Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 107 The Hokage's Daily Shop Visit

Akimichi Torifu slumped in a chair indoors, not wanting to move a single finger.

"...This is even more tiring than the last Ninja War..."

"Trouble... my brain is turning into mush."

Nara Deer Antlers lay directly on the ground, looking utterly dejected.

Only Shuo Mao, though also feeling exhausted, was unusually excited.

Looking at the almost empty shelves and the astonishing sales figures in the ledger, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

Just then, an elderly woman with white hair and a cane walked into the store.

She wasn't carrying anything in her hands; she was just looking around the shop with her cloudy eyes.

"Grandpa, are you planning to buy vegetables or meat?" Sakumo stepped forward and asked gently.

However, the old woman shook her head.

She didn't speak, but instead took out a bunch of wildflowers tied with a red string from her faded sleeve and handed it to Sakumo with trembling hands.

Those were some seemingly ordinary, yet extraordinary little flowers.

"Sakumo...sama..."

The old woman's voice was hoarse and aged, "Thank you... thank you all... and... please thank... Lord Hokage for me..."

She looked up, her cloudy eyes brimming with tears.

"My son... died in the last war. I'm the only old woman left in the family... Before, we even had trouble getting enough to eat... Now... now I can use the pension the village gives me to buy such good rice and such cheap meat..."

"Thank you...really...thank you..."

As the old woman spoke, she bowed deeply to Shuo Mao.

Shuo Mao's body jolted violently.

He looked at the old woman before him, at the crisscrossing wrinkles on her face and her sincere tears.

A massive emotional torrent instantly overwhelmed her psychological defenses.

This is what "protection" is all about.

It's not just about killing enemies on the battlefield.

It also allows this mother, who lost her son, to have a hot meal in her later years and live a peaceful life.

This profound meaning is weighty and glorious.

Sakumo Hatake's eyes felt a little hot.

He stretched out his hands, which were covered in lard, and solemnly accepted the bouquet of wildflowers.

"Don't worry."

"As long as we are here, as long as Konoha exists, we will make sure you continue to live a good life."

After speaking, Sakumo bowed to the ordinary old man.

As the shop prepared to close, the three were tallying up their day's earnings.

A familiar figure walked into the store with a smile.

"Oh, looks like I'm late."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the almost empty shelves and said with a smile.

"Hokage-sama!"

The moment they saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, the "Big Three of Agriculture," who had been slumped in their chairs, immediately sprang to their feet as if springs had been released.

"Alright, alright, everyone, sit down. Let's skip the formalities."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and waved his hand, indicating that they didn't need to be so nervous.

He didn't put on airs like a Hokage, but instead wandered around the store like an ordinary neighbor visiting.

I walked up to the rice shelf and grabbed a handful of "Naruto No. 1" rice.

Each grain of rice is plump and translucent, gleaming enticingly under the light.

"Hmm, not bad."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and then walked to the vegetable section.

Only a few cucumbers and tomatoes that didn't look very appealing were left on the shelf.

He picked up a cucumber, held it to his nose, and smelled it; a refreshing aroma wafted towards him.

"It seems that 'freedom to eat meat' and 'freedom to eat vegetables' in Konoha is just around the corner."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, looked at his three capable subordinates, and sincerely praised them.

"Well done, Shuo Mao, Qu Feng, Lu Jiao."

His gaze swept over the three people's faces, which, though tired, were filled with pride.

"You have made a contribution to the village that is no less significant than any S-rank mission."

"This is all thanks to your excellent leadership, Hokage-sama," Sakumo said sincerely.

"Haha, I only talked the talk, it was you guys who really did the hard work."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, walked over to them, and sat down naturally.

He stopped talking about work and started chatting with them like a long-lost friend.

"Hey Feng, have you gained weight again lately?"

He patted Akimichi Torifu's round belly and teased with a smile, "I heard that you've practically made the farm's pigsty your home in your research on how to make 'Konoha Pig' taste better."

"Heh heh, Hiruzen, that's called dedicating your life to the village's barbecue business!"

Akimichi Torifu scratched his head sheepishly, but his face was full of pride. "You wouldn't believe it, I recently developed a secret feed made from a mixture of apples and honey. The pigs fed with it... wow, the meat has such a wonderful aroma when roasted!"

"Oh? Then I'll have to try it properly next time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up, and he looked at Nara Kaguchi, who was still yawning beside him.

"Antlers, you've worked hard too. I heard you've been pulling all-nighters to plan the crop rotation scheme for the farm. I'll have the medical team send you some special energy boosters later."

"Hi……"

Nara Shika's lazy expression softened considerably. "Hokage-sama, please stop joking with me. I'm just worried that there won't be any fresh vegetables to eat in the winter, which would spoil my mood for lying down and watching the clouds."

"Hahaha……"

A burst of hearty laughter echoed through the empty shop.

The four of them chatted like that, without any barriers between superiors and subordinates, without any distinction between the Hokage and his subordinates.

Like several old friends who have fought side by side for many years, they share each other's joy and hard work under the setting sun.

At the end of the conversation, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, took a bag of rice and a few cucumbers from the shelf.

"How much? I'll pay," he said to the antlers with a smile.

"Eh? Lord Hokage, what is this...?" Shikano quickly stood up, wanting to refuse.

"Take it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shoved a few banknotes into his hand, saying in an unquestionable tone, "I'm just supporting your work. Besides, even brothers keep clear accounts. You can't break that rule here."

The deer had no choice but to accept the antlers.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, carrying the bag of rice and a few cucumbers, was satisfied and ready to leave.

Before leaving, he seemed to suddenly remember something and turned back to Hatake Sakumo, saying, "By the way, Sakumo, if you're free tomorrow, bring Kakashi to my house for a visit."

"That kid Asma keeps talking about wanting to play with the white-haired brother at home."