A Troubled Time

"If you keep acting like this, I'm sure Elder Tianyun would be disappointed in you, even from beyond the grave."

"You..."

At those words, tears instantly spilled from Hyuga Yumi's eyes and slid silently down her cheeks. But soon, she forced back the tears that remained.

"I don't need you to teach me..."

Hyuga Yumi raised her right hand, instinctively trying to form the Ram Seal so she could teach him a lesson.

"Yumi."

Hyuga Yumi's body shuddered. Her fingers froze in midair, and she instinctively stopped just before completing the hand seal.

"Lord Hiashi."

Hyuga Qinglan calmly bowed to the newcomer.

"Mm..."

Hyuga Hiashi gave a slight nod, then turned toward Hyuga Yumi, who was still half-seated on the ground.

But when he saw the incomplete seal formed by her right hand, his brow furrowed slightly.

"As a member of the Main Branch, you're making a scene in the training grounds without a care for anyone else. What kind of conduct is that?"

Hyuga Hiashi reprimanded her sternly, while indicating that Hyuga Yumi should look at the Branch Family guards sprawled on the ground nearby.

"Though they're called the Branch Family, they're still members of the Hyuga Clan. They're not there for you to vent your anger on!"

"But..."

Hyuga Yumi looked aggrieved, tears about to spill from her eyes.

"Enough!"

Hyuga Hiashi cut off her defense, exasperation and helplessness mingling in his stern tone.

"If you want to avenge Elder Tianyun, then learn the Eight Trigrams Palm properly from Qinglan. Do you understand?"

"...Yes."

Hyuga Yumi answered reluctantly, then glared viciously at Hyuga Qinglan before leaving in a huff with several guards.

The crowd outside the training grounds gradually dispersed, and quiet returned. Hyuga Qinglan, however, remained motionless in his bow.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded in satisfaction. The frustration and unease that had weighed on him for days had eased somewhat.

"Qinglan, the Main Branch's position is that since you mastered the Eight Trigrams Palm on your own, as for ninjutsu..."

"Lord Hiashi, rewards are just the icing on the cake. I only did what I was supposed to do."

Hyuga Hiashi finally relaxed, a pleased expression appearing on his face. "Since the clan can offer you little help with ninjutsu, we'll do our best to meet your needs in other ways."

"I heard you've been a little short on money lately..."

He pulled a thick envelope from his robe and held it out to Hyuga Qinglan.

Hyuga Qinglan nodded.

He knew that if he kept pretending to refuse, he might end up putting Hyuga Hiashi off instead.

Besides... he really did need the money.

"All right, that's enough about the reward. Now, let's talk business."

Hyuga Hiashi's tone suddenly grew serious, his gaze fixed intently on Hyuga Qinglan.

"Qinglan, that scroll of yours... where exactly did you find it?"

"The Daimyo's second son wants to visit Yugakure for a hot spring bath?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared blankly at the Chunin from the mission registration office, his pipe nearly slipping from the corner of his mouth.

"That's right, Lord Hokage."

"The Son of the Daimyo came to the village early this morning with several attendants and registered a B-Rank Mission at the mission desk."

"The payment is..." The Chunin stammered, holding up two fingers.

"Two... two million ryo."

How much?!

Two million?!

Sarutobi Hiruzen nearly choked to death on his smoke.

Ordinary escort missions paid only a hundred thousand to several hundred thousand ryo.

And now, they were offering two million ryo just to escort one person to the Land of Hot Water for a hot spring bath?!

"Ahem."

Having weathered plenty of storms, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly composed himself after a few coughs, suppressing his shock and emotions.

"Long, Konoha will take this mission. Have the Son of the Daimyo rest in the village for a while. We'll make arrangements shortly."

"But... Lord Hokage, there aren't many ninja available to take this mission right now... And he's the Daimyo's son. What if..."

That was right...

There weren't many ninja left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen lifted his head and gazed at the boundless blue sky, his expression distant and complicated.

The villagers along the road waved to him as he passed, and he returned each greeting with a smile and a nod.

But if they could use this opportunity to build a good relationship with the Son of the Daimyo...

Perhaps the Daimyo's side would provide another substantial shipment of military supplies for the front lines.

"Long, you can go. I'll take care of the rest."

"Yes!"

Sarutobi Long handed the mission scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen, then disappeared.

"Who should I assign this mission to?"

He pondered as he entered the Hokage Building.

"Jiraiya's at the front... Minato's at the front too... Even Shikaku's at the front..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help sighing again.

Nearly all the village's elite ninja had been sent to the front lines. Even the students from the Ninja Academy had been sent to the battlefield.

If he hadn't needed to remain in the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have taken up the Adamantine Ruyi Staff and fought his way through the enemy ranks.

"What a troublesome time..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pushed open the door to the Hokage's office. But when he saw who was sitting in the chair behind the desk, he paused.

"Orochimaru?"

"What are you doing here?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was surprised to find his student in his office, sitting brazenly in the Hokage's seat.

He merely glanced at him, though, before looking away.

Clearly... he was used to his three students' personalities by now.

"Teacher Sarutobi, I heard things haven't been going well at the front lately..."

Orochimaru wore the standard attire of a Konoha Jonin, but he had the Hokage's hat on his head.

"I'm here to help ease your burden."

He stood up, gently took off the hat, and set it on the desk, yielding the seat to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru for a long moment.

His student was clever, sharp, and filial...

And rational.

He was good in every way, except that he was far too rational.

He always put the interests of the village and himself first.

If only he could change his ways, perhaps the position of Fourth Hokage would be his.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts churned, and he failed to notice Orochimaru reaching for the scroll on the desk.

"The Son of the Daimyo, with a payment of two million?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow and picked up the scroll, giving it a shake. "Is this what's troubling you?"

"The village's ninja have gone to the front, but I haven't..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stiffened slightly.

How could he have forgotten Orochimaru?

He slapped his forehead in regret. Although he had already decided in his heart that Namikaze Minato would be the Fourth Hokage, deep down, he still cared for Orochimaru.

After all, Orochimaru had shed blood and earned merit for Konoha, too.

Once he had thought it through, a kindly smile returned to Sarutobi Hiruzen's face.

"I'm getting old. My memory isn't what it used to be."

"You're not old at all."

"Is that so? Hahahaha..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily. "In that case, I'll assign this mission to you. That way, the Daimyo's side will be easy to—"

"No."

Orochimaru's expression suddenly turned calm as he cut Sarutobi Hiruzen off.

"What I mean is, not only do I want to take this mission..."

"I'm going to the front lines myself, too."