Chapter 39

Konoha Orphanage.

Five-year-old Kintaro woke up particularly early today.

The sunlight outside the window had just risen, faint and cold, like his half-eaten slightly cooled egg yolk.

"Mother Nono!"

He changed his clothes and saw Yakushi Nono at the door, shouting immediately.

"Call me sister."

Nono frowned and corrected him.

She walked up to Kintaro, helped him tidy his collar, and patted his chest and back. The wrinkled parts of his clothes instantly became smooth.

"Sister."

Kintaro reluctantly called her. He preferred to call her mom, but Nono didn't like it; she hadn't even dated or married yet.

"Go wake up the others."

Nono understood his thoughts and tapped his forehead helplessly.

"Okay."

Kintaro jumped off the bed, quickly put on his shoes, and ran down the corridor shouting, "Get up, the sun is shining!"

The morning became lively.

Nono and the other caregivers placed milk, bread, eggs, and buns on a ten-meter-long dining table in a hall filled with light.

Moments later, nearly a hundred children sat at three long tables.

With Nono's command, breakfast began.

The fireplace burned warmly, dispelling the last of April's chill.

"No picky eating."

Nonou patrolled the dining table like a guard, "Kintaro, if you don't eat your egg yolk today, I'll tell Lord Haruki."

"I'll eat it!"

Kintaro shivered. Director Haruki was very kind to them but extremely strict when problems arose.

If he got angry, it was terrifying.

He took a deep breath and bit half of the egg yolk, quickly swallowing it with a gulp of milk.

His expression was as if facing a life-and-death decision.

Nono nodded in satisfaction.

When Haruki found her and said he wanted to open an orphanage, she thought it was just a whim.

But the support was surprisingly large.

These little ones were living better than she did when she was young.

She recalled Haruki's saying: "No matter how hard it is, children should not suffer."

Haruki was truly kind-hearted.

Under Nono's sharp eyes, a harmonious breakfast ended.

"Director Haruki has given you a task."

She cleared her throat, immediately attracting the children's attention.

They got excited at the mention of Haruki.

Children in the ninja world matured early.

They knew who brought them today's life. Helping Haruki was a great honor.

Nono didn't waste words and directly brought out a stack of newspapers.

"Today's class is canceled and replaced with community practice. These newspapers are published by your Director Haruki. Each one is worth ten ryo, and one ryo will be your pocket money. The more you sell, the more pocket money you get."

"Hooray!"

"Great!"

"Long live the director!"

Cheers exploded instantly.

A bowl of ramen cost sixty ryo, a minimum D-rank mission five thousand ryo, so one ryo was not much, but in quantity, it was considerable.

As orphans, they had no income.

Money was secondary; helping the director was the most important.

"I want a hundred copies!" When it was Kintaro's turn, he raised a finger.

"Can you carry them?" Nonou questioned.

"Sister, don't underestimate me!"

Kintaro rolled up his sleeves, flexed his biceps.

"The director said I could go to ninja school next enrollment."

Nono was amused by his little muscles.

But she was a bit surprised.

Becoming a ninja was easy, but it required a lot of resources and time.

The five major ninja villages generally abandoned civilians with average talent, preferring ninja families with both bloodlines and talent.

Like the Uchiha clan.

Nono handed out the newspapers and had someone inform Haruki to ensure their safety.

She picked up a newspaper out of curiosity.

The most prominent part read "Konoha Daily News."

The newspaper smelled of ink, measuring 42 cm by 30 cm, divided into four sections.

The first section was named "Konoha and Hokage."

Nono skimmed through it.

The front part detailed Konoha's victory over Sand Village, and the latter mentioned Jiraiya's new book.

There was a picture of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, reading a book under warm yellow light, his side profile very serious.

Below was a line of small text:

"Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya's new book, a must-read masterpiece that the Hokage reads day and night!"

Nono felt a strong urge to buy it.

Whether it was Jiraiya or Hiruzen, they were role models among ninjas.

She suppressed her sudden urge and continued reading.

The other three sections were about food, livelihood, and stories.

Nono was amazed at how interesting Konoha was.

Grain price changes, vegetables from the Land of Rain, new restaurants, ramen shop eating contests, a ninja chased by a chicken, mermaid legends in the Land of Water.

With unique content and the orphans' cheerful "La la la! La la la! I am a little newspaper seller," the "Konoha Daily News" spread through the streets like a blazing fire in the night sky.

---

Hiruzen Sarutobi also got a copy.

He smoked his pipe, looking a bit dazed.

When Haruki asked him to cooperate with the promotion yesterday, he didn't expect this.

But the first section pleased him.

It mentioned his foresight in war and his firm stance in negotiations.

A very glorious image.

However, Hiruzen hesitated a bit, feeling such a thing should be under his control.

"This kid always comes up with new tricks, troublesome."

He smiled and shook his head but did nothing.

In his prime, even Danzo was manageable, let alone this.

For now, the newspaper had no downsides.

...

Uchiha District.

Less than a day passed, and Mikoto Uchiha deeply felt the change in her family.

Especially peers.

Their gazes were curious yet fearful.

With Minato Namikaze's fame spreading, Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki, as his teammates, gained attention.

Her battle with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki with the Three Tomoe Sharingan was confirmed.

Now, she and Fugaku Uchiha were considered the two geniuses of the Uchiha clan.

An unexpected change for her.