The next morning.
The full moon banquet officially arrived. The ceremony start time was 18:00 in the evening. The morning was used to receive envoys from the various villages.
Uchiha Ryun wore a smile on his face. He had set up a temporary canopy below the Hokage's office building. He and Nara Luming sat inside chatting. A bottle of drink was placed on their table.
Also inside the canopy were Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. These two were responsible for receiving the smaller shinobi villages. Danzo was currently still teaching at the Ninja Academy. After all, the day of the full moon banquet was not a Ninja Academy holiday.
"Daimyo of the Land of Grass, Kusagakure has arrived," shouted the Konoha gate guard.
Inside the canopy, everyone stopped chatting. Uchiha Ryun looked up and signaled for Utatane Koharu to go. Koharu accepted the order, stood up, and said with a serious expression, "Konoha Elder, Utatane Koharu, welcomes the Daimyo of the Land of Grass and the Kusa-Kage of Kusagakure."
Although she needed to restrain herself and be respectful before Uchiha Ryun, she didn't need to when facing these small shinobi villages. All of this was tacitly approved by Uchiha Ryun.
When dealing with outside villages and countries, one must know how to balance kindness and severity. Only then will people feel awe and worship from the bottom of their hearts.
The severity had already been applied. Now it was up to Utatane Koharu to show the kindness.
The Daimyo of the Land of Grass corresponded to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. In terms of political status, he did not need to lower himself before Konoha's Utatane Koharu. However, Konoha had previously rushed to the aid of the Land of Grass and saved the country. Therefore, the Daimyo of the Land of Grass did not stand on ceremony this time and was very humble.
"I have long heard of the name of Konoha's Elder Advisor Utatane Koharu. Seeing you today, your bearing is indeed extraordinary." The Daimyo of the Land of Grass bowed slightly. Knowing what to say to whom was the most basic quality for a Daimyo.
The Kusa-Kage of Kusagakure beside him also bowed slightly. From this, it could be seen that the Daimyo was the actual leader of the Land of Grass and Kusagakure. The Kusa-Kage was merely a puppet put forward.
Seeing the Daimyo of the Land of Grass being so humble and polite, Utatane Koharu smiled and also bowed in return. "Please come inside, both of you. The Hokage has ordered that the Daimyo be well received." As she spoke, Utatane Koharu personally received the Land of Grass party and took them to an inn to rest first.
The Daimyo of the Land of Grass extended his hand. "Please." Then he followed behind Utatane Koharu towards the inn.
Uchiha Ryun nodded. Not bad. This series of actions by Utatane Koharu seemed barely proper and qualified in Ryun's eyes.
Everyone continued chatting. The main topic revolved around the little princess, Uchiha Ju. Praise accounted for fifty percent, and envy accounted for the other fifty percent.
Uchiha Ryun responded positively to the goodwill they expressed. After all, what father wouldn't want his daughter to be popular?
Not long after, another group of people arrived at the gate. This time, Uchiha Ryun saw clearly. It was their Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
His pupils contracted, and he said, "Everyone, come with me to greet our Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
Everyone was startled, then nodded and stood up, following behind Uchiha Ryun as he walked towards the gate.
Before the gate guard could announce the identity, Uchiha Ryun walked out with a smile. "Welcome, welcome. The Daimyo's presence brings great honor to Konoha."
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire laughed heartily. "Ryun, you are too formal." Though he said it was formal, in his heart, he approved of Uchiha Ryun's actions.
It was very face giving. Apart from the Kage of the other four great hidden villages, he was the only one who could receive a reception from Konoha's top team.
"The Daimyo is busy with official duties, yet you found time to attend my daughter's full moon banquet. It truly fills me with joy." Uchiha Ryun wore a formal smile on his face.
The Daimyo pretended to be displeased. "Ah. What kind of talk is that. The relationship between our Daimyo's palace and the Senju clan is known to the Hokage as well. You are Tsunade's husband. When it comes down to it, we are relatives."
"How could I not come for the full moon celebration of a relative's daughter." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire laughed heartily.
Everyone present also smiled warmly. After Uchiha Ryun exchanged a few more pleasantries with him, he suddenly said, "Luming, you take charge of the reception work. I will personally escort the Daimyo to the VIP reception area."
Nara Luming stepped forward. "Yes, Hokage-sama." After he finished, Hokage Uchiha Ryun smiled and said, "Daimyo, follow me. The VIP reception area is specially prepared for people of distinguished status."
"Then I shall not decline this honor." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire laughed, then pointed at the civil officials behind him. "Each of you, learn a little. Look at how well Ryun speaks. How well he handles people."
The civil officials lowered their heads, snorting inwardly. If they couldn't beat him, they would definitely have filed a complaint against him.
"The Daimyo flatters me. I see that your administration is full of talented people. In both civil and military affairs among the five great nations, if you claim to be second, no one dares to claim first." Uchiha Ryun didn't mind buttering up his own people a bit.
"Hahahahahaha." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire's laughter became even more unrestrained. The civil officials were inwardly surprised. Their expressions were complex. If Uchiha Ryun weren't the Hokage but a civil official, he would probably be the head of the civil officials.
Nara Luming continued organizing the reception work at the gate, waiting for Uchiha Ryun to return.
Uchiha Ryun arranged the best room for the Daimyo, then arranged upper class rooms for the Land of Fire envoy group. He instructed people to take good care of them, then headed back towards the village entrance.
The Kazekage, Chiron, wearing a green Godaime robe, walked in with his guard team. Next to him was a little kid, about seven or eight years old, holding a puppet in his right hand that looked like the Kazekage.
He held Kazekage Chiron's left hand, an innocent smile on his face. Due to Uchiha Ryun's intervention, Hatake Sakumo had not killed Chiron's parents like in the original story.
Therefore, Sasori had a complete childhood and had not turned to the dark side like in the original. He had the face of a proper young boy.
Seeing the Kazekage's personal arrival, Uchiha Ryun quickly stood up and smiled. "Kazekage, thank you for honoring us with your presence. Having you join my daughter's full moon banquet is simply too exciting."
Hearing this familiar voice, Kazekage Chiron extended his hand and smiled. "Hokage-sama, now that Suna and Konoha are brotherly allies, how could Suna not come when our brother has good news."
Uchiha Ryun smiled and shook Chiron's hand. Suddenly, Sasori looked up at Uchiha Ryun, blinking his big eyes, which attracted Ryun's attention.
"Brother Chiron, who is this." Uchiha Ryun had an answer in his heart, but this was his first time meeting Sasori, so he naturally couldn't appear familiar.
"Oh, Brother Ryun, this is my son, named Sasori. He has exceptional talent in the way of puppets. Now eight years old, he can already control five puppets simultaneously in battle." Chiron smiled, as if talking about a very ordinary matter.
Everyone present, including Nara Luming, gasped. The strength of a puppeteer's talent lay in how many puppets they could control simultaneously.
An outstanding representative in this area was Chiyo, whose current highest record was controlling ten puppets simultaneously, the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets.
Now, Sasori, at only eight years old, had reached half of Chiyo's level. In the future, he would surely become a Kage level combatant.
Kage level. How many people in the shinobi world stopped at Jōnin. If Konoha's foundation weren't so thick and its talents so numerous, they would inevitably feel threatened by the Kazekage's son.
But now, when Konoha saw a Kage level powerhouse, they would say, oh, Kage level, very impressive.
Uchiha Ryun's strength could no longer be simply evaluated by the Kage level.
"Congratulations, Chiron. You have a good son. You can be considered to have a successor." Uchiha Ryun said sincerely.
Those who came to attend his daughter's full moon banquet today were all friends. Today, they would not discuss politics, only pleasantries.
"Thank you, Brother Ryun. But in my opinion, your daughter will certainly become an outstanding figure among people in the future." Chiron said with a smile. They were very amiable with each other.
Then Chiron patted his son's head. "Call him Uncle Ryun."
Sasori looked up, his eyes brightening. Children also liked handsome men. Seeing his father telling him to address someone, he quickly said, "Uncle Ryun." His child's voice was tender, making people happy.
"Haha, Sasori, hello. Uncle is very happy to see you." Uchiha Ryun smiled.
"Handsome Uncle, hug." Although Sasori was shy around strangers, he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to Uchiha Ryun.
This was the power of cause and effect. Uchiha Ryun had made Hatake Sakumo restrain his edge and intentionally fail, thus allowing Chiron to survive. Sasori's whole life could have his parents' companionship.
Then, Sasori received this effect. In the future, he would have to repay it.
Uchiha Ryun was startled, then laughed heartily. "Okay, Uncle will hug you, Uncle will hug you."
As he spoke, Uchiha Ryun crouched down and picked Sasori up. A smile appeared on Chiron's lips as he looked at Sasori, as if seeing the future hope of Sunagakure.
It's stable. It's stable.
Sasori was laughing. In his view, this handsome uncle's embrace was also very warm. He felt very comfortable.
"Alright, Sasori, come down now. You're a big kid. Your uncle's arms will get sore in a moment." Chiron said with a smile.
Finally, Uchiha Ryun put Sasori down. Sasori looked reluctant, only feeling that the uncle's embrace was very warm.
This child Sasori was really quite likable. Who would have thought that in the original story, he would be a cold and ruthless person who turned himself into a puppet.
But before this warmth could last long, a voice rang out like a thunderclap.
"All of you, get out of the way. If you delay my Kumogakure's Third Raikage-sama's gift delivery to Hokage Uchiha Ryun-sama, can you few gate guards bear the responsibility?" The Kumo envoy shouted and yelled, immediately causing the Konoha leadership team inside the village to frown. Kazekage Chiron quickly found an excuse.
"That, Brother Ryun, we will go find an inn first. You deal with your matters." Chiron smiled.
"Wait a moment. Let Elder Mitokado take you there. Please excuse us. I will resolve this matter here quickly." Uchiha Ryun said calmly.
And so, the Sunagakure people followed Mitokado Homura into the village. After Uchiha Ryun saw them walk away, he said, "Let's go, out to take a look."
The others all agreed, then followed Uchiha Ryun outside the Konoha village gate.
They saw the Kumo envoy shouting and yelling, pointing and gesturing at the Konoha gate guards. The Konoha gate guards tightened their grip on their weapons but still endured it.
Today was the full moon banquet of Konoha's Hokage, Uchiha Ryun's daughter. For Konoha, for the Hokage-sama, it was a very important event. As Konoha gate guards, they naturally had to think of the Hokage-sama and avoid any mistakes.
"Aburame Ikki, Inuzuka Haun, teach that guy who speaks recklessly a lesson." Uchiha Ryun's voice came. The two gate guards' eyes lit up, and they no longer held back.
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