A Draw by Gunfire

Facing Pakura's relentless assault, Tamura Hiroshi could only continue using the Monster Strength Technique to boost his explosive power and block her attacks. He did not even have a chance to speak.

In the end, there was no suspense and no possibility of a sudden burst of power. Tamura Hiroshi was cleanly knocked to the ground, and then Pakura mounted him, the edge of her kunai pressed against his throat.

"You lost!"

The smile at the corners of her lips deepened. Although the battle had been short, it had been quite satisfying. Kumogakure's swordsmanship truly was extraordinary.

"No, it's a draw!"

Tamura Hiroshi wore a strange expression, but he still insisted that it was a draw.

Pakura was puzzled. I've pinned you beneath me. Where did you get the nerve to call it a draw?

Tamura Hiroshi said nothing and simply looked at her quietly.

It had to be said that looking up at a woman from below had its advantages. At least visually, she seemed considerably more magnificent.

As for being pinned down by a woman, although it was shameful, if the position was like this, it was not entirely unacceptable.

Pakura soon noticed something unusual. The place she was sitting felt strange—not flat. Had he hidden some ninja tool there?

She was puzzled at first, but then seemed to realize something. Her fair, pretty face instantly flushed, and she leaped away, cursing.

"Pervert!"

"Shameless!"

"I told you it was a draw!"

Tamura Hiroshi climbed to his feet, feeling helpless about his body's reaction.

After all, he was in the prime of adolescence. The stimulation from chakra had made his body mature even earlier, and his years of gathering material and writing had left him unable to withstand much stimulation. What had happened just now had been purely instinctive.

"Little pervert!"

Pakura cursed with a flushed face before using the Body Flicker Technique to leave. It was simply too embarrassing.

The ANBU ninja secretly monitoring them, meanwhile, was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, wishing he could take Tamura Hiroshi's place.

Leaving aside Pakura's embarrassment and anger, Tamura Hiroshi stayed in the training ground for three hours before finally returning home.

There was no helping it. This body was too full of youthful vigor. Combined with the training from years of gathering material and writing, once the heat rose, it could not be suppressed in a short time.

He did not want to go home in that state. People would take him for a pervert.

As soon as he returned home, he took a cold shower. Then he studied the scroll containing the Chakra Threads cultivation techniques and gained a great deal.

"The Chakra Threads trained using these techniques will have far greater strength and resilience, making them harder to destroy. Their swinging force will also be much greater. They can even be used like Spider-Man's webs, connecting to nearby objects for rapid movement and evasion, or pulling other people over."

Tamura Hiroshi was very satisfied with what he had gained. His risky attempt to show off and attract Rasa's attention had not been in vain.

Although he had cultivated Chakra Threads before and trained their flexibility through writing, their strength had been lacking. They could easily be cut apart.

Now that he had Sunagakure's Chakra Threads cultivation techniques, he could make up for that weakness.

"Why hasn't that guy come yet? Lord Danzo is waiting for my intelligence. If his delay makes Lord Danzo doubt my efficiency, I'll be in trouble.

"I really need to find a chance to eliminate that intermediary and obtain a way to contact Lord Danzo directly."

Growing increasingly eager for the Land of Whirlpools War, Tamura Hiroshi thought of the person responsible for relaying messages and felt deeply dissatisfied.

With such poor efficiency, when would Lord Danzo ever become Hokage?

Fortunately, he did not have to wait long. The deliveryman arrived again. Tamura Hiroshi welcomed him inside, sat on the sofa, opened the sealed container, and looked at the Roast Meat inside, generously covered in sauce. He was fairly satisfied. It was much better than the ramen last time.

"I've uncovered two pieces of valuable intelligence. One concerns the war, and the other concerns a Tailed Beast."

While eating Roast Meat, Tamura Hiroshi took out two scrolls he had prepared in advance and handed one over.

The middle-aged man glanced at the scroll Tamura Hiroshi was holding down but said nothing. He picked up the one pushed toward him, opened it, and quickly read it. His expression grew increasingly grave.

"The main target really is Konoha!"

After reading the intelligence, the middle-aged man's expression darkened.

The information recorded inside was scattered and far from conclusive, but when pieced together, it was possible to roughly deduce Kumogakure's strategic objective. One point was especially important: Kumogakure seemed very interested in the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan and might look for an opportunity to seize it on the battlefield.

"The Sword of the Thunder God is a top-grade ninja tool. If you want my intelligence, you'll have to offer something of equal value."

The middle-aged man spoke pointedly as his gaze fell on the intelligence scroll beneath the boy's hand.

"This intelligence is worth no less than the one you just read. In fact, it is worth more."

Tamura Hiroshi continued eating his Roast Meat and replied casually. At the same time, he stuck an Explosive Tag onto the scroll, making it clear that the man should not even think about taking it.

The middle-aged man was left speechless by the boy's action. He had never seen such an arrogant subordinate, one who seemed nothing like someone trained by Root.

In the end, he took out some blood he had prepared in advance, used it as a medium to perform the Summoning Technique, and summoned a ferocious hound. The hound held something in its mouth—the Sword of the Thunder God Tamura Hiroshi wanted.

Without saying much, he placed the Sword of the Thunder God on the coffee table. The middle-aged man took the intelligence scroll from beneath the boy's hand, carefully removed the Explosive Tag, and opened it to read. His expression immediately grew solemn.

Tamura Hiroshi also picked up the Sword of the Thunder God and poured chakra into it. He looked at the condensed lightning blade with great satisfaction.

Although it was only an inch long, it was enough to prove that it was genuine.

With this ninja tool's help, combined with the boost from his Golden Finger, he would certainly be able to complete his Lightning Release Nature Transformation training soon. His own strength would also rise substantially.

As expected, Lord Danzo would not disappoint him. He could even obtain the Second Hokage's relics. No wonder he was the Ninja World's First Pot Kage.

Come to think of it, what other treasures did Lord Danzo currently have?

While thinking, Tamura Hiroshi quickly finished the box of Roast Meat. He wiped his mouth with a tissue and said seriously, "Tell Lord Danzo that I will bring him sufficient value. Please ask him not to send Nonō out on dangerous missions."

The necessary bond had to be deepened. Only then would Lord Danzo feel more reassured about and trusting of Tamura.

"I'll report your words to Lord Danzo!"

The middle-aged man looked at the boy before him in surprise. He had not known that Nonō existed, but judging by the situation, she seemed to be a useful bond.

As a spy operating outside, one needed a bond to keep them anchored so they could work more wholeheartedly for Lord Danzo.

After speaking, he turned and prepared to leave, intending to deliver the intelligence to Lord Danzo as quickly as possible.

"Take this trash downstairs. You've stayed too long, so you need to disguise yourself.

"Also, you still haven't changed your tone or your eyes. I dislike it very much. As punishment, bring Roast Meat made from a summoned beast next time. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that I won't forget some crucial intelligence."

Tamura Hiroshi said his piece. He disliked the other man's commanding tone and expression. Did the man really think he was Tamura's direct superior?

His only direct superior was Lord Danzo!

Besides, the Roast Meat just now had actually been ordinary pork. The taste was not very good.

Everyone knew that the Land of Lightning was most famous for its beef. Although it was expensive overseas, it was reasonably priced in the Land of Lightning, especially in Kumogakure. Yet this man had used cheap pork to fob him off. He clearly did not take Tamura seriously.

That man had definitely pocketed the operating funds distributed by Lord Danzo. As Lord Danzo's most loyal lackey, Tamura had to make him spit it all back out—with interest!

In this entire world, only Tamura was allowed to pocket the funds distributed by Lord Danzo, even his inheritance. Absolutely, unquestionably, there could not be a second person.

He had to find a chance to obtain a communication line directly connected to Lord Danzo, or even meet Lord Danzo face-to-face. Only then could he reduce the risk of exposure.

Otherwise, if this man betrayed Lord Danzo, he would certainly cause Lord Danzo enormous losses.

As Root's finest intelligence operative, Tamura could not afford to be brought down by someone like this.

"Brat, don't push it!"

The middle-aged man could tolerate being made to take out the trash, but the boy actually wanted Roast Meat made from summoned beasts. Did he know how expensive that was?

"Two portions."

Tamura Hiroshi doubled the demand without changing expression, making the middle-aged man even angrier.

"Three portions!"

"You damn brat!"

In the end, he still gave in. Gritting his teeth, he stuffed the empty Roast Meat container into a garbage bag and carried it away.