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"Alright, alright, I'll talk to the Hokage about it..." The Nara clan leader nodded repeatedly, a bitter expression on his face.
He turned and walked into the Hokage building, looking helplessly at Akio, who was lying behind the desk.
"Acting Hokage, this is already the sixth complaint."
"It's fine, I'll get used to it. There'll be more in the future."
It had been a month since Akio became the Acting Hokage, and he had just received his sixth complaint.
"Damn, there are actually people who dare to complain about the Hokage. Something about this feels off…" Akio said it was fine, but he couldn't help mumbling to himself. "Being Hokage isn't easy."
The Nara clan leader sighed—there was nothing he could do. "Acting Hokage, at the very least, please treat the Land of Fire's officials more politely."
Akio sat up straight, eyes narrowing. "How is that my fault? He kept talking about visiting the Land of Lightning—he's asking to get killed!"
"At least try to be polite…"
"I'm the Hokage. Do I really have to bow to their whims?"
"The ninja world isn't exactly peaceful right now. If war breaks out, we'll still need their funding."
Akio shook his head. "We can't always rely on others. Can't you focus on developing the economy in Konoha?"
"Economic development?" The Nara clan leader looked confused.
"I mean… uh, never mind." Akio was about to pitch a few ideas but realized he had no clue what to say.
"Should I tell him raising pigs is the key to prosperity?" Akio chuckled bitterly. After all these years, he'd completely forgotten how protagonists in his previous life developed economies. Not that he cared back then anyway.
"Acting Hokage…" the Nara clan leader said helplessly. "I hope you—"
"Alright, I got it!" Akio waved him off, cutting him short with an exasperated look.
But inwardly, he grumbled, "If that guy comes back, I'll knock his teeth out!"
"There's one more thing. The war reparations from Sunagakure have arrived. Should we start mobilizing the blacksmiths?" the Nara clan leader asked.
Akio smiled and nodded. "Mobilize them. Sunagakure backed down? Flexible, aren't they... They're probably working hard on improving their control over Shukaku."
Nearly a month ago, Akio had sent a formal alliance proposal to Sunagakure on behalf of Konoha. Of course, as a gesture of goodwill, Sunagakure was required to provide Konoha with large quantities of various mineral resources.
Although the Land of Wind had the largest territory among the Five Great Nations, it was the most resource-poor. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come begging for resources the moment they saw Cloud and Leaf facing off.
Akio's letter had nearly driven the Second Kazekage to a stroke—Mito's old injury had almost flared up again.
But power speaks louder than words. In the end, the Second Kazekage did send back an alliance agreement, although he had cut the listed resources by half, hoping to negotiate.
Unexpectedly, Akio reviewed the list, increased the required amount by 50%, and sent it back. He thought it would turn into a long back-and-forth, but the Second Kazekage caved immediately.
"Acting Hokage, are you sure we don't need to worry about their One-Tail?" the Nara clan leader asked hesitantly, concern on his face.
Akio shook his head. "Not everyone is Mito. They can't draw out the full power of a Tailed Beast."
"Anything else?" Akio reclined again—lately, this chair felt more comfortable than his bed.
The Nara clan leader paused, then remembered something. "The Ninja Academy students are about to take their graduation exams."
"Oh? Any prodigies this year?"
"There's one child. Only seven years old and has already applied for the exam. He's expected to pass."
"Oh? A genius, huh. What's his name?" Akio asked lazily. The Sannin would graduate at age six in two or three years, so a seven-year-old graduate wasn't that shocking to him.
"He's from the Hatake clan. A gifted boy named Hatake Sakumo."
"Who?" Akio suddenly sat up.
"Hatake Sakumo. Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem," Akio replied quickly and laid back down, thoughts racing.
"How did I forget about him? The White Fang of Konoha..." Akio muttered. "Who else from this era do I remember?"
"Oh right, Clan Leader Nara, is there a student named Might Duy at the Academy?"
"Might Duy? I'm not sure…"
Akio frowned. Kakashi's and Guy's fathers should be about the same age, right? Should he track down Might Duy?
"Forget it. Gold will shine eventually."
Akio didn't press the matter. But the Nara clan leader quietly made a note—Looks like I should pay attention to this Might Duy.
"Grandpa Akio!" a girl's voice called out from outside, and Akio couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Yuna, skipping class again?"
The girl was Uzumaki Yuna, seven years old, daughter of Izuko. After Uzumaki Ashina died in battle, Akio—out of guilt—had grown very fond of the child. And since she was Izuko's daughter, he'd let her call him "grandpa." At just seven, Yuna had become one of the most senior by generation in Konoha.
The Nara clan leader gave a wry smile. Having a seven-year-old girl be his generational equal was a bit much. "Well then, Acting Hokage, I'll be heading out."
Akio waved him off and looked at Yuna as she came over. "Why'd you skip class again?"
Yuna pouted. "Grandpa Akio, I already learned everything they're teaching at the clan compound!"
"It's good to review the basics," Akio said with a smile, feeling like a third-rate cram school teacher from his previous life.
He almost laughed aloud at the thought. Sighing, he said, "Fine, fine. You don't have to go. But why didn't you apply for graduation this year?"
Yuna had inherited Izuko's talent perfectly. At just seven, she already had the skills of a genin.
Yuna shook her head. "Grandpa Akio, teach me some awesome jutsu, please… My mom says I'm still too young and won't teach me. But there's this annoying white-haired kid in my class I can't beat. I want to defeat him before I graduate!"
"White-haired?" Akio blinked. "Hatake Sakumo?"
Yuna nodded. "You know him too?"
"The Nara clan leader just mentioned he applied for graduation."
"What? That annoying white-haired guy?! I'm applying too!" Yuna shouted, then stormed out like a whirlwind.
Akio stared for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head. "This girl's nothing like Izuko was at her age. Still, looks like she's come out from under the shadow of losing her father. I knew sending her to the Academy was the right move."
Akio scratched his head. "Feels like Yuna and Sakumo are getting along pretty well."
A sudden idea struck him—matchmaking.
"If Yuna and Sakumo got together… would their kid still be Kakashi?" Akio hesitated.
"Eh, whatever. The story's already different—whether it's Kakashu Hatake or Kakashi Hatakedo, doesn't matter."
"So then… should I set up a fateful encounter? Or go with the classic hero-saves-the-damsel?" Akio scratched his head again.
And thus, the old-school matchmaker Uzumaki Akio made his debut…
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