Zhang Yu nodded.
"You look more approachable when you smile than Madara does."
Madara sneered. "I don't need to be approachable."
Zhang Yu looked at him.
"You'll keep everyone in line and double as a special waiter."
Madara frowned.
"Special waiter?"
"If a guest refuses to be reasonable, you'll make him see reason."
Madara was satisfied.
"All right."
Zhang Yu turned to Izuna.
"Izuna, you're a good cook. From now on, you'll handle the snacks and dishes to go with the drinks."
Izuna nodded.
"Understood."
Zhang Yu then looked at Tobirama.
"Tobirama, you'll handle the accounts, inventory, work schedules, and putting together the tavern rules."
Tobirama didn't refuse.
"Those things do need to be managed together."
Zhang Yu added, "From now on, the tavern needs to grow steadily."
"First, we'll build up our funds and gold coins."
"Once we have more staff, we'll expand our business to include more drinks and snacks, private rooms, a training ground, and so on."
"Later, we can even upgrade the kinds of business the tavern does."
Hashirama's eyes lit up as he listened.
"Boss, you want to make this place bigger?"
"Of course," Zhang Yu said with a smile.
"The Undead Tavern can't stay a little tavern forever."
At those words, the expressions of all four men changed.
Madara looked at Zhang Yu, the corners of his mouth slowly rising.
"Interesting."
Tobirama, meanwhile, looked down at the job assignments on the paper.
"If we're going to operate long-term, we'll need to draw up new rules for staff permissions, income distribution, and how we receive guests."
Zhang Yu pointed at him.
"That's why I'm leaving those things to you."
Tobirama nodded.
"All right."
And so the tavern's work was settled.
After night fell, they each returned to their rooms.
Zhang Yu returned to his room and was just about to rest when a notification popped up from the chat group in his mind.
[Hashirama Senju has sent you a friend request.]
Zhang Yu was taken aback.
"A friend request?"
He accepted.
The next second, a private message from Hashirama popped up.
[Hashirama Senju: Boss, are you asleep?]
Zhang Yu looked at the message, the corner of his mouth twitching.
That opening really didn't sound like the God of Shinobi.
[Zhang Yu: Not yet.] [Hashirama Senju: I wanted to ask about Asura and Indra.] [Hashirama Senju: Boss, could you tell me the whole secret history?]
Zhang Yu leaned back in his chair, instantly alert.
Hashirama had come to ask him of his own accord.
He couldn't tell him for free.
[Zhang Yu: A secret like that is worth a lot.]
There was silence on the other end for two seconds.
Soon, a notification popped up.
[Hashirama Senju has sent you an exclusive red envelope.]
Zhang Yu's eyes lit up.
Hashirama really knew how things worked.
He immediately opened the red envelope.
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained a rare Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release.] [Would you like to withdraw it?]
Zhang Yu nearly jumped out of his chair.
Wood Release!
This was Wood Release!
One of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the entire Naruto world.
Zhang Yu didn't hesitate for a moment.
"Withdraw!"
The next instant, the Chakra inside him seemed to be reignited.
Beyond his fire and earth natures, a heavier, more vigorous life force surged from deep within his body.
Water and earth nature transformations seemed to merge inside him, becoming an entirely new power.
Zhang Yu raised his hand, his palm growing slightly warm.
He could clearly feel that, as long as he wanted to, he could make plants grow and concentrate wood Chakra.
Zhang Yu forcibly suppressed the urge to try it out.
He was in his room.
He couldn't be reckless.
He looked at the private chat interface, his mood soaring.
Hashirama had given him so much.
Naturally, he couldn't give him a halfhearted answer.
[Zhang Yu: Asura and Indra were the two sons of the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki.] [Zhang Yu: Indra was extraordinarily talented. He inherited the Sage's eyes and possessed great power. He believed in maintaining order through strength.] [Zhang Yu: Asura's talent was initially ordinary, but through his companions, bonds, and hard work, he inherited the Sage's body. He believed people should understand one another.] [Zhang Yu: In the end, the Sage of Six Paths chose Asura to inherit Ninshu.] [Zhang Yu: Indra refused to accept it, and the brothers became enemies.] [Zhang Yu: After they died, their Chakra continued to reincarnate.] [Zhang Yu: In every generation, Asura and Indra's reincarnations would become entangled through their beliefs, hatred, and fate.] [Zhang Yu: You and Madara are the reincarnations of the previous generation.]
After the messages were sent, there was no reply for a long time.
In another room.
Hashirama Senju sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the words in his mind, as if frozen in place.
He finally understood.
Why he and Madara had once been friends, yet had gradually become enemies.
Why they both longed for peace, yet had never truly been able to follow the same path.
Why their battle at the Valley of the End had seemed like an outcome fate had written long ago.
"So that's how it was."
Hashirama murmured under his breath.
"So Madara and I were burdened with a fate like that from the very beginning."
He asked no further questions.
After a long silence, he simply sent a message.
[Hashirama Senju: Thank you, boss.]
Zhang Yu looked at the message and replied.
[Zhang Yu: Take a good look at Naruto and Sasuke tomorrow.] [Hashirama Senju: I will.]
Zhang Yu closed the chat interface and felt the Wood Release inside him again, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from rising.
He had gained far too much tonight.
Early the next morning.
The Undead Tavern opened its doors early.
Izuna prepared breakfast in the kitchen, while Tobirama sat behind the bar sorting out the accounts, his movements even more practiced than those of Zhang Yu, the owner.
Hashirama and Madara had already changed and were standing in the middle of the main hall.
Neither of them wore a staff apron.
Instead, both had changed back into their Warring States armor.
Hashirama looked warm and steady, while Madara exuded an intimidating edge.
Zhang Yu glanced at them.
"Remember, you're only observing Team 7's test today."
"Don't interfere."
Hashirama nodded.
"Don't worry."
Madara said mildly, "As long as no one disappoints me."
Tobirama looked up. "Madara Uchiha, that statement alone is dangerous."
Madara gave him a cold look.
Izuna immediately came out carrying breakfast.
"Brother, eat something before you go."
Madara's expression softened for a moment.
Zhang Yu watched the scene, greatly amused.
After breakfast, Hashirama and Madara left the tavern for Training Ground 3.
The tavern's daily operations were left to Izuna and Tobirama.
Zhang Yu didn't go out.
He sat behind the bar and opened the observation function in the Undead Tavern Work Group.
An image soon appeared.
Konoha Training Ground 3.
The morning sun shone down on a clearing in the woods.
Sakura Haruno had arrived early and stood off to one side with her arms crossed, glancing at the entrance from time to time.
Sasuke Uchiha leaned against a tree, his hands in his pockets and little expression on his face.
Naruto Uzumaki, meanwhile, squatted on the ground, his stomach growling and his face full of irritation.
"Damn Kakashi-sensei!"
"He actually told us to come without eating breakfast!"
Sakura snapped, "Naruto, keep your voice down."
Sasuke said coldly, "You're so loud."
Naruto immediately jumped up.
"Sasuke, what did you say?"
Just as the two were about to argue, a figure suddenly appeared at the edge of the clearing.
Kakashi Hatake.
He had actually arrived on time today.
Naruto froze for a moment when he saw him.
"Huh?"
"Kakashi-sensei, you're actually not late?"
Sakura also looked surprised.
Sasuke's brows twitched slightly.