Chapter 412: Don't You Remember the Earlier Plot?

Chapter 412: Don't You Remember the Earlier Plot?

Fire Country, Hidden Leaf Village.

As the sky began to lighten with the first rays of dawn, the thick fog that had blanketed the village started to thin out. The night watch ninjas, who had been patrolling the streets tirelessly, quietly disappeared into the alleys and streets, and the village began to come alive once more.

With a creak, the doors of the houses opened, and the fresh morning air pushed out the stale night air. Adults, dressed in their work clothes, began their daily routines, while older children helped with chores, and the younger ones played freely.

The commercial streets buzzed with activity as shopkeepers opened their doors, warmly welcoming customers.

When Senkawa Hikaru yawned and opened the door to his shop, the Ichiraku Ramen stand across the way was already bustling. The aromas of miso soup, pork broth, and various slices of char siu filled the air, causing passersby to stop and linger.

Inside the packed ramen shop, Uncle Ichiraku deftly prepared bowls of steaming noodles behind the curtain, while Ayame, with the grace of a blooming iris, moved through the aisles, serving customers with a smile that could be marketed as a service standard.

Noticing her neighbor, Ayame paused for a moment in her busy schedule, waving to Hikaru and giving him a gentle, affectionate smile.

"Good morning, Hikaru."

"Good morning, Ayame."

Hikaru nodded politely in response, addressing his brother's girlfriend, who had already been approved by his parents as a future sister-in-law.

"Why isn't Aunt Natsuki opening the shop today?"

"My parents went to the Land of Hot Water yesterday afternoon and won't be back for a while. I'm taking care of things at home for now."

"Oh, that must be tough."

Ayame's smile turned concerned and worried. "Do you need any help? After all, you're still young."

"No, I can manage."

Hikaru shook his head seriously. "If I can't handle it, I can hire a couple of ninjas, and Kakashi will probably come over to help too..."

Ayame's high-standard smile faltered for a moment, as if she was caught in a particular emotion, and she repeated herself with a forced smile.

"Kakashi... Yes, he is Riku's friend..."

Hikaru: "..."

He felt as if he had stepped on a tiger's tail.

"Ayame, the customers are waiting for their meals!"

Noticing the pause in the aisle and Ayame's conversation partner, Uncle Ichiraku's voice, which had become noticeably lower, called out from inside the shop. Ayame could only force a smile at Hikaru and return to her work.

"Too diligent, I feel like I'll be crushed if I keep running a shop next to Ichiraku Ramen."

Hikaru muttered under his breath, but the impatient customers waiting outside his shop couldn't help but start complaining.

"Hey, are you done chatting? Where's my senbon and kunai?"

"Is your 'Senkawa Ninja Tools' even in business? If not, just close up!"

"Exactly! Show me some respect, I'm a chunin!"

Hikaru, hands on his hips, raised his head high and glared back at each of them without backing down.

"So what if you're a chunin? Get over yourself!"

"Kakashi, the Anbu captain, is my brother's close friend. Might Guy, the Azure Beast, is my brother's brother-in-arms. Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, is my brother's lifelong friend. Who are you?"

"Do you want to buy or not? If not, scram. If you keep interfering with our business, I'll call the security team. You know how the Uchiha can be when they get rough."

This bold response left the customers speechless, staring at each other in shock.

No wonder most of the ninja tool shops in the village were shut down two years ago and taken over by the "Ninja Tools Department" established by the Third Hokage. The few that remained were always on edge, while the "Senkawa Blacksmith" had never faced any trouble, even upgrading to a proper "Ninja Tools Shop." It must be because of these connections...

Chilled to the bone, it seemed that these days, you couldn't run a shop without some background.

"Are you coming in or not? If not, scram."

Hikaru sat back down at the counter, propping his head up and watching the customers file in, picking up their numbered orders.

His job was to make sure the customers paid and collected their items. As for sales, he wasn't worried about his products not selling.

The blacksmith shop had become much more organized over the past two years. The display cases now held senbon and kunai with sharp, cold edges, indicating that these were not the cheap, poorly made "toys" of the past but high-quality weapons, and the craftsmanship was top-notch, with prices no different from regular ninja tools.

These weren't crafted by his father, Senkawa Takumi, but were sent back monthly by his brother, Senkawa Riku, from the Land of Iron.

Riku claimed that by sending these items, he was showing that he was growing and striving for excellence.

Hikaru, however, thought his brother was growing wildly.

Each month, the quality, craftsmanship, and strength of the tools sent back improved by the same degree, as if Riku was adding data to a stopwatch, astounding Takumi with his son's seemingly divine skill.

Over the past two years, the shop's reputation had grown from selling cheap, poorly made tools to becoming synonymous with high-quality craftsmanship, even sparking a craze for resellers and attracting a lot of attention.

If it weren't for their strong connections and clean background, they might have run into trouble.

A shadow fell across Hikaru, blocking the morning light.

It was a girl with two buns in her hair, around ten years old, with a pale face and a slightly indistinct profile, dressed in a traditional ink-patterned qipao.

One of the more famous students at the Ninja Academy—Tenten.

Hikaru remembered Naruto mentioning that this girl used her weapons like beans in sparring matches and was one of the wealthiest students in the school.

Of course, even if Naruto hadn't told him, he would have remembered the girl who had once ridiculed the poor quality of their weapons.

The tides had turned, and while traditional ninja tool shops were declining, their family's business was thriving. Now, even Tenten needed to come to their shop to get high-quality weapons.

"What's up?"

Senkawa Hikaru rolled his eyes and asked nonchalantly.

"Don't think I'm happy to come over. It's just that the graduation ceremony is coming up this year, and I'll probably graduate this year too."

Tenten pursed her lips, seemingly indifferent, and mumbled in a voice as soft as a mosquito's.

"It's just... if you really want to attend the ceremony... I don't mind..."

Ever since Jiraiya brought back Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, two years ago, the reforms in Konoha have accelerated and become more intense.

Various new policies have been implemented, streamlining the overly ornamental and vague rules and regulations. The "Will of Fire" curriculum has been reduced to less than a third of its original size, replaced by various first aid knowledge, basic medical techniques, and survival skills.

It's said that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was furious and strongly protested, but was rebuffed with, "Then I'll leave."

The graduation time for the Ninja Academy is no longer fixed at six years. Any student can become a true ninja by passing the exam at the graduation ceremony, and many heirs from prominent families have graduated one to two years early, becoming genin.

Naruto had mentioned something recently about "Sasuke deciding to graduate this year, and I can't lose to him, or Sakura will look down on me."

If Naruto is going to attend...

"I'll go."

Senkawa Hikaru responded thoughtfully.

He had no talent for being a ninja and could only be a civilian, but Naruto seemed to be doing well in school. It would be nice to cheer for his friend.

Satisfied with his answer, Tenten left with a light step.

Masked and with his forehead protector tilted to cover one eye, Hatake Kakashi appeared silently beside Senkawa Hikaru, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Little Hikaru, you're not old enough to be in a relationship."

Senkawa Hikaru, who found girls to be a hassle, shrugged and replied calmly.

"That's true, but Kakashi, you're the one who should be in a relationship, yet there's not a single woman around you. You just sit under a tree all day, reading your smut books, twisted and dark..."

Kakashi: "..."

Who's twisted and dark?

Bang!

"Ow~"

Kakashi retracted his curved index finger, tucking the latest issue of "A Rainy Night with a Sword Requires an Umbrella", titled "The Story of the Doorman Sarutobi", into his chest, and shook his head.

He felt this kid had grown quite a bit off the rails since Riku left...

Indeed, good children need to be guided by good people to grow up well. Without someone like Riku, who is upright, kind, and diligent, the village's atmosphere has deteriorated.

Hmm... occasionally writing some risqué stories is a normal human activity, a good deed for the country and the people, a contribution to the population growth of the ninja world, and not a bad thing.

Kakashi leaned against the door, arms crossed, and scanned the passing guests for any troublemakers or opportunists, his sharp gaze as keen as a blade.

A moment later, he suddenly frowned, hearing a cold voice in his ear.

"Hokage-sama has an important mission for you. Please proceed to the Hokage Office."

"What rank?"

"S-rank. Hokage-sama says this is the perfect mission for you."

Kakashi fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. The cold voice in his ear disappeared.

When the morning crowd dispersed and Senkawa Hikaru could finally relax, the figure at the side door "poofed" and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Shadow Clones are so useful.

A fleeting envious thought crossed Senkawa Hikaru's mind.

Ayame walked over from the next stall, skillfully opening the bento box to reveal a mountain of Ichiraku Ramen with toppings like char siu, fish balls, and soft-boiled eggs.

The glistening noodles and rich toppings emitted an enticing aroma, making Senkawa Hikaru's eyes light up with happiness.

He ate the ramen in large bites, pausing occasionally to chat with Ayame.

"Ayame, do you think my brother will come back soon? It's been two years, you know..."

"Don't worry too much. Someone as capable as him will do well wherever he is. He'll return when the time is right."

Ayame responded with a relaxed and positive attitude.

"Do you... miss him?"

Senkawa Hikaru blinked, looking at Ayame, who had become even more beautiful and had smoother, whiter skin over the years. His tone was laced with surprise.

"Well..."

Ayame's face blushed slightly, her lips moving a few times as if embarrassed.

"Of course I miss him, but sometimes I feel like he's never really left... and occasionally, I have very real and strange dreams..."

Senkawa Hikaru: (___)

I don't understand.

"Alright, kid, don't ask so many questions!"

Seeing Senkawa Hikaru's confused look, Ayame covered her face and coughed lightly, urging him to finish his ramen. She quickly took the bento box away and left.

...

Hokage Office.

Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, stood by the window, her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, her green-and-black kimono accentuating her slender waist and formidable assets.

"Hokage-sama, what mission do you need me to undertake?"

Kakashi appeared silently in the Hokage's office, his head slightly lowered, his tone calm.

Tsunade turned around, a smile on her face. After a few seconds of thought, she spoke slowly.

"Kakashi, I remember you and Senkawa Riku, who went to the Land of Iron to learn forging techniques, are good friends?"

Kakashi, maintaining his poker face, nodded slowly.

"Yes."

"What do you think of him?"

Kakashi cleared his throat, his gaze softening. "He's a native of Konoha, an excellent blacksmith, a considerate friend, a hardworking and diligent craftsman who believes in the value of labor, a loving brother and a filial son, a person with almost no flaws."

He paused and added, "Well... he lacks talent in the ninja arts, hasn't had formal training, and is just an ordinary, physically weak person."

Tsunade nodded approvingly. "It's clear you understand him well and respect him."

Kakashi pursed his lips and stood straight, not objecting.

No one,

understands Riku,

better than he does!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end