Konohagakure, Hokage Building.
"Bounty hunters... mercenaries..."
"This must be Ōnoki's doing."
After listening to Gekko Chizan's report, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned unpleasant.
He had sent word to Takigakure about jointly holding the Chūnin Exams, yet that bastard actually spent money to hire people to assassinate his squad.
Instead, the only outcome was that the village head of Takigakure was killed.
As for this Kakuzu, he had heard of him too — a man who would do anything for money. Now it seemed the man really did possess considerable strength.
"Hokage-sama, I think we ought to prepare our defenses sooner."
"Since Iwagakure has already resorted to using forces outside their village, that must mean war is about to break out again."
"It's always better to be on guard early."
"Besides, I just got married. The battlefield isn't really suited for me."
"I could stay here with Pakura and help teach. My concealment lessons are quite effective, you know."
Gekko Chizan smiled slyly at his Hokage, while the latter rolled his eyes so hard they nearly cramped.
Hiruzen knew exactly what kind of character Gekko Chizan was, otherwise he would have already exploded in anger.
Powerful, bold, capable — yet completely unwilling to go fight.
Well, forget it. This brat had always been like this, not just for a day or two.
"Get out of my sight already. Just looking at you gives me a headache."
"Hey, hey, hey! Put my crystal ball down!"
"You little brat! Don't you run off!"
Hiruzen lunged forward, but he was still a step too late. Just as his furious shout rang out, Gekko Chizan had already grabbed his crystal ball and vanished from the spot with Flying Thunder God.
Had it been anything else Chizan took, Hiruzen might have let it go. But the crystal ball?!
That was one of Hiruzen's most prized possessions, the medium for casting the Telescope Technique. Without it, the technique couldn't be used at all.
Meanwhile, Gekko Chizan had already reappeared at his own home using Flying Thunder God, dragging the crystal ball along and grinning stupidly.
Pakura and the three brats had gone to the mission hall to turn in their assignment.
Ever since they got married, Pakura was now counted as a member of Konoha. She could take on missions within Konoha's system.
So this time, Pakura also earned a share of the reward.
Of course, this was thanks to Chizan negotiating it — so it wasn't much, but hey, even a tiny leg is still meat. He had to get it.
"Telescope Technique..."
"So that old geezer actually created such a strange jutsu..."
"Let me try it out too..."
Chizan focused on the Telescope Technique. If he remembered correctly, this was a jutsu that allowed long-distance surveillance of specific individuals, provided you knew their chakra signature.
Now, who's chakra did he know...?
Namikaze Minato...
The three brats with Kakashi...
Hmm? Fugaku!
Yes, he knew Uchiha Fugaku's chakra signature too.
Pure fire element combined with the yin element of the Sharingan.
Chizan envisioned Fugaku in his mind, then injected chakra into the crystal ball.
Soon, the Uchiha clan compound appeared inside the crystal ball. Seeing this, Chizan immediately poured in more chakra.
As the crystal ball absorbed enough chakra, it began to glow faintly, and Uchiha Fugaku's face appeared.
"Whoa, Fugaku actually holding a baby?"
Looking at the infant cradled in Fugaku's arms, Chizan clicked his tongue. Baby Itachi really did look... so soft and squishy.
Well, that was just how Fugaku was. He and Mikoto had, tsk tsk, married because she was already pregnant. In the lull between wars, little Itachi was born.
Now, on top of handling clan affairs, Fugaku was also an outstanding stay-at-home dad.
"No way, this guy's actually doing so well?"
"I've got to find him something to worry about..."
Chizan set the crystal ball down on the table, then rushed out like the wind, activating Transparent Release as he darted toward the Uchiha compound.
He moved so fast he broke his own speed record.
Reaching Fugaku's home, Chizan didn't hesitate before vaulting over the wall. He carved his Flying Thunder God mark onto the trunk of a tree in the courtyard, and set up safeguards — if Fugaku noticed, he'd instantly cancel the mark. No way was he leaving any openings for himself.
Then he crept quietly toward Fugaku's direction.
By his guess, Fugaku should be watching the baby while Mikoto rested.
Seeing Fugaku's face lit with a proud father's smile, Chizan smacked his lips and thought: Sure enough, even the strongest man will wear this look in front of his own baby.
Teleporting back home with Flying Thunder God, Chizan picked up the crystal ball again to observe Fugaku.
This time, he also had a pile of Itachi's toys in his hands — ones he had just casually swiped on his way out.
When Itachi finally drifted into dreamland, Fugaku stretched his stiff shoulders.
"Heh heh..."
Chizan let out a villainous chuckle. Tormenting Fugaku was fine, but he decided to spare baby Itachi. He might be mischievous, but he still had a bottom line.
Babies weren't in his target range.
Holding the toys, Chizan teleported straight into Fugaku's courtyard with Flying Thunder God.
Clack!
With a crisp sound, a wooden toy elephant fell onto the ground.
Uchiha Fugaku was no ordinary man. His sensory perception was razor-sharp, especially lately, since his son's birth made him extra cautious.
At the sudden sound, he pounced into the courtyard like a tiger.
Spotting the toy on the ground, Fugaku exhaled in relief.
"A toy, huh..."
"Why is this here?"
Being a father was exhausting, but Fugaku was extremely responsible. His protection of his son was absolute.
He picked up the toy and scanned the area warily.
But soon he withdrew his gaze and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
He figured he was being too jumpy. This was the Uchiha compound after all — who could possibly sneak in here to cause trouble?
Besides, the only guy capable of that nonsense was already married now, likely not in the mood for pranks.
He'd even heard that guy was out on a mission and hadn't returned yet.
Watching Fugaku's reaction, Chizan nearly rolled on the floor laughing. He was sure Fugaku had no idea he was already back in the village — after all, he'd only returned today.
When Fugaku, holding the elephant toy, turned to head back inside, Chizan triggered Flying Thunder God again.
Another toy fell, but this time closer to the house, as if it had been tossed from inside.
"Hmm?"
"Itachi, are you awake?"
Seeing the toy as though it had been thrown out, Fugaku's brows furrowed.
He patiently bent down to pick it up, but in the very next second, yet another toy dropped from above — landing squarely on Fugaku's head.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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