Kazeo walked into the Hokage building, his small face drawn tight with tension, far too heavy an expression for a child his age.
'I can't think of any reason except those recipes I showed to the Akimichi clan. But if it's that… he wouldn't have called me so urgently. My plan with the Akimichi already failed. I just hope this time it works out.'
At the reception, the attendant barely looked up before saying he could go straight in. That alone made Kazeo's stomach twist and have a bad feeling. He climbed the stairs slowly, paused at the Hokage's office, and took several deep breaths to smooth out his expression. After knocking, a calm "Come in" sounded from inside.
He entered. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood near the window, pipe in hand, smoke curling lazily in the air. Kazeo bowed in greeting. The Hokage only gave a small nod in return before flaring his chakra twice.
Four ANBU flickered into the room, kneeling in unison. The sudden appearance made Kazeo's body stiffen, heart racing in his chest.
Without looking at him, Hiruzen spoke in a low, steady tone.
"Seal this room for half an hour. I want to speak with Kazeo alone about his reward. No interruptions."
"As you command."
The ANBU pressed their right hands to their chests, then moved quickly. The door and windows locked, seals activating one by one until the faint hum of barriers filled the silence. The natural light vanished, replaced by the glow of a single hanging bulb.
Kazeo remained frozen near the entrance, the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on him.
Only then did Hiruzen finally turn, his expression softening into a grandfatherly smile as he moved toward his chair.
"There's no need to be so tense, Kazeo. Sit down."
The boy obeyed stiffly, shoulders still tight.
"What I'm about to tell you," Hiruzen continued, voice calm but firm, "must remain hidden. No one in the village should know, do you understand? And above all—" his gaze sharpened slightly "—do not place your trust lightly with this knowledge."
Kazeo nodded, the stiffness in his shoulders loosening as he began to relax.
Seeing this, Hiruzen leaned back slightly, his pipe resting on the desk beside him. His tone remained steady, but there was a weight beneath it.
"I imagine you're wondering what all of this is about. Before I explain, answer me two things. First… are you still wearing the locket I gave you? The one meant to shield your soul?"
Kazeo nodded quickly. "Yes, I wear it every day. Sometimes I take it off while bathing, but I always put it back on right after."
At those words, Hiruzen's expression shifted almost imperceptibly. For a brief moment, the color drained from his face, but he forced it back into composure before the boy could notice.
'No… they haven't found him. If they had, Konoha would not be this quiet. Still, I cannot allow them to get close. If they discover Kazeo… no, I cannot let what happened to the First Hokage repeat itself. Not now. Not when the village has no one ready to inherit this seat.'
He fell silent, lost in thought, until Kazeo's voice broke through.
"Hokage-sama? Did something happen? Is there something wrong with the locket?"
Hiruzen's gaze refocused, and he forced his tone back into calm authority.
"No, there is nothing wrong with it. But you must wear it at all times, Kazeo. Do not neglect it. Without it, your life could be in danger. The talisman does more than shield you from detection. It also suppresses your soul within your body, allowing it to sustain itself more easily."
Kazeo blinked in surprise. "I… didn't know that. You didn't mention it before."
Inwardly, he frowned, 'He called me here just for this? I was worried for nothing.'
Hiruzen let out a small chuckle, the tension in the air softening as he gave the boy a grandfatherly smile.
"Perhaps that is my age catching up to me. My memory is not as sharp as it once was. But remember this, Kazeo. Do not take it off. Not even for a short while."
"Alright, Hokage-sama. I understand." Kazeo nodded, though doubt lingered faintly in his eyes. "But… was that the only reason you called me here?"
He felt something in the Hokage's manner was just slightly off. Still, considering what he knew of the talisman's power—its ability to hide his soul so no one could sense it—it wasn't hard to believe there might be other benefits hidden from him.
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, his gaze steady on Kazeo. "No, why would I call you here for just that? I told you I had two questions." His voice dropped a little, calm but searching. "The second is this—has anyone contacted you recently? Or perhaps started speaking with you, even if you had only seen them before but never spoken to them?" His eyes stayed locked on the boy, sharp and intent, as if weighing every twitch of his face.
Kazeo shook his head quickly. "No, Hokage-sama. No one has approached me like that. Honestly, I don't even have time for strangers. My whole day is either training or moving between training. The rest goes to eating, bathing, and sleeping. That's it."
Hiruzen studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "I see. Then there's nothing to worry about."
Kazeo frowned slightly. "But… why did you ask me that?"
The Hokage folded his hands on the desk and exhaled slowly, as though weighing how much to reveal. "This one, I can tell you." His tone was calm, but his eyes were watchful. "Your novel—you know it's become a bestseller, don't you?"
Kazeo nodded, still unsure where this was going.
"It spread far," Hiruzen continued. "Not just through the Land of Fire, but to every major nation. Suna, Kiri, and others. But in the Land of Iron, it took on a different weight. Someone there has tried to recreate what you wrote, and in the process, they have formed something close to a breathing technique. Incomplete, but enough that they believe it could be perfected. Now, they are searching for the author of the novel… or better to say, searching for you."
Kazeo froze. For a moment, his mind just… blanked.
"...Wait. What?" The word slipped out before he even realized.
He blinked, his mouth slightly open, trying to process. "No… that doesn't— You're saying— breathing techniques? The ones in the story?" His voice cracked halfway, half incredulous, at how ridiculous it sounded.
"Yes," Hiruzen said, giving a small nod. "Breathing techniques, just as you described."
Kazeo felt a weird tightness in his chest until Hiruzen's voice pulled him back.
"Breathe, Kazeo." The Hokage's tone was steady, like a hand on the shoulder. "Calm yourself. Nothing will happen to you while I am here. And remember what I said—it is incomplete. They do not have the answers they want. As long as your identity remains hidden, you are safe."
Kazeo inhaled slowly, then again, forcing himself to steady his breath. His shoulders lowered, the panic fading little by little. "I… I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. I was just shocked. The idea that someone could take something from a book and turn it into reality… it startled me." He paused, then added with a furrowed brow, "But I don't quite understand. Don't we already use breathing techniques? When we run, or swim, or even when training to move silently, breathing control is essential. So what's new about this? They can't seriously be breathing fire or water through their swords like in the novel, right?"
"You're right about us having breathing techniques," Hiruzen admitted, his tone calm but his eyes troubled. "And unfortunately… you're also right about the second part. They've managed to create methods that let them tap into natural chakra. Not much, just scraps for now. But—" his voice lowered, "if someone over there ever had a true breakthrough… the balance of this world could shift."
"The balance might shift?" Kazeo frowned. "But Hokage-sama, even if they figured out breathing, isn't it just another technique? Why would it matter that much?"
Hiruzen gave him a long look, as though weighing how much the boy should know. "No, you're wrong, Kazeo. A technique is never just a technique. Let me put it this way… hmm." He tapped his pipe against the desk, gathering his thoughts. "Before we go deeper, I'll remind you of the world's power structure. You studied this at the Academy, yes?"
Kazeo nodded, still confused.
"Good. Then you know the Five Great Nations—Konoha allied with Suna after we crushed them, Iwa and Kumo standing as separate military giants, and Kiri…" he exhaled, "still drowning in its civil war. Together, those five make up the backbone of the shinobi world."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "But there's also a sixth force, one that stands apart. The samurai of the Land of Iron. Neutral, yes, but not weak. Their swordsmanship is unmatched, and their leader, Mifune… he's said to rival a Kage himself. Do you understand till now?"
"Yeah, I did—but you still haven't told me why the power balance would shift. We're stronger than them, right? Then how did they even become a major force? I don't think anyone would want competition strong enough to disrupt the balance… so why didn't the other villages just crush them early?" Kazeo asked, his voice carrying genuine curiosity.
Hiruzen chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Sometimes, Kazeo… I wonder if you're really a child. You think too deeply for your age." His expression grew serious. "But since you asked… tell me, why do you think no one dares attack the samurai?"
Kazeo frowned, thinking. "I don't know, maybe… because they're directly tied to the Daimyō? Anyone attacking them would be attacking the feudal lords themselves?"
"Good," Hiruzen nodded. "That's one of the reasons. They serve as bodyguards to the Daimyō and other noble, which makes them untouchable in a way. Now, could you guess another reason?"
Kazeo tilted his head. "Numbers? I've read they're many… way more than shinobi?"
"Exactly," Hiruzen confirmed. "For every shinobi, there are ten samurai. Even if their individual quality is lower, their sheer numbers compensate." He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "And let's not forget—while shinobi rely on a vast range of jutsu, the samurai have honed their swords to terrifying heights. With chakra coating alone, they can unleash techniques powerful enough to rival storms."
Kazeo's brows rose. "So they can't weave jutsu, but they've pushed swordsmanship to the extreme."
"Correct," Hiruzen said. "And then, their leader… he's no ordinary man. His strength is said to be on par with a Kage like me. Any village that attacks risks mutual destruction, only for other villages to swoop in and devour the weakened side. That risk keeps everyone in check."
Hiruzen paused briefly before adding, "There's also their wealth. Serving as protectors of Daimyō and acting as a kind of police within nations ensures steady, heavy funding. They are financially stronger than many shinobi villages."
Kazeo tapped his chin, eyes narrowing. "But you still haven't explained how they would disrupt the balance. If they're limited to swordsmanship, we still have ninjutsu, genjutsu, sealing, summons…"
A faint smile touched Hiruzen's lips. "Yes. Right now, their only flaw is that they cannot manipulate chakra the way shinobi can. But imagine if they could—" his tone lowered, grave, "—add elemental properties to their sword techniques. Or… enhance their own bodies—strength, speed, resistance—through something as simple as breathing methods."
"I have a question," Kazeo said, lifting his hand. "Why can't they learn our techniques? And why can't we learn theirs? Wouldn't it be better if we could master both… or are we already doing that?"
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Hmm… a good question. You'll find the full answer when you study medical ninjutsu. But, for now, I can give you the surface explanation."
He paused before continuing.
"Our bodies… they change with training, especially after the age of five. Chakra pathways begin to adapt based on how we're molded. That's why the Academy starts at that age—so a child's pathways lean toward becoming a shinobi. The same happens with samurai training. Their methods reshape the pathways in a different way. That's why, after a certain age, we can't learn their techniques… and they can't learn ours."
Kazeo's hand shot up again. "Then couldn't we just train both from the age of five? That way the pathways could support both. Also, what if someone starts training later? Can't they still become a ninja or samurai?"
Hiruzen let out a small chuckle at the boy's persistence. "Sharp thinking. We actually tried that, a child was trained in both paths simultaneously. And yes—it worked… but only at the start." His eyes darkened slightly. "In the end, that child became skilled at neither. Their pathways were twisted between the two disciplines, weaker than both. We repeated the experiment with others… the results were the same. So we abandoned it."
"As for your other question," he continued, "if someone begins training late, they can still become a shinobi or samurai. But…" he exhaled through his nose, "they'll remain average at best. Without shaping their bodies and pathways during those crucial years, they'll never reach their true potential."
Kazeo nodded quietly, absorbing every word. Their conversation lingered for another ten minutes before Hiruzen's tone shifted, more serious now.
"Listen, Kazeo," the Hokage said softly, "don't share this with anyone. Keep it to yourself. And don't burden your mind too much—they won't find you unless you reveal yourself first. Do you understand?"
Kazeo gave a respectful bow. "Yes, Hokage-sama. I'll keep it secret. Thank you for trusting me with this. I won't betray your faith."
Hiruzen's eyes softened, and he gave a single nod. The silence stretched for a few moments as Kazeo lingered, clearly turning something over in his head. He opened his mouth once, then closed it again, unsure how to frame the question.
Noticing, Hiruzen leaned back slightly, his voice calm.
"What is it, Kazeo? Something troubles you?"
Kazeo hesitated, then asked,
"Earlier, you mentioned that the book spread to every nation, right? Then… why are the profit reports you give me every six months so much smaller than I expected?"
A faint, knowing smile tugged at Hiruzen's lips.
"Ah, so that's what was weighing on you."
He leaned back slightly. "Don't worry, the numbers are real. What you see every six months is only the profit from the Land of Fire and Suna."
Then, with a sigh, he added, "There were also issues. Pirated copies popped up everywhere. Some were printing the book themselves, others were selling it on the black market. We had to step in and stop that. We're successful in the Land of Fire at least, but because of them… the price of books dropped a lot."
Kazeo frowned. "And the other great nations?"
Hiruzen's smile thinned. "Except for the Land of Iron, every other great nation started publishing the book on their own, taking the profits. We're only getting scraps from there. We tried negotiating, but it didn't work."
Kazeo's brows knitted in shock. "They can just do that? Don't we have any laws to stop it?"
"We do have trade agreements," Hiruzen admitted, "but nothing that covers novels or books. And their excuse is… that our story is spreading 'friendship propaganda' in their lands. So they control production and distribution. Still…" He chuckled softly. "Even with that, demand is so high that civilians can't get enough of it."
Kazeo leaned forward. "So, what's my total profit until now?"
"You're in good luck," Hiruzen replied warmly. "I checked just before you came in. Your total profit is nearly thirty million ryō. Congratulations—you might be the youngest, most successful kid in the Land of Fire… after the heirs of the big clans, of course."
Kazeo's eyes widened. "W-what? That much? Last I remember, it was around nine million ryō. How did it jump so high?"
Hiruzen chuckled again. "Did you forget your own ideas? Selling posters, and those little toys modeled after the Demon Slayer characters? They exploded in popularity. At this point, almost every child owns one… some even collect multiple."
"Um… I did see kids swinging fake swords, sometimes carrying toys," Kazeo admitted, blinking in disbelief. "But I didn't know it became that famous."
They spoke for another five minutes before settling the matter of money. Hiruzen insisted that Kazeo could take five million ryō for now and request more whenever he needed.
Kazeo wasn't happy about it. 'It's my money… why can't I just use it as I want?' he thought. He argued back, but Hiruzen's reasoning didn't budge:
"You're still a child, Kazeo," the Hokage said firmly. "Holding that much money at once is unsafe, and you don't yet have a plan for how to handle such a large sum. What I've given you is already more than enough for years of spending."
In the end, they compromised. Instead of receiving all the money directly, Kazeo would be allowed to charge any purchases for jutsu straight to the Hokage's office, without paying from his five million. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. After all, there were no luxuries like cars, online shopping, or stock markets here where he could throw money around even if he wanted to.
Once that was settled, Kazeo brought up another matter — the food business, and his failed first talk with the Akimichi. He explained what had happened and added, almost casually,
"They were willing to pay half a million ryō for a single recipe, Hokage-sama."
Though Hiruzen kept his face composed, inwardly he was startled. Half a million… for just a recipe? That was enough to tell him the true worth of what Kazeo held. And if even the Akimichi — unmatched in matters of food — valued it so highly, then it was no trivial thing.
Sensing the Hokage's interest, Kazeo laid out the next part of his idea: a chain of restaurants. He spoke with confidence, explaining the model, the potential, and how the franchise could grow across the Land of Fire. Much of it was copied from documentaries he remembered from Earth, but to Hiruzen, it was astonishingly forward-thinking.
"Ambitious… but impressive," Hiruzen murmured, nodding as he listened.
Finally, Kazeo explained the business proposal he had in mind for the Akimichi. This time, instead of demanding forty or fifty percent like before, he suggested:
"I'd take twenty percent of the profit, the Akimichi would keep sixty, and the remaining twenty percent would go to the village."
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, his brows knitting in mild confusion. In the past, whenever Kazeo came with ideas—novels, toys, posters—he always tried to bargain for a higher share. Yet, this time he was offering himself the lowest cut. That inconsistency made the Hokage curious.
"Only twenty percent for yourself, Kazeo?" Hiruzen asked slowly, his tone thoughtful rather than accusatory. "The idea is yours, the recipes are yours, even the seed money comes from you. On top of that, you're the one laying the foundation for it to become a true business. Why settle so low?"
Kazeo drew in a small breath, steadying himself.
"I know what I deserve, Hokage-sama," he said, voice even. "By rights, I could demand forty, even fifty percent."
He paused, letting his gaze fall toward the floor. His shoulders slumped just enough to make his act feel genuine.
"But… I want to give back to the village."
Hiruzen's silence stretched, waiting for him to continue.
Kazeo lowered his voice, almost as though he was confessing.
"After my parents died, it was the village that raised me. Without its support, I wouldn't be standing here today—certainly not discussing plans like this with you."
He clasped his hands together, speaking with more weight now.
"And besides… I don't want to interfere in the business. My inexperience could cost us dearly. Better that you and your people handle it. I'll stay on the outside and focus on what matters—my training. That way, I can repay the village not only through business but also by becoming strong enough to protect it."
He lifted his head slightly, eyes determined.
"I only ask two things. First, that I'm kept informed—where new branches open and what the annual profit is. Second… that I receive twenty percent of the gross sales. Nothing more."
For a long moment, Hiruzen studied the boy. Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips. Warmth touched his expression, though in his heart he couldn't help but sigh in quiet relief.
'It seems my decision to guide this boy wasn't wrong,' he thought. 'I cannot raise him personally, not with my position… but with the right teacher and lessons like these, I can shape him little by little. He may be shrewd—he's ensured steady income without lifting a finger—but above all, he thought of the village first.'
"They are not difficult requests, Kazeo," Hiruzen finally said, giving a small nod of approval, though his gaze sharpened.
"That much I can promise. But what if the Akimichi feel slighted? What if customers outside Konoha don't like it?"
"They will," Kazeo replied confidently. "You can judge after tasting it yourself. And if that still doesn't convince you, we can test it by opening a small shop and see how people respond."
He nodded but gaze remained sharp.
"Also, tell me…why twenty percent of the gross sales exactly?"
Kazeo shifted slightly, choosing his words carefully.
"It's to make sure I don't get cheated, Hokage-sama. I trust you… but clans like the Akimichi are too big. I can't question their accounts. If they inflate their expenses, I'll be left with scraps. But if the share comes from gross sales, they won't be able to trick me with fake numbers."
His face stayed calm, but inside he smirked. 'What do you think, old man? You thought I wouldn't learn anything after getting scammed in my novel and toy ideas?'
Hiruzen chuckled softly, his pipe tapping against the table.
"Sharp thinking for your age. But relax, Kazeo. You won't have to worry about that. The village is a stakeholder too, and I'll personally keep an eye on the accounts. Not a single ryo will go missing."
They went back and forth for a few more minutes before settling it—Kazeo would get the 20% from gross sales and Hiruzen would approach Chōza, push the deal through, but only when Kazeo let him taste those food so he could judge if they were worth the trouble.
Kazeo was about to leave when Hiruzen suddenly leaned back and called out,
"Ah, one more thing, Kazeo."
Kazeo turned back.
"Since you're already here, why don't you tell me about the wish you want granted? It'll save you the trouble of coming again and breaking your training rhythm." The old man smiled, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Besides… that little business talk has put me in a rather good mood. I'm sure you've already thought it through, haven't you?"
Kazeo took a moment, his tone careful yet steady. "I did have something in mind, Hokage-sama. Honestly, I planned to bring it up another time since I've already taken enough of your attention today… but since you're asking, I'll say it." He drew in a breath. "I want the rights to my recipes to belong solely to me. No one—not even the Akimichi—should be able to copy them. I'd like them treated as a secret like A or S-Rank jutsus that only you and I know of, Hokage-sama. And if anyone makes something using even fifty or sixty percent of my recipe's ingredients, they should need my permission… or pay me royalty."
Hiruzen's brows lifted slightly, though his expression stayed calm. For a man who had seen countless strange requests in his lifetime, this one still gave him pause. In essence, Kazeo was asking for protection so strong that it meant no one in the Land of Fire—or perhaps even the entire world—could imitate his creations without consequence. Either they would owe the boy money for every dish they sold… or face the weight of Konoha's authority.
Hiruzen stayed quiet for a while, fingers steepled as he thought it over.
'S-rank protection… on food recipes? Is that really wise?' The thought almost made him chuckle. But in the end, he shrugged inwardly. It was food. How popular could it truly get? And it wasn't like these dishes were medicinal or dangerous in nature. At most, civilians would enjoy them as luxuries—certainly nothing world-shaking.
It would become one of his greatest regrets later, but at that moment Hiruzen decided there was no harm.
He finally spoke, calm and resolute. "Very well, Kazeo. Your wish will be granted. From this day forward, your recipes will be treated as an S-Rank secret. If anyone uses a recipe with more than seventy percent of the same ingredients, they will either pay you royalty… or deal with Konoha's authority."
Kazeo's eyes widened in satisfaction, and the two spent the next few minutes confirming the finer details.
Once everything was agreed upon, Hiruzen flared his chakra three times. The windows and doors swung open, and four ANBU appeared, kneeling on the wooden floor.
"Fox," Hiruzen said, pointing at one. His tone shifted to brisk command. "Draw up a contract with the details of Kazeo's reward. Both of us will sign it today."
The masked ANBU turned his head toward Kazeo, and though his expression was hidden, his silence said enough. Inwardly, he sneered, "Of all the things you could have asked the Hokage for… you chose to protect recipes? What a fool. You'll regret this one day."
In a flicker, the ANBU was gone, and within a minute he returned, scroll in hand. The document was unrolled, checked, and signed by both the Hokage and Kazeo.
Hiruzen handed over Kazeo's copy, which the boy carefully sealed into a storage scroll. Bowing deeply, Kazeo took his leave.
Outside the Hokage's office, he hummed under his breath, a smile tugging at his lips. "Finally… the first time I got exactly what I wanted from him. Usually he twists things and makes me compromise. Good thing I planned everything out before going to the Akimichi. Otherwise, this never would've gone so smooth. Now all I need to do is let him taste pizza and the rest, and let him handle Choza. They'll do the work, shoulder the headaches… and I'll just sit back and collect free money for life."
Meanwhile, back inside, Hiruzen's faint smile faded as he sank into his chair. The weight of his office returned to his shoulders.
Without hesitation, he summoned another ANBU. "Call Itachi," he ordered in a low, steady voice. "Tell him I have a new mission for him."
{ A/N:- We would start the missions in some chapters.
}