Tamura Hiten

While Tamura Hiroshi was soaking in the bath, far away in Konoha, Shimura Danzō had already received intelligence about his unusual performance, transmitted via a Summoning Beast with considerable speed.

"Discovered a spy embezzling funds meant for Kumogakure's purchases, earned the Third Raikage's praise and reward, became the Raikage's Nephew's student, and even shown closeness with the Raikage's Son."

Staring at the concise intelligence report, Shimura Danzō sank into thought. It took him a good while before he recalled that precocious brat from years ago.

"I remember that kid had a childhood sweetheart."

Thinking back to those two children back then, Shimura Danzō had a fairly deep impression of them.

Although both had mediocre talent in cultivation, their minds were remarkably mature, making them well-suited for spy work.

Coupled with the fact that the boy only had a single Lightning Release, he had arranged for him to be sent to Kumogakure.

Originally, it was just a casual move, mainly to replace a dying asset over there. Who would have thought this small pawn would develop so well on its own?

"These are their files!"

A masked ninja at his side delivered two dossiers. Shimura Danzō took them and opened them. At the top was Tamura Hiroshi's photo, black and white, with the name Tamura Hiten written below.

This was Tamura Hiroshi's original name in this world. He had no surname originally, but after his parents learned their son had been recruited by Lord Danzō's department, they came up with the surname Tamura based on Danzō's own.

Of course, such a self-made surname was not officially recognized. In this era, surnames carried extraordinary significance and were symbols of status and identity—not something just anyone could possess.

Seeing that name, Shimura Danzō couldn't help but think of his old comrade Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After a moment of reminiscing about the days he'd spent on missions with his old friend, Shimura Danzō casually flipped through the files, but there wasn't much to see.

The two children's talent was mainly in their precocious minds; their cultivation talent was quite ordinary, especially the boy's.

The girl, however, showed great promise in Medical Ninjutsu. In the future, she might even reach Tsunade's current level of medical skill—a rare talent indeed.

But he valued Yakushi Nonō's espionage abilities more. The core of ninja warfare was intelligence warfare, and Root's very existence was primarily for this purpose.

A single useful piece of intelligence was far more valuable than a Jonin. Konoha didn't lack geniuses or Jonin—in fact, it had perhaps too many.

"Raise his rating to B-rank!"

After reviewing the boy's file, Shimura Danzō gave the order.

Originally, he was just a low-level pawn, but now that pawn had increased his own value, so his rating naturally had to follow suit.

"Yes!"

The masked ninja at his side acknowledged, then collected the two files.

"Have the asset stationed over there contact the boy. Tell him to investigate Kumogakure's upcoming war plans and their progress on utilizing the Tailed Beasts."

After a moment's deliberation, Shimura Danzō issued the command.

He had long sensed that the major ninja villages were ready. The Second Great Ninja War was about to begin, but he couldn't pinpoint where it would start.

Kumogakure was a purely militaristic village. Its upper echelons were almost entirely hardline war hawks who advocated for external plunder. Over the years, they had stolen no small number of secret techniques and talents.

If it hadn't been for traitors like Kinkaku and Ginkaku during the First Great Ninja War, which severely crippled Kumogakure, that war wouldn't have ended so easily.

Thus, Kumogakure's intentions were crucial. The sooner they were understood, the better—so Konoha could prepare in advance.

Next were the Tailed Beasts. He had witnessed the terror of the Nine-Tails firsthand. A Tailed Beast Bomb was practically apocalyptic. Once it entered a battlefield, it would be devastating for any side.

Leaving aside Danzō's orders, on the other side, Tamura Hiroshi waited until all the medicinal power from the herbal bath had seeped into his body. Then he was taken out of the tub and received treatment from a Medical Ninja, accelerating the repair of his bone cracks.

"This is from a person?"

Struggling to sit up, Tamura Hiroshi examined the broken tooth in his hand—something he had found at the bottom of the bath barrel earlier.

"One of the main ingredients is bone from the Kaguya Clan."

Yozuki A nodded. Several of the Secret Medicine's key components were hard to come by. This batch used part of the skeleton of a Kaguya Clan Jonin.

Throughout the entire ninja world, only the Kaguya Clan's bones were the hardest, surpassing the limits of ordinary bone structure. That was why the medicinal liquid made from their skeletons was so effective at enhancing bone strength.

"Humans really are a great medicine too."

Tamura Hiroshi remarked, showing no aversion to it.

After all, humans were just one of the countless living beings. If the organs of other animals could be used as medicine, then humans naturally could be as well.

Especially in this world, where Kekkei Genkai and bloodline inheritance existed. Using such materials as medicine yielded far better results than those from wild beasts or ninja animals.

Probably only materials from the Three Great Sage Lands, which could use Sage Arts, could compare.

If there was a need, he wouldn't mind having a bowl of bone-ash rice.

In this world, where even terrorists would despair, only by becoming strong could one have dignity and control over their own fate. The weak were worse than dogs.

"These are some of my insights on Lightning Release and a few practical Lightning Release Nintaijutsu techniques. You can look them over these days. If there's anything you don't understand, I'll explain it next time we meet."

Fukai took out a scroll he had prepared earlier and handed it over. He had already reviewed this student's file and knew he only had Lightning Release, so he had prepared these notes.

"And this is mine. It also contains Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop and its advanced form, Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop Senbu."

Yozuki A also produced a scroll he had prepared in advance and passed it over. Inside were not only his cultivation insights on Lightning Release and body tempering but also two Nintaijutsu techniques—Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop and Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop Senbu—both executed with a Hand Blade.

Nintaijutsu itself consumed far less chakra than other projectile techniques. The most basic Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop consumed even less, equivalent to only a D-rank jutsu. With the little junior's chakra, he could barely practice and use it after a bit more improvement.

Of course, the prerequisite was mastering Lightning Release Nature Transformation. That was the key to Lightning Oppression Horizontal Chop—it emphasized Nature Transformation above all else.

"Thank you! I'll study it carefully."

Tamura Hiroshi was deeply moved, and inwardly gave himself a thumbs-up for his risky gamble.

What a massive score!

"By the way, would you two be interested in these two ninja swords? I had them forged first, but their design didn't suit my sword style, so I later had another set made."

Tamura Hiroshi unsealed a sealing object spell from one of his armor plates and retrieved a pair of ninja swords stored within.

The design was standard for Kumogakure ninja swords, each a meter long, well-suited for Yozuki A and Fukai.

These were the first swords he'd commissioned, but their slashing-focused shape didn't fit his preference for thrusting attacks. After using them for a while, he sealed them away and instead sketched out a Chinese Saber design for a new set.

Fukai, a master of swordsmanship, picked up one of the ninja swords and swung it, then channeled his chakra into it. Instantly, the gleaming blade crackled with dazzling lightning.

"Excellent blade!"

Feeling the chakra flow smoothly through the sword, Fukai's eyes lit up.

This sword was far superior to the one he'd been using. It must contain more Chakra Conductive Metal, and the blade's balance was perfect for exerting force—clearly the work of a master craftsman.

A rare and exceptional weapon!

Yozuki A picked up the other ninja sword, gave it a swing, and infused it with his Lightning Release chakra, showing keen interest.

Though he primarily relied on his clan's inherited Hand Blade technique, which was no slouch in power, fighting barehanded always had its limitations.

If he could have a good sword, that would naturally be better.

This blade was light, under four pounds, but since he specialized in speed-based close combat, it was a perfect fit.

"This is too precious!"

After appraising it for a moment, Fukai sheathed the ninja sword and handed it back to Tamura Hiroshi.

If it were just an ordinary ninja sword, even one of the fine quality he'd used before, he could accept it.

But this blade was no ordinary item—its value likely exceeded a hundred million. Such an extravagant gift, he couldn't take.