agagaf

"I apologize for the disturbance, elder. I'll take my leave now—there's still a lot of work waiting for me back at the Logistics Department.

It won't be long before I take over the Finance Department as well. Then I'll be even busier."

With her plans in motion, Tsunade decisively stood up and left.

She was incredibly busy, so much so that she didn't even have time to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea. Too many matters were waiting for her attention.

As for the Finance Department, Tsunade was confident that the Third Hokage would eventually hand it over to her.

The Third Hokage had grown old, and the situation in the village had changed. Clinging to the Finance Department served no real purpose.

Combining the Finance and Logistics Departments would be much more beneficial to the war effort.

Even if the Third Hokage remained indecisive, Tsunade believed he'd choose to pass it over to her.

And after the war ended, whether she gave it back or not—that would depend entirely on her mood.

With Tsunade gone, Sakumo Hatake sat in silence, staring at the teacup on the table.

A small figure hid in the distance, quietly peeking around the corner.

After some hesitation, Kakashi stepped forward, sitting down next to his father. With a soft sigh, he said,

"Father, you've already retired."

"....."

Sakumo let out a bitter laugh. He placed his hand on Kakashi's head, gently ruffling his hair, and sighed,

"Kakashi, retired or not, I am, and always will be, a shinobi of Konoha. Do you understand?"

After a moment of silence, Kakashi stood up and went upstairs, retrieving two weapons and placing them on the ground, not even turning back as he left.

"I still have school tomorrow, so the weapons are yours to maintain, Father."

"This brat."

I'm back!!!

Staring at the tall village walls, Takuya picked up his pace.

He needed a good soak in the bath, some delicious food, and then a nice, long sleep.

After registering his return, Takuya headed home.

Just after a hot bath and about to head out for a meal, he heard the door open.

"No need to go out. I brought dinner with me, so we can eat here."

Tsunade set down the food she had brought, twisted open a bottle of sake, and downed half of it in one go.

I was really looking forward to hot pot...

Oh well, stir-fried dishes will do. Even if they taste a little off, at least they fill the stomach.

Konoha did have stir-fried dishes, but they weren't quite to Takuya's liking.

After a few bites, Tsunade downed the rest of the sake. Takuya, still holding his bowl, stared in disbelief.

I know you're under a lot of pressure, and that there's so much going on in the village, but do you really need to drink like that?

If you get drunk, who's going to manage the Logistics Department?

Thud!

Tsunade set the empty bottle down, giving Takuya a look that said, You know what I mean.

Takuya sighed, got up, and took two more bottles out of the fridge, pouring himself a glass as well:

"Is the pressure from the Logistics Department really driving you to drink like this?"

"Slow down!!! Slow down... Oh, forget it. Do as you please."

Since his words had no effect, Takuya gave up on trying to stop her.

Thud, thud, thud—another bottle gone. Takuya couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Tsunade.

She's not going to start acting crazy now, is she?

Should I find somewhere to hide, just in case?

Bang!!

The empty bottle hit the table with a heavy thud. Takuya's eyelid twitched, worried that the glass might shatter.

If shards ended up in the food, it'd be game over.

Goodbye, dinner.

"I've made up my mind. I'm going to become the Fourth Hokage!!"

"Pffft~~~"

Takuya spat out the drink he'd just taken, completely stunned, staring at Tsunade's flushed face as she declared her intent.

"What did you just say? You want to be the Fourth?"

"What, do you think I'm not qualified?"

Tsunade waved a hand, patting her increasingly intimidating chest:

"If Orochimaru can think about it, then why can't I?

I admit, my strength might not match his, but if I had to fight him to the death, I'd skin that snake alive!"

Takuya was at a loss.

Maybe I shouldn't have come back after all.

Is Tsunade drunk or what?

She seemed a bit tipsy, but these weren't the kind of words a drunk person would say.

Tsunade was dead serious.

First, Orochimaru had suddenly changed his mind, and now Tsunade had sprung up, declaring her candidacy. What were these two thinking?

In the original story, Tsunade had no interest in becoming Hokage, and Orochimaru was only slightly interested but not too committed.

Now, here they were—Orochimaru actively seeking the role, and Tsunade outright vying for it.

No one's taking what's mine, damn it!

Come at me if you dare.

"Can I ask why?"

Takuya weakly ventured.

"I'm tired!!"

Tsunade snapped, pointing at Takuya as she began to rant:

"It started with you, you little brat. I was forced into this.

And now, I just can't take it anymore. Maybe Orochimaru was right—the old man really has aged out of this role. It's time for him to step down."

A pile of foolish decisions, the village wasn't heading in a good direction, and the dirty undercurrents only grew stronger.

Suppressing the Uchiha—that was just small potatoes compared to the nonsense they had pulled these past few years.

One compromise after another, always taking a step back, Tsunade was fed up. She couldn't take it anymore.

Orochimaru was willing to fight for the position of Hokage for his own ambitions.

And for the village, why couldn't she?

She was done putting up with it all.

Fine then—cards on the table.

Hmmmm...

"I support you."

You should have had this thought long ago. Takuya shook his head and downed his glass.

After all, people's choices change over time.

Unlike personality, which is hard to change, choices shift with circumstances.

In the original story, Orochimaru wasn't particularly invested in becoming Hokage, probably because he underestimated Minato and the Third Hokage's determination.

Orochimaru was more interested in eternal life, so much so that he willingly delved into darkness, conducting forbidden experiments.

The difference now was that in the original story, Orochimaru had funding, materials, and could focus entirely on research.

But now, that wasn't the case.

Tsunade was in control of the Logistics Department, keeping a close eye on Danzo. And with Danzo stripped of his power, unable to mobilize large quantities of supplies or touch the finances, Orochimaru's research kept running into roadblocks.

Time and again, it forced Orochimaru to consider becoming Hokage.

Because he knew that only by becoming Hokage could his research proceed smoothly.

No one would stand in his way then.

It was the same for Tsunade.

In the original story, Tsunade left Konoha early on, never caring about what went on there. Dan Kato's death, as well as Nawaki's, were her emotional scars.

But now, Dan Kato had nothing to do with her—it was entirely one-sided infatuation from him.

And Tsunade paid him no mind at all.

Moreover, Nawaki was alive and well, thriving.

Given these circumstances, Tsunade wouldn't fall into despair.

After being forced into her position in the Logistics Department, Tsunade grew weary of the Third Hokage's repeated disappointments.

Add in the effects of the ongoing war and Sunagakure's sudden declaration, and Tsunade finally had the desire to rise to power.

If you can't handle it, step aside—I'll take that position myself.

What nonsense—Orochimaru can step aside.

When it came to the Hokage candidate, if Tsunade took action, there was essentially no competition left for anyone else.

After all, her lineage was a major factor, and her strength was nothing to scoff at either.

Not to mention her countless contributions to the village, coupled with the support of the Daimyo's office.

Even if Orochimaru and Jiraiya joined forces, they couldn't outmatch Tsunade.

"What are you smiling at?"

Takuya was smiling silently, a mix of relief and excitement in his expression.

Tsunade frowned, doubting her own eyes. Was he actually feeling relieved? Feeling proud? What was that about?

Did she want to become Hokage, and that made him feel so... satisfied?

"Nothing, really. Just happy for you. If you'd had this thought sooner, I wouldn't have had to feel so stifled all these years. I'd just have held on to your coattails and called it a day."

"Get lost!"

Tsunade's head filled with black lines.

She angrily slapped the table.

"You brat, don't try that with me. I'm only involved because of you. Though wanting to become Hokage was my own decision, it has nothing to do with you.

But don't think about any coattail riding either. Eat your meal and rest well, because tomorrow at five, we set out.

And this time, no holding back. Use whatever means you have to obliterate those bastards!"

The war with Sunagakure had barely ended three years ago, and yet here they were again, tearing up the peace treaty and declaring war on Konoha.

This constant flip-flopping made Tsunade sick, and she couldn't help but swear out loud in frustration.

"Understood."

Takuya smiled and shrugged. He didn't mind at all.

He had Tsunade's blessing, but whether he would fight with all his strength still depended on the orders given by his commander. No way could he go rogue, ignoring commands, and act on his own.

"Forget about that."

Tsunade poured herself a drink and gulped it down, then complained:

"No one's giving you commands this time. Even though Sakumo-senpai is coming back, he won't accept a command role. He'll refuse, just like always."

"And Nara Shikashige-senpai wouldn't dare take on that responsibility so lightly."

"You might have to figure things out on your own."

Nara Shikashige, if you put it nicely, was an advisor; put it bluntly, he was an assistant.

The old man was determined to help the younger generation rise. Given the issue of the Hokage candidacy, he didn't want to get involved and certainly wouldn't want to take on a direct command.

As for Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade believed he would represent Konoha in the fight, but taking on the role of commander? No chance.

After his past experiences, all Sakumo wanted was to quietly serve as a leading Jonin.

He had no desire to get entangled in any more of the mess.

Tsunade even suspected that Sakumo might never wear the Hokage-endorsed vest again.

"Me?"

Pointing to himself, Takuya's eyes widened, and he practically jumped up, as if the floor itself was on fire.

"You must be joking! You expect me to lead? How capable do you think I am?! Even I know my limits!"

"Sort it out, one way or another. You're my guy, someone I support. I brought Sakumo-senpai out of retirement, which means I stand behind you both. If you win the war, we all benefit, but if we lose… you know the consequences."

"Shikashige-senpai will take care of administrative matters. But as for the rest, it'll be up to you, since Sakumo-senpai won't be taking charge."

"..."

I don't know the first thing about this, Takuya thought. Would the village even agree to this?

The Elders and the Third Hokage would probably jump out of their skins!

But Tsunade was right about one thing—if they won, it would be great for everyone.

But if they lost… they would all bear the blame.

He would face consequences, and so would Tsunade. Even Sakumo and Shikashige wouldn't be able to escape responsibility.

Though, honestly, Takuya didn't see himself losing.

Push him too far, and he'd go all out—bring out the "Gundam" and bulldoze everything in his path. He really couldn't see how they could lose.

After dinner, Takuya was slightly tipsy from being forced to drink so much.

Tsunade, too, left with flushed cheeks, wobbling slightly as she went back to handle the affairs of the Logistics Department.

"Sarutobi, have you lost your mind?"

"How could you let Tsunade run wild like this?!"

Upon learning what was going on, Danzo couldn't stay calm. He immediately had someone from the Anbu summon the Third Hokage, demanding to see him.

The Third Hokage eventually made time, though he kept Danzo waiting through most of the night.

"No, I haven't lost my mind. In fact, I'm more clear-headed now than ever before."

Facing Danzo's accusations, the Third Hokage shook his head.

"Danzo, ever since the Second Great Ninja War, our village hasn't had time to recover. Now, the Third Great Ninja War has erupted, and Konoha is already struggling under the pressure. It can't withstand any more devastation."

"And Tsunade is right. I've grown old. I no longer have the courage and resolve I once did. Perhaps with Tsunade in charge, Konoha could experience a change for the better."

"No way, I oppose this!!!"

What the hell, Sarutobi Hiruzen—what's gotten into you, talking like this? If you want to step down, fine, but why put Tsunade in charge?

What about Orochimaru?

If Tsunade took the Hokage position, what was there left for Danzo?

The Third Hokage stepping down wasn't out of guilt or pressure from Tsunade, but an inevitability.

Only three years had passed since the Second Great Ninja War, and already a new war was upon them. If it were just against Mist Village, that would have been one thing.

But now even Sunagakure had joined in, practically announcing to the world that a new Great Ninja War had begun.

In such a short time, Konoha had yet to recover. The scars of the last war hadn't even healed, and now a new war was already impacting Konoha's economy, and countless families were being torn apart. All of this was being blamed on the Third Hokage.

As time passed, the discontent of the villagers grew. It wasn't orchestrated by anyone; it was simply how people felt.

When even the ordinary villagers began doubting the Hokage's competence, it was hard not to see the writing on the wall.

Unlike Danzo, the Third Hokage wanted power but only as long as it supported the well-being and prosperity of Konoha.

If Konoha was reduced to ruins, getting worse day by day, what good was holding on to power?

If he had been as stubborn as Danzo, he wouldn't have chosen to step down in the original storyline.

Even making Minato a puppet Hokage wouldn't have been an easy thing to pull off.

No matter how much of a figurehead the Hokage was, as long as they had some brains, they would eventually begin to grasp their own power.

Too bad Minato didn't get the chance—before he could truly shine, the Nine-Tails Night happened.

Had Minato been given a few more years, he would have slowly taken back some of the power.

By then, Minato wouldn't have just been a puppet Hokage.

The Third Hokage wouldn't have had a chance to make a comeback.

This also shows that in the original storyline, the Third Hokage was truly committed to stepping down.

"You object?"

The Third Hokage watched silently as Danzo raged before him. After a long pause, he said with a weary sigh:

"Danzo, I have grown old, and so have you. Eventually, we must accept that our time will pass, and the responsibilities of the village will fall to the next generation.

Wake up, old friend!

As long as Tsunade wants it, Orochimaru will have no chance."

"Besides, Orochimaru..."

Turning his back, the Third Hokage began to walk out of the courtyard. He took a few steps, paused, and sighed deeply:

"Besides, there is too much darkness in Orochimaru's heart. I cannot entrust the village to him.

Danzo, I am still the Hokage. The fact that I haven't intervened in many of your actions doesn't mean I'm unaware of them. I hope you understand that Tsunade will not be as lenient as I am."

"How could you do this?!"

"Sarutobi, why are you treating me this way?!"

Danzo struck the ground fiercely with his cane, shouting furiously at the Third Hokage's departing figure.

The Third Hokage shook his head slightly and left without hesitation.

There was still much work waiting for him in the Hokage office. He couldn't spend all day arguing with Danzo.

As for Danzo's concerns, the Third Hokage was convinced that even if Tsunade took over, with him around, she wouldn't go out of her way to deal harshly with Danzo.

Of course, that was assuming Danzo didn't stir up trouble.

As for Orochimaru, the Third Hokage could only silently apologize.

Whether or not Tsunade chose to become the Fourth Hokage, he could not entrust Konoha's future to Orochimaru.

Back in the Hokage office, the Third Hokage smoked for a while until the room was thick with smoke before he finally put down his pipe.

"Increase the number of personnel assisting Tsunade from the Anbu. They are to follow her orders—any orders. Also, hand over my official seal to Tsunade.

I need to head to the Daimyo's office immediately for discussions."

The conflict with the Mist Village could be seen as merely a dispute between two villages. But with Sunagakure joining in, it signaled the start of a new Great Ninja War.

The Third Hokage needed to meet with the Daimyo to negotiate funds and resources—everything necessary for war.

Without these, they couldn't sustain a war.

The two or three years of resources they had accumulated simply wouldn't suffice—they needed the Daimyo's full support.

This was why the Third Hokage decided to handle these negotiations personally.

He could have sent someone in his place, but he didn't trust anyone else to manage such an important matter. He wanted to ensure everything was taken care of himself.

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

The Anbu member took the Hokage's seal and made their way straight to the Logistics Department.

Once Tsunade had that seal, it would mean that, from today onwards, she could practically rule Konoha.

The seal delivered, the Anbu also conveyed the Third Hokage's intent.

Having sobered up a bit, Tsunade looked over the documents and spoke calmly:

"Understood. Leave the seal here. Also, bring me all the recruitment files for the Anbu from the past few years."

It was no secret that there were Root operatives within the Anbu.

Even if the Third Hokage knew about it, he wouldn't make a big deal of it.

He didn't want to utterly eliminate Danzo. Tsunade, however, thought differently.

Since the Anbu was supposed to be under the Hokage's direct control, it should be clean. No foreign hands meddling.

Now that the Third Hokage had handed over his seal, Tsunade had the authority to address these issues.

"Yes, ma'am."

The Anbu ninja wasted no time and went back to the Anbu headquarters to gather all the necessary documents.

Hearing about this, the Third Hokage nodded, smiling in relief.

"Perhaps a cleanup is a good thing."

At the very least, it might make Danzo behave himself.

For Tsunade to clean up the Anbu also meant that she wouldn't go directly after Danzo, bypassing the Third Hokage.

This was a signal—if Danzo didn't stir trouble, Tsunade wouldn't dig up past grievances.

No settling of old scores put the Third Hokage at ease. Now he could head to the Daimyo's palace without worrying that things would fall apart in the village the moment he left.

With Tsunade in charge and the Elders assisting her, the village would remain stable.

Even if Tsunade and the Elders didn't get along, she still needed their help for a while.

Takuya knew nothing about the shifting currents in the village. He woke up promptly at four in the morning, took care of his personal hygiene, and dressed in a crisp new uniform before making his way to the village gates.

For a full-scale war, at least several thousand ninja were needed.

In just two or three days, it was impossible to mobilize that many, so the initial deployment from Konoha consisted of only a thousand ninjas.

Even so, the thousand-strong group gathered at the village gates made for an impressive sight.

"I thought you'd sleep in."

Seeing Takuya approach, Sakumo Hatake, carrying his sword on his back, joked. Ever since letting go of some things, Sakumo's demeanor had grown much more relaxed.

"I would love to sleep more, but I'm afraid Tsunade would kick down my door."

Honestly, if he could rest more, Takuya would take it. But there was no time—they needed to hurry to the border.

Thinking of Tsunade's no-nonsense personality, Sakumo laughed heartily, while Takuya cringed.

No joke—Tsunade didn't care for formalities.

If she said she'd kick down your door, she'd do it—even if you weren't dressed, she'd drag you out.

"Good morning, Shikashige-senpai."

Takuya gave a slightly embarrassed smile and nodded respectfully to Nara Shikashige.

Regardless of allegiances, Shikashige was genuinely admirable.

Though his fame didn't match that of Sakumo Hatake, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio never sought the spotlight.

Nodding back, Shikashige spoke with admiration:

"I heard about your feats on the coastline. You did well. Not many could infiltrate an enemy village alone and cause such chaos. Only you, Takuya Yagami, could pull it off.

Lady Tsunade chose wisely—you truly are a genius."

"..."

Come on, that's ancient history, Takuya thought, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"He's the mentor I chose for Kakashi. If he didn't have absolute skill, he wouldn't be up to the task, right?"

Sakumo chuckled as he added.

You kept refusing, but when Tsunade asked for my help and I set a condition, how could you turn me down?

"Senpai, you…"

"I'm not cut out for it, so I'm entrusting Kakashi to you."

Straight to the point—it was a fair exchange.

Shikashige smiled knowingly. He'd heard about Takuya's reluctance to take on a student. Even when the Hokage himself assigned candidates, Takuya only wanted to lead a team, not mentor.

Sakumo had also turned it down several times.

But this time, there seemed to be no escape.

Tsunade had asked Sakumo to return, and while they hadn't discussed terms or rewards, Sakumo wasn't just anyone.

Not negotiating didn't mean he didn't want something—after all, appearances mattered.

The public uproar over his retirement required something in return for him to come back.

Having Takuya take Kakashi as a student provided the perfect reason.

I've arranged something for your son; now, it's your turn to help me.

Retirement? Not an option. Even if it wasn't for your sake, you'd have to consider your son—so you have to come back.

"Senpai, you're really putting me in a spot here."

Takuya sighed, looking skyward.

"Haha..."

Sakumo and Shikashige both burst into laughter.

Sometimes, people just have to do things they don't really want to.

"Alright then," Takuya said with a resigned smile, "Once Kakashi graduates, let him come over to me. As long as you don't mind if I end up steering him the wrong way."

Taking on Kakashi wasn't the issue; the problem was that opening this door now meant it would be very hard to refuse others in the future. More people would be watching him closely, especially since Tsunade was now in power.

After all, everyone in Konoha knew that Takuya and Tsunade were practically inseparable.

"Since I chose you, that means I trust you," said Sakumo Hatake with a smile. "Kakashi will grow better under your guidance. I know my skills are decent, but when it comes to teaching, especially my own kid, I'm not so good."

"... Seriously?" Takuya sighed internally. Sakumo considered his skills only "decent"? If that was the case, then who else in Konoha could claim they were truly skilled?

"All the troops are ready. Gear and supplies are set. Shall we move out now?" asked Sarutobi Shiji, stepping forward and looking towards Sakumo Hatake.

The Third Hokage had put in a lot of effort to mobilize a good number of the Sarutobi Clan's ninja for this mission, even avoiding giving prominent positions or privileges to the Sarutobi elite. This move was meant to show that this war effort wasn't about favoring his own clan.

"I'm just the leading Jonin here," Sakumo said, stepping back a few paces. He had no intention of holding a high-ranking position anymore. He just wanted to be a simple Jonin, leading his team, protecting Konoha. He was tired of everything else.

"Uh..."

Sarutobi Shiji turned to Nara Shikashige, who smiled mysteriously. "I'm only handling logistics and camp duties," he said before stepping back as well.

"..." Were they all conspiring against him?

Seeing the two heavyweights step back, Takuya instinctively tried to retreat as well, but as he did, Shikashige declared, "Takuya, Lady Tsunade said everything here is your responsibility. She said you could handle it."

Damn it!!

With his face twitching, Takuya reluctantly said, "Alright, let's move out."

"Understood."

Sarutobi Shiji gave Takuya an odd look before turning to make the arrangements.

"Don't feel too much pressure," Sakumo said, patting Takuya on the shoulder. "If Tsunade trusts you, it means you have the ability. Sometimes hiding your strength isn't a good idea. Go for it."

"But I really don't know how!" Takuya protested. He knew his strengths and weaknesses well—he wasn't cut out for leading large military forces, coordinating thousands of troops, or strategizing for large battles. Asking him to do that was like setting him up to fail.

He had no intention of pretending to be something he wasn't, potentially messing things up like Danzo and causing even more trouble for everyone involved.

"I'll handle the rest. The actual battle—that's for you young ones," Nara Shikashige said, smiling warmly but delivering the harshest blow. Takuya was left speechless.

If only he could drag Jiraiya back here!

What a situation...

Forget it, Takuya thought. If worst comes to worst, I'll just go in head-on. He refused to believe that, with his strength, he couldn't bulldoze through until the enemy's higher-ups decided to step in.

As for strategy?

Sorry, not my thing.

Commanding troops?

Again, not my strong suit. My only method is charging straight ahead.

Being ninja, the army moved fast. Their supplies were mostly stored in sealing scrolls, making travel light and quick. Still, even at this pace, it would take at least two days to reach the border, as the troops needed rest to remain battle-ready upon arrival.

At noon, they paused to rest. Despite only numbering a thousand, these Jonin represented a significant force within the shinobi world. Some took out their food pills to replenish energy and began resting. Sakumo and Shikashige, however, took out simple rations, since they hadn't exerted much chakra or stamina.

However, just as they were about to eat, they noticed Takuya had taken out a sealing scroll, and they watched, puzzled. As he brought out ingredients and got ready to cook, the two looked at each other, then silently put away their dry rations.

"Mmm—smells amazing!" Sakumo couldn't help but praise after taking a bite of Takuya's roasted meat.

Nara Shikashige gave a thumbs up, not even bothering to speak as he quickly ate. They knew that having special privileges could sometimes cause tension, but Takuya seemed unconcerned.

Takuya saw no issue here. Sure, having an extra treat wasn't ideal, but he wasn't having anyone serve him. He was simply taking care of himself.

I brought the meat, I'm cooking it myself, and I'm not wasting any rest time. What's the problem?

"I just enjoy this," Takuya said with a grin, making a joke. "In life, only good food and lovely ladies are worth not missing out on. Everything else can wait."

"Pfft!" Shikashige almost choked, while Sakumo's eyes widened. He suddenly remembered Takuya's ambiguous relationships with Mikoto Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki, and even Tsunade. The first two were pretty much public knowledge, and even Tsunade—

Damn, this kid has some skills.

"Ahem, sir, isn't this a bit... inappropriate?" Sarutobi Shiji said, clearly awkward. Many shinobi were eyeing the scene. Who would want dry rations or food pills when there was freshly cooked meat?

You're in trouble now, Shiji thought as he approached Takuya, while Sakumo and Shikashige chuckled. They were curious to see how Takuya would handle this.

Special privileges could be risky, even if the meat did smell amazing.

"Inappropriate? What's inappropriate about it?" Takuya said, glancing around and raising his voice. "Does the roasted meat smell good?"

"... Yes, sir, very good!" came the unanimous response.

"Well then, remember how good it smells," Takuya said, taking another big bite of meat. "Next time, bring your own ingredients and make it yourself."

"Uh..."

Everyone was stunned for a moment but then started laughing.

"Sir, this isn't the time for jokes!" Shiji protested, exasperated. Can't you be serious? We're heading to war, not on a picnic.

"I'm not joking," Takuya said, his face serious. "First off, I haven't wasted any time. Secondly, I just want to eat something decent, and I never asked the village for special treatment. The meat is mine, the seasoning is mine, and I'm the one cooking it.

"I'm not using the village's money, I'm not wasting anyone else's time, and I'm not asking for special treatment. Everything here is me, taking care of myself. What's wrong with that?"

Shiji sighed in frustration and looked to Shikashige for support, but before Shikashige could speak, Takuya continued:

"If you want something special, you have to put in the effort. But it can only be done during rest time, without compromising your duties or safety. Right now, you'll just have to sit there and watch me eat."

"Hahaha..."

Takuya's bluntness had everyone laughing again.

Shikashige simply gave Shiji a helpless look, leaving Shiji feeling somewhat defeated. Having such a reckless guy in charge didn't seem like the best idea. He just hoped Takuya wouldn't cause any major issues.