The Unlucky Kid-He'll Do!

Watching Hiruko in this state, Danzo could not help falling into deep thought.

Although this operation had been proposed by Hiruko, the one who had decided to carry it out was ultimately Danzo himself.

What was more, his current situation was far grimmer than anyone else imagined.

Thus, Shimura Danzō lowered his head and looked at Hiruko, who was half-kneeling on the ground. His voice was calmer than ever:

"According to the intelligence gathered by our informants, Sahara Mizu is a genius who escaped alive from the Third Raikage while taking Tsunade with him."

"You are only a Jonin. Are you strong enough? And how many men do you have under your command?"

Hiruko did not answer the first question. Instead, he said, "I still have two Root squads under my command. However, I recently found a channel and established contact with the Land of Lightning."

If the Hokage's directly subordinate Anbu were the FBI responsible for domestic investigations, then Root was the CIA, specializing in foreign operations.

For that reason, Root's connections with the outside world were tangled and extensive. It was hardly strange for them to be linked to all kinds of channels.

But at this moment, for Hiruko to say this before Shimura Danzō clearly carried another meaning—he had found a channel that could directly call for reinforcements from Kumogakure.

At that, Danzo's one eye lit up.

The atmosphere in the village was extremely tense right now. If they could shift the conflict outward, that would naturally be for the best.

However, he had also heard another implication in Hiruko's words.

"How much do you need to contact them?"

"Fifty million ryo."

"How much?!"

Shimura Danzō's only eyeball nearly popped out of its socket.

Yet Hiruko remained utterly resolute. "Fifty million ryo. Hire Kumogakure Jonin to infiltrate the village and assassinate Sahara Mizu, while shifting the focus within the village at the same time!"

He was a smart man. At a glance, he could see what Shimura Danzō was truly worried about.

The point of this incident was not to kill Sahara Mizu at all, but to have cloud ninja invade Konoha and divert everyone's attention.

By now, Shimura Danzō had clearly caught on as well. He stared at him seriously.

"One Sahara Mizu, plus the lives of a few cloud ninja, are not worth that much."

"Lord Danzo."

Before Hiruko could finish, Danzo continued.

"Thirty million!"

"I can give you thirty million ryo at most."

Hearing that and seeing Shimura Danzō's serious expression, Hiruko understood that this was already the limit of his patience. He took a deep breath.

"Add another five million ryo."

"Within ten days."

"Cloud Village troops will assassinate Sahara Mizu!"

Shimura Danzō pondered for nearly a minute, meeting his gaze with all three eyes. Only then did he say coldly:

"Root does not speak in jest."

With that one sentence, Hiruko understood that Danzo did not trust him. He immediately raised his voice and knocked his head to the ground.

"Five days!"

"Within five days, Sahara Mizu will be assassinated."

Everyone from Root present immediately turned to look at him.

This time, Hiruko had truly wagered his life.

Should I just take the money and run?

After withdrawing all the cash from Root's finance office with a voucher, Hiruko could not stop that thought from surfacing.

But when he thought of that technique he had yet to complete underground, as well as the relentless pursuit by all of Konoha that would surely follow if he ran off with the money, Hiruko immediately dismissed the idea.

That would be asking for death.

Still...

"I never thought Lord Danzo would actually be willing to give this much."

Looking at the heavy sack of cash in his hands, Hiruko's thoughts grew increasingly grave. "Does that mean Sahara-kun's strength cannot be underestimated either?"

"Could he possibly be even more talented than Orochimaru and the others?"

An involuntary sneer spread across his face.

Hiruko was a Konoha Jonin and a ninja from the same generation as the Sannin.

During his youth, he had spent quite some time assigned to the same team as the Sannin.

However, because the rate at which his strength improved simply could not keep pace with those three monsters, he had been transferred to another squad after roughly two or three years, eventually joining Root.

It was precisely because of that experience that Hiruko understood better than most just how absurd the concept of genius was.

Therefore, he would never underestimate any genius.

At the same time, he harbored an almost extreme jealousy toward those blessed with such extraordinary talent.

"Hey, you."

After leaving the finance office, Hiruko sneered and summoned a trusted subordinate. He gave a simple order. "Call over those people we found earlier."

"Tell them there's a big job."

Communication between ninja was extremely convenient. Even without using radio communications, which were still under development, messages carried by Summoning Beasts could cross the entire Ninja World in a short time.

Soon, the intelligence department of Kumogakure received a message from an enemy nation.

"Lord Dodai!"

"Our asset planted in Konoha has sent word. There's a big job."

"Hm?"

Dodai immediately rose from his chair and took the intelligence report.

After only a quick glance, he strode toward the Raikage's Office.

Ever since the Third Raikage had returned to the village injured a month ago, the news had caused an enormous uproar among Kumogakure's highest-ranking ninja circles.

The Raikage had not allowed the news to spread. He immediately sealed it away with an iron hand and stayed inside the Raikage Building for an entire month without leaving.

Only a few people knew that he was recovering from his injuries.

Bone injuries. Blade wounds.

Even his body, once as sturdy as armor, now bore two deep scars.

"Lord Third."

After being announced, Dodai strode into the office and handed over the report. "Someone in Konoha has offered twenty-five million ryo for us to kill a newly promoted Jonin—and we must infiltrate Konoha to do it."

"I believe this matter is rather suspicious."

"Bang."

The Third Raikage set down the barbell marked "10T" in his hand with a dull thud. Wiping away his sweat with a towel, he said in a muffled voice, "What Jonin is worth twenty-five million? Hiruzen's eldest son?"

"A newly promoted Jonin named Sahara Mizu. This is his photograph."

The Third Raikage had no reaction upon hearing the name.

However, the moment he took the photo, his pupils abruptly constricted.

"Damn it!"

The instant he saw the face in the photograph clearly, the Third Raikage cursed aloud. Lightning Release flashed violently across his entire body as if it had been stirred into a frenzy.

"Someone's trying to screw me over!"

"Lord Third?" Dodai was still confused.

"Heh." The Third Raikage did not explain further. He casually handed the photograph back, thought for a moment, then instructed him, "Transfer this mission to Iwagakure through an underground channel. Remember! Lower the price a little, conceal some information, and say they want his head. Put out a bounty across the entire Ninja World!"

"Yes!"

After Dodai left, the Third Raikage muttered under his breath, "Those Konoha bastards who don't know how to raise sons screwed me over once, and now they want to do it a second time!"

"How the hell is that a newly promoted Jonin?"

"Whoever wants that lousy money can have it. Heh, this is perfect. Let Ōnoki and his lot have a taste of that fist too."

But what kind of mind did Ōnoki have?

When he saw this message, which had clearly been passed along from Kumogakure, then looked at the target information that Kumogakure had embellished in every possible way, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

"A newly promoted Jonin, Sahara Mizu?"

"A fifteen-year-old brat, and his head is worth fifteen million ryo?"

"There has to be some kind of conspiracy here."

As for the seemingly most dangerous requirement—"infiltrate Konoha"—he completely ignored it. Iwagakure lacked neither courage nor people willing to sacrifice themselves. They even had an entire Explosion Release Squad. To ninja themselves, the outer defenses of the various villages were little more than sieves.

After weighing it for a long while, Ōnoki still felt that this matter was too dangerous.

"Kitsuchi?"

"I'm here, Tsuchikage-sama."

"Pass this mission on to... to Mist Village. Sunagakure has committed too much to the front lines and has no time to infiltrate the rear."

"And the money...?"

"You blockhead, of course we keep as much as we can! The village isn't exactly well-funded! Also, hide some of his intelligence and let Mist Village test the waters."

"I understand, Tsuchikage-sama."

"Underground assassination order."

"Konoha's newly promoted Jonin, Sahara Mizu."

"Fifteen years old. His record for the past three years consists of clerical work at the Hokage Building. He is closely involved with Tsunade, one of the Sannin. Recently, he was specially promoted to Jonin and frequently enters and exits the Senju Clan Compound. Suspected to possess exceptional talent below the waist."

"Bounty: five million ryo."

"But we have to infiltrate Konoha to carry out the assassination?"

"Even if he is just an incompetent nepotism hire, there is still some danger."

"No wonder the bounty is S-rank."

Inside the Mizukage's Office, the Mizukage's Secretary, seated beside the desk to assist with governmental affairs, lowered his head to examine the intelligence report in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

After thinking for a long time, the seal in his hand still did not come down. He rose, took the intelligence report to the Third Mizukage, and asked softly:

"Mizukage-sama, there is an assassination mission worth five million ryo that requires entering Konoha to carry out..."

However, the Third Mizukage had only heard half of it before impatiently waving his hand and saying coldly, "Choose a suitable squad from one of the ninja clans yourself and send them—!"

"No, forget it."

Halfway through, the Third Mizukage abruptly stopped and let out a low sigh.

Recently, because the heir of the Hozuki Clan had died during a mission, those old men from the ninja clans had started making trouble again at the Jonin meetings, giving him a splitting headache.

Moreover, that old man Genji was always at odds with him, making it exceptionally difficult to push through any of his policies.

The three sides had even gradually begun to stand at sword's point.

Because the various factions were locked in confrontation and unable to spare manpower, quite a few missions had piled up in the village.

"Send it to the Underground Exchange."

"Just... just issue it as whatever underground lewd order you just mentioned."

"We cannot spare attention for Konoha's affairs for now."

"Yes."

Only after the secretary left with the mission did the Third Mizukage, who was troubled by political affairs, suddenly seem to realize something. He raised his head with a frown.

"Eh?"

"What was that target's name again?"

In just two days, that brief mission had made a circuit through four great nations before finally being sent to the Underground Exchange, whose intelligence outposts were spread throughout the Ninja World.

Land of Hot Water, a hidden underground outpost.

Mr. Kakuzu, his entire body wrapped in heavy clothing, had come as usual to his little bank for collecting money, checking whether there were any suitable missions.

As he flipped through the ledger filled with names, his green eyes sharply caught sight of a mission notice.

"Hm?"

"Sahara Mizu, fifteen years old, newly promoted Jonin."

"Confirmed to be the lover of Tsunade, one of the Sannin."

"No reliable records of high-level missions or special strength. Worked clerical duties at the Hokage Building for three years. Received a special promotion through a promotion device."

"Underground lewd order: bounty of 1.5 million ryo."

"Mission recommendation: best suited for those with tentacles, slime, or unusual tastes."

"Issuer: Mist Village."

Even though Kakuzu was now a genuine old man in his sixties, this mission still broadened his horizons considerably. His brows rose high, and even through his clothes, it was obvious that his expression had become extremely complicated.

Kakuzu first looked down at the Earth Grudge Fear wrapped all over his body, then at the recommendation written in the mission record.

"Sigh."

"This unlucky young man must have offended someone!"

"Still, he's worth quite a bit."

As he spoke, the strange expression on his face immediately vanished. He called loudly toward the counter behind him:

"Hey, you!"

"I'll take this job!"

That young man might be unlucky, but Kakuzu would not turn down money.

He was only killing some important person's little lover. What was difficult about that?

That was a full 1.5 million ryo.

He would do.

(Hiruko ↑)

(Kakuzu ↑)

Thanks to readers joker Egg, 160807004011472, 20231111122158799, Eikn, Su Nanming Officially Here, xunixinf Kong, Wandering DS, 20230512125801437, 20190519205848483, 160416194209994, Obedient Female College Student, Should Fix or Shouldn't Fix, Uchiha Book Drought, and Books as Friends for the monthly tickets!!

This chapter was supposed to be written last night, but on my way back yesterday, I scraped someone else's car. It was something the insurance company could have handled, but the other party first wanted to settle privately for money. Their Camry was only worth a little over two hundred thousand in total, and there was just a small patch of paint scratched on the rear bumper, yet they opened with fifty thousand. Completely insane. Then they called the police, and the whole thing dragged on back and forth for ages. By the time I got home, I didn't want to do anything.

It dragged on and on until I only managed to post this now.

I'm very sorry.