In the tavern:
Sakumo and Kagami leisurely held their wine cups, chatting in what seemed like very good spirits.
"Rinjin's still got it~"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Rinjin definitely has some skills~"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"I'd call him a hero~"
"Exactly, exactly!"
The sarcastic conversation drifted to the booth next door. Fugaku poked his head out from the adjacent booth, looking at the two uncle-generation guys with a mixture of tears and laughter, pleading earnestly:
"You two old men, show some mercy with your words! Can't you see what kind of state my teacher got beaten into?!"
Hearing this, Kagami immediately got fired up, his beard bristling and eyes glaring.
"What kind of state?! Just two black eyes, that's all~ Princess Tsunade's fists aren't something ordinary people can withstand! We're praising your teacher here, little brat - get lost!"
Hearing this, Fugaku, already over thirty, rolled his eyes speechlessly and pulled his head back.
In Fugaku's booth, Riie looked at Fugaku with a mischievous grin.
"I told you not to worry about it! My brother getting beaten up is a regular occurrence - they'll have more fighting to do when they get home!"
Hearing this, Fugaku and his wife Mikoto, who had some practical experience in this area, immediately turned bright red with embarrassment.
Honestly, when it came to being blunt and speaking without a filter, this senior sister of his ranked number one in the ninja world. After all, to keep all the demons and monsters in Hidden Rain Village in line, you really needed some masculine energy!
But this was a good thing - his senior sister was the village chief, and his teacher was the daimyo. This exaggerated nepotism could guarantee that Fugaku and his clansmen would smoothly integrate into Hidden Rain Village.
Thinking of this, Fugaku lowered his voice and asked:
"Senior sister, do you have any arrangements for jobs for the Uchiha clan? Everyone can't just sit around doing nothing!"
Beside him, Uchiha Mikoto, hearing this, temporarily dropped her guard against Riie and perked up her ears.
"Simple~" Riie casually knocked on the table. "Competitive employment, distributed according to need. The village is expanding a trade center to the north - there's a huge demand for security guards. The research institute and urban construction department can also take people with special talents. As for administrative positions, as long as you're familiar with administrative procedures and pass the exam, arrangements can be made. Oh... right! The village gate is also hiring!"
"Is there anything special about this village gate guard position?" Fugaku asked back.
Hearing this, Riie nodded with a smile. "Uncle Sakumo, Uncle Kagami, and Uncle Kagami's little grandson Shisui are all gate guards. Oh right, my brother also holds a concurrent position as gate guard!"
Hearing this, Fugaku immediately sucked in a sharp breath.
This lineup... are you sure this is gate duty? Why are Konoha's gate guards guys like Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, those four-bean breakdancers~
Of course, Fugaku didn't mean that Kotetsu and Izumo were weak, but that Hidden Rain Village's side was completely overpowered!
After being stunned for a while, Fugaku slowly asked: "Senior sister, what are the requirements to become a gate guard?"
"No special requirements," Riie smiled leisurely. "Just need big enough fists!"
...
From every aspect, the Uchiha's integration into Hidden Rain Village went exceptionally smoothly.
Hidden Rain Village wasn't a village that judged by family lineage - every position without exception compared abilities. And the bloodline that the Uchiha took pride in didn't cause much of a stir in the melting pot that was Hidden Rain Village.
This village had all kinds of talented people, especially the numerous Uzumaki clan, whose massive chakra had almost become standard equipment! Add to that the various political refugees that Mei Terumi had sent back from Hidden Mist Village, and bloodline limits were practically a dime a dozen in Hidden Rain Village!
In this environment, any behavior involving contempt, hostility, or looking down on others was strictly prohibited. Except for the various endless otaku clubs~
According to rumors, there might even be a batch of Otsutsuki refugees from the moon joining the village soon. Of course, that was just a rumor.
Time flowed drop by drop in this peaceful environment. In the blink of an eye, it was Konoha Year 60.
Near evening, Rinjin yawned as he stood up from the steps of the village gate guard station.
"Getting ready to clock out, Shisui~"
"Got it, Grandpa Rinjin!"
Shisui, who was fighting with Rinjin's clone, took time to reply, then with a flash of his blade, forced back the clone.
Just as Rinjin was holding his tea cup and preparing to get off work, Sakumo rushed out of the village in a panic.
From far away, Rinjin waved with a smile. "Dog-bro, how come you're taking the shift? Where are Kagami and Fugaku?"
"You still have time to worry about that?" Sakumo said urgently. "There's news from the exchange office - the Akatsuki organization wants us to hunt down Orochimaru! Go request leave quickly!"
Hearing this, Rinjin raised an eyebrow, immediately becoming interested. "Did they give Orochimaru's location?"
"They did - within the Land of Grass borders."
Hearing this, Rinjin nodded thoughtfully. "Alright then. I'm about to get off work anyway. When Kagami takes over the shift, we'll go take a look."
After another while, Rinjin finished his work handover, requested leave, then changed clothes and left the village with Sakumo.
Within the Land of Grass borders, a large, orderly formation was advancing systematically.
This group wore light yellow vests and Sand Village headbands, presenting a picture of military discipline. Among them, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, carrying the Kazekage hat and wearing casual clothes, was also advancing rapidly.
However, what all the Sand ninja didn't know was that their respected Fourth Kazekage had already unknowingly become Orochimaru.
The formation continued advancing.
Dozens of kilometers south of them, Rinjin and Sakumo leisurely strolled across the vast grasslands of the Land of Grass.
"Dog-bro, let's just do what we always do - treat it like we're out for a walk."
Faced with Rinjin's passive work attitude, Sakumo curled his lip disdainfully. "No! I want to find Orochimaru and give him a slash."
"Why?" Rinjin asked curiously, then as if thinking of something, a mischievous smile suddenly spread across his face.
"I know! Konan started writing books again last year! Did you join that so-called 'Three Konan Sisters Book Club' in the village?!"
As soon as the words fell, Sakumo's old face instantly turned red.
He had no other hobbies in this lifetime - raising his son counted as one, and the rest was just reading books. Faced with Rinjin's surgical precision questioning, Sakumo chickened out.
Seeing Dog-bro's evasive eyes, the incredibly cunning Rinjin could easily guess what was in his heart, and immediately grinned mischievously.
"Dog-bro, you're something else! I heard that book club is full of pretty young ladies. Confess honestly - how did you sneak in!"
"How can you call it sneaking!" Sakumo immediately protested, then scratched his cheek with his index finger and said: "That's called... literary talent~"
_______________________________
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