Sage Possession

"What mischief are you up to again, kid?"

The next day, when he returned to the hospital to use Yang Release Chakra to assist Shimura Kentei with that day's training, Tsunade immediately gave him a scrutinizing look after hearing Jiraiya's account.

"Teacher Tsunade, it seems you misunderstand me quite deeply!"

Shimura Kentei felt utterly helpless at being suspected again. What bad intentions could a child not even thirteen years old possibly have?

Wasn't his father just Danzo, the Pot Kage? Did they really have to slander him so casually?

He merely wanted to add a tiny bit more study pressure to the innocent, adorable younger students at the Ninja Academy so they could have a better childhood!

Of course, the most important thing was obtaining more Golden Energy.

The results from Keiko, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru had confirmed it: spreading the Body Strengthening Technique he had created was indeed a way to obtain that Golden Energy. Moreover, the stronger the recipient was, the more Golden Energy he seemed to gain.

That was why he had come up with the idea of trading with the various ninja clan factions.

Naturally, he could not overlook the little sprouts at the Ninja Academy either. Using that E-Rank Body Strengthening Secret Technique as teaching material was the best choice. It would allow him to quickly acquire more useful people to help gather Golden Energy.

Besides, spreading the Body Strengthening Secret Technique might even produce a few more Might Guys. That would make the future Fourth Great Ninja War much safer. In fact, if there were enough Might Guys, they could easily beat down Otsutsuki Momoshiki and the others in all sorts of creative ways. Only then could Young Master Shimura live his little life more comfortably.

As a transmigrator in this day and age, personally charging into battle and trading blades with enemies was far too beneath him. What if he died? His wife and children would become someone else's, and the family fortune he had earned would benefit others. Farming development was the true path. He needed to raise plenty of cannon fodder lackeys to charge into battle and sweep aside all powerful foes.

The ninjas in the Ninja Academy and the major ninja clans were all excellent cannon fodder too. How could he miss them?

Unfortunately, Tsunade understood him too well... Cough, cough, her misunderstanding ran too deep. She directly gave him a look of disdain without concealing it in the slightest.

"Fine. My father wants to improve the overall strength of Konoha's ninjas as much as possible, especially the grassroots ninjas, laying the foundation for unifying the ninja world in the future."

Seeing that even Jiraiya and Orochimaru expressed disbelief, Shimura Kentei could only change his angle and continue bluffing, tossing the blame onto his father.

Anyway, his father was the Second Pot Kage. One more black pot on his back meant nothing, and it suited his father's character perfectly.

Sure enough, Tsunade and the other two immediately understood after hearing that, then frowned.

"Danzo wants to overturn the ninja village system established by Grandpa and unify the ninja world?"

Her expression turned cold. Tsunade greatly disliked ambitious schemers like Shimura Danzō, who would only stir up boundless war. It was a betrayal of the ninja village system created by her grandfather.

"Quite an ambitious goal. Unfortunately, this alone is not enough to give Konoha the foundation needed to defeat the other ninja villages and unify the ninja world."

Licking his lips, Orochimaru was impressed by Shimura Danzō's ambition, but he did not believe Danzō possessed that kind of power—unless Danzō could become someone like the First Hokage, an existence capable of suppressing the entire ninja world.

But was that possible?

"I do not agree with that idea. One misstep could plunge the village into irredeemable disaster. And even if the ninja world were unified, what then? Centralized power would inevitably lead to corruption. Look at the nobles of the various Feudal Lord's Governments. Unifying the ninja world would likely bring even greater darkness and calamity."

Jiraiya likewise did not approve of Shimura Danzō's methods. Over the past few years, he had traveled throughout the ninja world and visited the capitals of the major nations. He had witnessed the luxurious decadence of those nobles and deeply understood that unifying the ninja world would not bring peace. It might even bring unimaginable disaster to the ninja world.

In comparison, the ninja village system and balance-of-power strategy established by the First Hokage were quite good. Within each nation, the Feudal Lord's Government and ninja village checked each other. Across the entire ninja world, the Five Great Nations and five great ninja villages checked one another, maintaining the current peace.

"These matters are not my concern. I am only asking whether this E-Rank Body Strengthening Technique can become new teaching material at the Ninja Academy and be widely taught."

Shimura Kentei shrugged indifferently. He had no intention of persuading the three of them.

All three were adults with firm wills and established worldviews. To persuade them, he would first have to destroy their existing beliefs and values. That was far too difficult, and unnecessary.

After all, his main goal was simply to gain their support, get the E-Rank Body Strengthening Technique into the Ninja Academy as teaching material, add some study pressure to those younger students, and collect more Golden Energy along the way.

"I support this!"

Jiraiya was the first to state his position. Though he did not approve of Shimura Danzō's ambitions, using this E-Rank Body Strengthening Technique as Ninja Academy teaching material would be a great thing for both the people and the village.

"It is not that simple!"

Orochimaru shot Jiraiya an annoyed glare, his expression grave as a faint gleam flickered in his golden snake eyes.

It was indeed a great thing for the village and its people, but it would threaten the ninja clan factions. Actually implementing it would be difficult.

Tsunade, meanwhile, fell silent. She came from a ninja clan herself—the Senju Clan, Konoha's foremost great clan of the current era—and understood the problem well.

Based on what she knew, even her uncle, Senju Tōsu, would likely oppose this.

Ninjas from ninja clans held many advantages over civilian ninjas. One of those advantages was that their clans could provide their descendants with many convenient conditions, helping them build a solid foundation and achieve a higher potential for future growth.

Civilian ninjas were far inferior in that regard. Yet the Shimura Clan's E-Rank Body Strengthening Secret Technique was enough to help civilian ninjas establish a strong foundation, directly erasing one major gap between them and the ninja clans.

There was no way the ninja clan factions would agree to this!

"I approve of this matter!"

At that moment, a powerful, resounding voice suddenly rang out. Four figures then entered the ward. Leading them was the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, followed by Torifu Akimichi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.

Seeing the four arrive, Shimura Kentei froze slightly. Then his gaze swept across Shimura Keiko, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru one by one.

Yesterday, he had only briefly mentioned this matter to those three. One of them must have leaked it to Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others. Though he did not truly care, he was still rather displeased.

It seemed he would need to be more cautious when working with Jiraiya and Orochimaru in the future.

"Uncle Hiruzen, Uncle Torifu, Uncle Homura, Aunt Koharu!"

With a smile, Shimura Kentei greeted the four.

"Little Kentei, your idea is very innovative, but accomplishing it will require paying a certain price."

Adjusting his glasses, Mitokado Homura spoke solemnly and brought up the issue.

"Please speak, Uncle Homura. As long as the E-Rank Body Strengthening Secret Technique can be incorporated into the Ninja Academy curriculum, I can accept any price. In this matter, I can represent the Shimura Clan.

Everything is for Konoha!"

Shimura Kentei made his declaration in a righteous tone. At that moment, he felt like a living sage who cared deeply for the village and its people.

Of course, he might have looked like an idiot to others. Tsunade, for instance, was looking at him as though he were one.

"With your intelligence, you surely understand the conflict between the ninja clan factions and civilian ninjas. The ninja clans currently hold an absolute advantage. If we cannot obtain their agreement, this will be very difficult to accomplish.

Therefore, we need a bargaining chip that can move them. The ninja clan factions are interested in your Shimura Clan's Body Strengthening Secret Technique, so we can use that as a breakthrough to make them agree.

Naturally, we will have the ninja clan factions conduct an equivalent exchange with you and the Shimura Clan. We will never let you suffer a loss!"

Mitokado Homura glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other two before laying out everything in one breath.

This was the conclusion the four of them had reached after discussing it overnight. Though they too came from ninja clans, they had become part of the Hokage faction and had long since been excluded and even antagonized by the ninja clan factions.

If they could support civilian ninjas in opposing those ninja clan factions, their own burden would become much lighter. That was why they were doing everything they could to make this happen.

"Fine, I agree!"

After a brief moment of consideration, Shimura Kentei answered firmly.

He had already guessed as much, so there was nothing to think about now. As long as he could get the E-Rank Body Strengthening Technique into the Ninja Academy as teaching material, he would gain the greatest benefit.

If he had not wanted to avoid provoking the ninja clan factions too severely, he would have liked to throw the entire D-Rank Body Strengthening Secret Technique into the Ninja Academy as well, letting those adorable younger students experience the miserable hardships of his past life.

But it did not matter. He could take it slowly. He was still young and had plenty of time.

Seeing Shimura Kentei answer so decisively, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other three were deeply moved and ashamed at the same time.

This was the true inheritor of the Will of Fire!

"There is one more point. This E-Rank Body Strengthening Technique must be made into Ninja Academy teaching material in the village's name. It cannot bear the name of any individual or clan."

Utatane Koharu spoke up at that moment, raising a crucial point. Everyone's attention gathered on Shimura Kentei once more.

"That is no problem either!"

He agreed without even thinking. What he wanted was Golden Energy; fame and such were merely passing clouds.

His decisive response moved Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other three even more. Even Tsunade, who had initially held a poor impression of him, began to reassess this cheap disciple of hers.

Though this little pervert was rather lecherous, his nature was not bad. He was an inheritor of the Will of Fire!

Having gained Shimura Kentei's agreement, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other three praised him a few times before hurriedly leaving to prepare for the matter. They also took away a complete set of the Body Strengthening Secret Technique.

From the moment Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the ward until he departed, he had barely spoken. After all, some things were not suitable for him, the Hokage, to say himself.

"Once you have recovered, come stay with me for a while."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen left, Tsunade suddenly said something inexplicable, leaving everyone present stunned.

"Teacher Tsunade, do you want to keep me as a young lover?"

Shimura Kentei, his imagination running wild, asked timidly. As he spoke, he glanced at his fiancée, whose pretty face had darkened.

Bang!

The veins on Tsunade's forehead throbbed. Unable to endure it any longer, she smashed her fist into Shimura Kentei's head and angrily cursed, "Keep you as a young lover, my ass! I am afraid your father will skin you alive and tear your bones apart!"

Having said that, she could not be bothered to deal with this little pervert of a disciple any longer and stormed off in anger.

This little pervert was far too deserving of a beating!

"I suggest you wear that battle suit twenty-four hours a day from now on!"

Looking at his cheap disciple lying on the shattered hospital bed, Jiraiya offered some advice. He had gained an even deeper understanding of this cheap disciple's ability to court death.

Unfortunately, Shimura Kentei's head was buzzing so badly that he did not hear the advice at all. He felt that he might have suffered a concussion.

Still, his teacher looked truly beautiful when she was angry. Those waves were overwhelming!

Shimura Keiko stared speechlessly at her little man, then went out to call the doctors and nurses over for an examination and to replace the hospital bed.

Only after confirming that her little man was fine did she return to the Shimura Clan.

There were some matters she needed to report and discuss with her father-in-law.

"That is what happened!"

After returning to the clan, Shimura Keiko found that her father-in-law happened to be there. She told him everything without holding anything back.

Though that Body Strengthening Secret Technique had been created solely by her little man, it already bore the Shimura Clan's mark. Her father-in-law had to be informed of the matter.

"I will not interfere in this matter. You need not concern yourself with it either, and do not maintain too much contact with the Sarutobi Clan."

After a long silence with his eyes closed, Shimura Danzō coldly stated his position.

In truth, he had learned of the matter yesterday. Several skilled members of the Shimura Clan had been stationed around his son's hospital ward. His son's every action and word was under his control.

However, he did not intend to interfere. He would simply let the matter develop as it would, at most taking the blame for that brat.

"But..."

Shimura Keiko's face was filled with worry. She understood the seriousness of this matter. Those ninja clan factions were not kind people.

"Even the finest blade blank must be polished before it can become a famous sword. It is time for him to see the true nature of the ninja world."

Shimura Danzō's voice remained cold. He understood the nature of those ninja clan factions very well, since he himself came from one and was the head of a clan.

He believed this experience would surely erase that son's naivety and allow him to truly mature.

As for using that Body Strengthening Secret Technique in a trade, he did not care in the slightest. Anyone could tell with their toes which was more valuable: a golden egg or a hen that laid golden eggs.

That brat had created an entire set of Body Strengthening Secret Techniques before even reaching thirteen. In the future, he would surely create even more powerful secret techniques. Those E-Rank and D-Rank Body Strengthening Secret Techniques were, at most, practice works.

"Father-in-law, I do not want Kentei's hands to be stained with blood like ours."

Shimura Keiko suddenly gritted her teeth and made a strange request.

A ninja who had killed and a ninja who had never killed were completely different kinds of people. She did not want her little man to kill.

"He is your husband. You need not discuss with me how you intend to arrange his future."

Shimura Danzō gazed deeply at his daughter-in-law and agreed.

Having that brat go around cutting people down would indeed be a terrible waste of his talents!

Shimura Kentei had no idea about the arrangements his father and fiancée had made for him. At that moment, he was agreeing to go to the rooftop of the hospital building with Jiraiya the next morning to practice Tai Chi Fist for health cultivation.

(Thanks to readers Yijiu Fanxin and Tianyu Dashengguan for their support and rewards! After the story is put on the shelves, there will be special bonus chapters for you!

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