The Uchiha's Path to the Top, Starting from Konoha

Chapter 57 The tea from the Thousand Hands is quite good.

"Kaori, is the Hokage treating you well?"

Genichiro rushed to Konoha and hurriedly paid a visit to Uchiha Yomo.

After subtly inquiring about the dowry and finalizing the wedding date, he immediately went to find Minamoto Kaori at the Hokage Building—the young girl's position as Hokage's secretary delighted him.

As it happened, Kaori Minamoto also had official business to attend to in the Land of Fire, so the two chose to talk in a small conference room on the first floor. Kazuhiko Minamoto calmed his restless heart and began to play the emotional card.

"Darling is a very nice person."

Seeing that Minamoto Kaori, who had never shown her any kindness before, suddenly became concerned about her, Minamoto Kaori opened her beautiful, blood-red eyes and quietly watched his performance.

Princes and princesses are worthless in the daimyo's mansion. The daimyo has a bunch of beautiful wives and concubines and a lot of children. The exquisite and beautiful Minamoto Kaori is often isolated, and the only thing that can keep her company is her cat.

Sensing Kaori's attitude, Kazuhiko was dissatisfied but dared not show it. His smile became even more warm and welcoming. After exchanging a few words of concern, he explained why he had come to Konoha.

"The tragedy that occurred in the Land of Lightning has deeply saddened my father. I have come here for two reasons: first, to finalize your wedding date with the Hokage; and second, to ask Kaori to arrange for some Uchiha ninjas to protect the Daimyo's residence and prevent our birthplace from being harmed by ninjas."

"Why not issue missions and hire Konoha ninjas instead?"

The girl's question made Minamoto no Kazuhiko give a wry smile. "Kaori, after such a heinous incident where a ninja killed a daimyo, how can an ordinary ninja continue to gain Father's trust?"

"Right now, only the Uchiha clan, who are related by marriage, can put Father's mind at ease."

Kaori Minamoto nodded. "Of the four guard teams that the clan chief gave me, I can decide to have two teams stationed in the Daimyo's mansion in rotation, as a force to protect my father."

Being in the safe village of Konoha, surrounded by a group of powerful Uchiha clan members, as well as Mito Uzumaki and Minako Uzumaki, Kaori Minamoto always felt that having four strong guards around her was a waste. Now that someone was willing to pay for them, she naturally agreed.

"The fees for the hires will be paid to the members of the escort team according to the standards for an A-level mission."

Seeing that Minamoto Kazuhiko nodded decisively, Minamoto Kaori, who sat down next to her husband, brought up the matter of supplies and received Minamoto Kazuhiko's quick and easy agreement.

"Once we get back, all the supplies will be delivered immediately. If Kaori is worried about the speed, she can arrange for another guard team to supervise."

"If supplies are still insufficient, we can send someone over to request more at any time. Father, you absolutely support the development and construction of Konoha!"

Seeing the sincerity in Minamoto Kazuhiko, Minamoto Kaori said softly, "I've heard Darling mention that there are some vassal ninja clans that can be trusted."

"If His Highness feels that there are not enough people, he can take members of the guard team to recruit more."

Genichiro's eyes lit up. For the Daimyo's mansion, the more ninjas who wouldn't turn around and betray them, the better; money was not an issue at all.

At the end of the conversation, upon learning that Uchiha Takehiko had already sent people to the Land of Lightning, Genji casually asked, "Kaori, do you know what good opinions or views the Hokage has regarding the current state of the Land of Fire?"

"Kaori isn't aware of this, but Darling wants to vigorously develop Konoha."

After scrutinizing the girl's calm face, Minamoto Kazuhiko said nothing more. He turned around and took the mission written by Minamoto Kaori to the Uchiha clan's territory, and then began recruiting ninjas from various vassal clans.

With his money and the influence of the Uchiha clan, the ninja force capable of waging a small war against the weakest village in the Land of Wind, Sunagakure, left Konoha in a grand procession under the watchful eyes of Uchiha Muan.

"It seems our lord is also feeling uneasy."

Upon hearing this, Mito Uzumaki, who was in the Hokage's office, looked up, somewhat worried about the stability of the Land of Fire, and asked, "My Hokage, so what new ideas do you have this time?"

"Don't worry, the Land of Fire is Konoha's base. Chaos can happen anywhere else in the ninja world, but it can't happen here."

"I am not a barbarian from the Land of Lightning, and my wife is the daughter of the Daimyo. As long as the Daimyo continues to fully support the development of Konoha, there are some things I don't necessarily have to do to the extreme."

"The document is ready. Please take a look, Hokage. If there are no problems, we will inform the other ninja villages after we take over the Land of Lightning and turn it into a land of chaos."

The matter of the daimyo was just a side issue. Uchiha Muan took the document handed to him by Uzumaki Mito and read it line by line. "The wording doesn't need to be so gentle. Make it simpler and clearer."

"The Hokage is truly unafraid of being attacked by a mob."

Mito Uzumaki took the manuscript and returned to her seat to continue writing furiously. Her originally dignified and noble face now showed a hint of the sorrow of a woman confined to her chambers.

Uchiha Wu'an's heart stirred, and he walked to her side, lowering his body so that he could clearly smell the elegant fragrance emanating from the noblewoman.

"Hokage-sama!"

Looking at the young Hokage who was leaning on the table with one hand and keeping a very small distance from her, Mito Uzumaki felt unusually tense and uncomfortable.

After she created some distance, she saw Uchiha Takeo's surprised face. Then, the other party suddenly realized what she meant and said with a hint of annoyance.

"My dear Secretary-General Mito, you're a middle-aged woman with a granddaughter, you wouldn't think I have any ulterior motives towards you, would you?"

"Auntie?!"

Veins bulged on Mito Uzumaki's forehead, and she clenched both fists. Although she sometimes joked that she was getting old, saying it herself and being told it by others were two completely different things.

The noblewoman's bright phoenix eyes were fixed on Uchiha Wu'an, as if a large, indescribable shadow was emerging behind her, and her smooth, tofu-like face wore a chilling smile.

"Lord Hokage, I didn't quite hear you just now. Were you talking in your sleep?"

"If the Hokage is not fully awake, he can go home and sleep some more. Anyway, the Hokage's main job here is to drink tea and maintain his health."

"If you don't like the tea from the Uchiha clan, the tea from the Senju Forest is quite good too."

"The Senju tea leaves are quite good, but I can only smell them for now. My Uchiha clan's tea leaves are more fragrant and tender."

Mito Uzumaki frowned. She felt that something was off about what Uchiha Takeo had said, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She then hummed and said, "I'm going to get to work now. Please, busy Hokage, don't disturb me."

"I'll be right here watching, and I'll point out any problems directly to save you from having to revise it again."

This time, seeing Uchiha Takehiro approaching, Uzumaki Mito did not stop him. Instead, she raised her head and puffed out her chest, her long, fair neck arching against her kimono, creating an alluring curve.

(I, Mito Uzumaki, am forever a 16-year-old girl!)

Upon noticing the boy's gaze upon her, Mito Uzumaki felt a surge of pride, along with a subtle, tantalizing thrill.

(End of this chapter)