Konoha was about to welcome the New Year.
Though there was still a month to go, the village had already begun decorating with lanterns and festive ornaments, the celebratory atmosphere growing richer by the day.
Compared to the fear and unease brought by war a year ago, people’s faces now beamed with happy smiles.
This year, Konoha had changed tremendously.
After a year of continuous integration among the various clans, and with the Konoha Public Security Department strictly enforcing the law and dealing firmly with a few troublemakers from certain clans, aside from minor frictions, no major incidents had occurred.
During this period, because Senju Momoma always recited the Public Security Department’s motto during every law enforcement action, Hikaru specially awarded him a Dragonfly Medal.
As a result, Momoma also earned a nickname—Captain Dragonfly.
The dragonfly was a victorious insect, flying only forward and never retreating, hunting swiftly and decisively, and was highly regarded by samurai.
Konoha’s commercial district had become increasingly bustling ever since the Daimyo and nobles moved in.
Now, Konoha’s Xiaoye Tea had become a luxury item in the Land of Fire.
Endorsed by the Hokage and the Daimyo, the nobles and clan heads of the Land of Fire all took pride in drinking Xiaoye Tea.
If you hosted guests without brewing a pot of Xiaoye Tea, it meant you lacked taste and had failed in hospitality.
Merchants from surrounding minor nations such as the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Grass, the Land of Rice Fields, and the Land of Rivers gradually increased their trade with Konoha.
On Konoha’s streets, shops of all kinds stood in rows, bustling with activity.
Under the efforts of every department, Konoha changed day by day.
Compared to a year ago, it was a world of difference.
Rows of tall, orderly houses, wide and clean streets, beautiful and refined landscaping.
At the center of the streets stood a stone monument engraved with Konoha’s emblem.
The emblem was a five-pointed maple leaf, symbolizing unity, equality, peace, friendship, and justice.
This was Konoha’s first New Year.
Hikaru decided to hold a “Village New Year’s Gala” on New Year’s Eve.
He summoned Sarutobi Sasuke to discuss plans.
“The Konoha Village New Year’s Gala must include all of Konoha’s people—from the Hokage down to the street vendors—so that everyone can feel the warmth of Konoha as one big family.” Hikaru said.
“Sarutobi Sasuke, as Minister of Ceremonies, you have performed outstandingly this year.
I want to hear your ideas.”
“Hikaru-sama, I think we could feature song and dance performances, inviting some of the Land of Fire’s celebrities and singers to perform in Konoha.”
Hikaru tapped the table and said nothing.
“Good, but not good enough.”
Hikaru thought for a moment, then took a piece of paper from his drawer and handed it to Sasuke.
“This is a new song I wrote, called ‘One Konoha Family.’ Take it back and have the academy children start rehearsing immediately.
“Hikaru-sama truly is the miracle of Konoha.”
“Konoha has been founded for one year now.
The village has gone from a hundred things waiting to be done to a hundred thriving industries.
The people have gone from displaced and homeless to living and working in peace.
All of this can be called the ‘Konoha Miracle,’ but we must not forget the road we traveled to get here.” Hikaru continued, “Select a few clever and sharp students to perform a stage play, reenacting how the Senju and Uchiha clans set aside their differences and joined hands to move forward together.
Let the world know that Konoha’s peace and stability did not come easily.”
“Also, prepare a sketch comedy at the end.
Call it ‘Let’s Eat Ramen Together.’ The story is about a Konoha ninja who spends the whole year out on dangerous missions, neglecting his family.
He is still on a mission during the New Year, but when he returns home on New Year’s Eve, he finds that his wife has already prepared ramen, waiting for his return.
His child has also learned how to pull noodles.
In the end, the whole family sits together happily eating ramen.”
“That’s the plan for now.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As the New Year drew closer, Konoha’s Twin Jewels—Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju—who had been busy capturing Tailed Beasts across the shinobi world, finally returned to the village.
“Madara-sama, Hashirama-sama, you’re finally back.”
For others, the hardest part of capturing Tailed Beasts was defeating them.
But for Madara and Hashirama, the hardest part was finding them.
Though they knew the general locations of the Tailed Beasts, the beasts kept moving constantly.
The two had traveled across much of the shinobi world before finally tracking down a few.
So far, Madara and Hashirama had successfully captured the Two-Tails Matatabi, the Four-Tails Son Gokū, and the Six-Tails Saiken.
These three Tailed Beasts had been sealed by Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Ameori working together.
Unfortunately, the Nine-Tails that Hikaru had his heart set on had not yet been caught.
“Madara-sama, Hashirama-sama, Mito-sama and Ameori-san are both pregnant.
Their due dates are after the New Year.
Mito-sama and Izuna-sama have been eagerly waiting for your return.”
Both Hashirama and Madara froze for a moment, then simultaneously shouted at each other.
“I…
I’m going to be a father.”
“I’m going to be an uncle.”
Hahaha—” Hashirama laughed with pure joy.
“Hashirama, I’m going to be an uncle!” Madara laughed as well.
As a devoted older brother, now that Izuna was about to become a father, he was even happier than Izuna himself.
“Hashirama-sama, go spend time with Mito-sama.
She’s been asking about when you’d return.” “And Madara-sama, Izuna-sama is waiting for you to name the child.”
Uchiha Madara looked at Hikaru and nodded.
“Hikaru, thank you for your hard work.” Madara said, “When Izuna’s child is born, I want the child to recognize you as a godfather.”
Madara knew he was not a qualified Hokage—most village affairs were handled by Hikaru.
“Then I thank Madara-sama in advance.”
As the New Year approached, Konoha grew busier and busier.
Red lanterns hung all along Konoha’s streets.
Blessing characters adorned every household’s front door.
People bustled about buying New Year goods.
Merchants took advantage of the holiday to hold big sales.
The entire village was immersed in a joyous and festive atmosphere.
Senju Momoma led the Public Security Department patrols to maintain order on the streets.
During the New Year season, more and more people gathered in Konoha, and with crowds came trouble—petty thieves, unscrupulous vendors, and hooligans were all targets of his enforcement.
As Konoha’s “Captain Dragonfly,” Momoma had established the Six Market Safety Prohibitions for the Public Security Department:
First.
No setting off fireworks or firecrackers in courtyards.
Second.
No burning dead branches or weeds arbitrarily.
Third.
No selling counterfeit or inferior products.
…
Uchiha Yui and Tobirama Senju remained the same as ever.
Every day, the drama of the domineering CEO and the lowly office girl played out.
As the year-end approached, every department was rushing to meet deadlines, and the volume of documents exchanged between the Civil Affairs Department and the Chancellery was several times higher than usual.
Tobirama’s roaring could still be heard every now and then, but it had become much less frequent than before.