CHAPTER 11: Birth of The Saint

After everyone collects themselves, the conversation starts to flow. Correcting Choza's greeting with a firm "Haruki-san," the owner of the house calls out, causing Shikaku's chakra to flinch ever so slightly. Despite being accustomed to the warm and welcoming nature of the Akimichi and acknowledging their status as one of Konoha's 'four noble clans' (although the boy would argue about that), Haruki stands out from the crowd. He is not just another person. Setting aside his current prestige, it is worth noting that just yesterday, the Daimyo all but declared him a family member through a public declaration that resonated throughout the heart of Konoha. It was a purposeful and significant statement.

Haruki is sure that all the clan heads and higher-ups of Konoha are now reassessing the Saint's standing and importance. They are forced to tip-toe around someone who has the Daimyo's ear at all times. But Haruki has no problem casually conversing with the excited Akimichi, finding it more authentic.

"I'm also going to need to try the 'burgers' Mamoru keeps talking about non-stop," Choza eagerly adds. Mamoru nods in agreement, having lost sleep, craving the delicacy for two whole days now. "I'm surprised the burger chains haven't reached Konoha yet," Haruki gently adds while thinking. "I even hear they're adding stores to the Land of Wind, Water, and Lightning already," he murmurs.

The perpetually curious Shikaku asks, "There's a restaurant chain selling these 'burgers'?" to which Haruki nods. "I once made it and some of the nobles became curious. They fell in love with it, so they wanted to do a business venture together," he muses, "I offer the recipes, concept of the restaurant, blueprint of how the services should be like, and they handle the implementation, hiring, and other more practical factors," surprising everyone in the room.

Realization dawns in those intelligent eyes, but Haruki clarifies for the other two, "You don't actually think that the pay as a doctor is enough to afford even the down payment of my house, do you?" He awkwardly chuckles. "Most of the patients I treat while I travel are civilians who are barely getting by. Many times, I don't even charge them," he adds. Choza and Mamoru gasp in surprise, while Shikaku wears a pensive expression, lost in thought.

Shikaku quickly grabs Mamoru's arm before he can jump on Haruki again, while Choza simply can't be bothered; he is a man on a mission. "And what about lasagna? Is it also served in these fast food chains?" he asks eagerly. Haruki softly chuckles at the man's enthusiasm and replies, "No, lasagna is not typically served at fast food chains." The unique term confuses the others, and Haruki tries to find the best way to explain the differences as he observes their puzzled expressions. "I introduced a new concept called fast food chains. They specialize in providing quick-service meals that are prepared in a standardized and efficient manner. Their menus often focus on items like burgers, fries, and other convenient options."

He continues, "These fast food chains are completely different from the traditional restaurants and bars in Konoha. The latter offer a wider variety of dishes and provide a more leisurely dining experience. In these establishments, you can find a range of local specialties, international cuisines, and a carefully curated selection of drinks to complement your meal. The emphasis is on the quality and unique flavors of the dishes, which are prepared with care and attention to detail. Fast food chains, on the other hand, prioritize speed, efficiency, and affordability."

Haruki can see understanding blooming in their eyes as he tries to bridge the gap between their familiar food culture and the foreign concept of fast food. "Fast food chains are popular for their convenience and speed. They are designed for people on the go who need a quick meal without much time to spare. While they may not offer the same depth of flavors and personalized service as traditional restaurants, they do have their own appeal and can be enjoyed as an occasional indulgence. And they're much more affordable too, so the general public can afford them."

Haruki quickly explains what a burger is, the fries that are usually served as a side, and why carbonated drinks are a match made in heaven for these three. Choza and Mamoru are now buzzing with excitement while Shikaku seems impressed by Haruki's depth of 'unique' knowledge. "When are these fast food chains coming to Konoha?!" Mamoru asks. "I'm not sure," Haruki ponders. "I'm usually too busy to even think about handling the business ventures unless they consult with me on specific issues or menu offerings. I'll ask them for you," he adds, disappointing Mamoru.

"But that doesn't mean we can't have burgers!" Haruki has an 'Aha!' look after thinking for a bit. "Actually, it's perfect," Haruki says, looking excited for the first time. "I was planning to have a picnic party with the orphanage kids on the upcoming Daimyo's birthday public holiday. I wanted to dedicate most of the Daimyo's gifts to more useful causes," he shyly adds, "How about I hire the Akimichi clan to cater the food? We can make burgers if you want," Haruki suggests to the Akimichi, who's practically bouncing off the walls.

Mamoru embraces Choza tightly, their exuberant joy evident as they perform their little dance, chanting "Yes!" repeatedly. Haruki shares in their excitement, his own enthusiasm shining through. Meanwhile, Shikaku, caught up in the celebratory atmosphere, poses a question amid their joyful dance. "Is it alright to share the recipe with the Akimichi clan so easily?" he asks. Haruki nods, his reply filled with assurance. "As long as the Akimichi clan uses the recipe in a way that doesn't exploit it for monetary gain or intentionally harm the sales of the burger chains, I have no objections," he explains, directing his gaze towards the dancing duo. "Besides, I highly doubt they would do such a thing. And it would be rather cruel to make them wait for the burger chain to come to town," he chuckles softly.

For the first time, Shikaku's face turns more gentle towards him. "I am very grateful for your help, Saint-sama," Shikaku says. Haruki shakes his head in disagreement and says, "Please don't call me that. Just my name is enough, Mr…?" he asks naively. "Shikaku. Nara Shikaku. I'm the current head of the Nara clan." Haruki's eyes widen like saucers as he plays the dumb boy perfectly. "No need to be formal with me, Haruki-dono. It's a drag," Shikaku drawls.

"Then please leave the formalities as well, Shikaku-san," Haruki says after taking a second to 'gather' himself. "The Nara clan will also be interested in sponsoring the picnics, if you don't mind." Haruki beams with joy, and the Akimichi also want to pitch in. "The more, the merrier!" Mamoru says.

They all converse and plan for the massive picnic. The Akimichi will offer staffing to help cook the burgers on the spot and use their supplier connections to procure the raw materials. The Nara and Haruki will offer funding to cover all the costs. Haruki also wants to cover the staffing cost, which draws outrage from the Akimichi's side.

The Nara will also handle the necessary paperwork, including permits to possibly rent a park in case there are too many children. The Akimichi Head hints at wanting to go on a business venture with Haruki regarding the Lasagna once Haruki 'accidentally' mentions that it's one of the many 'pasta' dishes. Haruki gives a favorable answer. Once most things are settled, Mamoru offers, no, insists on accompanying Haruki home. So Haruki leaves. Unbeknownst to him, the two clan heads remain to debrief on their first meeting with the Saint.

...

"He's a nice fellow, no, a good one," the Akimichi says, clearly swayed at the prospect of more unique and immensely palatable food. The Nara has to admit that he agrees. Though the Nara guesses that his friend is also referring to the possible budding romantic relationship between Mamoru and the famous healer, if he swings that way, that is.

"Everything about him is blindingly perfect. Too perfect," the implication is not missed by the Akimichi, who frowns. "I don't think it's necessarily an act. Most people just seem to celebrate him for being young, his noble status, reputation, and insane talent. Forgetting that he couldn't have made it that far without keen intellect and wisdom. The boy interacts with nobles and even the Daimyo all the time. He must be smarter than he lets on, intentionally or not."

"He's a good person," Choza stresses again, disliking his lifelong friend psychoanalyzing his new one. The Nara lazily looks at him and says, "And now we know that for sure." The Nara, ever protective of the kind Akimichi, adds, "Maybe we should ask Inoichi to co-sponsor the picnic as well." He quickly changes the topic, earning an ecstatic nod from his fellow.

It seems that the seed Haruki is planting will bloom sooner rather than later.

Gathered before him are all the matrons and heads of the orphanages across Konoha. He has invited them to the hospital's conference room as they are running a bit short on time. Or at least, that's what they have been told. Haruki believes it would be rather tactless to flaunt his wealth in front of the public, and inviting them to his home would only deepen their wounds. He had subtly hinted at this earlier in the afternoon during his conversation with the Nara Clan Head.

Wealth begets trouble, after all. And he's sure the Nara will understand just how troublesome it all could be. "I'm very grateful for all of you to make some time for me despite the sudden notice," he politely starts after briefly introducing himself.

"I was hoping to discuss a few matters with all of you," he smiles at the nervous bunch. He shyly says, "You may have heard about yesterday's incident," his eyes refusing to look at any of them. A few giggles and cooing can be heard. They handle kids for a living, after all.

"I already live a very comfortable life, but it hasn't always been that way," he begins to share his story. "I, too, was once an orphan," he says solemnly. "My parents were killed right before my eyes by some Iwa-nins," he says, his voice filled with pain. He swallows hard, the memories still haunting him. "I was.." he hesitated for a moment, "I was there.. and I felt their hearts stop beating," he adds, looking away as if lost in the memory. The room grows cold, and a heavy silence settles in. "But who among us doesn't have stories like these?" he coughs, attempting to ease the tension that has filled the room. "I'm certain that many of the other orphans share similar experiences," he remarks, and some in the room nod in agreement.

"My life changed when I met Tsunade-sensei, who gave me a chance. So I worked hard, fought harder, until I could make something out of my life," he smiles warmly. "I'm lucky," he raises his hand to placate the others. "I really am," he adds. "So I also want to give back, to hopefully give a chance to other orphans who weren't yet fortunate enough to get one," he gets back to the point.

"I was thinking of using all the gold gifted to me by the Daimyo to give back to the community instead," shock spreads across their faces. "We will do it in steps, ensuring the money lasts for years to come." He continues with his specific plans: fixing the buildings of orphanages, improving amenities, hiring more staff and social workers to prevent neglect, and ensuring a stable food supply for the growing children. Some funds will also be allocated to education and purchasing recreational equipment. After all, they're kids, and they deserve to have fun.

None of the guests in the room utter a word. They are all shocked at the unexpected turn of events. They had heard of the Saint's charitable activities, but considering he has only been here for a week, the fact that he intends to use the gifts he received from the Daimyo, THE Daimyo, for the benefit of others leaves them speechless. The thought reverberates among them, shared by all.

So he adds more. "I will also fund a project with the hospital to provide annual free check-ups for the kids," he says, momentarily ignoring the fact that he is one as well. "I'm planning to include mental therapy in the future as well, but the hospital is severely understaffed in that department," he adds with a hint of disappointment. "It's definitely something we need to work on."

Then, for a final surprise, he adds, "Oh, and the Akimichi and Nara clans have agreed to co-sponsor a picnic on the upcoming public holiday. All of the kids can come to the picnic, enjoy delicious food, and get to know everyone else," he says, beaming with joy. Has he mentioned how useful the sub-skill (Sacred Charisma) is? Thank Kami. He doesn't have to try too hard to maintain the 'happy' look all the time.

Haruki, on the other hand, is brimming with excitement for an entirely different reason. He imagines the expression on a certain brooding one-eyed man's face when he realizes his attempt to exploit orphanages and kidnap children has failed.

Christm— Oseibo seems to have come early for all of them.

Arriving at his abode after a whole shift, he sinks into the plush couch, relishing the moment of relaxation. No one is currently at home; Tsunade and Shizune are probably out at a bar somewhere. Audibly sighing, he reflects on the events of the past few days. He's relieved that he managed to meet the Akimichi sooner than planned. When he noticed an Akimichi working at the hospital, he swiftly devised the Mamoru and burger incident, realizing he needed the clan's help for the upcoming picnic. Setting it up on his own would have been exhausting. On the brighter side, he now has an 'in' with the Akimichi and Nara clans, though he still remains wary of the latter.

Haruki's dedication to charity is a well-known and established fact. He has built hospitals in remote areas, assisted in rebuilding schools, provided aid to disaster-stricken or war-torn regions, and much more. This is one of the reasons why he is referred to as a 'Saint' in the first place. While he genuinely believes that even a small act of help can profoundly impact lives, there is also a partial truth he acknowledges. He finds it advantageous to use the gold coins he has received as gifts and his accumulated wealth to give back to the community. It helps him garner favor and likeability among the people. Moreover, through sheer cosmic luck, it has become one of his most significant boons. He hazily recalls that fateful day.

A few years ago, while he was managing the charities he was running, piles of unfamiliar letters came into his residence. They were filled with poor handwriting and littered with colorful doodles, completely unusual from the other letters he usually receives. The legible words he could parse through were words of gratitude. Yes, they were written by orphaned kids like him who had been on the receiving end of his charity work.

They told simple stories of how excited they were for the first time seeing 'cool' toys, how the roof no longer drips, how soft their beds are, how there's now more food on the table, and how they can buy thicker clothes as the seasons approach winter.

Ah, the magnitude of it dawns on him. He has helped someone, whether it was truly his intention or not. Someone's day has been made better and more fun, their sleep, which is important for their growth at their age, more comfortable. Their orphanage has been patched up, their nights less cold and more bearable, their empty stomachs now more full than ever.

He belatedly notices that his hands are shaking as it becomes harder to read, some of the letters stained and wet from his tears. They are real people. Children left orphaned and alone by wars and other cruel fates. At that moment, a voice he often prayed to return rings in his ears.

{Confirmed. Unique Skill [Charity] has been acquired}

Ah... Fuck. Why now of all times?

So he delves deeper into charity, driven by the desire to improve their lives and, hopefully, enhance his own abilities. In essence, not much has changed, but what else can he do? Being immensely wealthy, he has the means to support not just a few orphanages but even more. He initiates a trend for other nobles to follow suit, ensuring that the noble class joins in the effort. To maintain transparency and prevent corruption, he even employs qualified investigators and overseers to monitor the proper use of funds.

Yet the damn voice never returns. Screw the world.

--

Unique Skill [Charity]

Amplification: The ability to amplify something near-infinitely.

Multilayer Barrier: A thin, colorless, invisible coating covering and protecting the body.

Sacred Charisma: Those in its presence feel an overwhelming sense of serenity, comfort, respect, openness and ease towards the user. It's as if they're in the company of a divine being - radiating grace, kindness, and tranquility.

Spatial Manipulation

--