After chatting for a while, the three of them parted ways and went home.
"By the way, will uncle and aunt come back for the New Year this year?"
"They'll send something back."
"Really? Don't you feel lonely?"
Hakushi asked.
"I don't mind such things."
"Looks like it's just the two of us staying up again this year."
Hakushi said casually, placing his hands behind his head.
"Yeah, another year without any expectations."
Ruri said, then glanced at the gray sky, lost in thought.
◎
December quickly passed. After Konoha and Hidden Sand signed a truce agreement, nothing major happened in the Ninja Realm.
During this period, Sakumo's team only completed two missions, both relatively simple C-Class Missions: eradicating a bandit stronghold within the Land of Fire and escorting a caravan to the neighboring Land of Waves.
Compared to the calm Ninja Realm, some small incidents occurred within Konoha Village.
That was Tsunade resigning from her position at Konoha Hospital to devote herself to training medical ninjas at the Ninja School.
This puzzled many people.
Among them was Hakushi, who felt confused.
With Tsunade's unparalleled medical ninjutsu, there was no one better in the current Ninja Realm.
Among ninjas, the strongest are naturally the 'Five Kage'.
But in the world of medical ninjas, the undoubtedly strongest person is Tsunade.
In the eyes of medical ninjas, Tsunade is the pinnacle they strive to surpass.
With Tsunade's abilities, she could easily hold a position at Konoha Hospital while also nurturing medical ninjas at the Ninja School; the roles do not conflict.
After all, working at Konoha Hospital only meant occasionally performing difficult surgeries; most injuries could be handled by other medical ninjas.
The higher-ups offered no explanation and only expressed respect for Tsunade's decision.
Although she relinquished her position at Konoha Hospital, the village's medical ninjas could still consult her on difficult medical questions.
Tsunade didn't comment on this.
She could be said to be the greatest authority in the field of medical ninjas.
She herself is very enthusiastic about nurturing more excellent medical ninjas for the village.
Compared to the other two of the Sannin, Tsunade's prestige is undoubtedly more substantial and has an extremely large public following.
The various medicines she developed for Konoha broke all the poisons of Hidden Sand Elder Chiyo during the war, significantly reducing the poison attack capabilities of Hidden Sand's Puppet Corps with her abilities alone.
Moreover, the number of Konoha ninjas she saved through her surgeries during the war is countless, making many Konoha ninjas grateful to her, accumulating a vast network and public support.
If anyone among the Sannin is most likely to become the future Hokage, Hakushi believes Tsunade has a greater chance compared to the other two.
Inheriting her grandfather, the First Hokage's excellent bloodline, with solid public support, numerous patients saved by her surgeries, outstanding Jonin abilities... If she has the willingness to become Hokage, probably not many in Konoha would oppose it.
However, this is just Hakushi's personal opinion because Konoha's political environment is very... um, how to say, quite peculiar.
Hakushi really can't find a suitable word to describe it, only calling it 'peculiar'.
The Hokage's most trusted Anbu is divided into Anbu and Root.
The control of Root is not in the hands of the Hokage, yet it has similar free action authority as Anbu.
The Uchiha control Konoha's Security Team, possessing certain powers that surpass the Hokage's direct Anbu.
For instance, Anbu needs an order from the Hokage to arrest someone, whereas the Security Team can detain suspects before the Hokage issues an order.
As a ninja clan, the Uchiha's power is very strong.
However, despite their significant power, the Uchiha's Security Team headquarters is not in the Konoha Center but in a relatively secluded area, which is not conducive to the Security Team's duties.
Moreover, there are many principle issues that Hakushi believes need change.
Although the First Hokage founded Konoha, and the Second Hokage pioneered the Ninja Village development structure, many regulations they left behind don't fit the times.
If change is not made in the future, some regrettable tragedies may inevitably occur.
Thinking about it carefully, Hakushi felt he was worrying too much.
The organization's matters have officially been set on track.
The five people he dispatched are now following the commercial group established by Ruri's parents, having bought a large plot to set up a base in the Land of Demons.
Hakushi just has to wait for the next more intense war to come, then he can leave Konoha and forge his own path.
His ideology and way of thinking are fundamentally at odds with this village.
◎
January, the start of the New Year.
To avoid suspicion, they always attended the festival with Ruri during the New Year.
Now that Ayane joined Sakumo's team, they can naturally be together openly, avoiding unnecessary suspicion.
A team formed for missions, in a sense, also represents a bond where every member is like family.
"Happy New Year."
Dressed in a brand-new white kimono with pink cherry blossom patterns, Ayane, who had been waiting on the street for a long time, slightly bowed to Hakushi and Ruri as they walked over.