Konoha Year 40.
Late autumn, the beginning of winter.
The seasonal changes outside had little effect on Shikkotsu Forest. This was an isolated hidden realm with a permanently stable climate. Haseo had holed up here for nearly three years.
"Haseo, have you finally completed this training?" Tsunade asked him.
At this moment, Haseo sat obediently on a chair while Tsunade stood behind him, tidying his hair. Since they were about to leave this place, he couldn't just look like a wild man anymore and needed to pay some attention to his appearance.
"Mm, actually it was completed a little earlier, but I reinforced it afterwards—now I can maintain Sage Mode for an extended period. If I don't waste Sage Chakra, I can keep it going continuously for up to a week," Haseo replied.
For other users of the same Sage Art, such "maintenance" wasn't particularly meaningful since Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Art required instantaneous absorption of natural energy. However, Haseo was somewhat different.
"I see. That truly is good news. Since entering Sage Mode neutralizes the corruption effect on your body, making it a constant state would be best," Tsunade said without pausing her grooming work.
"Maintaining it constantly still feels out of reach," Haseo shook his head. For now, lasting a week was already his limit, which could be described as fatefully limited by seven days.
"Do you want me to cut it?"
Tsunade gestured at Haseo's hair length and asked.
Haseo thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Just tie it back. I heard it's the style in Konoha these days."
"A trend?"
"That suave mature-man single braid look is pretty stylish. Besides, I don't seem to have to worry about people grabbing my hair anymore. My opponents nowadays tend to be more honorable after all."
Not that they're honorable or anything—no one left could even get close enough to touch Haseo's hair.
Though his strength really was just mediocre, honestly.
"Haseo, you're only 'distinguished' when you keep quiet... Also, how hard could grabbing your hair really be?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes, then skillfully tied his hair back behind his head. For her, it certainly wasn't difficult.
"Besides Jiraiya always wearing his like that, who else does? Come on, you're not seriously trying to copy him, are you?"
"There's also Hatake. White-haired guys all wear it this way. We should standardize our image—soon we'll be the Three Stallions leading Konoha forward… the Three Stallions."
Haseo wisely decided not to respond at all regarding any topic of imitating Jiraiya.
"Oh, Haseo… you've already got a few silver strands."
After finishing combing his hair, Tsunade suddenly remarked with some sentiment.
In terms of appearance alone, his calling himself a distinguished gentleman made perfect sense. After aging slightly over the years, he indeed looked better than he did when younger. His facial expression appeared gentler and warmer, his features softer than before.
But here, an "absolute proposition" that would assuredly get him killed by little sisters blocked his chance to charm.
As Tsunade sighed about this, Haseo didn't seem to care much. "It's perfectly normal. Everyone ages differently, but let's face it—I'm almost forty now. At nearly forty, you expect me to still have jet-black hair without a speck of gray? I should be grateful enough already that I haven't evolved toward a 'Mediterranean' look."
That made sense, and Tsunade didn't know how to respond.
Haseo stood up and stretched lazily. "So I've decided it's time to push my retirement plan forward sooner rather than later. An old man with stiff joints and deep ties shouldn't still be fighting on the battlefield… That just doesn't feel right anymore. I'd like to pass away peacefully in my old age."
"..."
This guy seemed to be hinting at something.
"Oh right, nearly forgot the main thing. When you return to Konoha this time, there's an extremely important mission I need to assign to you."
"A mission?"
"Yeah... the Fire Daimyo, the most revered person in the Land of Fire... passed away yesterday," Tsunade said calmly.
Haseo suddenly sucked in a sharp breath. "The Third Hokage dead? As in truly gone?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? It's Daimyo Hisakubo who's passed away." Finally unable to bear it any longer, Tsunade slapped Haseo hard across the back.
Couldn't he, for once, wish for something good? Did he even consider that if it were truly the Third Hokage who had died, would she still act so calm and collected?
"The Daimyo, you mean Daimyo Hisakubo?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, that's too bad. I really liked Daimyo Hisakubo quite a bit. But... wasn't he already in his early sixties? Seems like he lived a pretty full and worthy life."
Serving twenty years as daimyo and living to be sixty—Daimyo Hisakubo definitely had a full and worthy life.
Yet Tsunade appeared somewhat uneasy.
"What's wrong? Was there something off about Daimyo Hisakubo's death?"
"No major issues. Our people investigated it already—it was natural causes." Tsunade didn't elaborate further about the daimyo's passing and quickly redirected the conversation back to Haseo's assignment. "Apparently, the daimyo's family trusted you immensely, so the village plans to send you to assist with handling the funeral arrangements, ensuring a smooth succession for the daimyo's son, stabilizing the situation within the Daimyo's Castle, and preventing any unexpected incidents."
This was a political task—extremely significant and serious in nature, though practically not very difficult. Haseo himself carried sufficient weight and authority. Moreover, the former Fire Daimyo had been especially fond of him—even coming close to offering him his own daughter.
Such trust was understandable. Aside from the unspoken murky circumstances surrounding the previous daimyo's death, Haseo had been the first ninja who supported the recently deceased former daimyo, and their relationship remained strong ever since. At one point, Haseo even took the daimyo along to intimidate the Land of Water, significantly boosting the latter's prestige.
"The next successor..."
"He's already in his mid-forties. Rumor says he's quite similar to his father—his thinking is mature..."
Hmm, at that age, there really wasn't much to poke fun at or criticize. In comparison, he could even be seen as a pretty young 'heir apparent.' A middle-aged man would naturally understand worldly affairs better than some hotheaded kid.
"Well then, looks like I'll have to make the trip."
"I guess I'll tag along too."
Haseo chuckled to himself. At their age, did they still have to cling to each other like lost puppies?
He misread the situation entirely. This top-tier political mission came with a hefty reward. Besides, the gambling industry in the Daimyo's Castle was more developed than in Konoha.
"Let's go. We should head back to Konoha first."
No matter what, Haseo needed to leave Shikkotsu Forest and return to Konoha first.
"Your forehead protector. Don't forget your forehead protector."
Prompted by Tsunade, Haseo picked up the brand-new Konoha forehead protector lying on the table and tied it onto his head. "Oh, it's been so long since I last wore this. Almost forgot about it."
"It's crooked."
Tsunade yanked Haseo closer and fixed the crooked Konoha forehead protector on his head.
Same old clumsy self. Where was the charm of a refined older man? More like a sleazy middle-aged creep.
PS:
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This is yesterday's second chapter—posted a bit late. I've had the runs all day, legs cramping and feet shaky.
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