Zhang Yu even knew he was going to lead Team 7.
The village had not yet made that widely known.
He had originally intended to play dumb, but there seemed little point in doing so in this tavern.
"You know about Team 7?"
"A little."
Zhang Yu's smile didn't change.
"Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno."
Kakashi narrowed his one visible eye slightly.
"You know quite a lot, Boss Zhang Yu."
"I run a tavern. It's only natural that I'm well informed."
Zhang Yu casually tapped the crate of beer.
"Are you buying it or not?"
Kakashi looked at the crate, then glanced around.
Not buy it?
Then how was he supposed to leave?
He believed Zhang Yu wouldn't actually have these people rob him of his wallet.
But the problem was, he was surrounded by these legendary figures, and even his breathing was more cautious than usual.
In the end, Kakashi resigned himself to taking the bills out of his wallet.
One.
Two.
Three.
Once he had counted out twenty thousand ryo, he put the money on the bar.
"I'll buy it."
Zhang Yu collected the money at once, moving so fast that even Kakashi couldn't see it clearly.
"Jonin Kakashi, you really are straightforward."
Kakashi stared at him. "Can I leave now?"
"Don't rush."
Zhang Yu's smile grew even warmer.
"I've sold you the beer, but I have one small condition."
Kakashi's back stiffened.
He knew those twenty thousand ryo wouldn't be that simple.
"What condition?"
Zhang Yu got straight to the point. "Isn't Team 7 having a bell exercise tomorrow?"
"Let our tavern send two employees to observe."
Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly.
He looked at Hashirama Senju, then at Madara Uchiha, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily.
Let the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha observe a Genin combat exercise?
Was that reasonable?
How was that observing?
It was like bringing legends right to the gates of the beginner village.
Kakashi fell silent for a moment, then ventured, "Just observe?"
Zhang Yu smiled. "And supervise while they're at it."
Kakashi fell even more silent.
Supervise?
Who was supervising whom?
The three kids in Team 7 would probably have trouble even staying on their feet tomorrow.
Tobirama Senju suddenly spoke. "Is there an Uchiha descendant in Team 7?"
Kakashi's heart tightened.
"Yes."
Izuna looked over as well.
"Sasuke Uchiha?"
"Yes."
Izuna's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Madara said coldly, "How many Uchiha are left now?"
Kakashi's breath caught.
The question was too weighty.
He didn't dare answer carelessly.
But Zhang Yu waved a hand.
"We'll talk about that later."
"Kakashi, we'll only send two people tomorrow. They won't interfere in Konoha's internal affairs or hurt the students."
"You just need to give them a reasonable role in the test."
Kakashi smiled bitterly.
"A reasonable role?"
Coming from Zhang Yu, those words were even more outrageous than a crate of beer costing twenty thousand ryo.
What reasonable roles could he give Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha?
Specially invited jonin from Konoha?
Wandering ninja?
Temporary examiners?
Every option was absurd.
But Kakashi knew even better that he couldn't refuse.
If Zhang Yu wanted to observe Team 7, Konoha couldn't stop him.
Rather than have these two follow them in secret, it was better to give them a place within the rules.
At least he could mentally prepare himself in advance.
Kakashi let out a long sigh.
"I understand."
"Training Ground 3, tomorrow."
"I'll introduce them to the students as specially invited jonin."
Zhang Yu nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
Kakashi picked up the crate of beer, his steps as heavy as if he were carrying a crate of Explosive Tags.
When he reached the door, he looked back.
Hashirama Senju waved at him.
"See you tomorrow."
Madara Uchiha merely gave him a cold look.
A chill ran through Kakashi, and he hurried away with the crate of beer.
Only after he had gone far away did Izuna close the door.
Zhang Yu put the bills away, feeling quite pleased.
"We made another sale today."
"Twenty thousand ryo."
"Kakashi really is a good customer."
Hashirama scratched his head.
"Boss, are we really going to watch those three kids take their test tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Zhang Yu looked at the four of them.
"As it happens, there's something I should tell you."
Madara raised his eyes.
"What is it?"
Zhang Yu tapped his fingertips lightly against the bar.
"Two people in Team 7 are very special."
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
At Sasuke Uchiha's name, Izuna's expression grew more serious.
Hashirama asked, "That child who's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"That's right."
Zhang Yu nodded.
"Naruto isn't just the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
"He's also Asura's reincarnation."
The smile froze on Hashirama's face.
Tobirama frowned.
"Asura?"
Madara's gaze changed in an instant.
Zhang Yu continued, "Sasuke Uchiha is Indra's reincarnation."
The tavern fell silent.
Izuna had never heard those two names, but from Madara and Hashirama's reactions, he could tell it was no simple matter.
Madara slowly stood up.
"Are you sure?"
Zhang Yu looked at him.
"I'm sure."
Madara stared at Zhang Yu, his voice low.
"The sons of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Asura."
"Indra."
"Their Chakra has reincarnated in this generation?"
Zhang Yu nodded.
Hashirama finally came to his senses as well.
"Wait."
"Boss, are you saying Naruto and Sasuke..."
"Are Asura and Indra in this life?"
"That's right."
Madara's breathing grew noticeably heavier.
He had read many secrets on the Uchiha Stone Tablet.
He also knew the legend of Indra and Asura.
But he had always believed it was merely the continuation of their bloodlines and ideals.
Now, however, Zhang Yu was telling him that the reincarnations were real.
And the reincarnations in this life were right there in Konoha.
One was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The other was an orphan of the Uchiha.
A desire to fight and curiosity rose in Madara's eyes at the same time.
"I'm going tomorrow."
Hashirama immediately looked at him.
"Madara..."
Madara cut him off.
"This isn't a discussion."
"I want to see Indra in this life with my own eyes."
Hashirama opened his mouth.
Madara turned to him.
"You're coming too."
Hashirama was taken aback.
"Me?"
"Asura's reincarnation is there too."
Madara said coldly, "Aren't you going?"
Hashirama's expression grew complicated.
He and Madara had been entangled with each other all their lives.
Now that he had heard news of Asura and Indra's reincarnations, how could his heart possibly remain calm?
"I'm going."
Hashirama nodded slowly.
"I want to see them too."
Tobirama looked at the two of them and said gravely, "Brother, Madara Uchiha, don't do anything reckless tomorrow."
Madara snorted coldly. "I wouldn't stoop to attacking kids."
Hashirama said earnestly, "I'm only going to observe."
Zhang Yu clapped his hands.
"Then it's settled."
"Hashirama and Madara will go to Training Ground 3 tomorrow."
"Izuna and Tobirama will stay at the tavern."
Izuna looked at Madara, clearly a little worried.
"Brother, I can go with you."
Madara shook his head.
"No need."
"You stay here."
Izuna said nothing more and simply nodded.
Zhang Yu took the opportunity to pull out a sheet of paper and formally began assigning duties.
"Speaking of which, the tavern can't stay this disorganized forever."
"We need to decide on everyone's roles."
"Hashirama, greeter."
Hashirama froze for a moment, then smiled wryly.
"I'm still greeting customers, huh?"