The rewards had come at just the right time.
What did he need most right now?
People.
Money.
Summons.
The tavern needed upgrading, equipment needed buying, and later he would need mood lighting, speakers, and a subwoofer. Which of those wasn't a gold-coin sink?
Now the system had given him two quests, practically paving the road before him.
Zhang Yu stared at the quest panel, liking it more the longer he looked.
"Good, good, good."
"Finally, I don't have to sit around waiting."
Hashirama leaned over, curiosity written all over his face.
"Boss, another quest?"
Zhang Yu nodded and briefly explained the quests.
The moment Hashirama heard about recruiting new members, his eyes lit up.
"That's my specialty!"
Tobirama looked up at him.
"Brother, your specialty is making things complicated."
Hashirama was hurt on the spot.
"Tobirama, how can you say that about your big brother?"
Madara snorted.
"It's just recruiting. Find the targets and bring them back."
Izuna thought for a moment.
"A hundred kinds of flowers shouldn't be hard. Konoha has flower shops, and there are woods and mountains too."
Zhang Yu tapped the counter and quickly made his arrangements.
"Let's divide the work."
Everyone immediately looked at him.
Zhang Yu pointed at Hashirama and Madara.
"You two will handle recruiting the newcomers."
Hashirama blinked.
"Madara and me?"
"Right."
Zhang Yu nodded.
"You're approachable, and Madara's intimidating."
"One of you will do the talking, and the other will make sure people listen."
Hashirama gave it serious thought.
"That sounds pretty reasonable."
Madara folded his arms.
"Who are the targets?"
Zhang Yu didn't elaborate right away. "For now, prepare along the lines we discussed before. Keep an eye on the people in the Land of Waves."
"Zabuza and Haku are worth signing preliminary agreements with."
"Once you're out there, confirm their location first. If you can sign them, do it. If you can't, don't do anything reckless."
Hashirama nodded.
"Understood."
Madara said calmly, "All right."
Tobirama frowned.
"Boss, what about you?"
Zhang Yu closed the quest panel and stood up.
"I'm going to Konoha."
"For a hundred kinds of flowers, the quickest way is to start at a flower shop."
"The Yamanaka Clan has a flower shop in Konoha. I should be able to find quite a few varieties there."
Izuna immediately asked, "Do you need me to come along?"
Zhang Yu waved a hand.
"No need."
"Someone has to keep an eye on the tavern."
"You and Tobirama stay here. One of you can handle the kitchen, and the other can handle the accounts."
Tobirama nodded.
"All right."
Izuna agreed too.
"Understood."
With business settled, Zhang Yu still didn't leave right away.
He first went around to the liquor cabinet and checked the vodka left inside, then went to look at the entrance to the underground liquor cellar.
Then he turned around and fixed his gaze on Hashirama and Madara.
Hashirama felt a little guilty under his gaze.
"Boss, why are you looking at us like that?"
Madara frowned slightly.
"Spit it out."
Zhang Yu folded his arms, his tone serious.
"While I'm gone, no sneaking drinks from the tavern's stock, especially the vodka."
Hashirama immediately straightened his back.
"Don't worry, boss!"
"I, Hashirama Senju, keep my word!"
Zhang Yu looked at Madara.
Madara said coldly, "I wouldn't do something so pointless."
Zhang Yu chuckled.
"Who was it that drank vodka and nearly flipped the table last night?"
Madara fell silent for half a second.
"You were the one who brought it out."
Zhang Yu pointed at him.
"So if I don't bring it out today, you can't take it yourself."
Madara looked away.
Hashirama hurriedly thumped his chest.
"Boss, I'll keep an eye on Madara!"
Madara gave him a cold look.
"Hashirama, worry about yourself first."
Hashirama looked back at Madara.
"Then we'll keep an eye on each other!"
Madara was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine."
Both of them looked utterly upright and honorable.
Hashirama's face was full of sincerity.
"Boss, go pick flowers in Konoha without worrying."
Madara's tone was cool but steady.
"Not a drop of the tavern's liquor will be missing."
Zhang Yu looked at them and didn't believe a word.
One of them had gotten so drunk last night that he had clung to Tobirama and refused to let go.
The other had called it "all right" while refilling his glass faster than anyone.
If those two could really resist the vodka, he, Zhang Yu, would eat the liquor cabinet.
But the quests had to be done, and he couldn't keep watching the tavern forever.
Zhang Yu gave them one final reminder.
"I'll say it one more time."
"Don't touch the reserve liquor."
"Keep your hands off the vodka."
"Don't go into the liquor cellar."
Hashirama immediately raised his hand.
"I promise I won't touch it!"
Madara also said calmly, "Got it."
Izuna stood nearby and glanced at his brother, his expression a little complicated.
Tobirama, meanwhile, picked up a pen and wrote a line beside the ledger.
[While the boss is away, keep a close watch on the liquor inventory.]
Only then did Zhang Yu nod in satisfaction and turn to leave the tavern.
The summer sun was already bright.
People came and went along Konoha's streets. Steam rose from breakfast stalls, and ninja mingled with civilians, making the place feel lively and peaceful.
After walking some distance, however, Zhang Yu slowed down.
With a thought, he brought up a remote virtual screen that only he could see.
The image showed the main hall of the Undead Tavern.
Zhang Yu looked at the screen, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Let's see how long you two can keep up the act."
Sure enough.
No sooner had he left the tavern than Hashirama and Madara made their move.
In the main hall, Hashirama first craned his neck to look toward the door.
After confirming that Zhang Yu had gone far away, he slowly turned back to Madara.
Madara happened to be looking at him too.
The two stared at each other for two seconds.
Hashirama whispered, "Madara."
Madara said coldly, "What?"
Hashirama lowered his voice.
"The boss said we couldn't drink the vodka."
Madara was expressionless.
"I heard him."
Hashirama went on, "He said we couldn't touch the reserve liquor."
Madara replied, "I heard that too."
Hashirama fell silent for a moment, then spoke even more quietly.
"But that liquor last night was really good."
Madara folded his arms and said nothing.
Hashirama continued to sound him out.
"Just a little?"
Madara looked at him.
"How much is a little?"
Hashirama held up one finger.
"One bottle?"
Madara sneered.
"You call one bottle a little?"
Hashirama scratched his head.
"Half a bottle, then?"
Madara said calmly, "Liquor doesn't keep well once it's opened."
Hashirama's eyes lit up.
"So?"
Madara turned and headed toward the underground liquor cellar.
"Once it's open, we might as well finish it."
Hashirama followed him at once.
"Madara, you wanted a drink too, after all!"
Madara didn't even look back.
"I just didn't want it to go to waste."
Out on the streets of Konoha, Zhang Yu watched the screen and nearly laughed in exasperation.
"Unbelievable."
"I only just stepped out!"
"You two couldn't even hold out for half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea?"
On the screen, Hashirama and Madara had already reached the entrance to the underground wine cellar.
Zhang Yu had specially reinforced the cellar door.
The lock came from the system. It looked unremarkable, but it was extremely intricate.
Hashirama crouched by the door and felt the keyhole.
"The boss locked this place up tight."
Madara glanced down at it.
"Ordinary lockpicking won't work."
Hashirama sighed.
"Why don't we forget it?"
Madara looked at him.
"You can use Wood Release."
Hashirama froze.
"Wood Release?"
Madara pointed at the keyhole.
"Send your Wood Release Chakra inside and form a key along the structure of the keyhole."
Hashirama rubbed his chin.
"You can do that?"
Madara said coolly, "Your Wood Release can suppress even Tailed Beasts. Can't you form a single key?"