Taking Kickbacks Right in Front of Me

Tsunade: "Jiraiya, give me one million ryo."

Jiraiya: "Minato, give me two million ryo."

Minato: "Huh? Sensei, I'm right here. I heard everything. How can you take a kickback right in front of me?"

Thinking about how Jiraiya had received so much extra because of his bounty, Minato could only give in and unseal a cash box.

Each cash box contained five million ryo in cash. Minato carefully counted twice and confirmed that he had only counted out two million ryo. He absolutely would not let Jiraiya take any more.

However, Jiraiya was quick with his hands and very naturally took the remaining three million ryo.

"As expected of my good disciple. I said to take two million ryo, so why did you give me three million? This is far too embarrassing. But it's my disciple's heartfelt gesture, so I shouldn't make him sad."

With so many people around, Minato could only swallow the loss.

Jiraiya carefully counted twice and took out one million ryo. However, Tsunade's hands were even quicker, and she very naturally took the remaining two million ryo.

After thinking it over, Minato decided it was better for Tsunade to benefit than Jiraiya. He said, "Lady Tsunade, this is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you'll accept it."

Tsunade rarely smiled, but she did so now as she took the money.

"No! Hey? You two? You took my one million ryo behind my back! An S-Rank Mission only pays one million ryo! Who took my kickback?"

Ignoring Jiraiya, Tsunade said:

"Takeoto, bring Shinmen with you and slowly nurse his body back to health. This child has suffered too much trauma. He'll need long-term care before he can fully recover.

"Aren't you going to Kyoto as the Kyoto Advisor? Then keep Uzumaki Shinmen by your side.

"I'll write Kushina a letter so she won't worry. If she truly worries about Shinmen, Minato can accompany Shinmen for a few months.

"Minato is Shinmen's brother-in-law. He'll take good care of him."

Uzumaki Shinmen turned his head in surprise. Big Brother Minato beside him was his brother-in-law?

He wondered what kind of person his sister, whom he had never met, was.

Minato put an arm around Shinmen's shoulders and said:

"Alright. Since Shinmen still needs long-term treatment and recovery, I'll go to Kyoto with Zhuyin JieJie.

"But if a ninja leaves the village for an extended period, shouldn't we complete some additional procedures?"

Jiraiya said:

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll find a way to arrange a long-term mission.

"This village, honestly. Back when the Second Hokage was Hokage, leaving the village wasn't so strictly controlled. These past few years, ninjas have needed approval from the Hokage Building to leave the village. What are they keeping all the ninjas locked in the village for?"

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade and said, "I really envy you, Tsunade. You can leave whenever you want. I'm still not as free-spirited as you. We're quite close to the village. Aren't you going back to take a look?"

Tsunade waved her hand, turned around, and left alone.

Shizune was only two years old at the time and was still being raised in the Senju Clan's territory. Tsunade would only take Shizune away once she was older.

Once Shizune was older, Tsunade probably would not be so lonely anymore.

Uchiha Mikoto returned to the village with Minato's letter, while the others continued onward.

Senju Takeoto led two squads. One was Senju Chihiro's squad, who had just become chunin. The other was the somewhat older Senju Soushou's squad. Together with Jiraiya's squad, three squads in total escorted Takeoto to her post.

Along the way, Minato tried speaking with Shinmen and discovered that Shinmen's communication skills were poor.

Whenever someone spoke to Shinmen, he always had to think for a long time before understanding what they meant and replying with one or two words.

Minato did not dare ask what Shinmen's life in the Cloud Hidden Village had been like, afraid of provoking him. He could only chat with Shinmen more each day and tell him more about the customs and culture of the Land of Fire.

Inside Konoha Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Akimichi Torifu sat in the Hokage Office.

Mitokado Homura said, "I'll arrange some work for Senju Takeoto and make her back down in the face of difficulty. The Kyoto Advisor is an extremely important position, and the work is complicated. It isn't something a female ninja in her twenties can handle."

Shimura Danzo, however, said, "What if Senju Takeoto is exceptionally capable at governance? Should we prepare some backup measures? I'm confident I can utterly ruin Senju Takeoto's reputation."

Utatane Koharu said nothing. She was mainly responsible for the village's internal affairs departments, such as the Ninja Academy and Konoha Hospital. Her duties did not involve the Kyoto Advisor.

As for Akimichi Torifu, he had long since stepped down from his position. He now only held the empty title of advisor and did not express an opinion on the matter.

After pondering for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi said:

"Danzo, don't use any drastic measures for now. Let's proceed according to Mitokado Homura's plan.

"I think we can dig up the Hyuga Clan's land-return issue that was suppressed before and hand it to Senju Takeoto. Let's see how she handles it.

"Before the village was founded, the Hyuga Clan's territory was on Bumper Guard Road. They retain aristocratic customs—tea ceremonies, Zen meditation, aristocratic robes—because the Hyuga Clan has never given up its land. They have always believed that they are both ninjas and landed aristocrats.

"The previous Bumper Guard General once petitioned the daimyo to reclaim the Hyuga Clan's land and compensate the Hyuga Clan.

"Later, the previous Bumper Guard General died young, and the matter was left unresolved.

"Find a way to bring this matter back up and have Senju Takeoto deal with it. Let's see whether she is willing to side with the daimyo and the aristocrats, or with the village.

"Whether she offends the daimyo and aristocrats or offends the Hyuga Clan, she'll understand that being the Kyoto Advisor is not simply about providing Healing Ninjutsu to aristocrats. The issues involved are very complicated. Make her retreat in the face of difficulty."

Mitokado Homura and Danzo both nodded, approving the plan.

After the high-level meeting ended, Akimichi Torifu left the Hokage Building and headed toward the Akimichi Clan's territory.

As he passed the Hyuga Clan, Akimichi Torifu cast an extra glance at their compound.

The Hyuga Clan was rather unique within Konoha Village. Like aristocrats, they placed extreme emphasis on loyalty. Every Branch Family had to be loyal to the Main Family, just as all aristocrats had to be loyal to the daimyo.

When Hyuga Clan ninjas had no missions, they wore aristocratic robes to represent their status.

This was because, aside from ninja missions, the Hyuga Clan's income also came from land, something only aristocrats possessed.

When Konoha Village was founded, many ninja clans gave up their clan lands. The Hyuga Clan was different. Like the Senju Clan, they were highly valued by the daimyo.

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was at the core of the daimyo's Guardian Ninja Twelve. Centered around the Byakugan's powerful reconnaissance abilities, the defense system of the daimyo's and various aristocrats' Guardian Ninja had been established.

The current Bumper Guard General was only nine years old. Bumper Guard Road was managed by several ministers, making it relatively easy to influence.

Akimichi Torifu sighed inwardly. The Hyuga Clan had grown too prominent and drawn attention. The Senju Clan would not have it easy either. Their refusal to give up the Kyoto Advisor position appeared, to the village's upper ranks, to be a case of virtue not matching the position.

They would all encounter trouble.

The Kyoto Advisor was a channel of communication between the village and the daimyo, and there would inevitably be many minor frictions and conflicts between them.

With just a little guidance, the people in the village would turn their attention toward the Senju Clan.