Just as Gekko Chizan was wondering how to refuse,
Yukimura smiled slowly and said:
"I wonder, have you ever heard of Nadeshiko Village?"
Nadeshiko Village?
Hearing that name, Gekko Chizan's eyes instantly widened.
This was the daughter nation of the shinobi world—a place built on two mountains, one large and one small, each with its own village, connected by a massive wooden bridge between them.The village had a unique custom: to marry into the village, you had to defeat a strong warrior there.
It was said that even Jiraiya had once visited Nadeshiko Village and… well… had some rather memorable interactions with its village leader.
Seeing Chizan's shocked expression, Yukimura instantly understood that he knew about it.
Then he thought again—of course he would. After all, this was someone who barely hid his lecherous side. How could he not know about a country full of beautiful women?
"Hehehe, the Daimyo's mansion has trade relations with Nadeshiko Village. Although Nadeshiko isn't part of the Land of Fire, it's located in the surrounding area. I wonder… would the beauties of Nadeshiko catch your eye?"
"That's a genuine land of beauties—from the village leader down to the villagers, all are beautiful women. Especially the leader—every leader of Nadeshiko Village has always been the most beautiful woman in the entire village."
"If Chizan agrees to join the Daimyo's mansion, I'm sure the Daimyo would be happy to introduce you."
Chizan was dumbfounded.
A village like Nadeshiko could be used as a bargaining chip?
As expected of the Land of Fire's Daimyo.
Even though he never appeared in the original story, this alone showed he had some boldness.
But—hmph—did they really take Gekko Chizan for some fool?
Nadeshiko Village? That's a place where you have to marry in.
He was a healthy young man, with a beauty already at home—why would he go marry into another place?
"Yukimura-san, I'll have to think this one over."
"Hehe, I know Nadeshiko Village well enough, but I also know the twists behind it. I'm not about to give up a whole garden for a single flower."
"It's not worth it."
"My mission's almost over—let me think about it after I return to the village."
Hearing this, Yukimura frowned slightly.
Chizan was more cautious than he had expected.
But he wouldn't give up. The Daimyo still valued Chizan highly, and if he could recruit him, his own retirement would be secure.
"Very well. Think it over, little brother Chizan. If you join the Daimyo's mansion, the Daimyo will never treat you poorly."
"And the matter of payment—well, that can be negotiated."
"Hehehehe."
There was a sly glint hidden in his otherwise calm smile.
But smiling old men weren't the scary part—what was scary was the Daimyo behind him.
Tsk tsk.
Too bad for them, Chizan had never played by the book.
"Well said, well said. We've got a few days left in this mission, so I'll be in your care for now, Yukimura-san."
"Since the enemy's been dealt with, I can finally enjoy a few days at the Daimyo's mansion."
Hearing the word "enjoy," the first thing Yukimura thought of was the fiasco at the casino earlier—causing trouble, paying damages, and then the casino being robbed afterward. Truly, the heavens could be unpredictable.
Thinking of that, Yukimura couldn't help but feel uneasy and gave a reminder.
"Chizan, enjoy yourself, but… some things are fine just once."
"If it happens again, the Daimyo might take offense. You understand, right?"
Chizan grinned knowingly.
This was clearly a reminder about the casino incident.
Hmph—how could the same trick be used twice?
"Don't worry, Yukimura-san."
Besides, Chizan wasn't planning to stir up any more trouble.
The past days of fighting had exhausted him—he needed a proper rest.
"Kakashi, Obito, Rin—starting tomorrow, we can stay at the Daimyo's mansion."
"Once the mission deadline arrives, we'll return to the village."
"In the meantime, you're free to move around—but Obito, you're not allowed back at the casino."
Uchiha Obito immediately pulled a strange face.
He had been planning to try his luck a couple more times, and now it was over before it began.
"Chizan-sensei, I want to find a place to train. I feel like the Lightning Blades are perfect for lightning body forging."
"I wonder if the Daimyo's mansion has such a place?"
Kakashi looked at the two blades before him, a firm resolve flashing in his eyes.
Lightning body forging could greatly enhance one's physique.
Although it came with certain side effects and could even harm the body, he had already been experimenting with it.
As his father used to say—if you can't endure the bitterest of hardship, how can you hope to be strong?
"That's a good mindset, and I support you—but the Daimyo's mansion doesn't really have a place suitable for that kind of training."
"If you must train, I'd suggest heading out to the forest or a hillside. At least that way, a lightning strike won't harm others."
Looking at the serious-faced Kakashi, Chizan's lips twitched.
Was this kid starting to develop a masochistic streak?
Lightning body forging? Did he think he was some lightning deity?
With that thin frame of his, wouldn't a lightning bolt fry him on the spot?
But on second thought, it made sense.
Kakashi was the type who would dare to cut through lightning itself.
Although he hadn't yet created the Chidori, it didn't seem far off.
"Still, Kakashi—if you keep training with lightning, haven't you thought of developing your own lightning-style jutsu?"
"Lightning from nature is fine, but nothing beats what you control yourself."
Not wanting Kakashi to go down the wrong path, Chizan tried to guide him.
Unexpectedly, Kakashi shook his head, his voice resolute as he dropped another thunderous statement.
"Chizan-sensei, I've thought about what you said before, but after I heard about the Third Raikage fighting against ten thousand enemies alone, I had a new idea."
"Instead of single-mindedly pursuing attack power, I should pursue my own toughness."
"My father always said that what allowed him to stand above the rest wasn't just the Hatake clan's swordsmanship—it was also his far superior reaction speed and mobility."
"That's what made the name of Konoha's White Fang known throughout the shinobi world."
"I'm still young. I can still be tempered. I'm going to build my physique to a certain level, so that even without ninjutsu, just with the sword in my hand, I can become my enemy's nightmare!"
His words made Rin and Obito nod repeatedly.
Only Chizan stared, wide-eyed, with a single thought in mind: This is bad.
History had shifted—Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi's father, was still alive, so Kakashi's personality hadn't changed.
On top of that, with Sakumo retired from the frontlines and focusing more on training his son, offering constant advice, Kakashi was heading down a completely different path from the original timeline.
At this rate, the cold, aloof Kakashi from the original story would disappear entirely—replaced by a brawny warrior named Kakashi…
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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