Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 116: Daily Life in the Lockfront Village

Country of Keys, Lockfront Village.

In the early morning, wisps of smoke rose gracefully from this remote and hidden little village.

Accompanied by the recently arisen rhythmic sound of iron being forged, children were already running in the streets, laughing and playing.

Uchiha Sasuke, dressed in a blue Uchiha kimono, stepped out of his small courtyard and onto the main street. He patiently waited for a group of children playing ninja games to pass by before continuing toward the source of the iron-forging sounds.

"Sasuke."

A familiar female voice suddenly called out to him.

Sasuke turned his head and saw Uchiha Izumi, who seemed to be the owner of the dango shop beside him, waving with a smile.

"How about trying the tri-colored dango I made myself?"

"Tri-colored dango?"

Sasuke seemed to remember something, obediently walked over, took the dango from Izumi's hand, and quickly ate it, nodding in approval.

"Not bad."

"Really? How does it compare to the tri-colored dango shop in Konoha?" Izumi asked eagerly.

"Probably about the same." Sasuke wasn't particularly fond of tri-colored dango, but seeing Izumi's hopeful expression, he earnestly gave his opinion.

"That's good." Izumi sighed in relief.

Noticing Sasuke's slight confusion about her running a shop, Izumi glanced at the decorations inside, which were almost identical to those in the shop in Konoha, and explained nostalgically:

"After coming to the Lockfront Village, besides missing my mother, grandmother, and the clan, I found myself missing the tri-colored dango from Konoha the most. But no one sells or makes tri-colored dango here."

"One day, I had the sudden idea that I could try making it myself. Since you say it’s about the same, it seems I've succeeded in making tri-colored dango."

Though Izumi spoke with happiness, Sasuke listened with a somber expression.

He knew very well the reason why Izumi couldn't eat Konoha's tri-colored dango anymore and had to make it herself to recall the taste of the past.

That man.

His closest blood relative.

"Sasuke? Sasuke?" Izumi's call brought Sasuke back to reality.

Sasuke immediately apologized, "Sorry, I spaced out for a moment."

Such an attitude would have been impossible for Sasuke during his time in Konoha. Only in front of his clan members, whom he had "lost and regained," would he show his true gentleness.

Izumi didn't mind, taking a step back to seriously appraise the current Sasuke, smiling warmly:

"It's been a while since I last saw you, and you've grown quite a bit taller."

At twelve or thirteen, it's a prime age for growth. With intense training, Sasuke had indeed grown taller and stronger compared to when he first arrived.

Sasuke, however, didn't feel any different. But when Izumi mentioned having the clan make a batch of larger Uchiha clothing for him, so he'd have something to wear as he grew, he sincerely thanked her.

"Where are you heading, Sasuke? I don't often see you walking this way," Izumi handed him a few more skewers of dango, urging him to eat well, then asked.

To be honest, Sasuke didn't particularly like sweet foods. The tri-colored dango Izumi made was generously coated with sweet sauce. He could only "force a smile" and quickly finish it, not wanting to waste the kindness of Izumi, who had taken on a "big sister" role. Then he answered her question:

"I ordered a ninja sword from the captives at the Ninja Craftsman Village. Today is the day to pick it up."

"A ninja sword?"

Seeing the sharp, blade-like aura that Sasuke now carried, Izumi sighed inwardly.

Unlike the other clan members, who were eagerly anticipating Sasuke's role in revenge, Izumi, when she saw Sasuke again in that dark room, hoped first and foremost that this boy, whose eyes were almost completely consumed by hatred, could find something or someone else to devote himself to.

She sincerely advised, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Sasuke, your life isn't just about revenge; you have a long road ahead. For example, sometimes think about what it would be like to live with a girl you like."

"Sasuke, do you have a girl you like?"

"No."

Sasuke, with no woman in his heart, shook his head decisively.

He understood Izumi's good intentions, but his resolve wouldn't change.

"Big Sister Izumi, I'm leaving now."

Seeing Izumi about to get more dango, Sasuke quickly left.

"Wait! I forgot to tell you, the day after tomorrow, Uchiha Kei is getting married. Remember to come!" Izumi hurriedly called out.

"Brother Kei?" Sasuke stopped in his tracks and curiously turned back, asking, "Who is he marrying?"

Sasuke had a good impression of Uchiha Kei, who was straightforward, enjoyed fighting, and was always willing to help the clan. Over the past six months, they had sparred frequently.

But he hadn't heard that Kei had a girlfriend, let alone that he was getting married.

Izumi replied, "A beautiful girl from the Hagoromo Clan. Kei is really lucky."

"A girl from the Hagoromo Clan?"

Now understanding what "Hagoromo" meant, Sasuke had no objections. Due to the high regard he held for Hagoromo Gengetsu, Sasuke even considered that after achieving his revenge, if he couldn't return to Konoha, he might marry a girl from the Hagoromo Clan.

As for the Uchiha girls still alive, none of them interested him, as they were all much older.

But realizing these thoughts were too out of character, Sasuke quickly dismissed them.

"I'll definitely be there the day after tomorrow."

Sasuke waved to show he understood and quickly left.

Seeing Sasuke agree, Izumi returned to the shop in good spirits, devoured a few freshly made dango, and exclaimed:

"These really are delicious!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal striking echoed continuously from the newly established ninja tool shop.

If one got closer, they could hear a repetitive, weak chant:

"I am the ultimate ninja tool! I was meant to conquer the ninja world... I am the ultimate ninja tool! I was meant to conquer the ninja world..."

When Sasuke entered the shop, he saw a strange young man, likely the master craftsman, working with an artistic flair. He crafted one ninja tool after another effortlessly, all the while muttering those neurotic words in a daze.

"Is this guy the founder of the Ninja Craftsman Village, Seimei?"

As Hagoromo Gengetsu's disciple, Sasuke held a high status in the Lockfront Village and knew many secrets.

Upon seeing Sasuke's arrival, the Peacock, one of the Four Celestial Beings who had barely survived, immediately approached him, respectfully saying:

"Lord Sasuke, your ninja sword is ready."