Sarutobi Ryo wasn't a tall man, not particularly imposing.
However, he had a build that suggested strength and bravery.
Maki was shorter than Nohara Rin, so Sarutobi Ryo towered over her.
The longer Sarutobi Ryo looked at her, the more the Sand Ninja, Maki, lowered her head.
"I fought the Fourth Kazekage before," Sarutobi Ryo said suddenly. "I miss her quite a bit after all this time..."
Sarutobi Ryo was really trying to get Maki to pass a message to Pakura, hoping to get back together with her.
If Pakura became Kazekage, it would make her even more powerful, making the idea of them being together again even more appealing.
But Maki didn't understand what he was really saying.
She was only worried about her own problems.
She was afraid of being treated badly in Konoha again. It was a fear she found hard to talk about.
Unlike the Ninja from Iwagakure and Amegakure who came in groups, Sunagakure usually sent people alone.
So, even when foreign messengers arrived, they were usually by themselves.
Maki coming alone this time gave Sarutobi Ryo certain advantages.
Sarutobi Ryo led Maki inside the villa.
It was very peaceful inside, especially the house at the back, away from the street, which kept out all the noise.
Sarutobi Ryo hadn't planned anything in advance, but he was good at making things up as he went along.
"It's getting late," he said. "I'll have someone bring dinner later... Are there any foods you don't eat? Anything you'd like?"
Sarutobi Ryo asked politely, his manners perfect.
But his stare made Maki even more afraid.
"A-Anything is fine..."
Sarutobi Ryo nodded, watching the Sand Ninja girl. She reminded him of Nohara Rin, acting so careful. Then he turned and left.
Maki watched Sarutobi Ryo go, breathing a sigh of relief. She thought that was it for the day.
But she was wrong.
To get information about Sunagakure, it would be much easier to get it from Maki, who was close to the Kazekage.
With a little effort, he could get news from this ally without anyone finding out...
That night.
After eating dinner, Maki, who had been traveling for three days in the wind and sun, finally took off her robes and went to clean herself in the bathroom.
The shower water fell, making her sigh in happiness.
In Sunagakure, they couldn't waste water like this.
Water was too precious there.
Maki thought about the 'Greenland' agreement between Konoha and Sunagakure, a plan to create farmland on the border.
It was being developed quickly.
An empty area on the edge of the Land of Rivers, where it met the Land of Wind, was now being carefully managed by Sunagakure.
There were shops, farmland, and even ways to bring in water.
This partnership was based on Konoha and Sunagakure being friends.
If they ever stopped being friends, that area would be the first to be attacked.
Sunagakure could build a Greenland on its own, but it needed to work with other countries to make it happen.
That's why the Third Kazekage promised that as long as he was alive, Konoha and Sunagakure would never go to war.
From now on, the people of Sunagakure would slowly have better lives...
Maki was thinking about these things when she suddenly heard some noises.
"Hmm?"
Taking a bath, she turned her head in confusion.
Through the blurry glass door, she tried to see into the darkness behind her.
It seemed like something was there, but it also seemed like... nothing was there.
Maki looked for a long time, her eyes growing wider.
Creak...
The wind blew open the bathroom door.
Tap.
Tap.
"Ah-!"
Sizzle~!"
Maki: "~~~!!!"
The shower kept running.
The water flowed softly.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~!"
Maki: "~~~!!!"
----
At the same time.
Team 7 was having dinner together.
Kakashi, as the Hokage's son, had been very popular lately.
He had a lot of parties to go to.
He, Obito, and Rin were sitting together, eating.
Rin was the last of them to become a Jonin.
So, this was a celebration for her too.
At this dinner, Kakashi and Obito both congratulated Rin on becoming a Jonin.
Nohara Rin thanked them, looking at the eye that Kakashi had gotten back, and she felt a little relieved.
The surgery had worked well.
Thanks to the new eye, Kakashi could see with both eyes again.
Obito, on the other hand, had scars on his face from what had happened, making him look less like a child and more like a grown man.
As time went by.
Obito seemed more and more like a leader, a strong person.
He even became more stable and mature than Kakashi.
It was amazing to see how much he had changed.
But they were all still young, and still had some childishness, or... energy.
Obito thought, Kakashi has gotten so much better lately.
He's even starting to make up for his problem with fast-moving things...
Lightning Release Chakra Mode, combined with the First Gate of the Eight Gates Formation.
Kakashi's strength had grown quickly.
This also put a lot of strain on him, forcing him to practice Taijutsu with Guy every day.
As he got stronger, Kakashi started to overcome his low chakra reserves.
After all, anyone who trained with Guy would build up their chakra quickly.
"Uh, I'm full, I'm going to the bathroom first..."
Seeing Obito's look, Kakashi understood.
He got up and left, making up an excuse.
He wanted to give Obito a chance.
A chance to tell Rin how he felt.
Kakashi had decided not to compete with Obito for Rin. It was up to Obito now.
"Rin..."
Having gone through many missions, Obito was no longer naive. He understood what Kakashi was doing.
He found his courage and began to get ready to speak.
Kakashi walked to the corner, secretly watching to see what Obito would do.
He couldn't hear what they were saying from there, but he could guess by watching their faces.
On the other side...
Jiraiya was eating with three Ninja from Amegakure.
Jiraiya and a guy named Yahiko were laughing loudly.
A red-haired guy named Nagato, and a woman named Konan, were smiling.
When Kakashi looked back at Obito, he felt like something was wrong.
He seemed to have missed what had happened, and it was over so quickly.
Obito looked shocked, with an unbelieving expression.
Rin glanced around, seeming to avoid giving a direct answer.
Obito's confession had been turned down.
Obito then mentioned Kakashi, but Nohara Rin said it wasn't him either.
This shocked Obito.
He had suspected it for a while, but hearing Rin say it was different.
If it wasn't Kakashi... then who was it?
*
**
***
[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter 297 (Vol 2 Ch 239) (+124 Chapters Ahead!)
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 251 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
🎉 Total PS Goal Milestone Reached! +2 Bonus Chapters Coming Tomorrow! Thank you! 🙏
Here are the novels I'm currently translating:
-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
-> One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!
-> Young Master, Please Become Hokage!
Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
➡️ patreon.com/Boundless_Beacon
]