[Konoha Village]
[Barbecue Restaurant]
Ever since back when Naruto treated everyone on his birthday.
This place had become their regular gathering spot.
Recently, after their elite class graduated, everyone was led out on missions by the Uchiha squad leaders.
After the first wave of missions, when everyone gradually returned, they agreed to meet here.
It was also to share their first experiences of going on a mission.
Because they had Akimichi Choji footing the bill, the barbecue place arranged a super big private room for them.
"Let's celebrate successfully completing our first mission! Cheers!"
Karin raised her juice cup, encouraging everyone.
Everyone also raised their cups one after another, "Cheers!"
Although everyone was drinking juice, it somehow carried the feeling of alcohol.
"Everyone, talk about your first mission."
"Our Team Five, this time we exterminated a bandit gang of more than twenty people…"
Under Karin's lively encouragement, everyone opened up and started discussing.
Like Team One's Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata trio, who were led by Itachi to chase down a Konoha missing-nin.
Team Two's Kiba, Shino, and Ajisai investigated some ruins.
Everyone talked about the details of their missions, and basically all of them involved bloodshed.
Although some teams' first missions had a few slip-ups, with their squad leaders guiding them, all of them smoothly completed their missions.
After seeing blood, everyone's spirits and demeanor were clearly different.
"…At that time Naruto almost got his head cut off with one slash, luckily Nii-san, oh, Itachi-sensei, stepped in just in time and saved him."
"Back then Naruto was so scared he froze."
Sasuke, who could act cool in other things, when it came to his brother, his face was full of admiration, his little mouth blabbing nonstop.
He practically wished to recommend his most beloved brother to the entire world.
Naruto's face looked a bit embarrassed, "Hmph! Stinky arrogant Sasuke, weren't you the same?"
"You got cut once, and weren't you so scared you fell to the ground thinking you were about to die?"
Sasuke, like a cat having its tail stepped on, hurriedly said, "I wasn't scared at all…"
Hinata, beside them, covered her mouth and secretly laughed at the two bickering.
Karin secretly asked Hinata, "Hinata, quickly tell me, Sasuke really did get cut once?"
Seeing Karin acting sneaky, Hinata couldn't help but lower her head and look left and right.
Then she leaned close to Karin's ear and whispered.
Karin's face quickly showed surprise, and she giggled while looking in Sasuke's direction.
"Hinata, don't say it," Sasuke noticed their actions, his face changed.
On his first mission, and with it being the type where blood was shed, Sasuke had indeed made mistakes.
He even thought he was about to die, nearly cried. Such a situation, Sasuke absolutely didn't want Karin to know about it.
But Sasuke was a step too late, seeing Karin's expression he already understood she knew.
Karin winked with a sly smile, "Too late, Sasuke, once we get back I'll tell Shishou."
Sasuke saw Karin winking at him, his face somewhat hot and awkward, "Don't tell Shishou."
Karin giggled, "Ah, the barbecue today is so delicious, but I didn't bring money."
Sasuke took a breath, "I'll pay your share."
"Then thank you… senpai…", Karin dragged out the word sweetly, calling Sasuke once.
Sasuke's unpleasant expression instantly softened.
Although his wallet shrank sharply, at least he preserved his image in front of Shishou.
He turned his gaze and saw Gaara chatting with Naruto.
Although Naruto spoke more, Gaara responded to every sentence.
The two of them were chatting happily, Gaara's face even had smiles.
Sasuke pouted slightly, then asked, "Gaara, your mission this time had so many enemies, wasn't it dangerous?"
Gaara slightly shook his head, "Not really, they were just some ordinary bandits."
Sasuke's eyes shifted, "Then how many bandits did you kill?"
Gaara asked in confusion, "More than ten, why?"
"Oh, nothing," Sasuke said while pouring juice, hid his earlier urge to show off.
Karin covered her mouth secretly laughing at the side, she understood exactly what Sasuke was thinking.
"Itachi-sensei said he'll only take us on three missions, after that we have to do missions ourselves. What about you guys?"
Neji answered, "Us too, three missions."
Shikamaru also answered, "Same."
"We're also three missions. Karin, what about you?", Ajisai asked.
Karin was a bit surprised, "Ah, you're that strict?"
"Shishou didn't mention this, I'll have to ask when I get back."
"But since you're all three times, probably we'll be the same too."
———
[Sunagakure]
Rasa looked at the person before him with a scrutinizing gaze.
"You came representing the Third Hokage?"
Sarutobi Ishishu, dressed in ANBU attire, had basically infiltrated deep into Sunagakure before being discovered.
And he had deliberately let himself be discovered.
So when he said he wanted to see Rasa, Sunagakure didn't dare neglect it.
After confirming with Rasa, they brought him over.
"That's right, Hokage-sama sent me to discuss a cooperation with Kazekage-sama."
When it came to the Third Hokage, that old fox, Rasa didn't dare take him lightly, "Go on?"
Sarutobi Ishishu didn't beat around the bush, directly said, "Kazekage-sama is aware of the conflict between our Hokage-sama and the Uchiha."
"The stronger the Uchiha get, the more unfavorable it is for our Hokage-sama."
"For example, the One-Tail Jinchuriki."
"Our Hokage-sama knows Sunagakure is struggling, unable to produce the ransom money for Gaara."
"He can provide some financial aid to Kazekage-sama."
'Coming over to deliver money?'
Though the cake was right in front of him, Rasa still asked calmly, "But the Uchiha demanded three billion."
Sarutobi Ishishu calmly said, "Of course we know that."
Rasa probed, "How much is Hokage-sama planning to aid?"
Sarutobi Ishishu raised three fingers, "Three billion, our Hokage-sama will cover it all."
"Hiss—"
Rasa hadn't expected the Third Hokage to be so generous, or rather, Konoha to be this rich.
No wonder the Third Hokage always refused to select the next Hokage.
Rasa, who had been mining gold for who knows how many years, yet Sunagakure always had a financial deficit. The Third Hokage baited with this much.
Rasa, no matter what, had to bite the hook.
"Does Hokage-sama have any other requests?", Once Rasa had decided to swallow the bait, his tone naturally softened.
Sarutobi Ishishu asked, "I wonder what method Kazekage-sama used that allowed Gaara to rampage even after reaching the Uchiha compound?"
Rasa thought a bit, it was worth it.
"That's no problem, we used…"
Rasa then directly reported the relevant intel to Sarutobi Ishishu.
Sarutobi Ishishu took out several scrolls and opened them.
Inside were crates upon crates of money.
Seeing Konoha's people this generous, Rasa couldn't help but feel envious, jealous, resentful.
The Land of Fire's land was just too rich.
Of course Rasa wouldn't ask whether they worried he'd take the money but not do the job, the Third Hokage wasn't an idiot.
"Thank the Third Hokage for me," Rasa sighed.
Sarutobi Ishishu reminded, "If things don't go smoothly, Kazekage-sama can always try the Akatsuki organization."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.