Torifu pondered for a moment. He remembered seeing the Kage last about a year ago, and wasn't sure if they would come to join the festivities this year either.
"Then let's just make some simple preparations. Have someone clean up those apartments. If they don't come, they can be used to entertain some important guests."
The secretary nodded after hearing that, then left the Hokage's office.
She was also very much looking forward to the Spring Festival. After all, this was yet another festival she had never heard of, and she wondered what it would be like.
But there was no rush; in a little over ten days, she would know the true nature of the Spring Festival.
After everything had been arranged, the secretary happily went to the electronics store to buy Spring Festival supplies.
...
Two days later, in the Land of Earth - Iwagakure.
Inside the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki was listening to a subordinate's report.
"Spring Festival? What is that?"
The subordinate showed a smile. It seemed Tsuchikage-sama was quite interested, so his trip hadn't been in vain.
"It's like this, Tsuchikage-sama..."
He explained in detail to Ōnoki what he had seen on the Konohagakure announcement.
Ōnoki, after listening, was very happy. "I see! The Hokage is holding another festival celebration. It should be very lively."
Then, Ōnoki took out his phone and dialed a number.
The phone rang for about a few seconds before someone answered it.
"Hello, good day. This is the Kazekage's office in Sunagakure. How may I help you?"
Ōnoki cleared his throat. "I am Tsuchikage Ōnoki. I have something to discuss with the Kazekage-sama. Please connect me."
The young girl on the other end of the line was clearly a bit surprised, thinking it was a prank. However, she then felt that no one would impersonate Tsuchikage-sama, so she immediately stood up and handed the phone to the Kazekage, who was working.
"Kazekage-sama, Tsuchikage-sama has something to discuss with you."
The Kazekage wasn't surprised. Ever since Konohagakure partnered with several other large villages to extend signal tower coverage across the entire shinobi world, the Kage frequently called each other, though they used private numbers.
The Kazekage took the phone and said with a chuckle, "Hello, Tsuchikage-sama, what's up?"
"Cough, cough. It's like this, Kazekage-sama, our village's shinobi reported that Konohagakure is holding a Spring Festival event. It sounds quite lively. How about we go together for a vacation?"
Upon hearing this news, the Kazekage, who was struggling with work, immediately perked up. "Hey! That's a good idea, but can you confirm the accuracy of the news?"
There were only about ten days left in the year, and he had almost no official duties left, so he could genuinely go to Konohagakure for a visit.
Although the economies of all the major villages were developing well now, and the villages had all changed greatly,
Konohagakure's various lively festivals and novelties were something they couldn't imitate.
Ōnoki chuckled. "Of course I can confirm it. Our village's shinobi just returned from a vacation and only just brought this news back."
Knowing the news was 100% genuine, the Kazekage's mind drifted further and further from work.
He began to ponder when to depart, what gifts to bring, and whether to give the Hokage advance notice, among other things.
Once the thoughts started, they couldn't be stopped at all; his mind raced.
"Kazekage-sama? Kazekage-sama?? Kazekage-sama!!"
"Huh! Yes, Tsuchikage-sama, you were saying?"
Ōnoki said irritably, "It's best to use these next two days to finish all your work, and then depart, lest you have to work overtime after returning to the village."
The Kazekage also nodded in agreement, thinking Ōnoki was right. The two chatted for a while longer and agreed to depart for Konohagakure for vacation in two days.
"Alright, Kazekage-sama, transnational calls are quite expensive. We've spent quite a lot on call charges just talking this long. Let's hang up for now."
The Kazekage was a bit helpless about this, feeling that Tsuchikage-sama was just looking for an excuse. "Okay, then, Tsuchikage-sama, let's talk more when we meet."
After the call ended, the Kazekage shook his head with a smile, handed the office phone to his secretary, then instructed.
"Go fetch Sasori."
"Yes."
Not long after the secretary left, a small boy with orange-red hair, wearing a shinobi outfit, walked in. He looked about eleven or twelve years old, and resembled Yahiko.
"Kazekage-sama, did you call for me?"
Sasori was much like other children his age, with a smile on his face and still a bit naive. However, he seemed to already be a shinobi capable of standing on his own.
The Kazekage, like an elder, said with a smile, "The Tsuchikage-sama and I have agreed to go to Konohagakure for a vacation in two days, and we plan to take you with us. Go ask your grandmother in a bit to see if she agrees."
Hearing that the Kazekage-sama was taking him out to play, Sasori's eyes immediately lit up!
"Okay, Kazekage-sama! I'll go right away!"
Having said that, he darted out of the office.
The Kazekage also shook his head helplessly at this. "This child..."
Although he was only eleven years old, he was Sunagakure's most talented puppeteer, and was expected to succeed him as the Fourth Kazekage.
However, he was still a bit naive and loved to play, and was still too well-protected by his parents and grandmother.
The Kazekage did not have such treatment when he was a child.
But there was nothing to be done; who could blame him, Sasori was the First Kazekage's direct grandson, so a little extra care was only natural.
...
Torifu on his end still didn't know that the two Kage had just spoken on the phone and were preparing to travel to Konohagakure as a group.
He was currently preparing the evening program for the Spring Festival day, as well as things that could make the festival more atmospheric.
Sitting at his desk, touching the system store in front of him, he looked quite leisurely.
Just then, his assistant walked in and brought Torifu a cup of clear tea.
"Hokage-sama, we just received a call from the Tsuchikage's office, saying that Tsuchikage-sama and Kazekage-sama have arranged to come for a visit."
Torifu smiled after hearing this. "I knew those two wouldn't be able to stay idle once they heard the news. The apartments have already been cleaned up, so they can come anytime."
They were all old friends and very familiar with each other. Torifu had even invited the other Kage to Akihara's hundred-day banquet.
Now that telephone communication also covered the entire shinobi world, it was more convenient to contact each other, and relations between villages and countries were also more stable.
And the communication fees, of course, all went into Torifu's pocket. Konohagakure once again became the financial hub of the shinobi world.
Even the Daimyō's estate in the Land of Fire might not be as wealthy as Konohagakure.
"Then, Hokage-sama, I'll go ahead and give instructions to have them replace all the appliances in the apartments and prepare them."
Torifu nodded; he trusted his secretary's work. "Everything is entrusted to you. Do everything to the highest specifications."
The secretary acknowledged after hearing this, then bowed slightly, and left Torifu's office.
"Phew, I suppose it's about time for me to leave too."