The Number One Dessert Shop in the Ninja World

Hokage Office.

Watching the water screen as Hyuga Hoshishaku and his two companions left the training ground, several others lifted the defeated Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō to send them to the hospital.

Senju Tobirama performed a hand seal again, and the water screen shifted to an aerial view of Konoha.

He then let out a sigh, appearing somewhat troubled.

Senju Hashirama chuckled and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "That kid Hoshishaku is quite like you when you were young."

Senju Tobirama brushed his brother's large hand away and said: "I wasn't that powerful at seven, nor was I that malicious."

"Malicious? It's not that bad, haha. I saw those two boys, Hiruzen and Danzō, use lethal moves first; Hoshishaku was just retaliating a little."

Senju Tobirama sighed: "True. If those two brats hadn't broken the rules and launched a sneak attack first, I would have thought Hoshishaku was a naturally evil Uchiha."

Senju Hashirama said sternly: "Tobirama, the Uchiha aren't evil. They have always been like that; you shouldn't say such things about them."

Senju Tobirama rolled his eyes, feeling speechless.

Every time he explained how evil the Uchiha were, his brother would always step in to defend them.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was an Uchiha son-in-law.

"Sigh..."

Senju Tobirama let out his third sigh.

The thick-headed Hashirama finally noticed his brother's abnormality and asked with concern:

"What's wrong, Tobirama? Is there something bothering you?"

A look of worry appeared on Senju Tobirama's face: "Ever since that incident with the Sarutobi Clan, Hiruzen has been like a different person. Out of my seven disciples, he was the one I had the highest hopes for."

Upon hearing this, Senju Hashirama thought for a moment and realized which incident his brother was referring to.

"Haven't you talked to him about it? That matter wasn't actually that malicious; after all, the compensation was paid, and the reconciliation was made. He has no reason to harbor guilt."

After hearing his brother's words, Senju Tobirama said helplessly: "I've talked to him twice already."

"But it's not guilt he feels, it's resentment. He resents Hoshishaku for discovering the matter, and he resents the Hyuga and Uchiha clans for taking the compensation. He even deliberately isolates Kagami Uchiha at the training ground."

Hearing his brother's words, Hashirama also felt a bit disappointed: "Is that so? Then that is a pity..."

Looking up at the aerial view of Konoha on the water screen, Tobirama muttered to himself: "Yes, a pity indeed."

His words were filled with profound disappointment.

Konoha Commercial Street branch road, Mixue Dessert Shop.

Hyuga Hoshishaku and his two companions were sitting at a table, eating various desserts and delicacies.

Hoshishaku held a chocolate caramel pudding, eating it bite by bite.

Beside him, Senju Yuto was eating matcha cream mochi in small bites.

Hyuga Yunfei was eating a sea salt cheese cake with a look of pure bliss on his face.

The center of the table was also filled with many other flavors of desserts and various milk teas and fruit teas.

"Well? It's delicious, isn't it?"

Hoshishaku said with a hint of pride.

Yuto immediately nodded in response: "It's so delicious! I've never eaten anything this good before, especially this mochi—it's a hundred times better than three-color dango!"

"When I leave later, I must pack a portion to take back for Mother."

"Haha, even if you didn't mention it, I would have. I've already had people prepare it; it'll be ready for you to take back when you go."

Yuto asked curiously: "Then why not have them send it back now?"

Hoshishaku gave him a look that said he was an idiot.

"If I were to give it to Lady Mito, she would certainly be happy, but that would be all."

"But if you buy it and give it to Lady Mito, she won't just be happy—she'll think you've grown up and become sensible."

A light ignited in Yuto's eyes as he heard this, and he immediately wanted to get into his wheelchair to send the items back first.

Hoshishaku pulled him back, annoyed, and pointed toward the kitchen:

"These things are made to order; they aren't ready yet. What's the rush?"

Yuto nodded foolishly:

"Oh, oh, then I'll send them back once they're ready."

The group chatted idly.

Hoshishaku checked Yuto's current attribute panel; he already had 56 points of mental energy. He estimated it would take about two more years to complete his destiny commission task.

Things like this couldn't be rushed.

Two years it is, then.

Suddenly, two unruly kids darted into the shop from outside, looking around sneakily.

When they saw this direction and realized the table was occupied only by children, they walked over with arrogant expressions and reached out, trying to snatch the cream mochi Yuto was eating.

Seeing this, Hoshishaku glanced at the clerk standing nearby, but before he could even speak, he saw the Byakugan-wielding clerk flash over to Yuto's side and grab the brat by the back of his collar just before his hand could touch the mochi.

He said, "Little one, you mustn't disturb other customers."

Then, with a swift and decisive motion, he tossed the two twelve or thirteen-year-old children straight out the door.

Hoshishaku nodded in satisfaction.

This clerk was a security guard sent over by the clan.

Since the shop had reopened, sales of fruit tea and milk tea had been incredibly hot.

Because the clan held a 49% stake, the shop brought in substantial profits for them, and they had also been developing various desserts lately.

To prevent the recipes for the drinks and desserts from leaking, the clan had sent over a chunin from the branch family.

Of course, they had originally intended to send a genin, but Hoshishaku had paid extra, adding 100,000 ryo per month.

And so, a chunin was sent instead.

After finishing his meal, he called the chunin over.

"What is your name?"

Hoshishaku asked.

The youth, who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, bowed his head slightly and said respectfully, "Young Master Hoshishaku, my name is Hyuga Kenshi."

Hoshishaku gestured for him to lean down, then patted his shoulder in encouragement.

"Good, Kenshi. Your work attitude is excellent. I will give you a bonus at the end of the month. Keep up the good work. Now, I have a temporary mission for you."

As he spoke, he pointed at Senju Yuto.

"He is my good friend, Senju Yuto."

"I have prepared a full set of desserts for him to take away. Later, you are responsible for carrying these desserts and, along with Yun Fei, ensuring he is delivered home safely. Do you understand?"

Hyuga Kenshi nodded solemnly. "Understood. I guarantee I will complete the mission."

Hoshishaku nodded with satisfaction, took the full set of desserts packed by the kitchen, handed them to Hyuga Kenshi, and continued with a smile.

"Haha, there's no need to be so serious. Don't let the fact that Yuto is in a wheelchair fool you; his combat power is no worse than an ordinary chunin."

After watching the three of them leave.

Hyuga Hoshishaku looked at the commission mission that had suddenly triggered in his system panel, standing in place lost in thought.

[Notification: C-rank commission mission triggered]

[Mission Commission: Help Hyuga Kenshi find "release"]

[Mission Issuer: Hyuga Kenshi]

[Mission Reward: C-rank Full Card x1, Secret Scroll: Recovery Fragment x1]