It was Saturday—a break from the academy's five-day schedule. I took the opportunity to jog through Konoha's streets, blending light training with casual exploration. The vilge was alive with early-m activity—shopkeepers opening their stalls, shinobi heading to missions, and civilians going about their daily lives.

  Just as I turned a er, a chilling presence made the hairs on my neck stand up.

  Before I could react, an Anbu ninja materialized in front of me, his animal mask cealing any traotion.

  "Tanaka Kazeo, the Hokage requests your presen an hour."

  His voice was cold, professional—no room fotiation. And just like that, he vanished, leaving behind only a faint breeze.

  I stood there, my heart beating a little faster. 'The Hokage? Why now?'

  Then it hit me. It had beely a month since my academy entrance exam—since I had asked the Hokage for time to think about my reward.

  I had nearly fotten about it amidst training and adapting to my new life alone.

  Initially, I had sidered asking for a jutsu or a private ninjutsu instructor. But after serious refle, I realized that gaining power too quickly would only attract the wrong kind of attention—Danzo's, specifically.

  Instead, I had devised a reward that could grant me financial independence, ensuring I wouldn't have to worry about aff ons, training, or even a house iure.

  With that thought, I turoward home. If I was meeting the Hokage, I couldn't go smelling like sweat and training.

  -----

  One Hour Later – Outside the Hokage's Office

  Freshly ed and dressed in a simple but presentable outfit, I arrived at the Hokage's office. The receptionist gnced up from her dots and gave a polite smile.

  "Please wait here for a moment, Kazeo-kun. The Hokage will call you in shortly."

  I nodded and took a seat, but my mind wasn't at ease. The weight of the uping versatioled over me like a thiket.

  'Damn… Now that I'm actually here, I'm getting nervous. What if he rejects my request?'

  Miretched lohan they should have, my thoughts rag through worst-case sarios. Then, finally—

  "You may enter."

  I took a deep breath, stood up, and stepped inside.

  ------

  The Hokage's office was big—too big for someone of Kazeo's size.

  It was just as Kazeo remembered—grand, yet suffog. Stacks of papers towered on both sides of the desk, the faint st of ink and tobacco lingering in the air. The rge windows behind the old ma in streams of golden sunlight, but Kazeo barely noticed.

  His focus was on Hiruzen Sarutobi,

  The Third Hokage.

  Sitting in the massive chair across from Third Hokage, Kazeo felt the old man's gaze settle on him—calm, amused, but also studying him. Like a teacher watg a particurly straudent.

  The Third Hokage leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. Smoke curled from his pipe as he smiled. "Ah, Kazeo,"

  He said, setting aside the scroll he had been reading. "It's been a month since your academy entrance. Have you decided on your reward?"

  I forced my nerves into submission and nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama. I have."

  Hiruzen chuckled. "You've certainly taken your time. Most children ask for their reward immediately."

  His eyes gleamed. "But you… you waited a whole month. That means you're pnning to ask something iing."

  Kazeo fidgeted slightly in his chair, trying to look his age. "Umm… yeah."

  The Hokage raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well, let's hear it then."

  Kazeo took a deep breath.

  His voice was steady despite the flutter in his chest. "I've decided. I want to write a novel. I want you to help me publish it and promote it under your name."

  -----

  The room went quiet.

  The two ANBU standing in the ers stiffened, probably fused.

  Even Hiruzen paused mid-smoke. He bli Kazeo as if w if he misheard.

  "…A novel?" the Hokage finally asked.

  Kazeo nodded. "Yes."

  A slow, knowing smile crept onto the old man's face. "I must admit, that's quite an unusual request."

  Kazeo swung his legs slightly, keeping his faeutral. "But you do it, right?"

  The Hokage's expression remained ral, but his eyes flickered with i. He leaned ba his chair, folding his hands together as if pting Kazeo's words. "I ,

  but why a novel?"

  Kazeo could feel his gaze, searg. The weight of it pressed against him, but he stood firm. "When I was in the orphanage, I would sometimes read and make up stories to pass the time.

  Over the years, those stories grew into full-fledged tales."

  "I got the idea after reading about the Legendary Sannin Jiraiya, who made a fortune from his novels.. I realized I could do the same."

  His lips twitched into a knowing smile. "So, you've read about Jiraiya. I see." His tone shifted from curiosity to amusement.

  "Well, I certainly help with publishing your book. But before we move forward, I must read it myself.

  "If I approve of the story, I'll promote it under Konoha's name.

  If not… I'll still fund its publication, but without official bag. Do you uand?"

  Kazeo felt his stomach twist. So even after all this, there was a ce his book might be rejected?

  He didn't know why, but that thought made his chest feel tight.

  He took a deep breath, trying to push away the nervousness.

  "Y-Yeah, Hokage-sama," he said, keeping his voice steady. "But… I think you'll like it! And I don't just want to write a novel and be doh it. If it sells well, I want to give some of the money back to Konoha—thirty pert!"

  The Hokage blihe out a small chuckle. "That's quite the offer,"

  He said, taking a slow puff from his pipe. "But, sihis is your personal reward, Konoha won't take any of the profits. We'll print 5,000 copies first. If it sells well, we'll print more. If not…" He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

  Kazeo bit his lip. He uood—if the novel flopped, that was it.

  "Wait, Hokage-sama!" He stood up from his chair, fists ched. "Please! I want Konoha to take it! I want to give back to the vilge. It wouldn't feel right if I just kept all the money!"

  For a long moment, the Hokage just looked at him. His old, wise eyes studied Kazeo, as if searg for something. The silence dragged on, and Kazeo's heart pounded in his chest.

  Finally, the Hokage sighed, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. "You're quite the stubborn one," he muttered. Then he nodded. "Very well. If you're that insistent, I won't refuse."

  "You know ,you're an iing boy." He tapped his pipe. "Tell me, Kazeo, why not ask for training? Or a jutsu?"

  Kazeo kicked his legs slightly. "Because… I get those ter.

  And I want to secure my future, so I don't have to worry about money for things like ons, housing, or even training"

  His voice softened a little.

  The Hokage studied him carefully. Then, after a long pause, he smiled.

  "Alright." Hiruzen smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I will approve your request… under a few ditions."

  Kazeo's breath hitched, his body tensing in anticipation. "Really?!" His voice was a mix of excitement and disbelief, as if he couldn't believe his pn was actually w.

  Hiruzen chuckled, the warmth in his ughter easing the tension in the air. "Yes. But listen carefully." His tone carried both authority and kindness, making it clear that he was serious but not unkind.

  Kazeo leaned forward eagerly, eyes locked onto the Hokage, hanging onto his every word.

  "First," Hiruzen said, his voice calm but firm, "Konoha will fund the first 5,000 copies. If it sells well, we'll print more."

  Kazeo's heart pounded in his chest. He felt like he was dreaming. His hands ched into fists at his sides, barely taining his excitement. "Okay!" he blurted out, nodding so fast it was almost ical.

  His mind was already rag ahead, thinking of all the possibilities.

  Hiruzen's expression was unreadable. "Sed, you will use a pen name."

  Kazeo frowned. "Why? Jiraiya-sama writes under his real name, doesn't he?"

  The Hokage chuckled. "Jiraiya is a Sannin, Kazeo. He's strong enough to deal with whatever trouble es from his fame. You, however… are just a child."

  Kazeo's fingers curled slightly. Again with the child thing. He uood why people saw him that way. But still, it was annoying to be reminded of it.

  "You think my book will bring trouble?"

  Hiruzen's face turned serious. "If your book bees famous, people will start asking questions. Who is this young writer from Konoha? Where does he live? Who are his parents?" His voice softened. "Not everyone who asks will have good iions."

  Kazeo exhaled slowly. Right. This wash.

  There were no ws proteg childrens , no agencies sing fan mail.

  If the wrong people got curious, trag down the mysterious writer could turn from a fun guessing game to a real security risk.

  The Hokage tinued, "Some might try to use you, trick you, or even harm you. If they don't know your real hey 't reach you. A pen name protects you, like a mask in battle."

  Kazeo tapped his fingers on the armrest. He wasn't an idiot. Fame wasn't just about signing books and ting mo came with eyes, expectations, and, in the worst cases, enemies.

  For a moment, his mind flickered to those 'mysterious genius' characters in fi—those child prodigies who got recruited, kidnapped, or worse.

  It was a valid . His past-life experience(from novels ,anime and movies) told him that

  'Power—be it physical, political, or financial—always carried risks. Konoha was strong, but not invincible.'

  His jaw tensed. ' Yeah ,not worth the risk. '

  After a long pause, he nodded. "Alright, I'll use a pen name."

  Hiruzen smiled, nodding in approval. "A wise decision."

  "And third…" Hiruzen smiled knowingly. "If this book bees very successful, we will reiate the profit split."

  Kazeo blinked. 'Reiate?'

  His little brows furrowed as he puffed out his cheeks slightly. "Ehh?! But I already said 30%! Why ge it ter?"

  Hiruzen chuckled at the boy's rea, as if amused by his innoce. "Because success brings new opportunities, Kazeo. If your book sells well, the value of your work—and the support Konoha provides—will ge. It's only natural to adjust accly."

  Kazeo pouted, crossing his arms. He wasn't stupid. This sounded like the kind of deal where one side kept trol, just in case things got too profitable. But he couldly argue. Not as a kid and definitely not against the Hokage.

  "…But I thought a deal is a deal," he mumbled under his breath.

  Hiruzen's eyes softehough his expression remained unreadable. "And it is. But evero agreements need flexibility. You'll uand when you're older."

  Kazeo clicked his to held back a retort.

  'He ying the long game here. Fine, we'll see who outsmarts who ter.'

  For now, he just rying his best to look like an obedient child. "Okay, Hokage-sama… but I'll remember this."

  Hiruzen's lips curled into a knowing smile. "I expeothing less."

  Then, with a flick of his fingers, he called an ANBU. "Prepare a tract."

  The masked shinobi vanished instantly, leaving behind only the fai rustle of air.

  Hiruzen leaned ba his chair, fingers interlocked as he studied Kazeo o time. The warmth in his gaze hadn't faded, but there was something else now—curiosity.

  "A child writing a novel… It's rare. But a child this determined? Even rarer." His voice held a quiet amusement. "I look forward to reading your story."

  Kazeo said with excitement in his eyes,

  " I'll show you the book month, then we begin the publishing process."

  Hiruzen nodded.

  The Anbu, returned a mier with a tract. We both read it carefully before signing.

  [ tract Summary:-

  Publication & Promotion: Konoha will fund the first 5000 copies of Kazeo's novel. If successful, further printing will be sidered.

  Profit Sharing: Kazeo retains 70% of the earnings, while Konoha receives 30%.

  Approval Cuse: The Hokage will review the novel before promotion; if deemed unfit, only publication support will be provided.

  Pen Name Requirement: Kazeo must publish under an alias.

  Reiation Cuse: If the novel bees highly successful, Konoha reserves the right to re-iate profit pertages.

  ]

  After signing, the Hokage asked him about his training and well-being before sending him on his way.

  Kazeo bowed slightly before leaving. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

  As he left the office, his mind was already rag.

  As he walked out of the office, He couldn't help but feel excited. The first step to financial freedom had been taken.

  Step one: plete.

  Now, all that was left… was to write the damn thing.

  To be tinued...

  --------

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