Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 520 Roadside Inn

"Let's go."

The outline of the town gradually became clear beneath their feet.

It's really not that big.

There is only one main street, paved with compacted earth. The surface is dry and hard, and you can feel the fine gravel when you step on it. On both sides of the street are low wooden houses, most of which have dark windows, with only a few houses still emitting a dim yellow glow from oil lamps.

The two-story wooden building at the entrance of the town is taller than the surrounding houses.

Only one window on the second floor was lit; the rest was shrouded in darkness.

A weathered wooden plaque hung above the doorway, creaking and swaying under the weight of the night wind.

The characters on the plaque have faded and become mottled, but by the light of the lantern swaying in the wind by the entrance, the three characters can still be discerned—

"Fengsheng Restaurant".

Shuo Mao stopped five steps away from the door.

His gaze shifted from the creaking signboard, and like the most precise instrument, quickly swept across the entire storefront.

The door was ajar, and a faint light shone through the crack, revealing a few drunkards staggering about in the corner.

A very ordinary border tavern, a very ordinary late night.

A notice was nailed to the wooden post on the left side of the door frame; the paper was yellowed and curled at the edges, and the writing was blurry.

There are three fresh, shallow scratches on the threshold, which look like they were left recently when someone was moving heavy goods.

In the air, besides the lingering smell of dissipated cooking smoke, there was also a faint smell of fermented lees mixed with the sour odor of fermented liquor.

Everything seemed so normal.

Uchiha Kagami peeked out from behind the two of them, and through his non-prescription glasses, glanced with interest at the signboard swaying in the wind.

"Wind Sound Restaurant".

He read it aloud softly, his tone thoughtful.

"That's an interesting name. Located at the border of the Land of Fields and the Land of Wind, the travelers and merchants who come and go bring not only money, but also 'rumors' from all over the country. It's certainly a good place to gather information."

Sakumo nodded noncommittally.

Danzo didn't say anything, but went straight forward and pushed open the half-closed wooden door.

"Squeak—"

The door hinges emitted a deep, long groan, causing the lights inside the room to flicker.

The dim, yellow light eagerly spilled out from the crack in the door, spreading a narrow, warm band of light in front of the three people's toes.

The sound of bowls and plates clinking came from behind the counter, followed by a slow, hoarse voice with a heavy rural accent.

Welcome!

An old man with a hunched back peeked out from behind the tall counter, his cloudy eyes squinting as he sized up the three guests who had arrived at the door in the middle of the night.

Sakumo Hatake was the first to cross the threshold.

The moment his feet touched the wooden floor, his entire demeanor underwent a subtle but profound change.

The murderous intent that had been lurking on the edge of life and death for so many years was completely subdued, his gait changed from precise and efficient to slightly heavy, and his straight shoulder line also relaxed slightly.

He was no longer the White Fang of Konoha, but a weary traveler covered in dust after a long day's journey.

"The three of you, would you like to stay at the inn or...?"

The old man had completely emerged from behind the counter, carrying a plate in his hand. The light illuminated the wrinkles on his face, making them appear as if they had been carved by a knife.

Sakumo subtly turned slightly to the side, perfectly blocking Danzo's overly serious face, even when he was relaxed.

"Is there anything to eat?"

His voice was slightly hoarse from the journey.

Yes, yes, yes.

The old man immediately flashed a fawning smile, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of business coming his way. He gestured to the side, "Please have a seat, gentlemen. The fire in the kitchen is still burning."

Shuo Mao turned around and looked to the two people behind him for their opinions.

Danzo remained expressionless but did not shake his head. Uchiha Kagami, on the other hand, smiled and nodded slightly.

"Three bowls of noodles."

Shuo Mao said to the old man, "Add eggs, add meat."

"Okay!"

The old man responded and turned to walk towards the kitchen. After taking a couple of steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, "Guests, would you like some wine? It's homemade, not strong, good for warming you up, and inexpensive."

Sakumo Hatake was about to refuse.

Danzo, who was behind him, had already walked to a square table against the wall and sat down on his own.

He rested one elbow on the rough tabletop and asked calmly, in a tone reserved only for discussions of project budgets at high-level meetings in Konoha:

"Is there anything hot?"

The old man was taken aback, clearly not expecting this taciturn guest to suddenly speak.

"Yes, yes! It's been kept warm on the stove."

"Give me a pot."

Sakumo turned his head and looked calmly at Danzo, who was already sitting down peacefully.

The latter met his gaze and explained confidently:

"When the body's muscles are tense, consuming a moderate amount of warm alcohol helps dilate blood vessels, promote blood circulation, and accelerate lactic acid breakdown—it's textbook-perfect!"

"Alright."

Sakumo Hatake sat down opposite him, interrupting his long-winded speech.

"Drink it if you want, don't try to find scientific evidence for it."

Uchikame sat down in the seat next to him, took off his glasses, wiped them with the corner of his clothes, put them back on, and then smiled as he looked out the window, as if he hadn't heard anything.

The tacit understanding they've developed over time allows them to overcome each other's rough edges without even needing to say a word.

The night breeze squeezed in through the cracks in the window, carrying a hint of the dry chill unique to border nights.

Sakumo tapped his finger silently on the table.

one more time.

From the direction of the kitchen came the crisp sound of spatulas clattering against iron pots, the old man's footsteps, and the clinking of dishes, all mixed together. Further away, the tireless chirping of night insects filled the air.

Danzo Shimura took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and carefully unfolded it under the oil lamp.

Sakumo glanced at it.

It was a hand-drawn map, showing the route from the Land of Fields to the Land of Wind. The water sources, settlements, and topographical contours along the way were all marked with an almost obsessive precision.

"When did you draw this?" Sakumo asked, somewhat surprised.

"On the way." Danzo's answer was concise, his gaze still fixed on the blueprints.

Shuo Mao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"You drew this while running?"

That involves high-speed movement through dense forests, requiring an extremely high level of balance and concentration.

Danzo finally looked up from the map and glanced at him, his eyes seeming to say, "What's the big deal?"

"Segmented surveying, mental arithmetic integration. Basic operations."