Hiruzen looked at Tsunade's report on his desk. Smoke curled from his pipe. Shadows flickered in the office.
Tsunade used Dosuke's mission to show why teams need medical ninjas. She listed benefits for the village.
"Tsunade still mourns Nawaki," Hiruzen sighed. * Her pain drives this, * he thought.
Konoha had many medical ninjas, but Tsunade's plan was bold. Getting the village to agree was hard. Training medical ninjas took time.
Hiruzen set down the report. He frowned at the intelligence on Jieren.
Jieren was a Sand ninja. He knew nothing of the two Yangs Dosuke's team fought.
The Yamanaka clan read Jieren's memories. The cargo he guarded held many storage scrolls.
In his memories, the Third Kazekage, called the strongest, had vanished from Sand Village for months.
Sand's ambush on Dosuke's team in the Fire Country was to find the Kazekage.
The intelligence report said the Wind Country was poor. Its people struggled. War could bring wealth, and their land was strong.
With the Kazekage gone, Sand might start a war.
War never stopped. From the Warring States to the First Hokage's village, it raged on. Hiruzen's teacher, the Second Hokage, died in war. * If Sand attacks Konoha, what do we do? * he thought.
His head ached. Hiruzen stood and walked to the window. He stared at Hokage Rock.
He waved his hand. A figure in a hooded coat and cat mask knelt.
"Lord Hokage, your orders?" the figure said.
"Call Homura, Koharu, and Danzo to the meeting room," Hiruzen said.
"Yes." The cat-masked ninja vanished with a swish.
High meetings did not touch the village yet. War with Sand was not one man's choice.
Dosuke, a ninja, walked free in the market. A festival's noise filled the air.
"Dosuke, come quick! A goldfish stall!" Tatee waved, five steps ahead.
Dosuke saw her bounce and smile. He hurried to her.
Tatee had brought him food for days. They grew close, their hearts warm, though no promises were made.
Dosuke joined Tatee by the pool. She squatted, holding cotton candy.
"Boss, how much?" Tatee asked, nibbling candy. Her right hand stirred the water, scaring goldfish.
She giggled as they swam away.
"One tael for two tries, little girl," the boss said. He was dark-skinned, wearing a straw hat. He wiped sweat with a towel and handed Tatee paper nets.
Tatee stood, shaking water from her hands. "Dosuke, want to try?"
"You play," Dosuke said. "I will watch."
"Watch my skills," Tatee said. She paid the boss and took a net.
She dipped the net, aiming at a fish. She lifted slowly.
Splash! The net broke.
"Dosuke, try it," Tatee said, handing him two nets.
Dosuke tried. The fish broke his first net.
"Slow down, young man," the boss laughed.
Dosuke tried again, moving gently. The net dissolved before reaching the fish.
"It is rice paper," the boss said. "Not too slow."
Tatee's eyes dimmed at the broken net.
"My turn," she said, pushing Dosuke. She took a net and scooped carefully.
A red goldfish jumped in her net.
"Great job, little girl!" the boss said, offering a water-filled bag. "Put it in quick."
"Tatee, you are amazing!" Dosuke said, giving a thumbs-up.
"Take it, Dosuke," Tatee said. "More fun ahead." She ran off, clogs tapping.
Dosuke took the goldfish bag, sighing.
"Young man, chase her right," the boss said, winking. "Talk more, smile more. Cold faces scare girls. Come back to my stall, I will help."
* What a boss, * Dosuke thought. He chased Tatee.
In the afternoon, they shot darts, popped balloons, played dodgeball, and tossed hoops. Laughter echoed.
As the sun set, they walked to the Hyuga clan. A chill settled in the air.
Dosuke held the goldfish and carried a giant teddy bear. Tatee's hands were full of snacks.
"Thanks, Dosuke," Tatee said, glancing at him. "Today was fun."
"I had fun too," Dosuke said, smiling. "I never knew the village had such places."
Since arriving in this world, Dosuke trained hard at ninja school. He never relaxed. Today, he felt free.