Family Dinner

Everyone gathered around the dining table.

Sandaime, Nonō.

Kabuto, Itachi, Yamato.

And Asuma.

The table was laden with a sumptuous spread, and Nonō was an excellent cook. As a Wandering Miko, she seemed to have taken on all sorts of roles, including that of a cook.

So naturally, she had honed her culinary skills as well.

The dishes before them looked appetizing at a glance, and their aroma was enticing too.

Nonō looked eagerly forward to everyone tasting the food she had made.

It was not just Nonō—Yamato was watching expectantly as well.

Because the vegetables used in these dishes had been grown by him.

They were the fruits of hard work... though Wood Release did make cultivation incredibly fast.

"Very delicious." Sandaime picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and praised it.

"The flavor is indeed quite good." Asuma, who had also taken a bite, gave this assessment.

Itachi nodded after tasting it.

After eating some as well, Kabuto smiled and nodded. "The director's cooking is exceptionally delicious."

Then Kabuto looked at Yamato. "The vegetables Yamato grew are very tasty too."

"Yamato grew these vegetables?" Sandaime seemed to realize something.

He turned to Yamato. "Did you use Wood Release?"

Yamato nodded, seeming a little embarrassed.

Sandaime raised a hand and rubbed his chin.

Then he said to Yamato, "Yamato, have you ever considered seriously studying plant breeding?"

"Plant breeding?"

"Yes. Use your Wood Release to cultivate superior, high-yield seeds. If those high-yield seeds can be widely distributed, more people will be able to fill their stomachs."

"Really?" Yamato's eyes lit up.

The prospect Sandaime had laid out moved him. If what he did could be needed by so many people...

"As long as you work hard, you should be able to do it."

It would also allow Konoha to lead the way in agricultural technology.

For a nation, food security could never be valued too highly.

Once the Joint Security Plan stabilized the country, it would truly have the foundation for development. But to develop, it needed sufficient food as its backing.

After all, if people could not even eat their fill, development would be impossible.

From this perspective, Yamato's Wood Release was important—not merely the destructive power it could bring.

"Mm! I'll work hard!" Yamato nodded solemnly.

At that moment, there seemed to be an added sparkle in his eyes.

He desperately wanted to be needed.

That would give him a stronger sense of presence and help him better understand his own existence and worth.

Seeing this, Sandaime picked up his pipe. But he quickly remembered that they were at the dinner table, with children present, and set it back down.

He rebuked Asuma, who had just lit a cigarette on the other side of the table. "Don't smoke at the dinner table."

Asuma frowned, but he noticed the old man's motion of picking up and then putting down his pipe. He said nothing and stubbed out the cigarette he had just lit.

Besides, he had heard the conversation between the old man and that child who seemed to be a Wood Release Ninja.

Using Wood Release Ninjutsu to cultivate superior, high-yield seeds and let more people eat their fill?

He had to admit, it was quite an idea.

Asuma actually admired it greatly.

But since the idea had come from his old father, he was too embarrassed to praise him despite his admiration.

Still, in his heart, he felt that his father being able to think of such things truly made him an outstanding Hokage...

He silently continued eating.

After dinner, he did not leave right away. Instead, he walked over to the crib and looked at Naruto inside, smacking his lips as if dreaming of something.

Yondaime's son.

The orphan of the Hokage who had sacrificed himself to protect the village.

A Hokage.

"Ahh~!"

Naruto yawned and drowsily opened his eyes. His azure gaze landed on Asuma.

He seemed startled by the sight of a stranger.

Naruto jolted, then burst into loud wails.

Asuma was immediately thrown into a panic.

He hurriedly tried to soothe him with a smile, making all sorts of funny faces in an attempt to make Naruto laugh. But it clearly did not work, only making Naruto cry harder.

Just as Asuma was at a complete loss.

Someone came to the crib, lifted Naruto into their arms, and gently patted his back in a steady, rhythmic motion.

Naruto was genuinely soothed. His eyes gradually drooped shut, and after another yawn, he fell back asleep.

Sweat beaded on Asuma's forehead as he looked at the child who had soothed Naruto.

Itachi Uchiha.

The eldest son of the Uchiha clan.

He knew how to soothe a baby?

Itachi saw his confusion and explained, "My Sasuke is about the same age. I often soothe Sasuke at home too."

At the mention of Sasuke, a smile involuntarily appeared on Itachi's face.

Then, looking at Naruto sleeping in his arms with his thumb in his mouth, he seemed to think of his younger brother back home through that little face. How was Sasuke doing now?

And once Naruto grew up, would he become friends with Sasuke?

"I see."

Asuma nodded in understanding.

He was not an ungrateful person.

"Anyway, thanks."

He said this with his arms crossed over his chest.

He kept a stern expression to hide his embarrassment.

Kabuto, who had finished eating as well, walked over.

Kabuto glanced at Naruto in Itachi's arms, then said to Itachi, "There's something I forgot to tell you."

"What is it?"

"A letter."

Kabuto reached into his clothes. "It's for you."

A letter for me? Could it be from Shisui?

That was Itachi's first thought, and he immediately looked forward to it. What would Shisui's reply say?

And how had Shisui been doing out there?

He said he was gathering intelligence. How was that going? Had he run into any troublesome problems?

With those questions and expectations, he watched Kabuto take out the letter and hand it over. "It was sent by Anko."

"Anko sent me a letter?"

Itachi did not react at first and instinctively reached out.

What? Anko sent it to him?

His hand immediately froze for a moment.

But he still snatched the letter, then tore it open.

—Itachi! Wash your neck and wait for me! I've learned some incredibly powerful ninjutsu from that old pervert Jiraiya! Next time, I'll definitely defeat you! Remember this! You're destined to be my defeated opponent, so don't you dare lose to anyone else before I beat you! Otherwise, I'll look down on you!

Oh, right. I found some shops with really delicious Dango. Compared with Konoha's Dango, they have a flavor all their own. I wrote down all their addresses and included them with this letter, so make sure you take a look!

Itachi quickly turned to a hand-drawn map. It marked Konoha and other locations, noting where the good Dango shops could be found.

There was also a route map, showing the path Anko had traveled after leaving Konoha.

Itachi silently committed it to memory.