The Hokage Office.
As they watched Hyuga Hoshishaku and the others leave the training ground on the water screen, the remaining men carried the defeated Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō to the hospital.
Senju Tobirama formed Hand Seals again, and the water screen shifted to an overhead view of Konoha.
Then he sighed, looking troubled.
Senju Hashirama smiled and patted his younger brother on the shoulder. "That kid Hoshishaku is a lot like you were when you were young."
Senju Tobirama knocked his brother's big hand away. "I wasn't nearly that strong when I was seven, and I wasn't nearly that wicked either."
"Wicked? I thought he was fine, haha. Hiruzen and Danzō both used lethal moves. Hoshishaku only got back at them a little."
Senju Tobirama sighed. "Yeah. If those two brats hadn't broken the rules and attacked him by surprise, I'd have thought Hoshishaku was a naturally wicked Uchiha."
Senju Hashirama turned serious. "Tobirama, the Uchiha aren't wicked. They've always been like that. You can't say things like that about them."
Senju Tobirama rolled his eyes, exasperated.
Every time he explained how wicked the Uchiha were, his brother always came to their defense.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was an Uchiha son-in-law.
"Ah..."
Senju Tobirama sighed for the third time.
Only then did the thickheaded Hashirama notice something was wrong with his younger brother. He asked with concern,
"What's wrong, Tobirama? Is something bothering you?"
A hint of worry appeared on Senju Tobirama's face. "Ever since that incident with the Sarutobi Clan, Hiruzen's been like a different person. Out of my seven students, he was the one I had the highest hopes for."
Hearing this, Senju Hashirama thought for a moment and understood which incident his brother meant.
"Have you talked to him? It wasn't really all that terrible. The compensation was paid, and they made peace. He doesn't need to feel guilty about it."
Senju Tobirama replied helplessly, "I've talked to him twice."
"But he isn't feeling guilty at all. He holds a grudge—against Hoshishaku for uncovering what happened, and against the Hyuga and Uchiha clans for accepting the compensation. He even deliberately ostracizes Kagami Uchiha at the training ground."
Hashirama's expression turned disappointed. "Is that so? What a shame..."
Looking up at the overhead view of Konoha on the water screen, Tobirama murmured, "Yeah. What a shame."
His words were full of disappointment.
At the Honey Snow Dessert Shop, on a side street off Konoha's shopping district,
Hyuga Hoshishaku and the other two sat around a table, eating all kinds of delicious desserts.
Hoshishaku ate a chocolate caramel pudding, one bite at a time.
Beside him, Senju Yuto nibbled on matcha cream mochi.
Hyuga Yunfei happily ate a sea-salt cheesecake.
The center of the table was covered with desserts in other flavors, along with all kinds of milk tea and fruit tea.
"Well? Good, right?"
Hoshishaku asked with a hint of pride.
Yuto nodded at once. "It's so good! I've never had anything this delicious. This mochi especially—it's a hundred times better than dango!"
"When I leave later, I have to take a portion home for Mother."
"Haha, you didn't even have to say that. I already asked them to prepare some. We're just waiting until you head back so we can send it along with you."
Yuto asked curiously, "Then why not have them send it back now?"
Hoshishaku gave him a look as if he were an idiot.
"If I send it to Lady Mito, she'll be happy, sure, but that's all."
"But if you buy it for Lady Mito, she'll be happy and think you've grown up and become more considerate."
A bright light flashed in Yuto's eyes as he listened. He immediately wanted to get into his wheelchair and take the treats home ahead of time.
Hoshishaku grabbed him in exasperation and pointed toward the kitchen.
"They're all freshly made. They're not ready yet. What's the rush?"
Yuto nodded earnestly.
"Oh, right. I'll take them back once they're ready."
The three chatted casually.
Hoshishaku checked Yuto's status panel. His mental strength had reached 56 points. He estimated that it would take about two more years to complete his Fate Commission.
There was no rushing that kind of thing.
Two years it was, then.
Just then, two unruly kids darted in from outside the shop and sneakily looked around.
When they spotted the table, they saw that it was occupied by children. With smug expressions, they walked over and reached for the cream mochi Yuto was eating.
Hoshishaku glanced at the shop attendant standing nearby, but before he could say anything, the attendant—who had a Byakugan—appeared beside Yuto in a flash. Just before the brat's hand touched the mochi, he grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.
He said, "Kids, you can't disturb the other customers."
Then, with quick, decisive movements, he tossed both twelve- or thirteen-year-old boys outside.
Hoshishaku nodded in approval.
The attendant was a security guard sent by the clan.
After the shop had reopened, its fruit tea and milk tea had sold extremely well.
The clan owned 49% of the shares, and the shop was bringing in a considerable profit. They had also been developing all kinds of desserts lately.
To prevent the drink and dessert recipes from leaking, the clan had sent over a Chunin from the Branch Family.
Originally, they'd planned to send a Genin, but Hoshishaku offered extra pay—100,000 ryo more per month.
So they sent a Chunin instead.
After eating his fill, he called the Chunin over.
"What's your name?"
Hoshishaku asked.
The boy, who looked about sixteen or seventeen, lowered his head respectfully. "Young Master Hoshishaku, my name is Hyuga Kenshi."
Hoshishaku motioned for him to bend down, then patted his shoulder encouragingly.
"Good, Kenshi. You've been doing a great job. I'll give you a bonus at the end of the month. Keep it up. I have a temporary task for you."
As he spoke, he pointed at Senju Yuto.
"He's a good friend of mine, Senju Yuto."
"I've prepared a full set of desserts for him to take home. You'll carry them, then go with Yunfei and make sure he gets home safely. Understood?"
Hyuga Kenshi nodded solemnly. "Understood. I'll make sure the task is completed."
Hoshishaku nodded in satisfaction, took the full set of desserts that had been packed by the kitchen, and handed them to Hyuga Kenshi. He continued with a laugh,
"Haha, no need to be so serious. Yuto might be in a wheelchair, but he can fight just as well as any ordinary Chunin."
After watching the three leave,
Hyuga Hoshishaku stood in place, deep in thought as he looked at the commission that had suddenly appeared on the System Panel.
[Notification: C-rank commission triggered] [Commission: Help Hyuga Kenshi "find release"] [Commissioner: Hyuga Kenshi] [Commission Reward: C-rank full card x1, Secret Scroll: Rebirth fragment x1]
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