Hiruzen Sarutobi had been enjoying a rare period of peace lately. Following the Wind and Fire Campaign, the wars between nations had subsided temporarily, giving the people a brief respite of "peace." The rogue ninjas from Kirigakure had been eradicated, and the village was no longer shrouded in a climate of terrorism. The state of emergency had been lifted.
Children could now run and play freely in the village, shops had reopened for business, and the village brimmed with a harmonious atmosphere.
After finishing his paperwork, Hiruzen stretched his back comfortably, habitually packing his pipe and lighting it with satisfaction.
"Lord Hiruzen."
"Oh, Orochimaru. What brings you here?"
"Nothing in particular. I just finished a mission and thought I'd check in on you."
"Well, I've got nothing pressing at the moment. Why don't you accompany me for a walk?"
"It would be my honor," Orochimaru replied politely.
Hiruzen regarded Orochimaru as his successor. As Hokage, he naturally had his own circle of confidants. Among the older generation, there were Kagami Uchiha and Torifu Akimichi. The middle generation included Sakumo Hatake and Hiashi Hyūga's father, Hyūga Rōnichi. And among the younger generation, there were Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.
However, the war had reshuffled the deck. Kagami Uchiha had sacrificed himself, Torifu Akimichi was left disabled, and while Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were good strategists, they lacked decisiveness. Meanwhile, Danzo Shimura was ambitious, constantly forming his own factions.
Sakumo Hatake had lost his edge during the Battle of Ishi, and though he had since regained some ground, his reputation in the village had plummeted, making him no longer viable as a candidate. Hyūga Rōnichi, being from a noble family, prioritized clan interests over the village.
Tsunade was far away in Sunagakure and unlikely to return. Jiraiya, though talented, was too carefree and lacked the political acumen needed for leadership. Orochimaru, however, was different.
Orochimaru was calm, collected, and decisive, with a ruthless edge. Combined with his exceptional strength, he had become the leading figure among Konoha's younger generation.
The master and student, dressed in casual attire, strolled leisurely through Konoha's bustling streets. Hiruzen smiled as he observed the lively crowd, while Orochimaru followed half a step behind, matching his pace.
"Slow down! Don't trip—ah, see? You tripped!"
Nearby, a parent rushed over to pick up a young boy who had fallen, brushing the dust off his knees.
Seeing this, Hiruzen chuckled softly. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he turned to Orochimaru.
"Did you know? Nawaki has woken up!"
"What? That's… quite unexpected," Orochimaru said, his usually composed expression giving way to surprise. He was well aware of how severe Nawaki's injuries had been and had assumed there was no hope for recovery.
As Nawaki's mentor, Orochimaru naturally had a bond with him. Nawaki's cheerful personality, kind heart, and ambitious dreams had left a deep impression. His death had shaken Orochimaru, who often reflected on the fragility of life.
"It truly is a miracle and a rare piece of good news," Hiruzen said with a gratified smile.
"Indeed, it is," Orochimaru replied, though he soon fell into deep thought.
As a fellow student under the same teacher, Orochimaru believed he understood Tsunade well. He acknowledged that her medical ninjutsu far surpassed his own, but even she wasn't capable of bringing someone back from the brink of death.
This development defied his understanding. He recalled that Tsunade had insisted on using the Flying Thunder Formation Technique with Danzo, Homura, and Torifu to teleport herself and Nawaki to Sunagakure. There had to be something unusual about Sunagakure.
"What's going on up ahead? Why is it so crowded?"
Hiruzen's gaze fell on a dense crowd blocking nearly half the street.
"It seems the Sandglass Corporation's ninja tool shop is having its grand opening," Orochimaru replied, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Oh, I've heard about that. Let's go see what Jinghang is up to," Hiruzen said as he stepped into the crowd.
When the two finally made their way to the front, they were stunned by what they saw. In front of a large store was a sizable stage. On the left stood a live band, while on the right was a group of hostesses dressed in elegant white qipaos with sashes draped across their shoulders. Each of them was stunningly beautiful, exuding grace and charm.
"What is this…"
Hiruzen was about to voice his confusion when three figures suddenly leapt onto the stage with a flourish.
Under the dazzling, multicolored lights, three girls appeared. They were youthful yet voluptuous, with long legs, slender waists, and bold, modern outfits. Each wore a Sunagakure forehead protector, and their presence immediately captured everyone's attention.
"I'm Eimi," said a short-haired girl, winking playfully at the crowd.
"I'm Rola," said a straight-haired girl, striking a confident pose with her hands on her hips.
"And I'm Akira," said a curly-haired girl, biting her lip seductively.
"Together, we are the Ninja Girls!" the three announced in unison.
"Welcome, everyone, to the grand opening of the Sandglass Ninja Tool Corporation's flagship store in Konoha," Eimi said.
"We hope to bring you joy and excitement today," Rola added.
"And now, the Ninja Girls will perform a song for you. That song is…" Akira paused dramatically.
"Blue Bird!" the three declared together.
"They're… going to sing?"
Hiruzen's eyes were glued to the stage, fixated on the three dazzling performers.
"Take flight, and you'll reach the end of your dreams.
Remember to keep moving forward;
The sky is mine, the sky is mine,
The endless blue."
The girls began with an a cappella verse, their voices soaring powerfully, as if piercing through the clouds. Then, they abruptly stopped, lowering their heads and holding their chakra microphones in anticipation. The crowd fell silent, captivated by the stunning performance and eagerly awaiting what was to come.
Suddenly, the band struck up a fast-paced drumbeat, followed by an energetic, rhythmic accompaniment that made it impossible not to move along.
Onstage, the three girls broke into a choreographed dance. Their movements were bold and dynamic, with swaying hips and bouncing energy that left the audience wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
The villagers, unaccustomed to such a spectacle, craned their necks for a better view.
Hiruzen's face was flushed, his breathing heavy. His eyes were as wide as saucers, and he couldn't bring himself to blink. Orochimaru, though outwardly composed, had a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"The taste of sorrow,
I never truly understood it.
Having savored the bitterness of the past,
I continue to seek the present."
"Can I abandon the cage
That I've grown so tired of?
From now on, I will never surrender."
"Let the sound of my breath
And my heartbeat
Rise together."
"Look up at the vast sky,
Escape the prison."
The girls sang in turns, seamlessly shifting positions as they performed. Whether striking battle poses or flashing enchanting smiles, they exuded a captivating blend of charm, beauty, and strength, drawing cheers and applause from the audience.
"Take flight, and you'll reach the end of your dreams.
Remember to keep moving forward;
It's that sky, that sky,
The pure white heavens.
It's that sky, that sky,
The pure white heavens!"
As the final note faded, the three girls struck a defensive formation, resembling a tactical squad ready for battle. Their grace and poise were met with thunderous applause from the crowd.
"Encore!"
"Encore!"
"Encore!"
Akira smiled sweetly and spoke into the microphone.
"Thank you all for your support and love for the Ninja Girls."
Rola followed, "This is our debut performance as ambassadors for the Sandglass Corporation. We're so grateful for your enthusiasm."
Eimi pointed to the ninja tool shop behind them.
"To celebrate our grand opening, all items in the store are 30% off today! Plus, our debut album, Blue Bird, is also on sale as a limited-edition vinyl record!"
She ended with a playful peace sign, a wink, and a cheeky tongue-out pose, eliciting howls of delight from the crowd.
At that moment, the hostesses opened the store doors to welcome customers.
"Shall we take a look inside?" Hiruzen asked, his face slightly flushed.
"After you," Orochimaru replied with a smile.
"Sunagakure is certainly an interesting place. I should visit someday," Orochimaru thought to himself, licking his lips.