Kagura shop was located in a less bustling part of the shopping street.
She wasn't too picky about the location; as long as she had a place to set up shop, it was enough. Before opening the shop, she had thought long and hard about what to do.
Opening an art studio was too idealistic and impractical in the ninja world.
Running a snack shop was also out of the question—she was too lazy, and her cooking skills were mediocre.
She wasn't sure if anyone would come to eat, and besides, she couldn't handle everything alone.
She also didn't have the money to hire people to help, so that idea was scrapped.
Beyond these options, she couldn't think of anything else. Then, a sudden inspiration struck her. Since she had watched all 720 episodes of Naruto, why not really open a shop to divine fortunes for people, just like how she had fooled Tobirama?
While she didn't want to indulge in superstition, seeing the ubiquitous shrines in Konoha made her think this might be a decent way to make a living.
Most importantly, this business was practically risk-free with zero investment and potentially huge profits.
As for whether she actually knew how to divine fortunes, it didn't matter. People came seeking comfort, and telling them what they wanted to hear was always the right move.
And so, after two days of preparation, Kagura "Divining Fortune" shop finally opened.
Yes, the shop name was simply "Divining Fortune"—straightforward and to the point.
A sign hung on the shop's exterior, which read: "Our services include divining fortunes, selecting auspicious dates for weddings and funerals, and even predicting the future. Interested parties are welcome to come in and discuss with the owner."
Well, the description was just as blunt.
.....
On the day the shop opened, Tobirama and Hashirama happened to pass by. Tobirama saw the utterly unartistic shop name and couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. Hashirama, on the other hand, looked excited and leaned in to peek inside.
At that moment, Kagura was dozing off. She casually wiped the drool from her mouth with her sleeve and looked up to see Hashirama smiling face.
"I-Lord First Hokage?"
"Ah, hello there, Kagura-san."
"Eww, gross!" Tobirama grimaced as he watched her wipe her drool.
Being in their territory, Kagura restrained herself and tried her best to mimic the respectful demeanor of some noble girl.
Suddenly, Hashirama leaned in close to Kagura with a serious expression and asked in the lowest possible voice.
"Tobirama told me you can predict the future. Is that true?"
All the seriousnes just to ask that?!
"Hehehe, I suppose so!"
"Then let me ask you, if I go gambling tonight, how will my luck be? Will I win or lose? Losing my dear friend has left me in no mood to gamble lately, so I'm probably out of practice."
Hashirama had a gambling habit. But as for whether he'd win or lose, how could Kagura possibly know?
Fortunately, Tobirama stepped in to save her. He grabbed Hashirama sleeve with two fingers and forcefully pulled him away, looking utterly exasperated.
"So that's why you asked me for money the other day—you wanted to gamble! Does Mito know about this?"
The moment he mentioned Mito, Hashirama immediately backed down and begged him not to tattle. "Please, have some mercy. It's been over a month since I last went…" he said, sounding utterly pitiful.
Kagura: …
Kagura curiously reminded Hashirama, "It's fine if the First Hokage goes by himself, but please don't take Tsunade along. Her gambling luck is terrible. It's a fact that by the time she's over fifty, she'll still be drowning in debt."
Hashirama was stunned and asked, "Who's Tsunade?"
"Your eldest granddaughter."
"Has she been born yet?" Hashirama looked puzzled and turned to Tobirama, who also seemed confused and shook his head.
"I don't know. That's your son matter. Why are you asking me?"
Wait, has Tsunade not been born yet?
Kagura was dumbfounded. Oh no, she spoke too soon.
The three of them exchanged confused glances, each equally bewildered.
At this awkward moment, a voice called out from the distance. Someone was running toward Kagura shop, shouting as they approached.
"First Hokage, she's born, she's born!"
Hashirama stared blankly as the person ran closer. It was his family member, Senju Touka. He hurriedly asked,
"What's been born?"
"Lady Kazuo has given birth! It's a girl! Lady Mito sent me to fetch you to come home."
Hearing this, Hashirama was overjoyed and completely forgot about asking about the gambling outcome. He dashed off with Touka like a gust of wind, quickly disappearing from sight.
Watching his disappearing figure, Kagura muttered to herself, "Who's Lady Kazuo?"
Could it be that Hashirama has a concubine?
"She's Aomatsu wife."
"Huh?" Kagura was startled. "Why are you still here? Aren't you going to see the baby?"
Tobirama looked at her as if she were crazy and asked, "Why would I go? It's his son child, not mine."
"But you're the granduncle! Don't you want to see the baby?" Kagura thought to herself that this newborn must be Tsunade.
In the anime, Hashirama mentioned that Tsunade was his eldest granddaughter, and because she was the first grandchild, he doted on her so much that she became a bit unruly.
"Not now. I'll go later."
"People in konoha have such weak family bonds…"
…...
"Alright, old man, you should go do whatever you need to do. Don't block the entrance to my shop. You look so intimidating standing here; no one will dare to come and ask about their fortune."
Tobirama, feeling frustrated, was shooed away by Kagura. He felt a pang of irritation. This woman was the second person to dare ignore him like this.
Who was the first?
The first was Uchiha Madara, but he's dead!
...
The next day, as soon as Kagura opened her divination shop, Hashirama appeared, beaming with excitement.
"Kagura, you're truly a real deal! It's indeed a girl, just as you predicted. Her name is Tsunade, a soft and white little thing, just like the mochi from the shop down the street. So adorable!"
Seeing his newborn granddaughter, Hashirama youthful heart was stirred.
Who could resist a soft, white little mochi? Moreover, it seems that the bonds between grandparent and grandchildren is universal across the world. Kagura was certain that when Mito gave birth to his son, he wasn't as happy as he is now.
Seeing his joy, Kagura seized the opportunity and said, "This is truly a joyous occasion! First Hokage, since my prediction was so accurate, how about waiving my rent for a year?"
"Next time you come to divine your fortune, I'll give you a 30% discount."
At the mention of money, Hashirama face instantly fell.
"My pockets are emptier than my face… I have to ask Tobirama for money."
"Being the Hokage sure is… pitiful," Kagura couldn't help but comment.
Hashirama laughed heartily. "I'm terrible with numbers. Even if you gave me money, I wouldn't know how to manage it. Tobirama different—his brain works in ways I can't comprehend. He's incredibly sharp, so I trust him with the finances."
"By the way, Lord First, did you come here early in the morning just to tell me how adorable your granddaughter is?"
Kagura reminder brought Hashirama back to the purpose of his visit. He quickly put on a serious expression and asked earnestly,
"Tobirama and I are about to set out to capture the Tailed Beasts. Could you divine whether our mission will go smoothly?"
Pfft—just for something like this? Kagura chuckled inwardly. Who would have thought the God of Shinobi could be so superstitious? But then again, the higher the position, the more superstitious people tend to be. Even in the world of anime, it seems there's no exception.
In that case, Kagura decided to take advantage of the situation. How much should she charge? Being new here, she wasn't entirely familiar with the local prices. Relying on vague memories, she casually held up five fingers and waved them in front of Hashirama.
"What does that mean?"
"A 30% discount, so… you only need to give me 50,000 ryo, and I'll divine your fortune for you."
50,000 ryo wasn't too expensive—it was roughly the reward for a C-rank mission.
Hashirama handed over the money without hesitation. He had just received a large sum of private savings, originally intended for gambling, but now, for peace of mind, he had to give it to Kagura.
Taking the money, Kagura pretended to focus intently on her crystal ball for a while before nodding happily at Hashirama. Seeing her smile, Hashirama, who had been nervously waiting, finally relaxed.
"Yosh!"
Hashirama let out a long sigh of relief.
"Lord First, you can go with peace of mind. You'll definitely succeed in capturing all the Tailed Beasts except for the One-Tail!"
Hashirama got the answer he wanted, and Kagura got the money she wanted. Both were satisfied.
But as they were basking in their mutual joy, a cold breeze suddenly swept past them. They turned around simultaneously to see Tobirama standing behind them, his brow furrowed. He was wearing his full ninja attire, clearly dressed for a fight.
He looked at Hashirama and Kagura with the expression of a father exasperated by his foolish children. After a long pause, he sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and grabbed Hashirama by the back of his collar, dragging him away.
"I take my eyes off you for one second, and you're already wasting money. Your allowance for next month is cut in half!"
"Huh?! Little brother—can't you go easy on me?"
Tobirama temple twitched as he suppressed his anger.
"Even if you kneel down and call me dad, it's not happening."
Duang—
Hashirama instantly fell into depression, petrified on the spot.
Grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds to munch on, Kagura watched the two brothers walk away, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
The First Hokage truly was just as he was portrayed in the anime—unmatched in strength but not the sharpest tool in the shed. Such a stark contrast with his undeniably endearing, much like Naruto in the later stages.
Well, it made sense. After all, they were both reincarnations of Asura. It was only natural they'd share some similarities.