His monthly living expenses are 2,000 ryo, and this meal alone cost him 125 ryo, which was truly heartbreaking.
Seeing Yamato's conflicted expression, a slight smile appeared on Kakashi's lips, as there was always a price to pay for knocking on his head.
"Are you busy in the coming days?" Kakashi asked Yamato.
"Not busy." Yamato replied honestly.
He had refused all invitations from classmates and friends just to watch the senior's internal conflict.
"Then come with me to the Ninja Tools Store, I need to replenish my ninja tools," Kakashi continued.
Yamato instinctively guarded his small wallet behind him.
"You don't need to pay for the ninja tools, you wouldn't be able to buy anything useful with that little money."
Yamato's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed.
"Is Kakashi-senpai planning to buy me ninja tools?"
Yamato nodded expectantly and agreed to accompany Kakashi to the Ninja Tools Store.
Twenty minutes later, Yamato walked out of the Ninja Tools Store with a big bag, his face full of exasperation—it turned out he was only asked to help carry things.
After delivering the items to Kakashi's house, he said goodbye with a stern face, "Kakashi-senpai, I'm heading back."
"Here, consider this as compensation for the hard work of carrying the items." Kakashi handed 250 ryo to Yamato.
He couldn't possibly spend money from a kid who hadn't earned any yet; he was just teasing Yamato.
Yamato showed a stunned look before it transformed into a smile.
Kakashi-senpai really is taking special care of him!
...
After leaving the Southern Border Forest, Mokgetsu went to the meeting room in the Hokage Building to attend a high-level meeting.
"The attitude of the Ninja Sect is very strange right now. They are strong, and even with the addition of the Rain Village, they barely manage to gather 2,000 ninjas," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
Since Orochimaru's mission to negotiate had failed, Sarutobi Hiruzen had gathered extensive intelligence to conduct a thorough investigation of the Ninja Sect.
He not only investigated the Land of Rain but also smaller nations like Bird Country where Ninja Sect ninjas were active.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen investigated further, he felt more strongly that the Ninja Sect was using deceptive strategies, since he couldn't locate the source of their confidence.
They couldn't possibly rely entirely on Sosuke.
Sosuke certainly has the strength to defeat Hanzo using Fire Release.
But one strong person cannot change the tide of war unless that person is Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara.
Even if Konoha goes to war with the Ninja Sect, the best outcome for Sosuke would be to rely on his power to escape alone.
Konoha wouldn't fear retaliation from the fleeing Sosuke.
This is the essence of the Great Ninja Village; Konoha possesses too many secret techniques.
Sosuke dared to retaliate; Sarutobi Hiruzen could assemble elite squads to eliminate Sosuke.
"Perhaps they're gambling, wagering that we'd want stability and wouldn't start a major conflict at this time," Mitokado Homura analyzed.
Mitokado Homura had to admit the Ninja Sect gambled correctly; Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions were unknown, but Mitokado Homura himself didn't want another war.
To securely resolve the Ninja Sect issue, they'd have to muster at least 1,500 ninjas.
At this time, such a large-scale operation would be hard to hide from the other Four Great Ninja Villages.
"Could it be that The Hidden Rock Village is still covetous and secretly supporting the Ninja Sect?" Utatane Koharu asked.
She remembered that The Hidden Rock and the Ninja Sect had collaborated, so perhaps the Ninja Sect was specifically supported by the Hidden Rock to irritate Konoha.
"That's unlikely; if the Ninja Sect and the Hidden Rock were on the same side, the Ninja Sect would have had no excuse not to show up in the final battle in the Land of Grass."
Mokgetsu spoke up for herself as Utatane Koharu began to speculate conspiracies.
It doesn't actually matter if I speak up or not; mainly it's just because I'm idle anyway.
"Mokgetsu is right; as a whole, the Ninja Sect is still a neutral force," Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed.
That's one reason why he just wanted Sosuke dead.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't actually dislike the Ninja Sect. If Sosuke had killed someone other than Shimura Danzo, just a Jonin, he might have let it go.
Unfortunately, reality doesn't allow ifs; whether it's for Konoha's reputation or personal vendetta, this matter can't be easily let go.
"Otherwise, let's throw out the 'Uchiha Madara' situation and say we discovered new clues and started a new investigation. Once the opportunity is right, we'll deal with this," Mitokado Homura thought aloud.
This way, Konoha would maintain face and it would be convenient for handling things later.
"I think staying silent and not dealing with it for now is fine. Thanks to all these years of war, no one in the Ninja World doubts Konoha's strength," Utatane Koharu said.
Recently, Konoha's commission numbers have surged, with requests from all the nations in the Ninja World flooding towards Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a moment before saying: "This is a matter of great importance that must be resolved quickly."
"Change the negotiation conditions to a duel; after the battle, regardless of the outcome, Konoha won't hold the Ninja Sect accountable."
"Duel to kill Sosuke? His strength is not weak, who will be sent for the task?" Mitokado Homura frowned slightly and asked.
Sosuke is well-known; even if sending the Sannin, the chances of accomplishing this task would be minimal.
"Me." Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly.
With Sosuke's achievements, the Sannin are not suitable; it has to be either him or Mokgetsu.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were both stunned.
"Hiruzen, don't be impulsive. You, as the Hokage, are central to everything. How can you leave the village to fight over this?" Mitokado Homura quickly advised.
He didn't expect Sarutobi Hiruzen to be so on edge, actually preparing to go personally.
"I understand your intentions, I also want to avenge Danzo, but revenge can't be done impulsively. How about we assemble a ninja squad to attack the Ninja Sect?" Utatane Koharu followed up.
Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen personally battling Sosuke, Utatane Koharu felt that assembling a ninja squad might also work.
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled, "No need to worry so much, what ninja in the Ninja World dares to say they're guaranteed to win against me?"
Actually, he's not as impulsive as his two advisors think; this is Sarutobi Hiruzen's carefully considered plan.
It wouldn't require assembling forces for war, yet he'd be able to perfectly leverage his own strength to personally avenge Shimura Danzo.
Of course, as a Hokage, such behavior is somewhat capricious.
That's why Sarutobi Hiruzen is grateful to Mokgetsu; Mokgetsu has given him the luxury to act capriciously.
With Mokgetsu, Konoha's rise is inevitable, not altered by anyone's accidental loss.
Finally, it comes down to confidence in his own strength. He's mastered thousands of ninja techniques and secret techniques; throughout his life, he doesn't know how many geniuses he's surpassed.
"Third Hokage, this is rather inappropriate." Mokgetsu also advised.
For Sarutobi Hiruzen to challenge him, it could only end in overwhelming defeat.
Despite the varied reasons for Sarutobi Hiruzen's goodwill towards him, good is good, and Mokgetsu doesn't want to see Sarutobi Hiruzen struggle.
"You all don't need to persuade me, I've made up my mind." Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
He still remembers the dying words Shimura Danzo entrusted to Mokgetsu and the look on Shimura Danzo's face.
Shimura Danzo evidently made a lot of mistakes, yet ultimately he did it to protect Konoha.
He doesn't want to let Sosuke, who killed Shimura Danzo, go unpunished, nor does he want to affect Konoha's development plans, so taking action himself is the best choice.
"Hiruzen, you can't be so dictatorial." Mitokado Homura worried.
"That's right, if you're not satisfied, we can continue discussions. There's no need to be so aggressive. Why not let Mokgetsu go?" Utatane Koharu added.
"As Hokage, my authority is limitless! This matter is no longer up for discussion." Sarutobi Hiruzen said confidently.
This meeting was to notify Mitokado Homura and the others, not to genuinely consult them.
After he spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen directly left the meeting room, returning to the Hokage Office.
Sitting in the office chair, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.
He indeed feels more capricious now than he used to eighteen years ago, perhaps driven by Konoha's visibly bright future.
Knock, knock.
The wooden door of the Hokage Office sounded, and after his advisor knocked on the door and entered, they continued to advise earnestly: "Hiruzen you..."
It might also be because Konoha has forever lost an advisor who entered the Hokage Office without knocking.