Two months have passed since the Kyuubi attack. And aside from hiring missing-nins to create trouble, Iwa hasn't really done anything.
Thankfully, aside from Kakuzu, they were special jonin level at best, and mostly just chunins. Iwa must have spent quite a lot by hiring Kakuzu.
We also got missions around Land of Grass and Land of Fire border aside from surveillance.
So we finally got a break.
"Kakashi! Let's race to Konoha gate!"
It's just a kilometre away, so it should be fine.
"Anko, you are in-charge."
"Ehhhhhh! Not again!"
I shrugged and got in position for the sprint.
"1! 2! 3! Go!"
So, we started racing.
It's time I tie the score to 50-50 from the current 49-50. I should have continued using Sharingan for rock-paper-scissors! Then I wouldn't have been behind!
"Kakashi! I am going to widen the gap!"
"We will see!"
Faster. Faster. Faster!
We crossed the gate!
I won!
We stopped and started registering our return to those two guys.
"So it's 50-50 now."
"Kakashi! Let's have another —"
"Nah. Tomorrow. You guys head home. I give the report to Hokage-sama."
"YOSH! Then let's have a YOUTHFUL showdown tomorrow!"
Guy left.
Hmm... The village has been rebuilt. It's not very different, but the Senju and Uchiha clan compounds in the centre of the village are gone.
Well, Senju clan compound was rather small. It was more like a mansion for the direct descendants of First Hokage. The rest of the Senjus lived across the whole village, unlike a clan. Though Kakashi's mother was a civilian ninja, she might have been related to Senju.
Well, it doesn't really matter.
And after making sure that the rest of the team arrived in the village, I headed to the Hokage Building.
Walking up the stairs, I encounter Danzo.
"So you took down Kakuzu."
Well, it really does seem like Danzo has access to everything reported to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen is really an incompetent bastard.
"It was a team effort."
Not saying anything further, Danzo walked away. Though it did feel like he scoffed in his mind.
Whatever.
Reaching the office, I knocked.
"Come in."
Upon entering, I found Hiruzen swamped in mountains of paperwork.
Yeah... I am not going to become Hokage...
"Ah. Kakashi, you have returned. How did it go?"
"Aside from Kakuzu, there was no trouble."
"Kakuzu huh..."
I handed him the scroll which contained Kakuzu's body.
I would have rather destroyed his corpse completely to avoid his Edo Tensei, but I can't really go against the standard procedure.
"He was an S-rank ninja since the time of First Hokage. It's good that you guys are safe."
"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, how did Kakuzu attack First Hokage and survive?"
Did he really throw a kunai and call it a day?
"I am not sure. I was a little kid back then. First Hokage must have just spared him."
"Oh."
So Kakuzu was insignificant enough that his details were not properly recorded.
He must have been using 'I fought with God of Shinobi' to hype himself up and make his services more expensive in the black market.
I then narrated the battle to Hiruzen, and he nodded along.
"So, what's your suggestions for your teammates this time? Anyone who deserves promotion?"
"Yes. I suggest Might Guy to be promoted to Special Jonin, on the basis of his taijutsu."
While on the basis of combat alone, he should be a Jonin, he hasn't developed the techniques associated with his future fighting style aside from techniques like Primary and Reverse Lotus.
With techniques like Morning Peacock, Hirudora and such, despite being taijutsu, they can be treated like ninjutsu since normal taijutsu doesn't work like that. Then he will be able to become Jonin.
Hiruzen nodded.
"So, about the Lightning Style Rasengan?"
"It was imperfect."
I don't know if it was a fluke or result of opening the first gate, but I haven't been able to achieve the level of that Rasengan after the one I used against Kakuzu.
If my guess is right, the effects of the perfect Lightning Release Rasengan will be:
1. Paralysis.
2. Disturbance in the nervous system, like Tsunade did to Kabuto, if the nervous system is actually still alive.
3. Electromagnetism. Most likely attracting metals towards it.
Though Lightning Release isn't as dangerous as Wind Release on body, creating a perfected version of it and using it without harming myself will be atleast as difficult as RasenShuriken. I will have to somehow throw it so that the metals on me myself don't get attracted.
That's why, I will first develop the Chidori variants, Kirin, and try to create Purple Lightning first before focusing on that.
And Flying Thunder God.
Hiruzen nodded, and said, "Alright. You have 15 days of rest. Then be ready to be deployed on Kiri front."
I nodded, received the payment for the missions, and the bounty of Kakuzu will be given later.
Kakuzu's bounty is only 20 million surprisingly. Guess Waterfall village doesn't have much money. And other villages have not really issued major bounties against him.
A bounty doesn't necessarily tell the strength huh.
Anyway, the village will take 60% of it as tax.
...Now I know the feelings of top earners and why they try so hard to avoid paying taxes.
"Alright. You are dismissed. If you need any advice on adding the chakra nature to the Rasengan, meet me when I am free."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Well, he is the Professor. I don't know how much it is true, but it is said that Hiruzen has the best chakra nature transformation in all 5 elements.
And even if it IS propaganda, there aren't really many with Lightning nature in the village. Those who are actually very good at it amounts to Hiruzen, Minato-sensei who is dead, and me.
Still, I don't think I will really need his help.
I left the Hokage Office, and headed to the graveyard.
And found Itachi and Orochimaru there.