The plan was actually very simple—sneak into Lord Haseo's office, which wasn't the slightest bit difficult. Then sneak into that most secret location and take the item out.
What came afterward would be extremely difficult for others, but for you, wouldn't it be a breeze?
With Older Sister Cat's abilities, pulling this off should be effortless, just like last time. So…help me out, okay, Older Sister Cat."
Kushina Uzumaki had partially kept her promise. After parting ways with Minato Namikaze, she quickly went to act all cute with someone else. However, contrary to what she'd said, she didn't go directly to Haseo. Instead, she approached an "intermediary." Clearly, she lacked the courage to make such a request of Haseo himself, especially at this particular time.
Yet Haseo's cat was undeniably an intelligent creature.
This was a small park in the Uzumaki District, where she could barely lift her head before spotting a certain building in the distance—and the horizontal beam atop it.
Facing Kushina's cutesy assault, the Black Cat remained completely unmoved.
"Kushina, last time's jutsu belonged to Master himself, so I could sneak it out. But the thing you're asking for this time is different. Besides, I still remember the consequences clearly from last time—I was hung up on the rooftop and left to dry for an entire month, laughed at by every cat in Konoha.
Of course, those cats later paid a rather… memorable price—they ended up buried by me along the Naha River. Since then, that place has blossomed every year with an unusually vivid patch of wildflowers… If I pull another stunt like that now, Master might actually skin me alive."
Kushina pursed her lips, deciding not to comment further on that matter. No wonder there was a period when it became hard to spot any cats around the village—the cat-world's survival game must be brutal beyond belief.
Unfortunately, humans couldn't possibly imitate something like that. Otherwise, those classmates who once mocked Kushina…
"How could that happen, Older Sister Cat? Also, during the most critical moments, you can always run to Tsunade-sama. She seems to like you, but you should remember—she always listens to Lord Haseo. And if things go really wrong, you can just blame everything on me. Say I was the one who ordered you."
Kushina wasn't unreasonable. Should things ever leak out and lead to serious repercussions, she decided she would take full responsibility herself.
But the Black Cat continued shaking her head. "You don't understand. Although it seems like Tsunade-sama can get Master to do anything, it's actually the opposite—Tsunade-sama always obeys Lord Haseo."
The Black Cat knew better than anyone. Trying to rely on Tsunade as a backer simply wouldn't work.
Things were starting to look messy. For the first time, Kushina felt a bit regretful over how fast she'd grown up. If only she were younger by a few years—then she could just dash straight into Haseo's arms and grab onto his legs… literally "hugging his legs like a helpless little girl."
Now that she was older, though, she had to consider dignity and grace.
"Older Sister Cat, just give it a try, won't you?"
Kushina reached out and gently scratched Black Cat's neck. Finally, she gritted her teeth and decided to go all-in. "Black Cat isn't fond of the Japanese sweets from Mikazukido on the back streets? Peanut-filled daifuku, mochi, Three Coloured Pills, dorayaki... I've decided to offer all my pocket money and mission earnings for the next two and a half… uh, three months as tribute to 'Chiho-sama.'"
If coquettish appeal wouldn't work, Kushina still had another strategy up her sleeve—blood sacrifice, or massive blood sacrifice if necessary.
Probably no cat in this world didn't love snacks. The bribe Kushina mentioned was essentially the Ninjutsu World equivalent of "Shichisawa's Sweet Bean Buns."
And smart move, she also left some wiggle room for negotiation.
Unfortunately, Black Cat lacked backbone. "R-Really?"
Hmm, better not talk too much, or saliva would drip out and ruin Black Cat's "dignity" as an elder feline.
"I mean it. No regrets."
Truth be told, Kushina already regretted it, but she still had to say it like she meant it.
Black Cat looked at Kushina, then wiped its paw against her clothes before solemnly extending it toward her:
"Then we have a deal, little ninja."
...
Meanwhile, Haseo had finally managed to find some free time. He decided to communicate with someone secretly involved in the newly occurring incident.
The incident caused by the Senju clan was gradually calming down. Soutsuru, who had left Konoha, remained silent… which should be good news for Tsunade.
Recently though, her mood hadn't been very good, so naturally Haseo's wasn't either.
In Konoha, nobody exactly knew how many hidden laboratories Orochimaru actually had. The underground areas of this village were as labyrinthine as an anthill. However, he also had an official lab where legitimate research took place. Often times he directly accepted research assignments from the village itself.
During the previous chaos, Orochimaru was quite the "marginal figure." What Danzo Shimura had done, what the Senju had done—it had nothing to do with him. Yet he was still among the key players—the "power" that had allowed the Senju to feel self-important came entirely from him.
Or rather, without Orochimaru, where would the Senju clan have gotten Wood Release?
The cells of the First Hokage had always been preserved by Konoha. Definitely, it was the great Orochimaru who made such power applicable.
When Orochimaru saw Haseo's arrival, he wasn't especially surprised. After all, Haseo had always seemed fairly understanding of him. Moreover, regarding certain matters, if Haseo couldn't find the source, he'd just blame Orochimaru by default… and, sure enough, they usually turned out to be his doing.
Why does he always assume it's me?! Orochimaru could swear he hadn't left a single trace behind, yet Haseo was always so certain those affairs were his doing.
He thought Haseo's judgment was somewhat unfair.
"I was wondering when you'd come looking for me here."
"First things first, I need to deal with my family affairs. If Tsunade leaves Konoha, would you take responsibility?"
You've got to be kidding. There's no way Orochimaru would be foolish enough to say that out loud. If Tsunade really left, either he'd have to find her and bring her back, or end up beaten to death by Haseo.
"So, how exactly did you manage to control the First's power? This is something you shouldn't be capable of doing."
Haseo asked bluntly, giving Orochimaru no room for evasion—either Orochimaru couldn't do it, meaning no one in Konoha could, or if someone in Konoha had managed it, then that person must be Orochimaru himself.
Orochimaru had prepared a list of evasive answers but ultimately decided not to waste his breath. "I think you're underestimating my research capabilities. After all—"
"Cut to the chase."
"Fine. It all comes down to that child from the Uzumaki clan."
"Yayoi?"
"Precisely. Her chakra has exceptional compatibility—we'll call it compatibility. She makes an outstanding 'catalyst,' capable of tempering aggressive reactions and further enabling control over previously uncontrollable forces..."
Since Haseo had no interest in research nor the background knowledge, Orochimaru kept his explanation simple and straightforward.
"So you deliberately kidnapped Yayoi?"
"...Not exactly. Firstly, I had nothing to do with the Uzumaki disappearance incident. Secondly, the effect of her chakra was only confirmed later."
Facing serious accusations, Orochimaru explained calmly—he wouldn't take the blame for what he hadn't done.
"Haseo, are you interested in the First's power?"
"I have no interest in modifying my own body… But the First Hokage's power might help you better control the Nine-Tails, Orochimaru." His own body condition was already complicated enough. He had no interest in the First's power—the balance within his body was already delicate enough as it was, God only knows what might happen if he added anything else into the mix.
"Is that so? What a shame…"
Who even knew what Orochimaru was lamenting about now.
"What happened before doesn't matter anymore. The only reason I came here was to tell you one thing… This is the second time, Orochimaru."
"..."
Whether Orochimaru had ever heard the phrase "Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern" was unknown, but even without knowing it, he clearly understood Haseo's implication.
Rather than trying to push further, Haseo acted as though he'd come solely to deliver that one message. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left the lab.
Orochimaru showed no special reaction toward Haseo's warning. Then, he simply continued working as usual.
However, long after Haseo had gone, Orochimaru quietly let out a chuckle.
"Looks like I'm still more favored than Nawaki at least…"
There were things about Haseo no one else could understand—and yet there were other things about him that were surprisingly easy to grasp.
It was somewhat comical that Orochimaru actually hesitated—actually trying to read others' minds and gauge his own importance to them before deciding if he could take action.
And yet, it had somehow become a palace intrigue drama—quite unexpectedly.
...
After giving Orochimaru a warning that sounded gentle but was actually quite stern, Haseo left the scene.
As he strolled along the streets of Konoha, which were gradually returning to normal, he began thinking about how to help Tsunade relax her mood.
Trying too hard to comfort her would probably do more harm than good.
So… a vacation? Probably not a good idea. The situation across the Ninjutsu World was tense enough as it was. At any moment, war might reignite. Under these circumstances, how could he and Tsunade leave Konoha?
Therefore, a bit of melancholy crept in.
He wondered if some easy prey would just walk right into his hands, giving him something to take his frustration out on.
(Chapter End)
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