Sword of the Thunder God

Tamura Hiroshi didn't take it, instead urging, "Teacher, just accept it. I damaged your blade before, so this one serves as compensation.

Besides, we'll inevitably have to leave the village for missions in the future. If we encounter danger, a good sword in your hands will better protect me.

Think of it as me lending it to you for now—you can return it when you no longer need it."

Seeing Fukai's continued refusal, Tamura Hiroshi shifted his approach, framing it as a temporary loan.

"Take it. There will likely be great danger ahead, and war is not far off."

Yozuki A added a word of persuasion, making Fukai hesitate before finally accepting the blade.

He could read between the lines in Yozuki A's words—there would likely be grave peril in the future, tied to this student. Thus, raising his strength was essential.

"I will protect my student with my life. Anyone who wants to harm you must first step over my corpse!"

A solemn vow. Though Fukai still harbored many doubts about this student, the importance Yozuki A and the Lord Raikage had shown earlier made it clear that this student was not to be lost.

Yet those words made Tamura Hiroshi's eyelids twitch, recalling the supreme curse from that other world—Douluo—a curse that rivaled the Dao of "Friend, stay your step!"

And this world did have means of resurrection, like the Rinnegan. If he were to die someday, would his teacher utter something like, "Revive, my disciple!"

"I'll borrow this sword for now too. If you ever need anything, just say the word."

Setting aside his wandering thoughts, Yozuki A also accepted a blade and made a generous promise to Tamura Hiroshi.

Tamura Hiroshi was quite satisfied. The future Fourth Raikage's favor was far more valuable than any blade could match.

After chatting with Yozuki A for a while, once his condition had improved somewhat, Tamura Hiroshi hobbled back on his cane.

Bone fractures weren't so easy to recover from, especially waiting for the medicine to deeply fuse with the bones.

The medical ninjutsu had only achieved a preliminary healing, leaving the bones far weaker than before, so he had to walk with care.

Back home, Tamura Hiroshi lay on his bed, unrolled the scrolls from Yozuki A and Fukai, and began studying their insights on Lightning Release's nature and shape transformation—exactly what he needed.

The original Naruto story showed Wind Release nature transformation training, but never explained how to train Lightning Release's nature transformation.

Neither the Ninja Academy nor the library had specific methods. He could only piece together fragments from various books, making slow progress without even getting started.

Now, with the cultivation insights of two jonin specializing in Lightning Release and possessing secret techniques, it was like a pillow arriving just as he felt sleepy.

Lightning Release nature transformation was the only path to quickly boost his strength at this stage. He even wondered if he could develop Kakashi's Chidori or Sasuke's Chidori system from it.

Even if his chakra quantity couldn't handle the full version, a low-tier version would suffice.

This was where his Golden Finger's talent boost came in, making his training twice as effective with half the effort.

But before he could study and master Lightning Release nature transformation, an uninvited guest showed up.

"Ninja-sama, this is the ramen you ordered."

A middle-aged man stood outside the door, holding a large bowl of packaged ramen, while his other hand made subtle gestures.

Recognizing those gestures, Tamura Hiroshi understood—this was from Shimura Danzo... no, Lord Danzo.

"Come in."

Tamura Hiroshi casually glanced outside, then stepped aside to let the middle-aged man enter, taking the ramen from him.

The man said nothing, stepping into the room. When his foot landed on the carpet, Tamura Hiroshi noticed something off.

"A Shadow Clone? Cautious."

The man's foot didn't press down the carpet, as if weightless. Either he controlled a flight or levitation technique, or he wasn't made of flesh and blood—the latter being more likely.

"Lord Danzo orders you to investigate Kumogakure's war plans to the fullest, especially their strategic schemes against the Land of Fire.

Additionally, you must probe their progress on tailed beast utilization. This is mandatory."

The middle-aged man cut straight to the point, delivering the orders from above.

"I want the Second Hokage's Sword of the Thunder God."

Tamura Hiroshi stated his terms without hesitation.

Lightning Release nature transformation wasn't easy to master. Even Yozuki A and Fukai had taken over five years to succeed.

Future Naruto would need countless Shadow Clones and massive chakra to cheat his way through training.

Though his Golden Finger boosted his talent, it wasn't that exaggerated—not like that "Deep Blue" from another world that could add points. He estimated at least a year of hard training.

That was still too slow. He wanted to master it faster, which meant relying on external aids.

He thought of certain ninja tools, like the Bashōsen once owned by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, which could convert the user's chakra into the five elements—wind, fire, water, earth, lightning—effectively completing nature transformation.

Unfortunately, the Bashōsen had been sealed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku before their deaths via summoning. Unless they were revived through Impure World Reincarnation, it was lost. The Third Raikage had only managed to seize the Amber Purifying Pot.

Then there was the Second Hokage's Sword of the Thunder God. If he could obtain it, training nature transformation would be far easier.

But this demand made the middle-aged man's face turn cold. As Lord Danzo's subordinate, daring to make demands—did he want to die?

"I need means to protect myself and raise my strength, so I can climb higher in Kumogakure and be of greater value to Lord Danzo."

Tamura Hiroshi remained calm, but his tone was firm and serious, even as he quickly finished the ramen.

This explanation made the middle-aged man frown, unable to refute it.

He didn't know much about the Sword of the Thunder God, but as the Second Hokage's weapon, it was clearly no ordinary item. Coupled with the Senju Clan's influence, even Lord Danzo would find it difficult to obtain.

"I will report your words to Lord Danzo. You had better obtain valuable intelligence."

The Middle-aged Man took a deep look at the Youth before him, said his piece, and left without hesitation.

His current identity was that of a deliveryman; he couldn't linger here long.

"Take this and toss it with the trash bag by the door. You've been here too long—you need to add some cover.

Also, I don't like your tone or your look. As punishment, bring roast meat next time."

Tamura Hiroshi finished the soup in his bowl, handed over the empty bowl and sealed lid, pointed at the trash bag by the door, and even demanded roast meat for the next visit.

If only there were a direct hotline to Lord Danzo right now, he would have cut this guy out long ago.

Coming to make contact with nothing but a cheap bowl of ramen as cover—it was obvious this man had pocketed the funds Lord Danzo had distributed.

Such corrupt and embezzling scum were the rot in Root, obstacles on Lord Danzo's path to becoming Hokage, and must be eliminated.

The Middle-aged Man's forehead was lined with exasperation, but he still picked up the trash bag by the door and left.

He had never seen such an arrogant and petty brat of a spy!

But who could blame him? The kid had gotten lucky, making contact with a core member of Kumogakure, which made him far more valuable in Lord Danzo's eyes.

"Lord Danzo, don't let me down!"

After the Middle-aged Man left, Tamura Hiroshi murmured to himself, full of anticipation and confidence in that old superior.

After all, that was the Pot Kage!

Then, as night fell, he put on his clothes and shoes and headed out to a nearby bathhouse.

Since Lord Danzo had already sent someone to make contact and issued orders, he naturally couldn't let Lord Danzo down—he needed to obtain the relevant intelligence as soon as possible.

For that, he would need to find Lord Dodai. That bathhouse was the meeting point he had arranged with Lord Dodai.

He was confident Lord Dodai would be very interested in this, and might even use the opportunity to hatch some scheme.

As an excellent semi-double agent, he had to be clear about his true stance, with no room for ambiguity.