"What? You want to make a deal with me?"
In front of the prison gate, Tsunade glared at Hanzō, fury burning in her eyes.
"You didn't forget the current situation between Amegakure and Konoha, did you? You want to negotiate with me? Keep dreaming!"
Seeing her explosive temper, Hanzō lifted a hand to his forehead. As expected—talking nicely never works on her.
"Then let me show you my bargaining chip."
While he spoke, Hanzō pulled out a scroll and released its seal.
A gleaming green necklace appeared on its surface.
Tsunade's eyes instantly sharpened.
"So it was you who stole it. And with that attitude, you still think you can bargain with me?"
"No, no. By the rules, after you were captured, everything on your body belongs to me. This necklace is mine—fair and square."
"After all, this is a relic infused with the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's power. It's worth two mountains' worth of treasure."
"Amegakure is a poor village. As spoils of war, taking it is perfectly justified. This one necklace is worth half the Hidden Rain."
"I'm a shinobi of Konoha. I won't sell out the Leaf."
"Take a look at these Konoha shinobi dragged back with you."
"I'm adding money—you can see how many injured Konoha ninjas were captured. Some of them have injuries our medical ninjutsu can't treat. In a few days, they may die right in front of you."
"I can undo your chakra seal and allow you to treat them."
"You…"
Tsunade's fists trembled, her whole body shaking uncontrollably.
Beside her, Orochimaru was perfectly calm—clearly he had expected this.
"You bastard."
She slammed her fist into the prison pillar.
BOOM.
A violent gust blasted past Hanzō's face, the wind tearing at his clothes.
Seeing the countless sealing tags covering the cell, Hanzō finally understood something.
"…Tsunade… with a temper like that, you're never getting married."
"What!?!"
Both Tsunade and Orochimaru froze. That line sounded very familiar…
Another thunderous punch landed, veins bulging across Tsunade's forehead.
"You deadpan bastard! Air-duct-for-a-brain! You want to die?! You're ten years older than us and you still can't get a date! What does that have to do with me, huh? You think you have the right to talk—?!"
…
Hanzō fell into deep thought.
…
After a while, as Tsunade cooled off, she stared at the silent Hanzō—now feeling strangely uncomfortable.
"Hey."
"…Hey, Hanzō?"
BOOM.
Tsunade slammed the pillar again.
"Damn it, I'm talking to you!"
Hanzō finally snapped out of his trance—though visibly deflated, even the pressure he radiated weakened.
'In my last life I was eighteen, in this one I'm twenty-eight… together that's nearly fifty… This life is damned…'
Jolted awake by Tsunade's punch, he finally remembered his purpose for being here.
"Ah, sorry. Zoned out. Continue."
Tsunade: "…"
"…Did I actually hit your weak spot?"
Hanzō's face twitched.
"You don't get it. 'A man without a woman in his heart—his blade is naturally sharp.' I'm tempering my will."
He looked so righteous that Tsunade almost believed him.
"Ahem—back to business."
"Have you made a decision?"
"What are your terms?"
"I already hinted earlier—Amegakure is undergoing a total medical reform. We don't have top-tier talent, not even enough standard medical instructors."
"And now one of the most elite specialists in the whole world has delivered herself to my doorstep. Like hell I'd waste that opportunity."
"I won't make a deal with you."
"Then watch your comrades go to hell."
"…"
Orochimaru silently observed. He knew Hanzō had completely seized Tsunade's psychological weak point. Now she just needed to secure as much leverage as possible despite holding the losing hand.
"Amegakure's medical capabilities can't compare to any major nation's—not even remotely close."
"What drips from between your teeth would take us years—decades—to make up for. So you don't need to worry about exposing anything. We're using techniques you abandoned generations ago."
"…This is my first time hearing a village leader openly admit weakness to an enemy."
"Don't forget—you're the victors here. You just defeated Konoha."
"Boosting another's morale and destroying your own—that's not how a good leader acts."
"That's reality. Precisely because I am the leader, I must take responsibility for Amegakure. How could I abandon my village's future for the sake of pride?"
"So your answer is?"
Tsunade smiled sweetly. Since Hanzō had laid bare his weaknesses, she had no reason to retreat.
"Heh… Hanzō, do you know how high the price is to hire a top-tier medical-nin? And I'm Senju Tsunade—the greatest medical-ninja in Konoha. What you're offering isn't enough."
It's enough, Tsunade.
Hanzō's eyes darkened as he raised the necklace.
"If I want to, this necklace alone can hire the best medical-nin from all five great nations. They'd never refuse a commission of this value."
"Do you really believe your skill is worth more than this necklace?"
"You—!"
Just as Tsunade was about to explode, Orochimaru placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
This necklace was a keepsake from the First Hokage. Orochimaru knew its importance—if Hanzō really sold it…
And clearly, Hanzō had reached his bottom line. Pushing further would be dangerous.
And Hanzō was right—this deal doesn't harm Konoha. For Tsunade, it's all profit.
Orochimaru's intervention worked—Tsunade's expression soon returned to normal.
"Fine. I accept your terms."
"But you'll release my seal now and let me out."
"Of course."
With a gesture from Hanzō, the gate opened. Tsunade strode out without hesitation.
"Release."
ZZZ—
As Hanzō formed seals, the chakra block on Tsunade dissolved instantly, her chakra flooding back.
FWOOOOOM.
The moment the seal vanished, Tsunade's fist—shrouded in blue chakra—shot toward Hanzō's face.
Hanzō's hand still hovered at the final seal.
WHOOSH!
A gale ten times stronger than before blasted Hanzō directly.
Tsunade's fist stopped less than a centimeter from his nose.
On reflex, every Ame-nin drew kunai. Behind the bars, Orochimaru and Jiraiya stood up, and the Konoha prisoners nearly died of fright.
"Hanzō, you really dared. If this punch landed, not even you would survive."
"Hmph. Don't underestimate me."
Hanzō lowered his hand and met Tsunade's gaze.
"On the name of Hanzō—Senju Hashirama's granddaughter, princess of the Land of Fire, will never betray a deal."
"Treat your comrades first. The Ame-nin beside you has the keys."
"Someone will come for you later. Until then, stay here quietly. Treating these injuries will exhaust you—you won't have energy to cause trouble."
As he spoke, Hanzō tossed the necklace back to Tsunade.
She held it silently, staring at him.
"You were right earlier. My value probably doesn't match what this necklace is worth. So why did you…"
"No—I retract that."
"Your value is far greater. I believe Konoha's greatest medical-ninja will create something surpassing this necklace."
"A great teacher shapes the future of their students. They're not just the future of Amegakure—they're the future of the entire Land of Rain."
"No matter how poor a place is, you never cut education first."
"Sacrificing measurable wealth for unlimited potential… that's a trade I profit from."
Orochimaru watched Hanzō thoughtfully.
Tsunade felt she was on the brink of understanding something—but couldn't grasp it fully.
Only Jiraiya muttered:
"Tsunade… your price went up again…"
Jiraiya: the bonus item in a buy-two-get-one-free deal.
"I'm leaving. Someone will come find you later."
Seeing Tsunade still lost in thought, Hanzō turned and left the dungeon.
A few steps later, he paused and turned around.
"The orphanage funds have already been approved. Did you need something else?"
Standing behind him was Yakushi Nonō.
"I don't understand some things, so I came to ask."
"What is it?"
"Why? The orphanage and medical-nin have nothing to do with what you should be focusing on now."
"The Great Ninja War has already begun. Battles will only grow fiercer. Shouldn't you be putting all your resources into military buildup?"
"If Suna betrays the alliance, if Iwagakure retaliates, if Konoha turns hostile… what will you do?"
"You know—I joined you for peace. I don't want the place I live to fall into war."
"At the very least, you should reassure me."
"Talking to me like this—aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
"…I don't think you will. I've never met anyone like you."
"…Let me ask you first—how do you feel about the orphanage work?"
"…It suits me. If nothing unexpected happens, I want to stay there. I like the children."
"Exactly. That's why I need to tell you. I don't want those children thrown back into chaos."
"Hah… then listen."
"Konoha won't strike. Even if they finish with Suna, the other three great nations are actively attacking. They have no manpower to spare."
"Iwagakure is in internal turmoil. According to my intel, Konoha and Suna are already marching toward the Land of Earth. Iwa's victory condition in this war is simply survival."
"As for Suna—one, we have a pact. Two, I've already shown them my power. Unless they assassinate me first, attacking Amegakure would cost more than they could possibly gain."
"So everything you worry about is unnecessary."
"This is wartime. Wounded are everywhere. If not now, when should we develop medical-nin?"
"And because of the war, orphans are everywhere. If not now, when do we build orphanages? Once there's peace, where would the orphans come from?"
"…"
"I guess I was overthinking. As the village leader, you must have your own plans."
"But even now, I can't believe it. I thought the best you could do was drive your enemies out. Who would've thought you'd actually counterattack Konoha?"
"Your strength is unbelievable. I gather intel, yet couldn't find any information about your true power."
"But let me remind you—Amegakure security needs improvement."
"You know how many spies I found in the village while you were gone?"
"Don't misunderstand. I just don't want to expose myself. If Danzō discovers me, that will be troublesome."
"I've already gotten rid of that trouble. From now on, be careful."
"…I didn't expect that. I overlooked it."
"Well then, I should go. The orphanage needs me. I don't have much free time each day."
"Mm. Thank you for your work."
Nonō turned and left.
Watching her back fade into the hallway, Hanzō recalled her earlier concern.
"…Let Rikuto handle it…"
As for why I'm cultivating medical-nin?
Obviously—to become stronger.
A ninja without a kekkei genkai can only grow through mutation.
In the original history, after the Third Shinobi War, Amegakure didn't even have a successor. Only Hanzō remained.
The five great nations rebuilt in barely over a decade.
The Land of Rain remained sickly and weak. Even Hanzō couldn't help it.
That's the truth—Hanzō saw the gap between a small nation and a large one. One man alone can't bridge it. That's why he eventually declined.
Since he already knows this fate, he must prepare early.
Now that he finally has resources—and Amegakure lacks kekkei genkai—he must invest his limited effort where it yields the greatest growth.
And in the future:
Sky Country's Shinno and his medical-based body modifications that opened the Eight Gates with little side effect…
Yomi's Dark Medical Ninjutsu that turned four chūnin into elite jōnin using chakra-sharing…
Hashirama's cells, cursed seals, poisons…
Every one of these ties back to medical ninjutsu.
If ordinary people don't "mutate," how can they fight monsters?
This Shinobi War is basically secured for Amegakure.
It's time to accelerate development—especially with Sky Country's chakra armor, Land of Iron's technology, Sky Fortress blueprints…
SLAP.
Hanzō slapped his forehead.
"I forgot to ask her to investigate the Land of Sky."
"…Next time."
"For now, I need to inspect that force capable of destroying half a continent—the Stone of Gelel."
-------------------------------///
150 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
300 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
500 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
700 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
1000 Powerstones - Bonus Chap