Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho

The next morning, only Tokiju, Uchiha Hikari, and Uzumaki Miku remained at the Senju Ancestral Residence.

As for Tsunade and Shizune?

They had left the residence early in the morning, claiming they were heading to Konoha Hospital for work.

Tokiju held a skeptical attitude toward this explanation.

If you said Shizune went to the hospital to work, he would believe it.

But if you said Tsunade also went to work, he could only suspect that she was short on gambling funds again.

"Say, Tokiju, do you have any plans for today? We can't just sit around like this forever!"

Uchiha Hikari sprawled out on a floor cushion in the main hall, looking at Tokiju with a bored expression.

As for Uzumaki Miku, she didn't feel there was anything wrong with it; she wasn't the type of person who liked to be constantly active anyway.

She felt quite content with the current peaceful days.

Hearing Uchiha Hikari's question, Tokiju replied casually, "I plan to visit the cemetery to see Grandmother and Nawaki later. Do you want to come along?"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Hikari pondered for a moment, then waved her hand and said, "I'll pass. You know as well as I do how many people are watching us from outside right now."

"What if they break in and snatch Sister Miku away the moment we both leave?"

"You have to realize that Sister Miku is not only physically restricted right now, but she also has no means of self-defense."

Hearing this, Tokiju closed his eyes to perceive the surroundings, then immediately began cursing wildly in his heart.

Damn it! Those bastards Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, they've actually arranged a total of ten people to monitor us—two more than last night! Are they out of their minds?

Although Tokiju's Mind's Eye of the Kagura had only just awakened, he could still perceive everything within a radius of seven or eight hundred meters.

Hearing their conversation, Uzumaki Miku lowered her head deeply and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I've dragged everyone into this. I will definitely work hard on practicing my chakra control from now on."

Tokiju comforted her, "There's no need to be so anxious, and it wouldn't help anyway. Your body shouldn't be overexerted right now."

"That's right, Sister Miku. You're still carrying a baby, so just focus on resting. We'll handle everything."

Uchiha Hikari also chimed in, signaling for Uzumaki Miku to set her mind at ease.

Despite their words, Uzumaki Miku still felt very uneasy.

She knew that the tonics she drank every day were not cheap, and she had no way to repay them in her current state.

As if guessing her thoughts, Tokiju continued, "Don't worry. The future is long; you'll have plenty of time to work for me."

"Hey! What are you saying? Sister Miku, don't listen to him, he's talking nonsense."

Uchiha Hikari cursed under her breath and then tried to explain to Uzumaki Miku.

Uzumaki Miku shook her head and said to Uchiha Hikari, "It's alright, Hikari. Besides, I truly hope to be of help to Lord Tokiju."

With that, she looked back at Tokiju and said earnestly, "Don't worry, Lord Tokiju, I will definitely work hard for you in the future."

"Uh..." Tokiju was left speechless. The way you two are putting it makes it sound like I'm exploiting a pregnant woman.

He had intended to say that, but upon second thought, he decided against it. Giving Uzumaki Miku a sense of purpose was better than her being restless and anxious every day.

At this point, Tokiju stood up silently and said to the two women, "I'm heading out now. I'm not sure when I'll be back, so you two will have to figure out lunch yourselves."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Hikari immediately made an "OK" gesture and said, "OK, go ahead with peace of mind. I've got things covered here at home."

Tokiju: ?

Tokiju was speechless once more, then silently shook his head. Uchiha Hikari was becoming less and less like her old self.

The cold, aloof Hikari of the past was long gone, and thinking about it, Tokiju felt a tinge of disappointment.

Tokiju waved his hand helplessly and left the Senju Ancestral Residence.

At the same time, the four Anbu and six Root members hiding outside the residence saw this and each dispatched two members to follow him.

Walking down the street, Tokiju grumbled inwardly, They actually each sent two people to tail me? They really do think highly of me.

Although Tokiju had already discovered them, he didn't want to make a scene.

As long as they didn't actively appear before him to cause trouble, he would just let them be.

In any case, he had placed sealing barriers all over the ancestral residence; he doubted they would be able to detect anything.

Since he was going to the cemetery, flowers were a necessity.

Thinking of this, Tokiju headed toward the Konoha Commercial Street he remembered.

Upon arriving at the commercial street, he found it bustling with activity—a constant stream of people and a lively, crowded atmosphere.

Soon, Tokiju found a flower shop, and looking up, he saw it was indeed run by the Yamanaka Clan.

As one of the veteran clans of Konoha, the Yamanaka Clan, like the Nara Clan and the Akimichi Clan, belonged firmly to the Hokage faction.

This had brought great convenience to these three clans.

The Nara Clan controlled most of the medicinal herb trade in Konoha, and their clan heads were often the Hokage's strategists, holding high status.

The Akimichi Clan openly operated many barbecue restaurants, but in the shadows, they controlled the trade of military rations for Konoha.

As for the Yamanaka Clan, while they ostensibly only run flower shops in Konoha, they secretly control the Interrogation Department, holding a position of great power and influence.

Furthermore, these three clans are as close as family, together forming the renowned Konoha trio known as Ino-Shika-Cho.

It is worth mentioning here that the Akimichi Clan represents the butterfly, while the Yamanaka Clan is actually the pig.

Just as Tokiju was staring at the sign, a woman dressed in elegant attire with a red ribbon tied in her hair walked out.

"Oh my, little brother, are you here to buy some flowers?" the elegant woman asked.

Hearing this, Tokiju snapped out of his daze and immediately nodded.

The elegant woman chuckled at his response and continued to ask, "So, who are you buying these flowers for? Would you like big sister to help you pick some out?"

Tokiju nodded obediently and said, "Yes please, could you help me choose three bouquets? I am going to the cemetery to visit my grandparents and my younger brother."

Upon hearing this, the elegant woman's gaze sharpened, a flicker of sympathy crossing her heart, but she soon smiled and said, "I see. Just wait a moment, little brother, let me pick some out for you."

With that, she turned and went inside the flower shop, returning shortly with three exquisite bouquets which she handed to Tokiju.

Tokiju took them and immediately thanked her, "Thank you, big sister. How much do these flowers cost?"

The elegant woman smiled and replied, "Hehe, seeing how sensible you are, little brother, big sister will give you a thirty percent discount."

Tokiju felt a surge of joy; he didn't have much money on him right now, so saving where he could was essential.

He was finally beginning to understand the joy Conan felt when pretending to be a child.

In truth, it wasn't necessarily that Tokiju was poor, but all that money was currently with Sigurd.

He had recently wiped out several bandit dens in the Land of Whirlpools and had scavenged quite a significant amount of funds.

However, for the sake of his future development, and considering he still had a few members of the Hozuki Clan to support, it was better not to spend that money if he didn't have to.