Konohagakure, Hokage's Office.
"So you're saying the daimyo really has ulterior motives?"
"Forming his own personal ninja force...?"
"Tch, isn't our Konoha already the armed force of the Land of Fire? For the daimyo to do this... it's really disheartening."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, furrowed his brows deeply.
Gekko Chizan had returned to the village and immediately sold out the daimyo's mansion without hesitation.
All the bribery attempts, all the talk about forming a ninja unit under the daimyo—he didn't keep a shred of it to himself. He reported every detail to the old man Hokage.
At the same time, he received exactly the kind of rewards he wanted.
[Ding! Detected that the host perfectly demonstrated two-faced behavior, directly selling out the daimyo's mansion and gaining the Hokage's favor. Special reward: hand seals +5.]
[Ding! Detected that the host perfectly demonstrated two-faced behavior, completely ignoring the daimyo's invitation and stabbing him in the back. Special reward: 100 million ryō!]
In an instant, a check representing 100 million ryō appeared in Gekko Chizan's hands.
He couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.
"Chizan, you've done very well. We now understand the daimyo's motives. Haa..."
"As for the follow-up matters, you don't need to worry about them."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his disciple's disciple with great satisfaction, thinking to himself: This is a fine young man of Konoha! Hahaha, good job, Orochimaru, you've trained him well! Excellent, very excellent!
"You also handled the matter of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen quite well."
"Raiga Kurosuki and Hōzuki Mangetsu are both powerful—especially the latter, a true genius of the Hōzuki clan."
"In their previous clash with our shinobi, they caused considerable casualties."
"Chizan, it seems your strength has already reached a certain level. Not bad."
"Given your recent performance, I'll discuss with the other advisors about giving you a reward."
Oh? A special reward?
Gekko Chizan's interest was instantly piqued.
"Can't you give me a hint about the reward?"
"Don't bother with the Scroll of Seals, I've already read it."
"If you really want to reward me, I remember the Second-sama left behind a sword—how about giving that to me?"
"Hokage-sama, it's not my fault, you see—I'm missing the Lightning element in my Five Elements. I finally managed to take down Raiga Kurosuki, but my disciple snatched the sword away."
"As a teacher, I can't exactly fight my own student for it, right?"
"And my teacher Orochimaru does have a sword, but it doesn't suit me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nearly slapped himself. Why did he even mention a reward?
With this brat's attitude, what could you even give him? Nothing would ever be enough!
And asking so boldly, too?
The Sword of the Thunder God?
That was the personal weapon of his own teacher, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama—the sharpest blade in the shinobi world, infused with boundless lightning power.
And this kid actually knew about it.
"Hmph! The door's behind you. Don't let me keep you."
Thrown out of the office, Gekko Chizan pouted in dissatisfaction and muttered,
"Old geezer's a sly one."
"One moment he says he'll give me a reward, the next he's being stingy. It's just a sword, isn't it?"
"What's the point of letting it gather dust in storage? Better to give it to me..."
Before he could finish, the Third's furious voice roared through the building.
"You little brat! I can hear you! Get out of here!"
The sheer volume made the entire Hokage building tremble three times. Startled, Gekko Chizan bolted—
—only to run straight into something massive.
Feeling the distinct softness and bounce, he instinctively blurted out, "Wow... soft... big... springy..."
"BAKA! Where do you think you're crashing into!!!"
"Shine!"
Boom!
The wall shattered as Gekko Chizan, along with part of it, went flying.
Tsunade shook her hand irritably, glaring at the younger man she had just punched into orbit.
"Chizan, you little brat, just you wait!"
Still airborne, Chizan's head was spinning from the punch. But when Tsunade's furious voice reached his ears, he shivered.
"Hiss... she held back, right?"
"Otherwise, I'd probably be in pieces..."
"That monstrous strength is terrifying..."
Yes—despite being in a rage, Tsunade had recognized it was Gekko Chizan and had restrained herself.
The blow still hurt like hell, but it wasn't lethal.
Landing outside the Hokage building, Chizan lay on the ground staring at the sky, thinking he might have just seen his great-grandmother.
It hurt...
Alright, Tsunade... so that's how you want to play it. Giving me such a 'welcome gift'? Fine. Don't blame me if I come give you a dream visit tonight!
Hmph!
"Old man, I'm here."
"What do you want with me?"
Pushing open the Hokage's office door, Tsunade still looked slightly annoyed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe, then suddenly chuckled.
"Only you can treat that brat. I bet he didn't get away without pain from that punch."
"Well done."
"Alright, the reason I called you is because I've approved your proposal to increase medical equipment. I'll leave the follow-up arrangements to you."
At that, Tsunade's annoyance vanished instantly, replaced with a smile.
Ever since the Second Great Ninja War, she had been advocating for better medical equipment and greater investment in the medical corps, but had been thwarted time and again.
She hadn't expected to get approval today.
"Don't be too happy yet. You know the situation—we need you not only for the medical side, but also on the frontlines."
"Orochimaru will head to the Land of Rivers. I need you to go to the Land of Grass and assist Jiraiya."
Tsunade nodded. As long as she could push forward medical development, going to war was just a small matter.
"And one more thing—because of Gekko Chizan's contributions, I plan to award him on behalf of the village."
"But that brat actually opened his mouth and asked for the Second-sama's Sword of the Thunder God. What's your take on this?"
The Sword of the Thunder God, like the Scroll of Seals, was a relic of the Second Hokage. But unlike the Scroll, the sword had always been kept in the Senju clan's ancestral home.
Now that Lady Mito had passed away, the Senju estate was under Tsunade's care.
Since the Second Hokage was Tsunade's granduncle, any use of his sword would need her approval.
Yes, Sarutobi Hiruzen was preparing to give the Sword of the Thunder God to Gekko Chizan.
He was his own disciple's disciple—if he didn't look after him, who would? And while the brat was indeed a bit of a troublemaker, his abilities were undeniable.
"Just give it to him. It's just sitting there anyway."
"Do you really need to ask me? You're the Hokage, you decide."
"Alright, I'm going. I still have several surgeries waiting at the hospital."