The smile did not reach Tobirama Senju's face, but after seeing the change in Yuzhen's mood, his originally stern and serious expression became somewhat difficult to maintain.
"These supplies might not all belong to the Sarutobi Clan. They may have taken on a transport job for some merchant."
Tobirama Senju kindly reminded him. Look at that—he was still capable of kindness.
It was obvious that tea was a commodity of considerable economic value. It was basically impossible for it to be supplies intended for the Sarutobi Clan's own use...
Even if every member of the Sarutobi Clan had the habit of drinking tea, with this much tea, it would take them until the Year of the Monkey to finish it.
Although this era differed from the later period of the Ninja Village system, ninjas of this time likewise accepted missions from within or outside their clans.
Ninjas often did not engage in production. They were purely armed forces, exchanging martial power for the supplies needed to survive. That was a common trait of theirs across every era.
There was naturally production and commercial activity amid the chaos of war. That required no further explanation.
Yuzhen nodded. He felt Tobirama Senju's explanation made a great deal of sense.
He then had several ninjas carry away the useful supplies and asked Tobirama Senju to put the tea back into the Sealing Scroll.
The tea had no value to him, but if it accidentally got soaked by the rain, it would become worthless to everyone.
After finishing the "repackaging" of the tea, Yuzhen directly gave the supply scroll to Tobirama Senju. "It's yours. This thing is completely useless to us."
He had no sales channels. If the tea spoiled in his hands, he might as well do someone a favor. It would be ridiculous to say he was giving it away, then claim he was selling the goods to Tobirama Senju instead, right?
Yuzhen did indeed want to get something from him, but one had to be practical. It was impossible to want everything.
Tobirama Senju's lips twitched. It was obvious that he did not want it at all. The Senju Clan naturally had ways to exchange the tea for other, more urgently needed supplies, but these goods were stolen property from the Sarutobi Clan.
Now that he was a guest in another's territory, he could only remain silent and let Yuzhen place the donated supplies beside his long sword.
"If the Sarutobi Clan loses an item entrusted to them for a mission, do they have to compensate the employer?" Yuzhen set down the scroll, returned to his original seat, and then asked seemingly casually.
"If it was the Sarutobi Clan, they would compensate the employer to some extent," Tobirama Senju replied.
"Oh, as expected of a great ninja clan that has stood firm through the ages. It seems the Sarutobi Clan places great importance on trust and honor."
Tobirama Senju froze when he heard this, then immediately understood the hidden meaning behind Yuzhen's words.
He instantly remembered that before he had passed out, Yuzhen had said something along the lines of, "I won't hurt you, but you owe me your life."
After Tobirama Senju woke up, Yuzhen naturally could not bring up those words again, or it would amount to blackmail. Tobirama Senju would not mention them either, but he could not pretend he had never heard them, because Yuzhen had been speaking the truth.
The shinobi world was incomparably dark at present. Almost everyone was morally bankrupt. Against such a backdrop, being able to kill someone but choosing not to could be called a favor. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that view.
In the earlier battle, Tobirama Senju had been the one to initiate the attack, and then he had lost. Regardless of whether he had lost because of a treacherous sneak attack, a defeat was still a defeat.
But Yuzhen had not taken the opportunity to finish off this enemy. Instead, he had treated Tobirama Senju's wounds. Whether it was out of goodwill or fear of the Senju Clan's reputation, since Yuzhen had chosen not to act, Tobirama Senju had to accept this favor.
Tobirama Senju could of course refuse to acknowledge any of this. After all, Yuzhen could not possibly attack him again. However...
Although the name Tobirama Senju was always easily associated with descriptions such as "deeply scheming" and "stopping at nothing to achieve his goals," there were some things even he disdained to do.
"Is there anything you need help with?" he asked directly.
"There is, actually. Perhaps because I was born with an affinity for water, I have already mastered Water Release chakra nature transformation. The problem is that I don't know any Water Release ninjutsu. I'm currently trying hard to find a way to learn Water Release, but I haven't been able to get what I want."
Yuzhen did not hold back. He directly stated his request.
They could not be called friends, so they would conduct a fair trade.
"I happen to know several Water Release techniques. I can teach them to you."
When he heard it was only this, Tobirama Senju could not help but sigh with relief. This "repayment" was within his capabilities. Under normal circumstances, he naturally would not let the clan's ninjutsu spread outside the clan, but the person before him was his "life-saver."
"Then I really have to thank you. However, I'm rather dull, and I might not be able to learn them in a short time, so please write them down."
As he spoke, Yuzhen had already stuffed a blank scroll and a pen into Tobirama Senju's hands.
Th-This was clearly something he had prepared in advance. Tobirama Senju felt somewhat helpless, but in the end, he still picked up the pen and began writing on the scroll.
After thinking briefly, he first wrote down the hand seals, chakra circulation method, and training method for the C-rank offensive Water Release technique Water Shock Wave.
With the idea of combining offense and defense—and of getting one free with a purchase—he then wrote the B-rank defensive Water Release technique Water Wall, which could only be mastered by jonin-level ninjas, after Water Shock Wave.
He had given him a relatively high-ranked defensive technique because, in the eyes of ninjas, offensive techniques were more valuable than defensive ones. Most of the time, battles between ninjas came down to who could kill the opponent faster. Ninjas emphasized extreme offensive power.
After finishing these two techniques, Tobirama Senju prepared to stop writing and return the scroll. But at that moment, Yuzhen's airy voice reached his ears.
"Come to think of it, I always felt I'd heard the name Tobirama Senju somewhere. I finally remembered just now... You have an older brother named Hashirama Senju, don't you?"
Tobirama Senju's pen paused, and he could not help looking up at Yuzhen.
The latter's eyes were clear and focused.
Did he really just remember? He's known from the beginning, hasn't he...? Tobirama Senju realized he had been maneuvered.
A hint. Yuzhen was hinting again. Conversation required technique. Perhaps he could publish a book in the future called The Art of Communication.
In short, Yuzhen was not saying that he had heard the name Hashirama Senju before. He was saying that he knew Tobirama Senju's true identity—that he was the son of the Clan Leader of the Senju Clan.
At this moment, Tobirama Senju's life had become more valuable. The price required to save an ordinary Senju ninja was clearly different from the price required to save the son of the Senju Clan Leader.
Because of his special identity, Tobirama Senju had to give more in return. Otherwise, he would never be able to repay Yuzhen's favor.
Thus, Tobirama Senju gritted his teeth, and his pen continued across the scroll, writing another high-level offensive Water Release technique with the learning difficulty of a jonin-level ninja... the B-rank Water Release technique, Water Dragon Bullet.
After finishing, he returned the scroll and pen to Yuzhen, finally unable to resist complaining, "You think too much."
Yuzhen accepted the scroll and smiled without saying anything.
Toward accusations from someone who would spend every day scheming and plotting in the future, Yuzhen simply brushed them away as lightly as dust. He did not take them to heart at all.
"Until you recover your ability to move, you can recuperate here for the time being," he said.
Things were not over. There would surely be more chances to take another layer of skin from Tobirama Senju.
Now that they had finally come together, would everyone leave the moment one trade ended?
Of course not. They would simply begin the next trade.
Before you continue