The next morning.
Ryun was helped by his wife Tsunade into the Hokage's ceremonial robe and the Hokage's hat. He pushed open the door. The warm sunlight felt comfortable on his body. A smile of enjoyment was on his face as he turned and said, "Honey, I'm off!"
Tsunade was momentarily spellbound looking at Uchiha Ryun like this. His majestic posture, combined with the ceremonial robe bearing the words 'Fourth Hokage', was truly captivating. Moreover, his face seemed like a piece of fine jade meticulously carved by the heavens, handsome and refined.
"Yes, good. I'll be there soon. Do your best!" Tsunade snapped back to reality and cheered Ryun on, her eyes sparkling, the corners of her mouth upturned. The attribute bonus of the 'girl next door' made her even more charming.
Ryun nodded and walked outside. The wind stirred his ceremonial robe. A young man's smile hung on his face. He looked straight ahead, confident and assured. Regarding the policies he was about to propose, he had the assurance and confidence that they would be accepted and approved by everyone.
Tsunade watched Ryun until his figure disappeared from view before returning to the villa. She took a bath, changed clothes, and after freshening up, walked towards the door, swaying her legs as she headed for the Hokage Building.
Handsome!
Because he was the Hokage, and a young and promising one at that, Ryun always arrived at the meeting venue one hour early to rehearse talking points with Nara Luming and understand how much the new policies had been revised, making it convenient to address questions from other participants during the meeting promptly.
When he reached the front of the Hokage Building, Nara Luming and Hatake Sakumo were already standing there waiting. Seeing Ryun, their eyes lit up. "Lord Hokage!" they both said.
Seeing the two, Ryun nodded. "You've worked hard, having to accompany this immature Hokage to the Hokage Building an hour early for work."
"It is my duty to serve Lord Hokage!" Nara Luming bowed.
Hatake Sakumo was not as smooth in interpersonal relations as Nara Luming. He scratched his head and smiled, "Me too!"
Ryun laughed heartily. "Let's go, you two. We'll first have a small preliminary meeting to confirm the meeting procedure for later." He spread his arms, put them around Sakumo and Luming's shoulders, and walked inside.
After the few entered, the guard closed the door of the Hokage Building and stood there dutifully, looking into the distance with a solemn expression.
Ryun led the two towards the Hokage's office, but Sakumo said, "Lord Hokage, my duty is to protect the Hokage's personal safety. Therefore, I won't listen to this content. I will guard the door for you."
Ryun, however, shook his head. "Sakumo, let the subordinates handle such matters. As one of the village's top-ranked strong individuals, you are qualified to listen to this small meeting too."
Once Ryun said this, Sakumo did not refute further and just nodded. However, before entering the door, he summoned his capable subordinates, ordered them to guard the office building, and informed them that except for Lady Tsunade, no matter who it is, stop them.
The two received the order, gripped the hilts of their samurai swords, and stood facing each other.
After Sakumo entered, Ryun chuckled. "Sakumo, come try this rock tea tribute from the Land of Earth. It's good for the body."
Sakumo walked closer and saw there were three cups on the table in total. One for Ryun, one for Luming, and the last one should be for himself. He felt a warmth in his heart. "Thank you for your favor, Lord Hokage."
He knew that not just anyone could drink tea with Ryun. He, Hatake Sakumo, was only able to drink this tea because Ryun held him in high regard. Moreover, what tea you drink isn't important; what matters is who you drink tea with.
Drinking tea with Ryun, even ordinary tea could taste like the highest grade. This was the number one leader.
"One of us, no need to be so polite." Ryun waved his hand. Watching Sakumo take a sip of tea, he smiled. 'How is it? Tasty, right? This tea is extremely scarce in the Land of Earth, only about ten pounds a year. This year, the Land of Earth's Daimyo, to apologize, gave us eight pounds!"
"I'll get some for you later." Ryun showed no sign of reluctance, as if this rock tea was like a small pebble on the roadside in his eyes, inconspicuous.
Hearing about the yield and preciousness of this rock tea, Sakumo initially wanted to refuse, but was subtly pulled on the pants under the table by Luming. His expression unchanged, he praised, "Good tea, truly good tea! Lord Hokage, I wonder if this subordinate..."
Ryun gave him an exasperated look. "You! Your mouth knows the good stuff best! Don't worry, you won't be left out!"
Sakumo was startled. Luming, using his right hand hidden under the table, slid it on Sakumo's leg and wrote a character with his index finger on his thigh.
"Accept." Sakumo, being a Kage-level powerhouse, had extremely sharp perception. After getting Luming's message, he also took a deep breath. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. Then I will humbly accept!"
"Mm! That's more like it, Sakumo. You must remember, you are the leader of the Anbu, and also my most capable right-hand man, just like Luming. You are different from others." Whether through his soul perception technique or his Mangekyō Sharingan, Ryun could see Luming's little actions.
However, he did not stop it. Instead, he tacitly allowed Luming's actions, while also observing Sakumo's choice. Seeing him accept, Ryun then showed a smiling face.
"Moreover, you serve me, taking orders only from me, a special existence. This is also the same as Luming. In other words, you, I, and Luming, the three of us are one of us. Among ourselves, let's not be so polite!" Ryun said meaningfully.
Sometimes, thinking too highly of oneself, acting aloof, and being cautious to protect oneself is not necessarily a good thing. To blend with the light and dust is not wrong either, but whose light you blend with, and whose dust you join, that is very important.
Just don't blend with the wrong one, join the wrong one. Otherwise, you are not far from being kicked out of the circle.
"Yes! Lord Hokage, this subordinate understands!" Sakumo stood up and saluted. He was not a fool either; he naturally knew that Ryun was recruiting him, telling him that they were of the same faction, not to distance himself.
Ryun smiled. "From now on, like Luming, when no one else is present, call me Ryun. And don't call yourself 'this subordinate'; I'll call you Sakumo!"
This cup of tea was good. It pulled Sakumo onto his boat all at once, thoroughly stamping Sakumo with his own mark.
Nara Luming continued drinking his tea. He also knew that his actions could not escape Ryun's notice. However, it was precisely because Ryun tacitly allowed it that he did not stop him.
"Truly delicious. Ryun, fine tea is hard to find, a true friend is harder to seek. This is originally a good thing, but looking at the time, perhaps we should get to the main topic. The meeting will start soon. This is the plan I drafted yesterday. Please review it." Nara Luming took a stack of papers from the data cabinet in the Hokage's office and placed it on the desk.
Ryun also restrained his previously casual expression. "Let's all take a look together. If there are any shortcomings, we can point them out together, or if you feel something is inappropriate, you can also bring it up."
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