Twelve hours had passed since Reiji had creatively implied that Ippongi was... underperforming.
At the break of dawn, Reiji woke up feeling refreshed. After a full night of training, he could clearly sense his total chakra reserves had increased. At this rate, he was almost on par with Mizukuma—that fraud of a shinobi.
Mizukuma might carry the title of Special Jōnin, but in reality, he was nothing more than a glorified Chūnin.
Which meant Reiji's chakra was fast approaching the Chūnin level.
That, for him, was great news.
With a bigger chakra pool, he could cast jutsu without holding back.
Plus, his unique cellular structure meant his cells didn't die. He could continuously draw physical energy from them and convert it into chakra.
While getting ready, Reiji deftly helped a still-sleeping Rie into her coat.
The little chubby girl had just turned four today—still in that constantly drowsy phase—so she didn't resist as Reiji dressed her and hoisted her onto his back.
He couldn't bring himself to leave her alone. He worried she might get scared, or worse, be reminded of painful memories. So wherever he went, she came with him.
That kind of trauma... only time could heal.
After mooching a hearty breakfast at Ippongi's, Reiji led the still-groggy Rie out the door alongside their host.
"Old man Ippongi, still mad?" Reiji grinned, leaning over with a sheepish face.
The plump man huffed dramatically, picked up his pace, and tried to walk off in a show of pride.
Seeing this, Reiji chuckled to himself. "Oh right, I heard there's a way to deal with that... issue."
Up ahead, Ippongi's ears twitched. He stopped on the spot, turned back with a serious face, and said,
"Hey, Reiji-kun, we haven't talked about your work schedule yet! Why don't we chat as we walk?"
Reiji grinned. "Sure, walk and talk."
"What time are you planning to work each day? I'll set up a private forging room for you."
"After 4 p.m. I'm enrolling in the Ninja Academy, so I'll only have time in the evenings." Reiji stroked his chin, explaining his plan.
"Ninja Academy?" Ippongi blurted. He'd figured a kid like Reiji was all about making money like himself—not the academic type.
"Wait, Reiji-kun... you don't mean you want to become a ninja too? Damn it, don't tell me you want to be a pervy old man!"
Oh great, he's learned to use that line now.
Reiji rolled his eyes hard.
"I'm trying to save money, okay? Think about it—once I've got cash, won't I need bodyguards?"
"Of course! Gotta prioritize safety," Ippongi laughed awkwardly.
"And is one bodyguard enough?"
"Nope." Ippongi shook his head. He wasn't rich enough to need them, but he'd seen wealthy folks surround themselves with guards.
"Hiring lots of bodyguards costs a lot of money, right?"
"Yep!"
"Are you gonna pay for them?"
That made Ippongi freeze. He immediately shook his head so fast his cheeks jiggled. "No way. Anyone who foots that bill is an idiot."
You're the idiot here.
Reiji sighed. "So if I learn a few self-defense jutsu at the Academy, I'm basically saving like... a hundred million."
Ippongi nodded solemnly, temporarily removing the pervert label from Reiji's forehead.
"By the way, Old man Ippongi, how much is your house worth?" Reiji finally asked the question he'd been curious about.
That courtyard, that traditional house—it was totally his style. He wanted to know the price just to have a goal in mind.
Hearing the question, Ippongi furrowed his thick brows and tilted his head.
"Which house? This whole area's mine, you know. Prices vary."
As he said it, he waved broadly, gesturing to the entire block.
What the hell?! Where did this show-off come from? Drag him out and execute him—five minutes, firing squad, now!
Stone-faced, Reiji muttered, "The one you live in."
"Oh!" Ippongi snapped his fingers, grinning. "That one? Around twenty million ryō. Not too pricey. I just like how peaceful it is."
What the hell!
Reiji said nothing more. He picked up Rie, slung her over his shoulder, and stormed ahead with a scowl.
Ippongi stared after him, stunned.
"Hey, wait! You still haven't told me how to fix the... issue!"
Can't perform? Go become Hokage.
...
After a busy morning, Reiji used Magnet Release—his secret weapon for smithing—to breeze through his daily quota.
He handed off the finished gear to a still-sour-faced Ippongi, then left Katō's Ninja Tool Shop with Rie.
With the few bills left in his pocket, he managed to buy them lunch.
Following the main road, Reiji made his way once more to the Hokage Building.
This time, he didn't barge in. He stood calmly at the entrance, adjusting his mindset.
He knew it wouldn't take long for Hiruzen Sarutobi to find out he was here.
As expected, less than five minutes later, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out the gate, wearing a strange expression as he looked at the little brat in front of him.
If Tobirama-sensei hadn't warned him yesterday, he might have really fallen for this kid's tricks.
Fortunately, this world still revolves around strength. With power, all plots and schemes amount to nothing.
Thinking this, Hiruzen relaxed, gave Reiji a subtle look, and turned to head into the Hokage Building.
Reiji didn't hesitate. He tightened his grip on Rie's hand and led the slightly nervous girl after him.
If nothing went wrong, he'd likely be meeting the legendary Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
After all, the expression on Hiruzen's face had already said enough.
So the one he'd be facing next would naturally be the man behind Hiruzen—Tobirama.
Sure enough, Hiruzen didn't lead Reiji to yesterday's interrogation room. Instead, he turned and brought him up to the third floor.
Soon, they arrived at a red wooden door. Hiruzen knocked, and when a calm "Enter" came from inside, he opened the door and guided Reiji in.
"Tobirama-sensei, Reiji Sakuhō is here," Hiruzen said, stepping aside to let Reiji enter the legendary Hokage's office.
The first thing that caught the eye was the large desk emblazoned with the Konoha symbol. Behind it sat an imposing man. What stood out most were his piercing eyes and striking silver hair.
Handsome.
Even as a guy, Reiji had to admit—this man was seriously handsome.
He stared into those eyes for a solid three seconds before stepping into the room, his expression unreadable.
Unless something unexpected happened, this would be his first and last time entering this office.
From here on, his life in Konoha would have nothing to do with this seat of power.
That thought jolted Reiji's spirits.
Finally! He could finally break free from the mess left behind by this transmigration!
Inside the room, people stood around in small groups. Men and women, tall and short, but all with young faces.
Looked like Tobirama was planning to use him as a training dummy for these rookies.
And that was exactly what Tobirama had in mind. Ever since a few of his direct disciples had heard about Reiji from Hiruzen, reactions had ranged from defiance to curiosity to disdain.
So Tobirama decided to let them spar with this cunning little demon and observe him closely himself.
Unfazed, Reiji walked up to the desk with Rie in hand, face blank.
Tobirama looked at the boy—just barely taller than the desk—and suddenly felt a sharp sense of dissonance.
Was this kid really only seven?
As he pondered, Reiji spoke up.
"Hokage-sama, hello. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Reiji Sakuhō. This is my sister, Rie Sakuhō."
Tobirama regarded him with a flat expression.
"What is it, spy?"
A subtle reminder—Reiji should remember his place and not make unreasonable demands.
Reiji got the message. So, Tobirama already knew he wanted to attend the Konoha Academy. Clearly, the man wasn't keen on letting that happen.
But in Reiji's view, everything was negotiable. As long as he proved his worth, he'd have the right to ask for things.
Since Tobirama had gathered so many people to use him as a practice target...
He might as well throw down a full set of traditional kung fu—straightforward and savage.
They were all seasoned pros here—might as well let their skills do the talking.
With that thought, Reiji dropped any pretense, scratched his head, and chuckled awkwardly.
"Actually, it's nothing big. I just want to go to school. As a token of sincerity, I brought this."
He pulled out an envelope he'd prepared earlier and placed it neatly on the desk.
Tobirama took it without hesitation, opened it, and scanned through it quickly.
The more he read, the deeper his frown became. A faint chill rose in his heart.
Reiji glanced at Tobirama's furrowed brows and smirked inwardly.
It was just a simple letter, addressed to Hanzō-sama.
The contents merely stated that he had infiltrated Konoha and was currently disguised as a blacksmith.
He also mentioned that he had used his employer's connections to complete the formalities for entering the Ninja Academy.
At the same time, Reiji urged Hanzō to send more people. Konoha was short-staffed due to the war, making it easy to sneak in.
He included a contact method and proposed monthly updates.
Reiji also asked Hanzō-sama to pass on his regards to Mizukuma and thanked him for his past care.
And finally, shamelessly, he asked Hanzō for 50,000 ryo as operating funds.
After finishing the letter, Tobirama handed it to Hiruzen, who had been waiting eagerly.
Strangely enough, a faint smile appeared on Hiruzen's face as he finished reading.
At Tobirama's signal, the letter made its way around the room, eventually landing in the hands of a man with a spiky topknot.
"Shika, what do you think of Reiji's sincerity?" Tobirama Senju asked slowly, turning his gaze to the man with the spiky topknot.
At his words, not only did the man named Shika Nara fall silent, but everyone in the room also sank into deep thought.
After a long pause—long enough that little Rie started yawning—Nara Shika finally lifted his head and said in a low voice, "Tobirama-sama, I believe his sincerity is genuine."
"Is it enough for Reiji to be admitted to the Konoha Ninja Academy?" Tobirama pressed.
"Yeah... I think it is," Shika said after a moment's consideration, nodding.
Seeing this, Tobirama turned back to Reiji, his brows furrowing even deeper.
Honestly, eliminating this kid would be easy. But throwing away a card like Reiji would be incredibly shortsighted.
It was a simple truth—Reiji didn't just represent himself anymore. He also represented Hanzō of the Salamander! The only man in the ninja world, after the death of his big brother, who still bore the character for "god" in his title.
Tobirama might surpass Hanzō in raw strength, but who could afford to reject such a powerful asset?
If Konoha could control Reiji, then with his intellect, he could very likely sway Hanzō's decisions.
That alone would ease the pressure on Konoha from Sunagakure and Iwagakure on the western front. The village would suffer fewer casualties.
Reiji was an absolute trump card.
And this was exactly where Reiji's genius lay.
He subtly expressed discontent with Amegakure, which delighted Konoha.
He showcased his abilities, making the village want to keep him—but too wary to lock him up.
He hinted at his influence over Hanzō's decision-making, sparking excitement in Konoha.
At the same time...
He demonstrated enough capability to earn Hanzō's trust.
He exposed his own weaknesses to gain Hanzō's reliance.
Then, using his importance, he could protect Mizukuma Sakuhō.
He could ensure his own safety and freedom.
He could give Rie Sakuhō a peaceful and happy childhood.
Everyone knew Reiji was a covert agent, a spy, a plant. Yet everyone wanted to use him to their own ends.
Thinking about it gave Tobirama a pounding headache.
This kid wasn't even a proper ninja yet! If he ever became a powerful one, who the hell would be able to keep him in check?
And the worst part—he was only seven. Barring anything unforeseen, he had another forty or fifty years ahead of him!
Who'd be able to outmaneuver an old, cunning version of this kid?
Helplessly, Tobirama instinctively tried to imagine what his older brother, Hashirama, would do.
If it were Big Brother... he'd probably start clapping in joy the moment he heard that it could save many of their comrades.
With that thought, Tobirama decided to tackle the problem using the mindset of his deeply admired brother.
"Reiji, I approve."
He could only hope that Konoha's Will of Fire would one day redeem this infuriating brat.
The moment he heard Tobirama's words, Reiji grinned wide, flashing a bright row of white teeth.
But just then, a sudden voice rang out from the crowd.
"Sensei, I object."
"Who?!" Tobirama hadn't even reacted before Reiji shouted in outrage.
"Danzō Shimura."
A young man stepped forward, his expression solemn and self-righteous.
"Damn it, anyone with 'Zō' in their name is never up to any good," Reiji muttered, rolling his eyes.
It was the only time he actually looked like a real kid.
Danzō Shimura didn't even glance at Reiji. Instead, he addressed Tobirama directly.
"Sensei, I suggest we imprison him and use jujutsu to control Hanzō of the Salamander. That would be far more efficient."
He spoke with righteous conviction, showing no concern that Reiji was right there listening.
In his eyes, this was the perfect chance to prove himself to his teacher. Unlike that soft-hearted Hiruzen, he had the resolve to do what was necessary.
Right then, Danzō thought he looked like the coolest man alive.
Reiji watched Danzō's little performance coldly, already plotting.
Truthfully, he didn't particularly dislike Danzō as a character. He just thought the guy was going a bit overboard.
But today, Danzō wanted to use him as a stepping stone—and one that could cost Reiji his life.
That crossed the line.
If he didn't screw this guy over so badly that he flinched every time they met, he might as well change his family name.