The family gathering with Hatake Sakumo and his son put Sarutobi Hiruzen in an exceptionally good mood.
Watching Kakashi and Asuma, one as calm as water and the other as passionate as fire, playing together so harmoniously, he seemed to see a microcosm of Konoha's future.
After seeing off Sakumo and his son, Sarutobi Hiruzen returned to the house feeling relaxed.
Humming an off-key tune, he prepared to go to the study to deal with some of the less urgent documents remaining for the day.
"Hiruzen."
His wife Biwako's gentle voice came from behind him.
He turned around and saw Biwako walking towards him with a smile, holding an exquisitely made invitation.
The invitation was made of a special paper with a faint fragrance. At the seal, a familiar spiral whirlpool pattern was stamped in red wax.
"This is...?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was a little surprised.
"Lady Mito just sent someone to deliver this."
Biwako handed him the invitation. "She said that on the day the farm's direct sales store opened, she also sent someone to buy some tomatoes. After tasting them, she thought they were excellent, so she wants to invite us over for afternoon tea tomorrow afternoon to chat."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took the invitation, which felt warm and smooth to the touch.
He opened it, and a delicate scent of ink wafted out.
The handwriting on the invitation was graceful and powerful, each stroke revealing the precipitation of time and the demeanor of a great lady.
"...Knowing that Hiruzen labors over state affairs, yet body and mind also need recuperation. Heard that the farm's new tomatoes are as sweet as syrup, comparable to the fruits of my hometown in the Land of Whirlpools. Tomorrow afternoon, I will prepare light tea and await your arrival. Hope you will bring your wife, to chat about leisure matters. — Uzumaki Mito."
This was not just a simple invitation for afternoon tea.
This was Uzumaki Mito, the living legend who had witnessed all of Konoha's history, expressing goodwill and recognition to him.
Since he took over as Hokage, although Lady Mito lived in seclusion and did not interfere in politics, everything that happened in the village could not escape her wise eyes.
From rectifying internal affairs, to winning the war, to the current infrastructure frenzy and agricultural revolution.
Every decision, every reform of his, had been seen by this elder.
"Lady Mito is thoughtful."
Sarutobi Hiruzen carefully put away the invitation. "Then we will go visit tomorrow."
"Alright."
Biwako nodded with a smile. "I haven't visited Lady Mito for a long time either. It just so happens that we can bring some of the newly brewed osmanthus honey from our yard for her to try."
"Mm."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, and he began to calculate in his mind.
Visiting Lady Mito, besides bonding, he had another purpose.
He wanted to see how the sole seedling of the Senju clan, Senju Nawaki, whom he had placed high hopes on and who was being "key cultivated" by Tsunade and Orochimaru, was being tortured now.
Calculating the time, it had been almost half a year since he last saw that kid.
He wondered how that hot-blooded and chuunibyou personality had been disciplined by that scientific madman Orochimaru and his violent female apprentice.
Thinking of the tragic encounters Nawaki might be facing, the corners of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth involuntarily turned up.
"What are you smiling at?"
Biwako asked curiously, looking at the somewhat mischievous smile on her husband's face.
"Nothing, nothing."
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly restrained his smile and coughed dryly twice. "Just thinking about what gifts we should bring tomorrow."
"If it's just a visit... bringing our newly brewed osmanthus honey..."
"Not enough, not enough."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and said seriously, "Lady Mito has a noble status. Just bringing osmanthus honey would make us seem insincere."
"How about this? I'll go to the constant temperature farm early tomorrow morning myself, pick some of the freshest strawberries and cucumbers, and take a few pieces of the best Konoha Pork tenderloin..."
Biwako looked at her husband ordering dishes endlessly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
She knew very well that this guy was probably craving it himself.
"Alright, whatever you say."
Biwako just smiled gently and helped him straighten his somewhat wrinkled collar.
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