Fifth Squad

"...I might consider being an instructor in the village for a few days."

When he heard Tsunade's final remark, Sarutobi Hiruzen still had his head lowered as he puffed on his pipe.

A few seconds later.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen covered his mouth and coughed. Ignoring the smoke pouring from both his mouth and nose, he looked at Tsunade with a face full of surprise.

"You want to be an instructor?"

"I don't want to." Tsunade shook her head. "I'm not interested in those brats at all."

"Then why did you say..."

"But..."

Tsunade raised a slender finger, and her lazy voice grew somewhat more serious. "If you're willing to pay, I wouldn't mind teaching them for a few days.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had held some expectations, was utterly disappointed upon hearing that.

Now he understood.

So after all that, this was just another new way to borrow money.

Having said what mattered, Tsunade sank back into the sofa and muttered quietly, "Anyway, there won't be any fighting for the first few days. Their training can't hurt me, so it'd be a waste not to earn this money..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's cheek twitched violently several times as he sat in his chair and took a deep breath.

Could she stop saying thoughts he could hear?

"So, what do you say, old man? Think it over quickly."

Tsunade lifted her chin at the Third Hokage, her expression saying, "Everything can be negotiated."

Yet her thumb and index finger kept rubbing together in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, plainly meaning, "Hand over the money already."

"If those kids find out I'm their instructor, they'll definitely be very grateful to you!"

"But only if you don't abandon them and run off halfway through..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said helplessly, massaging his temples.

"That's not my problem. Just tell me, are you paying or not?" Tsunade laid her cards on the table and directly held out her palm to her former teacher.

Sarutobi Hiruzen pressed harder on his acupoints, absentmindedly stroking his beard.

Tsunade stopped urging him and simply watched Sarutobi Hiruzen in silence, waiting for his answer.

About the time it took for an incense stick to burn passed.

At last, Sarutobi Hiruzen broke the silence.

"At the very least, teach them basic teamwork."

If Tsunade stayed in Konoha for a few more days, perhaps she would decide to remain.

Even if her Hemophobia could not be cured, that was still better than never being able to find her.

With that thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen rose and walked to the bookshelf. He pushed aside the books on either side and opened a concealed compartment.

When stacks of banknotes were neatly laid out on the table.

Tsunade flashed from the sofa to the table, her beautiful eyes blazing with a dazzling light.

That light was called greed.

"One, two, three, four... ten thousand ryō. One, two, three, four... twenty thousand ryō..."

Watching Tsunade already start counting the money herself.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched as he said in a deep voice.

"No need to count. There are exactly one million ryō here. It's all the money I've saved over the years. You must remember to pay it back on time..."

"Don't worry, old man." Tsunade waved off Sarutobi Hiruzen with a confident look. "I'll pay you back as soon as I win my money back... Oh, right, do you have a sack? Lend me one!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a long while before pulling a sealing scroll from a drawer.

Tsunade accepted the scroll and gave him a thumbs-up. "You're always so thoughtful, old man!"

"..." Sarutobi Hiruzen nearly choked. Turning around, he pointed at the files and said in a deep voice, "Now that you've taken the money, shouldn't you fulfill your promise? Which squad will you teach?"

"This one." Tsunade stored the money in the sealing scroll with one hand while pointing at the squad file on the table with the other—the one she had placed on top.

Sarutobi Hiruzen followed her finger and said thoughtfully, "Fifth Squad... Are you interested in Sakumo's child?"

"Sakumo's child?" Tsunade paused slightly, then turned to look.

Only then did she notice that beside the photo of the Youth she had taken an interest in was a listless white-haired boy with dead-fish eyes.

Though a mask concealed his face, Tsunade could still see plenty of Hatake Sakumo in the Youth named Hatake Kakashi through his hair color and facial contours.

"Mm... I suppose." Tsunade answered vaguely.

She had not even noticed the others. She had picked this squad because of Uchiha Chi.

Still, having the child of an old acquaintance on the squad was not bad. That way, the Third Hokage's attention would not focus too much on the others.

Everything came at a cost. The more someone was valued, the more likely they were to receive special treatment. The heavier the burden they bore, the more risks and pain they would have to endure in the future.

Tsunade only hoped that this Uchiha Youth, who shared Nawaki's ideals, could grow up properly rather than receive any special cultivation.

Though she was not particularly familiar with Uchiha Chi, she did not want to experience the feeling of someone she knew leaving again.

Then for these next few days, I'll teach him more techniques for surviving on the battlefield...

Tsunade put away the scroll containing one million ryō, turned to leave, and waved to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"I'll only be responsible for training them, then I'll leave. After that, you can find them a suitable instructor yourself... Don't expect me to handle all that."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before the table, silently watching Tsunade depart.

Bang—

Only after the wooden door shut tightly did he let out a soft sigh.

Bang—

After closing the door to the Hokage's Office, Tsunade touched the sealing scroll at her waist, her pretty face brimming with delight.

Ho ho ho, I can get paid for this too.

She had originally come to the Hokage's Office today intending to become Uchiha Chi's temporary teacher.

Guidance from one of the Konoha Sannin was the greatest compensation she could think of giving Uchiha Chi.

Not only had she achieved her goal, she had also gained an unexpected windfall.

Tsunade felt utterly energized!

"Good!" She clenched her fist and muttered in a low voice, "Now I'll go to the casino and win back everything I've lost!"

She headed downstairs with light steps.

As she passed through the corridor, she caught sight of two figures in the shadows.

In a sense, these two were working for her...

Thinking that, Tsunade, in an excellent mood, smiled encouragingly and nodded. "Yo, good work!"

With that, she strode out of the Hokage Building, leaving behind two Anbu members staring at each other.

"She was smiling, that's true, but she wasn't counting money. So... did she borrow it or not?" Haru asked in confusion.

And she had even greeted them.

Was Lady Tsunade really in such a good mood?

"I don't know." Zou also looked in bafflement toward the direction Tsunade had vanished, feeling his head itch. "I've never seen anything like this either..."

Within the Uchiha clan grounds, in a blue-brick residence.

With a faint smile, Uchiha Chi looked at the azure words before him.

[Damage Increase: 94%]

[Extra Defense: 72%]

[Point Count: 310]

"I've saved up enough points to activate the Three-Tomoe Sharingan again..." Uchiha Chi rubbed his hands together and reached toward the light screen expectantly.

Just as he was about to open the Point Store.

Knock knock knock knock!

Urgent knocking came from outside the door.

"Uchiha Chi, come out quickly!"