began, she had envied Yan's optimism and her personality.

Later, she envied Yan for having found good friends.

But after hesitating for a while, Rin still decided to leave.

This wasn't something she belonged in.

That was how loneliness was. Her aloof nature and complicated past had long since left her heart numb.

Suddenly, a voice came from inside the shop. A face she had seen countless times in her dreams smiled at her, a skewer of dango in hand.

"Rin, want to have a skewer?"

Yan had clearly heard Yayoi's voice, too. She followed his gaze toward the street.

Then a pair of pure white eyes met hers.

"Okay."

This time, Rin didn't hesitate.

They were friends. They had always been friends, and Yan was just another one of Yayoi's friends.

Rin pulled aside the curtain and sat down with easy composure, ignoring Yan's curious gaze.

"Rin, what a coincidence."

Yan smiled, her gentle expression warming the heart.

"Mm."

Rin gave little away, simply nodding to confirm Yan's words.

Seeing her expressionless and perfectly natural manner put Yan at ease.

That was just how Rin was. She could be a little strange, but there was no harm in it.

"Want some dango?"

Yayoi picked up a skewer and offered it to Rin.

"Is it good?"

"It's good."

Yan answered without hesitation.

"It's sweet. If you like that flavor, then it must be delicious."

Yayoi offered her own description.

Rin took a small bite.

"How does it taste?" Yayoi asked softly.

"It's as good as you said."

"Want another skewer?"

"Okay."

High-end restaurant

After saying goodbye to Rin, whom they had run into by chance, the two began choosing a place for the evening banquet.

In the end, they settled on this upscale, expensive restaurant.

The table was laden with all kinds of luxurious dishes.

The Thunder Beef from the Land of Lightning and seafood from the Land of Water stood out the most.

These were dishes even ordinary VIPs couldn't get. Yayoi had mentioned Tsunade's name, and that was the only reason they'd been allowed in without trouble.

"Bring another bottle of sake. It's my treat today."

Tsunade spoke to the waiter with a bold flourish.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

They had just won the war, and the Sannin's fame was unmatched.

The waiter looked at Tsunade as though stars might pop out of his eyes.

At her command, he hurriedly replied.

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

Everything was ready, but someone was missing. Tsunade looked around, unable to spot her younger brother.

Yayoi shrugged to show that he didn't know.

"That brat. He even dares to stand up his own sister."

Yayoi could tell that Tsunade was clenching her fist. Looking closely, he saw chakra coating it.

That was the Strong Fist, a special ability of the Senju Clan.

In fact, anyone who could perfectly control their chakra and coat their body with it could do the same.

The force and power of a full-strength strike could easily shatter a wall.

"Big Sis, look who I brought!"

Just then, Shengshu's voice rang out. At the doorway, he was pulling along a pale, androgynous man with shoulder-length black hair and dark eye shadow.

"Orochimaru."

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

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

Just then, a hearty voice came from behind Orochimaru.