Early the next morning, Ayato got up and began sorting through everything in the shop from top to bottom.
Fortunately, with 5.1% of Zhongli's power, his physical condition was far better than an ordinary person's.
He just hadn't obtained any skills yet—that was all.
While Ayato steadily cleared space and organized the mess…
Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was puffing on his pipe, smoke curling thickly through the room.
Click!
There was no knock. The door simply opened.
Entering were Konoha's three Hokage Advisors—Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
As things stood, these four were the highest authority in the village. Even when Minato Namikaze took office last year, it was still these four who held the real power behind the curtain.
If anything, it was less that Minato had been peacefully selected as the Fourth Hokage, and more that Hiruzen had quietly arranged the entire transition himself.
"Danzo already told us what happened last night," Homura said the moment he stepped in, blunt as ever. "Hiruzen, what exactly were you thinking?"
"Agreed. We saw the strange phenomenon in the sky too," Koharu said as she dragged a chair over and sat down. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits, giving away nothing of her true thoughts. "But the way you handled it, Hiruzen… was a little too cowardly."
Danzo said nothing. Beneath the bandages, his lone left eye stared directly into Hiruzen's.
Hiruzen already knew—Danzo must have exaggerated and embellished before reporting to them.
"That isn't someone we can contend with," Hiruzen said evenly. "Danzo, you saw that power yourself. If we truly fought… it would be a seven-to-three."
Homura frowned. "If we have a thirty percent chance, we can still gamble."
"No." Hiruzen shook his head. "Not our thirty percent."
"Then our seventy percent—"
"I mean his seven, our three." Hiruzen's gaze turned heavy. "And by 'our three,' I mean we get torn apart."
"Hmph! That's not power you can't oppose. You're just old, Hiruzen," Danzo snapped.
He had witnessed it with his own eyes, but his pride wouldn't allow him to believe anyone was stronger than him—much less accept a conservative approach.
"Enough." Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "His matter ends here. Right now, we have something else to face—Minato Namikaze's death."
The Fourth Hokage. Konoha's Yellow Flash.
Dead after only a year in office.
That news would spread across the shinobi world quickly.
And along with him, Kushina Uzumaki—the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki—had also died.
For Konoha, it was unquestionably terrible news.
"That's simple." Danzo stood abruptly. For the Hokage's seat, he was determined. "I'll propose to the Daimyō that I succeed as the Fifth Hokage."
"No, Danzo." Hiruzen's voice hardened. "I will resume the position. I already dispatched ANBU to the Daimyō's residence last night. This morning, the approval document has been delivered."
Perhaps because of Ayato's existence, Hiruzen hadn't waited until after the meeting to report. He had sent the message immediately—and the Fire Daimyō had approved Hiruzen's return without hesitation.
"Tch." A vicious glint flashed in Danzo's eye.
Failed again.
Since when did Hiruzen become this sly?
"Then there's one matter left," Koharu said, eyes opening to a thin line as her gaze shifted between Hiruzen and Danzo. "The arrangements for Minato's son… Uzumaki Naruto."
"Leave that to me," Danzo said at once. "I can forge him into a weapon loyal to Konoha."
What Danzo really meant was simple.
Control Naruto…
And you effectively control the Nine-Tails.
"About Naruto, I already have my own plans," Hiruzen said, shooting Danzo a sideways glance as he shut the idea down outright. "Root doesn't need to concern itself."
"You—!"
One after another, special jōnin and jōnin began filing into the Hokage's Office.
Every face carried a complicated expression.
Especially Fugaku Uchiha.
He had been on good terms with Minato. Kushina and Mikoto were close friends as well.
To lose someone who had genuinely leaned toward the Uchiha and worked to ease the tension between clan and village…
It left Fugaku with a bitter, defeated feeling.
The meeting that followed was almost a formality. The decision for Hiruzen to return as Hokage was finalized, and the news began flying across the shinobi world.
…
"So Hiruzen really did step back onto the stage," Ayato murmured.
He had just finished clearing out the shop's clutter, even taking down the original signboard. With his own hands, he carved new characters and hung them up:
Odd Jobs Shop.
As he mounted the new sign, shinobi messengers and rumor runners began spreading information along the streets. Early-rising civilians were already discussing the news in hushed voices.
"Boss Ayato, are you not running the general store anymore?" A hurried passerby stopped in front of the Odd Jobs Shop.
"I'm not taking that kind of business for the time being," Ayato replied, searching his memory. The man seemed to be the owner of the flower-and-bird market.
"Then what am I supposed to do? I need candles—urgently. I want to pay my respects at the Hokage's memorial."
"There are some in the things I just cleared out," Ayato said, pointing to the pile of miscellaneous items he'd moved outside.
"That feels wrong. I'll pay—" The market owner, Boss Yamazaki, pulled out his wallet.
"No need." Ayato paused, then spoke again. "Boss Yamazaki, you sell Japanese robins, don't you?"
Zhongli's favorite.
"I do…"
"Then trade me one," Ayato said calmly. "In exchange, take whatever you need from that pile."
"No problem! I'll go get it right now!" Boss Yamazaki spun on his heel and hurried off.
Not long after, he returned carrying a birdcage, along with a bag of feed.
But even after the exchange, the system gave no notification.
"So… that doesn't count as a transaction," Ayato muttered.
He looked at the tawny Japanese robin in the cage. It wasn't afraid of him at all, staring back boldly.
…
After Ayato finished organizing the Odd Jobs Shop, Boss Mujima from the neighboring dango shop came over as well.
"I went to bed early. Mm… today's weather isn't suitable for business. Might as well go watch a performance," Ayato said lightly.
"Your way of speaking is always so hard to understand," Boss Mujima replied, still looking confused.
[Ding!]
[Zhongli signature line spoken. Proficiency increased by 0.1%.]
[Current role progress: 5.2%.]
Ayato glanced at the prompt.
So this really was the best way to raise role progress.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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