Shimura Danzō's Borrowed Knife to Kill

As he obtained the bells, the system's prompt also sounded:

[Team battle victory against Jiraiya, please select the entry to absorb: Perverted Physique, Jiraiya's Peeping Memories (100 hours), Ninjutsu: Earth Release: Earth Style - Headhunter Jutsu!]

Sen's mouth twitched.

What the hell is "Perverted Physique"?!

What's the use of Jiraiya's peeping memories?!

He grumbled internally, it seemed that since it was a team victory, the rewards were also divided. Only the C-rank Earth Release ninjutsu was somewhat useful.

But it was better than nothing. With this, he only lacked Water Release among the five basic elemental ninjutsu.

At this moment, Jiraiya patted the dust off his scorched body, recovering from the paralysis.

The Lightning Release Clone might be an effective trick against ordinary ninja, but to a ninja of his level, it was merely a bit of student cleverness.

If this were on the battlefield, he would have a hundred ways to break it instantly.

Even so, Jiraiya did not hesitate to praise them:

"You three are very good, quite possessing my former style!"

He looked at Sen, his eyes full of approval, "Especially you, Sen. Mastering the Lightning Release Clone at such a young age, it seems the Uchiha clan has invested heavily in you.

Also, your heavy breathing earlier, and deliberately not using your left hand, were all to hide those two fake bells made with the Transformation Technique, right?"

Seeing Sen nod, he looked at Minato, "Your Space-Time talent is excellent. To think of using the principle of summoning to improve the Substitution Technique, you're truly a genius!

Among us commoner ninja, it seems we'll have a second me!"

Finally, he looked at Kushina, "Your Chakra reserves are vast, but unfortunately, your control is too rough. If you could learn some large-scale offensive ninjutsu, your strength would advance by leaps and bounds."

Kushina wrinkled her little nose, displeased, "Teacher, you barely praised me! But, are we considered qualified? I'll go learn Wind Release from Sen when we get back!"

"Wind Release?" Jiraiya keenly caught the keyword, "Sen, what else can you do?"

Sen casually waved his hand, "Just some insignificant tricks, not worth mentioning."

Seeing him holding back, Jiraiya turned to Minato, "Minato, you know him best. This is important information related to future mission coordination, no hiding allowed!"

Minato glanced at Sen, then honestly revealed everything, "Shadow Clone, Lightning Release Clone, Lightning Ball, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough...

Sen taught me all these, and I'm not as proficient as him. Moreover, he's an Uchiha, so he must know many powerful Fire Release jutsu."

Jiraiya was completely stunned after listening.

Fire, Wind, Lightning... This kid is only nine years old, and he already knows almost as many ninjutsu as an elite Chunin?

Has he gotten old?

His heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he could only say dryly, "It seems your Uchiha clan has produced another extraordinary genius."

Sen, however, said matter-of-factly, "It's all the result of my hard training. Talent is not worth mentioning."

Looking at Sen's calm and cool demeanor, Kushina's eyes were filled with little stars, her heart skipping a beat.

Sen is so cool!

Jiraiya looked at the smug Sen and said, "Then you're qualified. Tomorrow, no, we'll start the mission this afternoon!"

In the afternoon, the scorching sun blazed in the sky.

Team 7's first mission was actually to cultivate wasteland.

Sen and the other two were sweating profusely as they swung their hoes, while their Jonin instructor, Jiraiya, lounged lazily in a shed by the field, reading a magazine labeled "Adults Only."

Kushina was getting impatient with the continuous farming. She clenched her hoe and questioned, "Why does the village have farmland! Aren't we a ninja village?"

Jiraiya yawned lazily, "A ninja village being self-sufficient, is that strange?"

Sen also stopped his movements, "Even so, will the commission fees for these tasks be enough to pay for three ninja?"

After all, hiring a ninja for a mission was not cheap, let alone three Genin. Farmers didn't earn money easily, would they be willing?

"Who said there's a commission fee?"

Jiraiya revealed a triumphant smile, "With constant warfare recently, the village is under great pressure to purchase grain. They plan to expand cultivation to increase production next year, so we're clearing land now.

Also, if you find any stones, remember to throw them out, don't affect the yield."

Minato also looked puzzled. He picked up a stone and tossed it into the distance, asking, "But shouldn't land reclamation use oxen or something? Why us?"

Jiraiya moved the magazine aside and glanced at Minato, a triumphant smile on his face, "Oxen are much more expensive than you guys, and you don't cost money."

The three of them listened and silently cursed Jiraiya.

So we're not even as good as oxen?!

"Alright, I need to report your situation to the Third Hokage," Jiraiya stretched. "After you're done, divert the river water from upstream. For the next few days, your task will be to practice water walking here."

He tossed a scroll to Sen, "In three days, go and complete this C-rank mission, and by the way, practice your teamwork."

With that, he slipped away without looking back.

Hokage's Office, Hokage's Building.

As soon as Jiraiya entered, he saw Danzo was also present, and a hint of displeasure immediately rose in his heart.

The Anbu's methods were already somewhat contrary to Jiraiya's personality, let alone Root.

"Teacher, here's the intel on Team Seven." He handed the scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at it, then expressionlessly handed the scroll to Danzo.

After all, it was better to let Danzo say some things.

Shimura Danzo quickly finished reading the scroll, his eyes instantly turning sinister. "How did this Uchiha kid learn so many ninjutsu? He's only 10 years old. Last time, I just sent someone to break his ribs, and he brought his entire clan to cause trouble!

Given this kid's vindictive personality, he'll definitely seek revenge on the village in the future!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in agreement and said, "In that case, continue monitoring this Uchiha Sen."

Jiraiya was filled with doubt. Based on their interactions today, although Sen was a bit cold, he generally cared about his teammates.

As for what Shimura Danzo just said about retaliating, if you make a move, are you expecting the other party to just stand there and let you beat them to death?

Everyone knows what your Root is like!

Jiraiya's face showed displeasure, and he questioned Shimura Danzo, "I don't agree with you doing this. I think Uchiha Sen isn't inherently bad!"

"What do you mean 'not inherently bad'?! Anyone surnamed Uchiha..." Noticing his outburst, Shimura Danzo changed his tune. "This kid secretly learned so many ninjutsu without reporting it to us, which is disloyal to the village."

"But!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted, "Alright, Jiraiya, you can go first. Continue with the mission to gather information on Uchiha Sen."

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen wave him away, Jiraiya reluctantly withdrew from the office building.

Once Jiraiya was gone, Shimura Danzo eagerly said, "Why not send this kid to the battlefield? We've had some friction with Kirigakure recently anyway. Although this Uchiha kid has multiple elemental affinities, his primary one is definitely Fire.

We can use a borrowed knife to kill!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his cigarette, hesitating. "He's just a ten-year-old kid, and those ninjutsu were surely provided by the Uchiha clan. Do we really need to do this?"

"He goes to Uchiha Setsuna's house almost every weekend now!" Danzo emphasized, "He's Uchiha Setsuna's personal disciple now. Do you want Konoha to have another Uchiha Setsuna?"

Danzo's voice was full of temptation. "And then be assassinated like Teacher Tobirama?"

The words "Teacher Tobirama" finally crushed Sarutobi Hiruzen's last shred of hesitation.

"...What about the Jinchuriki?"

"Simple." Danzo wore a cruel smile. "That's easy. Just follow my plan. Make a deal with Kirigakure, kill only the Uchiha kid, and let the others go."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply, and in the end, he tacitly approved this dirty plan.