Seems Too Big!

"Yesterday's negotiation was scheduled for the afternoon," said Hiruzen. "The Root ninjas have already contacted Kizaru. He's bringing two children and won't be back to the village until noon tomorrow."

Walking into the Hokage's office, Danzo informed Hiruzen of the intelligence he had just received.

Upon hearing that Kizaru was bringing two children, Hiruzen furrowed his brows slightly.

Recalling the last time Nagato and Kushina were brought back by Kizaru and Tsunade, Hiruzen made a guess in his mind.

"Are they orphans from the Uzumaki clan again?"

"No, according to the information from the Root, those two children should just be ordinary war orphans," Danzo nodded. 

Hiruzen left his seat and stood up, pipe in mouth, and approached Danzo.

"Danzo, what are your thoughts on our stance towards Kumogakure?"

"It's just a showdown of trapped beasts. They lost the Raikage and the Two-Tails, they are by no means our match," Danzo said, worried that Hiruzen might waver again, he emphasized with a heavier tone.

"I'm not worried about Kumogakure per se, but their covert actions with Iwagakure and Sunagakure. I fear pushing too hard might unite them against us," Hiruzen expressed his concerns, looking at Danzo.

Hiruzen's worries were naturally considered by Danzo.

"Hiruzen, let me handle this matter! I'll stoke their conflicts," as an assistant to the Hokage, dealing with the village's dark side was a familiar territory for Danzo.

Shaking his head, Hiruzen continued, "Not for now. The current situation is extremely delicate. If your actions go awry, it will put us at a disadvantage."

Frowning, Danzo felt dissatisfied with Hiruzen's words.

"You may doubt my ethics, but you cannot underestimate my capabilities, especially in covert operations!"

"I'm not doubting your abilities, but I'm concerned about any oversight in the execution by the ninjas," Hiruzen seemed to sense Danzo's dissatisfaction and added.

The frown on Danzo's face relaxed as he confidently replied, "I'll personally lead the mission, there won't be any issues!"

"Let's wait until tomorrow when Kizaru returns!" Hiruzen was not keen on involving Danzo unless necessary.

"Hiruzen, you can't rely too much on Kizaru. He's only ten this year, he still needs your guidance!" Although saying so, a smile appeared on Danzo's face.

Taking a deep drag from his pipe, Hiruzen looked at Danzo, whose face was wrinkled with a smile, and couldn't be bothered to deflate his old friend's pride.

"Laugh all you want, you jerk who keeps boasting about his nephew every day!"

"Kizaru is still my personally trained disciple!"

The next day, past noon, Kizaru returned to the village with the two kids.

Stretching out his hand to pick up Yahiko and Konan from Matatabi's back, Kizaru smiled, "Thank you, Kizaru!"

"Just this once!" Wary of being ridden by Kizaru in the future, Matatabi emphasized coldly.

"Thank you, Big Sister Matatabi!"

"Thank you!"

After being put down by Kizaru, the two kids stood up straight, hands placed in front of them, expressing their gratitude to Matatabi.

Smiling and nodding, Matatabi shrank to the size of a cat, jumped onto Kizaru's shoulder.

"Let's go home first. I'll arrange for someone to take care of you," Kizaru said to the two kids, who obediently nodded and walked to Kizaru's sides, raising their hands to hold Kizaru's big hand.

With their small hands enveloped in Kizaru's warm hands, the two kids looked up excitedly at Kizaru.

"Let's go home!" Kizaru said with a smile, looking down at the two kids.

"Yeah!"

In unison, Yahiko and Konan, now with a home once again, smiled gleefully, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Leading the two kids through the bustling streets of the village, dealing with the curious gazes and inquiries of familiar faces along the way, Kizaru brought them to the doorstep of the Shimura family's mansion.

"This will be your home from now on," Kizaru said with a smile, looking at the large gate ahead.

Having been amazed by the bustle of Konoha along the way, the two kids tightly held onto Kizaru's hand, looking at the tall and ancient gate of the Shimura family with surprise, anticipation, and a little bit of nervousness.

Big brother Kizaru's home is so big!

The experiences of the past few days were too magical for Yahiko and Konan, feeling as if they were dreaming.

If this is a dream, then I hope I never wake up!

Having become orphans and endured the hardships of wandering life, Yahiko and Konan felt that this sudden happiness was so unreal.

Grasping Kizaru's hand tightly, the two kids worried that this sudden happiness would disappear like a dream.

Feeling their movements and sensing their anxiety and nervousness, Kizaru also exerted a little force, holding their small hands tightly.

The warmth transmitted through their hands made Yahiko and Konan look up at Kizaru.

"Don't worry, this will be your home from now on!"

Listening to Kizaru's words and seeing the smile on his face, the two kids smiled along with him.

"Yeah!"

In unison, Yahiko and Konan nodded in appreciation.

Leading the two kids, Kizaru took steps forward and reached the doorstep.

Before Kizaru could knock, the wooden gate slowly opened.

Standing behind the gate was Kizaru's housekeeper, Big Sister Keiko.

"Welcome home, Lord Kizaru!" Smiling at Kizaru, Keiko spoke softly.

"These are Yahiko and Konan, my younger brother and sister whom I adopted in Amegakure." Extending his hands slightly forward, Kizaru introduced the two kids to Keiko, "Sister Keiko, I'll rely on you to take care of them from now on!"

"What lovely children!" Bending slightly, Keiko looked at the slightly wary two children with a gentle smile and said, "I'm Keiko, Lord Kizaru's housekeeper. You can call me Big Sister Keiko!"

"Big Sister Keiko!"

"Big Sister Keiko!"

Looking at the friendly and approachable older sister in front of them, Yahiko and Konan obediently called out.

"So well-behaved!" Praising them, Keiko reached out and touched the faces of the two little kids.

"Lord Kizaru, the clan head asked me to inform you that as soon as you return, please report to the Hokage Building immediately." After comforting the two kids, Keiko stood up straight again and looked at Kizaru.

"What a hassle!" Grumbling, Kizaru let go of the hands of the two little ones, "Then I'll leave them to you, Big Sister Keiko!"

"Leave it to me!" Smiling, Keiko took a step forward and took the hands of Yahiko and Konan.

"Yahiko, Konan, come with Big Sister Keiko for lunch!"

"Okay, Big Bro Kizaru!"

Watching over the two kids with Keiko, Kizaru felt very reassured. After bidding farewell to Yahiko and Konan, he turned and left under the gaze of the three.

When Kizaru arrived at the Hokage Building and the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage Hiruzen and Danzo had been waiting for a long time.

"Oh ho! Sorry for the wait, everyone," Kizaru greeted with a beaming smile as he pushed the door open and entered.

"Sit down, Kizaru!" Sitting behind the desk, puffing on his pipe, Hiruzen, upon seeing Kizaru enter, smiled.

Walking without ceremony to the chair on the left side of the desk, Kizaru sat down directly.

"What time does the negotiation start?"

"At two o'clock in the afternoon," sitting across from Kizaru, Danzo, who had been resting his eyes, opened them and answered.

Glancing up at the clock hanging on the wall, Kizaru smiled and said, "How about we grab lunch first, Sensei?"

Taking the pipe out of his mouth, Hiruzen looked at Kizaru and said seriously, "Kizaru, the delegation from Kumogakure is very adamant this time. They demand the return of the Two-Tails without any compensation."

"Kizaru, what do you think?" Danzo chimed in.

With an increasingly radiant smile on his face, Kizaru toyed with his nails and said, "Since they want it, let's just give them the Two-Tails!"

Upon hearing Kizaru's unexpected response, both Hiruzen and Danzo were momentarily stunned.

Such an answer didn't quite fit Kizaru's character!

Exchanging puzzled glances, Hiruzen looked back at Kizaru and asked, "Do you want to give up the Two-Tails?"

"Kizaru, you can't do this!" Danzo strongly opposed Kizaru's self-damaging approach.

"Oh ho!" Laughing, Kizaru looked up at the two old men in front of him and said with a smile, "What I mean is to directly send the Two-Tails to Kumogakure."

Sending a free Tailed Beast directly to the main camp of Kumogakure? Are you returning the Tailed Beast or dropping a bomb?

Imagining the chaos caused by the Two-Tails in Kumogakure, both Hiruzen and Danzo found the scene too delightful.

"Cough!" Coughing lightly twice, Hiruzen, who came back to his senses, said to Kizaru, "Let's forget about that idea!"

Nodding in agreement, even Danzo, a hawkish figure, felt that this wasn't a good move.

It's not that he feared retaliation from Kumogakure; Danzo just felt that it wasn't necessary to provoke a counter the alliance until Kizaru matured to his peak.

Raising both hands with palms facing upward, Kizaru shrugged and said with a smile, "Kumogakure is too scary. Let's just give them the Two-Tails!"

"Cough!" Coughing again, Hiruzen looked at Kizaru helplessly and advised, "You can say that during the negotiation this afternoon, but don't actually do it."

"I understand, Sensei!" Nodding with a smile, Kizaru casually replied.

"Do you really understand?!"

Thinking about this disciple's style of doing things and his terrifying speed of movement!

Hiruzen was really worried. During the negotiation later, if Kizaru went out to the bathroom and came back with a pleased expression, saying Kumogakure was no more, there would be no need for negotiations!

"Hiruzen, let's have lunch first!" Seeing Hiruzen's worries, Danzo spoke up to ease the atmosphere.

After a moment of silence, Hiruzen said, "Let's eat first!"

At that moment, Hiruzen suddenly wondered if he had gone too far by calling Kizaru back.