At the First's residence, in the hall.
The servants laid out dish after sumptuous dish in neat rows.
Mito Uzumaki invited Uzumaki Shori to take a seat and said,
"Today has been such a happy day. I can't even remember how long it's been since I last spoke with an old friend." As she spoke, she took out a cup and filled it, then continued, "Go ahead and eat. These are all Konoha specialties."
Having fulfilled the wishes of two elders, Uzumaki Shori felt quite pleased with himself and happily began enjoying the sumptuous meal.
Just then, a servant came in and said,
"Lady Mito, Lord Hokage has come to pay you a visit."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Shori felt puzzled. What was the Hokage doing here?
After receiving Mito's order, the servant led Hiruzen Sarutobi inside.
"Lady Mito, I didn't realize you were eating. You don't mind adding one more place setting, do you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
"If I said I minded, you're already here. Would you go back?" Mito Uzumaki replied.
"Ahem, ahem."
He coughed a few times to ease the awkwardness, then took a little tiger plushie from his bag and handed it to Kushina Uzumaki.
"Look what I brought you."
Kushina Uzumaki's eyes lit up as she looked at Mito Uzumaki.
"If the Hokage gave it to you, then take it," Mito Uzumaki said.
Kushina Uzumaki immediately hugged it and said happily,
"Thank you, Hokage."
Watching the scene before him,
he thought that being all alone in Konoha must be quite lonely.
"Lord Hokage, I have a very good proposal. You've seen the vehicles traveling from the Land of Whirlpools to Konoha."
"They're fast and reliable. Using truck technology as a basis, how would you feel about building a railway connecting Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools?"