The next morning, as the sun had just risen, Konoha's sky was still washed in a soft orange light. The village streets were coming alive with merchants opening their stalls, shinobi heading off on missions, and children running toward the academy.
Raftra walked beside Kakashi toward the Hokage's office. The two of them carried different airs—Raftra looked serious, his gaze fixed straight ahead as if arranging countless thoughts, while Kakashi kept his usual relaxed posture, hands in his pockets, his stride lazy but steady.
When they reached the front of the main building, the two guards who normally checked visitors simply offered a brief salute. No questions, no searches. They let Raftra and Kakashi pass through without a second thought.
Raftra glanced at Kakashi, raising an eyebrow as the corner of his mouth curved. "We get in that easily?" he asked softly.
Kakashi didn't look back, he answered in his casual tone, "Yes. You're an 'important person' now. No one will dare stop you—especially with me at your side."
Raftra nodded slightly, trying to suppress a sly smile. "Interesting... so the rumors about me and Lord Hiruzen are getting wilder, huh."
Kakashi said nothing, merely closing his visible eye for a moment as he exhaled slowly. He wasn't sure whether to be pleased or worried about Raftra's growing reputation. 'He acts as if the rumors don't matter,' he thought.
The spiral staircase led them to the upper floor. The soft echo of their footsteps mixed with the busy sounds of other shinobi in the corridor. A few ninja turned and whispered as Raftra passed by.
"Look, there he is..." a hushed voice murmured—unclear, but enough for Raftra to catch the meaning.
He pretended not to hear, placing both hands behind his head and walking with nonchalance. Yet inside, he catalogued every detail.
'The more people who know about me, the faster my plans can move. But... that also raises the risk,' he thought.
They finally stood before the Hokage's chamber. The two guards posted there saluted, then opened the heavy doors wide without asking any questions.
The warm scent of tea greeted them as they entered. Hiruzen sat behind his desk, reading through several reports. A thin plume of tobacco smoke curled up, lending a calm air to the room.
Hiruzen looked up at their arrival and a small smile appeared on his face. "Oh, you came early today. Is your shop closed, Rafra?" he asked.
Raftra pulled out a chair and sat down without waiting to be invited. "I'm off today. I have an important errand... I'm looking for new staff for the restaurant."
Hiruzen chuckled softly and set his pipe to the side. "Hm, that sounds interesting. So you're expanding?"
Raftra nodded. "Something like that," he replied. Kakashi leaned against the window, wearing his usual lazy expression but attentively listening to the conversation.
"In that case," Hiruzen continued, "perhaps I can help a little. Many villagers are seeking steady work. Tell me your criteria and I'll have the village administration arrange interviews."
Raftra fixed Hiruzen with a serious look, folding his arms over his chest. "I need people who can work fast, are honest, and—most importantly—trustworthy. Money, kitchen secrets, the way I run the place—those are all important. I don't want just anyone coming in."
Hiruzen nodded slowly, eyeing Raftra with measured scrutiny. "I understand. But remember, the larger your business grows, the more eyes will watch you."
Raftra offered a faint smile. "I'm prepared for those consequences."
A hush fell over the Hokage's chamber. Hiruzen nodded, though his gaze did not leave Raftra's face.
"Raftra..." Hiruzen's voice was calm but resonant, "you're not the sort to come here over trivial matters. If you only needed staff, you could have gone straight to the administration office. You didn't have to see me."
Raftra, who had been lounging, set both hands on the table and leaned slightly forward. His expression took on a more earnest cast.
"That's true," he answered honestly. "I do have a special request. It's something I've thought about all night."
"But I'm not expecting much in return."
Kakashi, who had been leaning by the window, glanced at them, his eyes narrowing slightly. He sensed the conversation would take on significance.
Hiruzen met Raftra's gaze and nodded for him to proceed.
"I realize the first hires are very important. If I choose the wrong people, everything could fall apart from the start," Raftra said.
"So I thought... what would be the safest and most advantageous solution for the restaurant in the long run?"
Hiruzen inhaled, intrigued by the direction of the discussion. "And what is your answer?"
Raftra's smile was small but unmistakably serious. "I want your people. Specifically, I want members of ANBU."
Hiruzen's eyebrows rose. He set aside his pipe reflexively, leaning back as his expression grew somber. "ANBU? That's a heavy request, Raftra. Explain your reasons."
Raftra raised a finger. "There are three reasons. First, ANBU won't betray me. They report directly to you, and I need people whose loyalty is unquestionable."
He paused, holding up two fingers. "Second, if ANBU work with me, you'll have more eyes around me."
"I know Kakashi here is assigned not only to guard me, but also to watch over me. With additional ANBU, your oversight will be even tighter."
Kakashi glanced briefly inwardly thinking, 'Does he realize how blunt he's being?'
Raftra did not stop, he raised a third finger.
"And third, ANBU are trained. They're accustomed to pressure, discipline, and efficiency. It's far better than training ordinary people from scratch. With ANBU, I can speed up my plans to grow this business."
He leaned back in his chair, drew a breath, and continued in a lighter tone.
"Of course, I'm not going to force this. I understand... it's unreasonable to expect the Hokage to assign ANBU just for a restaurant. On second thought, it's a rather presumptuous request."
He chuckled softly and scratched his cheek. "Sorry if I overstepped, but I couldn't help asking."
Silence hung for a few seconds. Hiruzen studied Raftra's face, his expression was inscrutable. Then, slowly, the Third Hokage nodded.
'Interesting. Raftra's move is logical. His request is not foolish—it's calculated,' he thought.
He spoke aloud. "Your request is heavy... but your reasons are sound. I can see your line of thought, Raftra. You don't speak carelessly."
"You're looking for a precise, profitable solution to your problem. However... ANBU are still ANBU."
Raftra lowered his head, playing with his fingers and spoke in a soft voice. "From the start I didn't expect too much. Sorry if my request sounded odd."
Hiruzen was silent for a moment, considering, then said, "But if the staff role is temporary, I can send two or three ANBU to work at your restaurant. Consider it... a small investment."
Raftra, who had been leaning back, sat up straight. He glanced at Kakashi, then back at Hiruzen with a puzzled look.
"An investment? Why would the Hokage invest in someone like me?" he asked incredulously.
Hiruzen placed his pipe on the desk and tapped his fingers lightly on the wood. "Because I know how to read people, Raftra. I can see who has a chance to succeed and who doesn't."
"And you... from your expression and the way you speak, I can see your future will be different from ordinary youth. You will succeed."
"And you've already proven it with your work this week."
Raftra bowed his head for a moment, then let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Hah... I'm just a youngster without a clear future. It's excessive for the Hokage to view me that way. I'm just an ordinary person."
Hiruzen tilted his head, looking at Raftra with a meaningful gaze. "If you were just ordinary, the rumors about the two of us wouldn't have formed and lasted so strongly. Those rumors are clearly crafted."
Raftra clenched his hand and covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, narrowing his eyes in mock surprise.
"Rumors? That wasn't me. I don't know why such trivial rumors started," he said.
Hiruzen's look remained steady, calm but piercing. "If it's not your doing, why haven't you corrected it?"
Raftra dropped his hand and answered casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Why correct it? The rumors benefit my business and position in the village. With them, no one dares treat me roughly. The only real danger would be if an outsider ninja tried to kidnap me."
He glanced at Kakashi briefly, then turned back to Hiruzen with a smile. "But I'm not overly worried about that. I have him—the copy ninja—who's always at my side."
Kakashi, who had been leaning by the window with folded arms, finally spoke up. "Don't treat me like a personal bodyguard."
Raftra turned, mischief playing at his lips. "But if there were a kidnapping, you'd step in, right? You wouldn't just let me be dragged away?"
Kakashi gave no direct answer. He simply looked out the window, toward the village calm beneath the morning light.
Raftra chuckled softly, chin lifted. "See? Your silence says yes."
Kakashi sighed and shook his head.
Hiruzen laughed a little, stroking his beard as he watched the exchange with warm amusement. 'Their relationship... is better than I expected. Quite satisfying,' he thought.
"Raftra... I'll ask once more. Is it true the rumor wasn't started by you?" Hiruzen asked, more seriously this time.
Raftra paused, then nodded slowly. "I don't know where the rumor started. Maybe the villagers like to embellish and add seasoning to a misunderstanding."
Hiruzen looked at him intently but did not press further. He exhaled slowly, raised his pipe, and lit it. Thin smoke drifted through the room, filling it with its familiar scent.
'I don't know if he's lying,' he thought.
'On one hand, he seems deceptive, manipulating things. On the other, he looks innocent and genuinely unaware—no wonder Kakashi always reports that Raftra can wear two faces.'
Raftra glanced at the pile of reports and files on the Hokage's desk. He rose, straightened his chair and clothing.
"Then... I'll take my leave. You seem to have much work. Thank you for taking the time, and... thank you for considering lending ANBU to me, even if only temporarily."
His tone was light, but his gaze was loaded with meaning. He knew how significant such a 'loan' would be, even for a short while.
Hiruzen smiled and nodded. "You're welcome, Raftra. I'll keep an eye on how things develop."
Just as Raftra was about to step outside, Hiruzen called to Kakashi in a deeper voice. "Wait a moment, Kakashi. Don't go yet. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Kakashi, who had been about to leave, turned to face them, looking from Raftra to Hiruzen. "Very well," he said.
Raftra paused and watched them, his expression unreadable but his eyes clearly noting something. 'What does Hiruzen want to discuss with Kakashi? I'm curious,' he thought.
He bowed politely, then stepped out with light steps, letting the heavy wooden door close behind him.
Only Hiruzen and Kakashi remained. The room felt quieter, the only sound the occasional clink of Hiruzen's pipe.
Kakashi stood before the Hokage's desk. His eye, usually half-lidded, was slightly wider now—an uncommon seriousness showed through. He asked calmly, "What is it, Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen drew on his pipe and blew a thin ring of smoke. Then he spoke. "Is it true you secretly paid for Naruto's meal at Raftra's Kitchen?"
Kakashi fell silent, his gaze dropping to the floor as if weighing his reply.
After a few seconds, he lifted his head and looked Hiruzen straight in the eye. "No. I did not. According to my report, Raftra himself treated Naruto."
Hiruzen turned his chair to face the window, pipe still emitting a faint wisp. "But Raftra told me you were the one who paid for Naruto's meal."
Those words froze Kakashi. His eyes narrowed, sharp and focused as he stared at the Hokage's back visible behind the chair.
Inside, Kakashi mused, 'So this is Raftra's game... he deliberately tailored a different story for Naruto and the Hokage. With a small action, he ties me, Naruto, and the Hokage together.'
He inhaled, looking away momentarily. 'Should I tell the truth? If I reveal it, all his plans to bring Naruto and Lord Hiruzen closer would collapse.'
'But if I play along... I'll be drawn into his scheme. And honestly, I don't want to tell the Hokage the truth.'
A long silence stretched, broken only by the slow ticking of a clock. Finally Kakashi lifted his face. In a flat but steady voice he said, "Raftra is right. I paid for Naruto's meal."
Hiruzen started, eyes widening, eyebrows lifting high. He spun his chair back toward Kakashi, studying him closely as if he couldn't quite believe the answer he had just heard.
Inside, Hiruzen considered. 'So Raftra wasn't lying, Kakashi really did it. I thought this was one of Raftra's small games, but it's factual after all.'
He smiled faintly. 'Well, Naruto is Minato's son—it's not surprising Kakashi would do such a thing.'
Hiruzen lingered, watching Kakashi a while longer, his face slightly troubled. He sighed, then said, "I'm sorry to bring this up. Raftra did tell me you didn't want this known."
Kakashi was quiet for a moment. Then he stepped forward slightly, bowed his head with his hands in his pockets. His voice was calm and sincere. "It's all right. As long as Naruto doesn't know, it's fine. I should be the one to apologize for lying in that report."
Hiruzen scrutinized Kakashi's expression, searching for signs of deceit. But Kakashi's face stayed unreadable. Finally, the Hokage nodded and returned to his pipe. "Very well... you may go."
Kakashi offered a brief salute and bowed. "Understood, Hokage-sama." He turned and walked steadily toward the door. The wooden hinges creaked as it opened, and he left without looking back.
Silence settled again in the chamber, Hiruzen alone before his stack of documents. He set his pipe down and muttered to himself, "So... my suspicion was wrong. Raftra wasn't staging something."
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the papers. A deeper question lingered on his face, as if there was still something about the youth named Raftra he could not quite piece together.
...
Outside the Hokage's office the morning felt warm. A light breeze stirred the courtyard while sunlight filtered through the leaves of the large trees nearby.
Raftra sat relaxed on a wooden bench under one of those trees, leaning back and staring up at the clear blue sky. He yawned occasionally, trying to shake off lingering sleepiness.
Soon Kakashi emerged with his usual measured stride. His gaze was straightforward, but his eyes were a touch sharper than normal—evidence of the serious talk he'd just had.
Seeing Kakashi, Raftra rose immediately. He stretched, raising both hands and exhaling with relief. Then he began to walk slowly, Kakashi falling into step beside him.
As they strolled, Raftra glanced over and asked, "Did Lord Hiruzen mention anything about free meals for Naruto?"
Kakashi paused for a split second and narrowed his eyes. "Where did you hear that?" he asked, his voice flat and guarded.
Raftra shrugged. "I just guessed."
Kakashi resumed walking, puzzlement forming in his mind. 'He says he guessed... but his tone and expression suggest he knew exactly what was said.'
Raftra looked at him with a thin smile. "So, did you tell him the truth about what I did?"
Kakashi was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No."
"Why?" Raftra leaned forward slightly, curiosity evident.
Kakashi sighed without turning. "Because... honestly, I like your plan a little. It brings Naruto and Lord Hiruzen closer."
"And when I see that closeness forming... for some reason I feel compelled to protect that ruse too."
Raftra beamed and gave Kakashi a light pat on the shoulder. Jokingly he said, "So you can get emotional too—enough to ignore duty and not report the truth."
Kakashi glanced sideways, expression unchanged, voice low. "But I could report it anytime. Aren't you afraid?"
Raftra shook his head. "Why should I be afraid? Everything I'm doing is for Naruto's benefit. And I believe if Lord Hiruzen knew, he wouldn't make an issue of it."
"And you, Kakashi-san... you knew about this, right? That's why you lied to the Hokage."
Kakashi didn't answer, he simply kept looking straight ahead.
Raftra laughed softly. In his mind he thought, 'Cold as ever, but from his demeanor I can tell he truly cares.'