"Alright, that's enough for today."
Tsunade gasped for breath, her forehead glistening with sweat. "You've got some guts lasting this long, I'll give you that!"
"Thank you for your hard work,Tsunade sensei."
In Tsunade's eyes, Yuto didn't look much better.
Thanks to his self-healing ability, he hadn't suffered any physical injuries, but the side effects of chakra exhaustion left him so weak a stiff breeze could knock him over.
"Tch, still putting on this polite act even now?" Tsunade shot him a disdainful glance. "Don't think I don't know what you're really thinking—grumbling about me in your head, huh? Bet you think I'm just taking my frustrations out on you?"
"I—"
"Well, guess what? You're damn right I am!"
Before Yuto could finish, Tsunade cut him off, grabbing his collar and locking her bright brown eyes onto his. "You little brat, you're seriously irritating! Acting all mature when you're barely out of diapers!"
"My apologies," Yuto murmured.
"Whatever. I know life in Konoha hasn't been easy for you." Tsunade fell silent for a moment before finally releasing him. "But you don't have to play mind games with those crusty old geezers anymore. You're now my student!"
"Understood." Yuto nodded, genuinely moved.
"And drop that disgusting act of yours before becoming the hokage!" She clapped him on the shoulder, her tone turning serious. "The Hokage of Konoha was never meant to be some phony symbol! And the real Will of Fire sure as hell isn't the garbage that they're peddling these days!"
"I'll remember that," Yuto said solemnly.
"And don't forget to drag your ass over for dinner tonight!" With a light shove, Tsunade turned and left with Shizune in tow.
"Heh, Tsunade really thinks you'll make Hokage, huh?" Kushina smirked, nudging Yuto playfully. "She's got high hopes for you."
"Of course!" Mikoto chimed in with a smile. "With Yuto's talent, who else could take the Hokage seat? Besides, isn't he practically part of the Hokage's inner circle now?"
"I think the Third Hokage planned this all along, bringing Tsunade back just to train this little troublemaker."
Kushina rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Gotta admit, the old man's playing this smart. He knows how to nurture talent, and his 'gifts' sure win people over. Compared to him, that old weasel Danzo's just pathetic."
"Danzo is definitely stingy," Mikoto agreed, then added slyly, "But if we're talking about winning hearts, Minato takes the cake. The Third just called his student back to teach, but the Fourth? He straight-up threw his wife into the mix!"
"You—you're dead!" Kushina's face flushed crimson as she lunged at Mikoto.
"Wait, I take it back! Ah—stop, not there…!" Mikoto's voice trembled between laughter and panic.
Wisely, Yuto stayed out of it and headed home.
Meanwhile, in a prison cell in the Land of Waves…
"Prisoner 9984! 9984!"
A loud shout jolted Danzo awake. Instinctively, he leapt up from his straw mat. "I'm here!"
"You're supposed to say 'Present!'" A guard in a white uniform glared at him coldly. "Didn't you read the prison rules? Where's your discipline?"
Danzo's face darkened, his back teeth grinding.
Two days.
He'd only been locked up for two days, yet in that time, he'd endured more humiliation and suffering than in his entire life.
Enough. He'd had enough.
If he ever got out of here, he'd make these bastards pay—dearly.
Swallowing his rage, he forced out a stiff, "Present."
"No need to be so harsh~ Starting today, Mr. Danzo will no longer be our prisoner!"
A sweet, melodic voice rang out—one that made Danzo's eye twitch involuntarily.
From the shadows emerged a nightmarish sight: a giant insect in a frilly maid outfit, radiating an aura that made even the air feel heavier.
"Yes, Lady Chōmei." The guard bowed respectfully.
"Mr. Danzo, your compensation payment has been processed~" Chōmei's multi-pupiled eyes fixed on him. "Please come with us to complete your release paperwork."
'Payment processed?'
Danzo blinked, then schooled his expression back to neutrality.
Hiruzen had acted faster than expected. So his old friend did still care!
With a stiff nod, he followed the maid-clad monstrosity out of his cell.
Sunlight stung his eyes. He raised a hand to shield them—
*BANG!*
A firework exploded overhead.
A dozen white-uniformed employees burst into a cacophony of drums and trumpets, while others unfurled a massive banner:
"Farewell to our Beloved Friend from Konoha, Lord Danzo! The Umbrella Corporation Thanks You for Your Generosity!"
Danzo sucked in a sharp breath.
"My dearest friend!" Hanzō, clad in his signature white coat, strode forward with a grin. "We at Umbrella Corporation couldn't let you leave without a proper send-off! How do you like it?"
*CLICK-CLICK!*
Camera flashes erupted as reporters captured the scene.
"STOP THAT!" Danzo shielded his face, snarling. "Get them away!"
The sound of cameras triggered flashbacks to that night two days ago.
"Hahaha, our friend's just shy!" Ignoring him, Hanzō dragged Danzo onto a makeshift stage. "Here—a parting gift from Umbrella Corporation. Don't refuse!"
Danzo stared at the golden plaque forced into his hands, his eye twitching violently.
Front: To Our Dearest Friend Danzo—Generous Donor of 200 Million Ryo!
Back: "Friendship is Life's Greatest Treasure."
'This… this is outright mockery!'
Danzo's face burned. Where the hell had Hanzō learned to twist the knife like this?
'Friend?! Since when?!'
'Donation?! That was a straight-up extortion!'
And this was how they treated a "friend"? By humiliating him in that outfit?!
He took a deep breath. Losing his temper now would only give them an excuse to squeeze more money out of him.
But staying silent didn't mean he'd take this lying down.
"Konoha… will remember this," he hissed.
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off.
Hanzō, utterly unfazed, called after him cheerfully: "Come back anytime, dear friend!"
'Like hell I will!'
Danzo's teeth ground so hard they might've sparked.
"Next time—10% off!" Hanzō cupped his hands around his mouth. "I'll give you the friends-and-family discount!"
Danzo's soul nearly left his body from sheer rage.
'I'll kill him. I'll kill every last one of them'
_____
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