Gazing at the conclusion Tsunade had submitted, which lay spread out on the top, the Third Hokage slowly exhaled a large cloud of smoke from his pipe.
In her report, Tsunade used Okamoto Dousuke's recent mission as a prime example to illustrate the distinct advantages of having a dedicated medical ninja on a team. She clearly outlined the benefits this could bring to the entire village's forces.
Tsunade must still feel the sting of Nawaki and Dan's deaths, the Third Hokage thought with a helpless sigh.
Although Konoha boasted the highest number of medical ninjas among all five Great Nations, Tsunade's proposition still felt incredibly forward-thinking, perhaps even radical. Convincing the established ninjas within the village to readily accept such a change would undoubtedly present a significant challenge.
Most importantly, the rigorous training required to mold a capable medical ninja demanded considerable time and resources.
Gently placing Tsunade's conclusion paper back on the stack, the Third Hokage turned his attention to the intelligence analysis department's report on Chin Youje, a frown creasing his brow.
Chin Youje, the name they had initially believed belonged to the severed head, was merely a Genin. He possessed little to no knowledge regarding the infamous second puppet master of Sunagakure, the one they knew as the Mad Puppeteer Kugutsu Kyōjin whom Okamoto Dousuke and his team had encountered during their perilous mission.
However, during the Yamanaka clan's memory extraction process on Chin Youje's remains, the Intelligence Department discovered that the group had been escorting a substantial number of storage scrolls.
Furthermore, within Chin Youje's fragmented memories, the Intelligence Department unearthed a disturbing piece of information: the Third Kazekage, the revered leader of Sunagakure and widely acknowledged as the strongest Kazekage in their history, had been inexplicably missing for several months, his presence absent from the village.
The primary objective of the Sand Village's interrogation team, which had ambushed Okamoto Dousuke and his comrades within Konohagakure, was to locate any trace of the missing Third Kazekage.
According to the analysis submitted by the Intelligence Department, Sunagakure was a harsh and barren land, making life a constant struggle for its inhabitants. They were desperately seeking a catalyst for change, a way to improve their circumstances. Yet, the Wind Country also possessed a strategically advantageous geographical location and surprisingly fertile land.
Coupled with the unsettling disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the probability of Sunagakure initiating a full-scale war had become alarmingly high.
War… it was an ever-present, unavoidable word. From the legendary heroes of the Warring States Period to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who had strived to establish the ninja villages and quell the endless conflicts, war had never truly ceased. Even his own revered teacher, the Second Hokage, had tragically fallen during the Second Shinobi World War. If Sunagakure were to indeed wage war against Konoha, what course of action should Konoha take?
Rubbing his slightly aching temples, the Third Hokage rose from his desk and walked over to the window. He gazed out across the bustling street, his eyes fixed on the imposing Hokage Rock in the distance.
With a subtle wave of his hand, the Third Hokage signaled for attention.
A figure clad in a hooded cloak, a mysterious cat mask concealing their features, knelt on one knee in the shadows.
"Hokage-sama, what are your orders?"
"Inform Counselor Homura, Counselor Koharu, and Elder Danzō to convene in the conference room for an immediate meeting."
"Yes!" Swoosh! The cat-masked Anbu vanished in a burst of speed.
Whatever weighty decisions were being made at the highest levels, they couldn't be allowed to unduly burden the common villagers – at least, not yet.
A declaration of war against Sunagakure was far too significant a matter to be decided by a single individual, let alone something that a still-green Genin like Okamoto Dousuke would need to concern himself with. So, for now, he was enjoying a leisurely stroll through the village.
"Dousuke, hurry over here! Look, there's a goldfish scooping stall just ahead!" Hyuga Ritsu called out, waving excitedly from five or six meters in front of Okamoto Dousuke.
Okamoto Dousuke watched the girl ahead, her cheerful jumps and enthusiastic waves a stark contrast to the weight of their recent mission. He quickened his pace, closing the distance between them.
Ever since Hyuga Ritsu had taken on the task of delivering his meals during his recovery, their relationship had blossomed rapidly. Though no explicit promises had been exchanged, a clear affection had taken root between them.
Okamoto Dousuke reached her side, looking down at Hyuga Ritsu as she squatted by the water-filled basin.
"Hey, mister, how much for this?" Hyuga Ritsu held up a small, brightly colored trinket she had just purchased in her left hand, occasionally taking a bite of what looked like a sweet dumpling she held in the same hand. With her right hand, she playfully swirled the water in the pool, causing the delicate goldfish to scatter and dart away.
Watching the little fish flee from her playful disturbance, Hyuga Ritsu let out a bright, carefree giggle.
"This… one or two ounces should be good for two scoops. Would you like to try, little girl?" The stall owner, a middle-aged man with tanned skin and a straw hat, sat on the other side of the pool.
He grabbed the towel draped around his neck and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Reaching into a wooden box beside him, he took out a couple of the delicate paper scoops and handed them to Hyuga Ritsu.
Hyuga Ritsu stood up, shaking the water droplets from her hands.
"Dousuke, do you want to play?" she asked Okamoto Dousuke, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"You go ahead, I'll watch," he replied with a gentle smile.
"Okay, then you'll see how I show off my amazing skills!" Hyuga Ritsu agreed, pulling out some coins and handing them to the stall owner. She then took a scoop and eagerly prepared to catch some goldfish.
Carefully, Hyuga Ritsu lowered the fragile scoop into the pond, aiming for a small, bright fish near the surface. Slowly, she lifted the scoop upwards…
Thump!
"Dousuke, you try! Maybe you'll have better luck fishing one out," she said, offering him the now-damp scoop.
Okamoto Dousuke took the two softened scoops from Hyuga Ritsu's outstretched hands.
This was his first time trying to catch goldfish this way. He carefully dipped the net into the water, but before he could even scoop, the paper gave way, and the little fish swam right through the hole.
"Haha, young man, you need to be gentle," the stall owner chuckled, observing their attempts.
Okamoto Dousuke took the remaining scoop, its paper still intact. He slowly lowered it into the water, trying to lift it just as gently. But before it even reached the goldfish, the paper dissolved.
"Oh dear, this is made of rice paper. You can't be so slow!" the stall owner complained good-naturedly as he watched Okamoto Dousuke dejectedly pull the empty, disintegrating scoop from the water.
Looking at the soggy, hole-ridden paper in her hand, disappointment flickered in Hyuga Ritsu's eyes.
"I'll do it this time," she declared, playfully pushing Okamoto Dousuke aside. She picked up the last remaining, undamaged scoop and carefully dipped it into the water. With painstaking slowness, she began to lift.
A small, red goldfish was slowly lifted from the water, wriggling slightly within the fragile paper.
"Congratulations, little girl! You're really good at this! Hurry and put it in the bag, be careful not to drop it," the stall owner said, picking up a small plastic bag filled with water and offering it to Hyuga Ritsu.
"Sister Ritsu, you're amazing!" Okamoto Dousuke exclaimed, giving her a thumbs-up as he admired the tiny goldfish she had caught.
"Dousuke, hold this for me. There are even more fun things ahead!" With that, Hyuga Ritsu turned and ran forward, the rhythmic clack of her two-toothed wooden sandals echoing on the cobblestones.
Okamoto Dousuke watched Hyuga Ritsu disappear into the crowd, a helpless smile on his face. He could only accept the plastic bag containing the single, triumphant goldfish from the stall owner.
"Young man, you're not quite the type to chase after a girl like that. You need a little more patience, and definitely more talking and smiling! How can a lovely girl like that resist such a cold face? When you have some free time, please bring me some business, and I'll give you a few pointers," the stall owner said with a knowing wink.
Okamoto Dousuke stared at the stall owner, inwardly shouting, I didn't expect you to be this kind of matchmaker!
He decided to ignore the man's advice and turned to hurry after Hyuga Ritsu.
The rest of the afternoon flew by in a whirlwind of laughter and excitement. At the bustling market, Hyuga Ritsu and Okamoto Dousuke threw themselves into every game they could find – dart shooting, balloon popping, a lively round of dodgeball, and the frustratingly addictive ring toss.
As the vibrant colors of the sunset began to paint the sky, Okamoto Dousuke and Hyuga Ritsu found themselves walking towards the Hyuga clan's residential area.
Okamoto Dousuke carefully carried the goldfish he had managed to win, and a large teddy bear, easily over a meter tall, was slung across his back. Hyuga Ritsu happily clutched a bag overflowing with the various snacks they had picked up along the way.
"Dousuke," Hyuga Ritsu said, turning her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling with joy, "I had so much fun today. Thank you."
"Yeah, me too," Okamoto Dousuke replied, a genuine smile lighting up his face. "I never knew there was such a fun place hidden within the village."
Ever since his sudden arrival in this world, Okamoto had dedicated himself to rigorous training and his studies at the Ninja Academy, rarely allowing himself a moment of true relaxation.
But today… today, Okamoto Dousuke felt a sense of carefree happiness he hadn't experienced in a long, long time.