Uchiha Kekkei Genkai

The moment they saw Rinto,

everyone in the office's expressions changed dramatically.

What kind of coincidence was this? They had just been discussing how to deal with this guy, and he had come knocking on their door?!

None of them were fools. On the contrary, anyone who had become the Second Hokage's direct disciple was exceptionally shrewd.

For a moment, the entire Hokage's Office fell silent, everyone filled with suspicion.

Rinto, however, failed to notice the strange atmosphere in the office. Wearing a bright smile, he strode up to the desk and gave a slight bow.

"Lord Tobirama, I've finished writing my letter to Lord Hanzō. Could I trouble you to pass it along?"

As he spoke, Rinto scratched his head sheepishly before continuing.

"I'm really sorry to keep troubling you every time."

Tobirama Senju stared into Rinto's eyes, reached out to take the envelope, and casually asked, "May I read it?"

Damn, the Second Hokage was pretty polite!

The corners of Rinto's lips curled up as he nodded repeatedly. "Of course. I left the envelope unsealed for you to inspect."

Seeing how sensible Rinto was, Tobirama Senju gave a slight nod and opened the letter.

In the letter, Rinto adopted the tone of someone who knew absolutely nothing about Rain Frog and tearfully complained to Hanzo of the Salamander about his plight.

First, he said he was isolated and helpless, making intelligence gathering difficult;

then he asked Hanzo of the Salamander for manpower.

After that, he abruptly switched to saying he had no operational funds and had gone several days without a full meal.

Then he asked Hanzo of the Salamander for money.

More than half the letter consisted of complaints;

the remaining small portion was filled with all sorts of creative requests for money.

In short, it could all be summed up in one word: poor!

Without money, he couldn't do anything.

Tobirama Senju found it rather amusing.

At the front lines, Hanzo of the Salamander was fighting Sunagakure to the death. Back here, this brat was dragging him down in every possible way.

If Hanzo of the Salamander found out that the Anbu squad he had sent out some time ago had been sold off cheaply by Rinto for 430,000 ryo,

he would probably vomit three liters of blood from rage!

Feigning an unconcerned expression, Tobirama Senju handed the letter to an Anbu at his side.

"From now on, if you have any letters, just hand them directly to Earth Dog."

Rinto smiled and nodded. Even though his business was finished, he did not leave, continuing to stand quietly before Tobirama Senju's desk.

"Is there anything else?" Tobirama Senju asked coldly.

Unexpectedly, Rinto really did nod.

"Lord Tobirama, can you take me with you when you go to the front lines for peace talks?"

The moment those words fell, everyone in the office was shocked. Even Tobirama Senju, who was always incomparably composed, wore an ugly expression.

"Sakuta Rinto!" Suddenly, a furious roar rang out.

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Rinto turned his head in confusion toward the person shouting.

Shimura Danzō had leaped out again, his face red with anger.

"Sakuta Rinto, speak! Did you secretly collude with Hanzo of the Salamander and plant a Dark Child in our village?!"

He put heavy emphasis on "our," and Shimura Danzō felt a surge of satisfaction.

I, Danzo, have endured humiliation and kept silent all for this day—for the chance to rip off this traitor's hypocritical mask before Teacher!

At that thought, the flames of desire in Danzo's heart blazed fiercely.

Rinto scratched his scalp in bewilderment and looked at Tobirama Senju.

"Lord Tobirama, is your disciple having an episode?" Rinto asked timidly.

"You bastard! You still dare lie in front of Teacher!"

"Still playing dumb? Speak! How did you know Teacher's intelligence about the peace talks? And how did you get the timing so exact?"

Only after hearing Shimura Danzō's questioning did Rinto understand. He quickly swept his gaze over everyone;

apart from Kagami Uchiha and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who seemed thoughtful, Utatane Koharu and the others all wore grave expressions.

Seeing this, Rinto's face immediately darkened.

Good heavens! What kind of idiots am I dealing with?

No wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi kept making one terrible move after another in his old age. He'd been led astray by these people!

After cursing them wildly in his heart, Rinto sighed helplessly.

"Oh my god. Such a simple matter—anyone whose brain developed normally should be able to figure it out!"

As he spoke, Rinto's face twisted as he vigorously scratched his scalp.

"You announce the end of the war but don't recall the shinobi on the battlefield. What reason could there be?

Earth Dog, who had never left my side from the moment I entered Konoha, suddenly disappeared. What's that about?

The Konoha Military Police Force used to patrol twice a day, but now they patrol seven or eight times a day. Do you really think everyone is an idiot?"

After saying that, Rinto tightly pursed his lips. He shot Danzo, standing some distance away, a pitying glance, then looked at Tobirama Senju before him with the exact same expression.

At the sight, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's scalps went numb with fright.

Rinto was far too bold!

What did that look mean? He was clearly pitying Danzo's intelligence—and pitying Teacher for having such a disciple!

Sakuta Rinto! Do you not know fear?

Rinto noticed their expressions as well, and his face twisted even more.

Fuck, you people put all your skill points into reading expressions, didn't you? Why not put some into the bigger picture?!

Good heavens, did this village of Konoha really have a future?

At that moment, Rinto was filled with doubt—and self-doubt!

No. I absolutely can't let these three piles of shit lead Hiruzen Sarutobi astray!

Just as Rinto silently made up his mind, cold sweat drenched Shimura Danzō's back.

Damn it, this is the second time! The second time that bastard has looked down on my intelligence! Regret! Exhaustion! I want to die!

Tobirama Senju, whom Rinto was looking at with such pity, was not angry.

In truth, when he learned that Rinto had arrived, he had only been suspicious for a brief moment.

After all, Hanzo of the Salamander stood behind this brat. If that man knew their group's whereabouts, there would indeed be some risk.

However, Tobirama Senju was ultimately a seasoned statesman. In an instant, he had figured out the crux of the matter.

But taking Rinto along on the peace mission was impossible.

Leaving aside the fact that the matters he would discuss with the Second Hokage of the Cloud involved two major secrets;

it would be utterly improper for mighty Konoha to bring an Amegakure spy brat along for peace talks.

After thinking for a moment, Tobirama Senju shook his head.

"No!"

Seeing the Second Hokage shake his head, Rinto sighed softly and simply flopped onto the ground like a rogue.

"Fine. If that's the case, which dungeon?"

Hearing this, everyone was once again utterly shocked.

This guy had actually even guessed Lord Tobirama's thoughts?

Seeing that no one spoke, Rinto reluctantly pulled a turtle-shaped money pouch from his clothes, tremblingly took out a five-hundred-ryo bill, and placed it on the ground.

"Since none of you are saying anything, I'll say it.

First, no matter where you lock me up, I need three meals a day. I'm most afraid of going hungry!

Then, I want meat for every meal. Meat!"

Rinto emphasized the last word heavily. Then he extended a trembling hand and pushed the five-hundred-ryo bill toward Tobirama Senju.

"Lord Tobirama, this is my food allowance. Let's be clear beforehand—once you take my money, you can't go back on your word!

You're all adults. You can't bully a child like me!"

Watching Rinto act as though this were perfectly reasonable, even Tobirama Senju's face twitched.

This bastard brat—five hundred ryo, and he wants meat every meal! I'm furious! I have to teach him a lesson, or he'll become even more lawless!

At that thought, Tobirama Senju lightly pressed his hands together beneath the desk.

He shouted in his heart.

"Spirit Transformation Jutsu!"

The next second, Tobirama Senju remained seated with his eyes closed as if deep in thought, while his invisible soul instantly crossed space and crashed into Hiruzen Sarutobi's body.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his body stiffen instantly, and his heart was seized by shock. Just as he was about to struggle, his teacher's swift, calm voice sounded in his mind.

"Monkey, don't panic. Listen to me!

I'm using the Spirit Transformation Jutsu now. Do as I tell you!"

The voice vanished. Hiruzen Sarutobi silently memorized his teacher's instructions, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes as he spoke to Rinto.

"Rinto-kun, you think too highly of yourself!

Our village is strong. Even if Teacher Tobirama and the rest of us leave the village, nothing serious will happen.

So, we have no plans to lock you up."

Hearing that, Rinto was overjoyed. He did not even notice how different Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was from usual. He snatched up the five-hundred-ryo bill and turned to flee.

Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi threw an arm around Rinto, wearing a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"However, since you brought it up, we'll reluctantly satisfy you.

How about it? Choose one: the Uchiha Compound or the Anbu dungeon!"

Hearing that, Rinto was dumbfounded. His twisted expression looked as though he had put on a mask of pain.

"Will I have freedom at the Uchiha place?"

Hearing Rinto's stammering voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Kagami Uchiha. Seeing Kagami Uchiha shake his head first, then nod, he understood.

"Yes, relative freedom."

Hearing that, Rinto thought for a moment, sighed, and resigned himself to it.

"Then the Uchiha. Even though their Byakugan can monitor me three hundred and sixty degrees without a blind spot, some freedom is better than being shut away in darkness. At least I'll be able to move around."

Hearing that, everyone looked at Rinto speechlessly, then turned to Kagami Uchiha, who was clutching his forehead with a laugh of helplessness.

"Rinto-kun, our clan's Kekkei Genkai is the Sharingan!" Kagami Uchiha explained firmly.

"Huh?" Rinto stared at Kagami in confusion.

"Isn't it the Byakugan? Then why does Ryota from our class give me a huge white eye every time he sees me?"

At those words, even the exceptionally well-mannered Kagami Uchiha was completely speechless. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he voiced everyone's thoughts.

"You really have a vicious mouth!"