A Slap for Danzo

"Enough, stop fooling around. We still have things to do," Tianqi said, stepping in to stop the two from horsing around.

Hearing that there was still more to do, the two stopped and turned to look at Tianqi.

"It's almost five. Let's start with thirty laps around Konoha today. You should be able to manage it with your stamina. If you finish before nine, I'll treat you to barbecue tonight." Tianqi was using the same method Sarutobi had once used to put him through the wringer.

"Ah! Big Brother Tianqi, we've been exhausted all day, and now you want us to run thirty laps around Konoha? That'll kill us! How about you let us off the hook?" Jiraiya immediately began begging so he wouldn't have to run.

"Yeah, Big Brother Tianqi. Thirty laps is a bit much." Tsunade started pleading too when she heard they had to run thirty laps.

Only Orochimaru set off immediately when Tianqi told them to run thirty laps.

"If any of you don't want to run, I won't force you. Just come over here and let me beat you for an hour. I've been itching for a fight lately." Tianqi raised his fist and blew on it threateningly.

The moment they saw Tianqi raise his fist, Jiraiya and Tsunade took off, running after Orochimaru.

"You think you can bargain with me? Let's see if I don't beat you senseless." Tianqi watched them run off and laughed.

Then he ran straight to the Konoha Gate and started chatting with the guards. While he was in the middle of boasting, he saw someone heading toward the entrance. Judging by the look of him, he'd just returned to the village from a mission.

As the man drew closer, Tianqi recognized Danzo and immediately turned to leave. Danzo, however, started lecturing the guards.

"It's broad daylight, and instead of doing your jobs, you're standing around chatting nonsense. Don't go blabbing to just anyone. If you leak Konoha's secrets and something goes wrong, are you prepared to take responsibility?" Though Danzo was scolding the guards, his eyes were fixed on Tianqi.

"Quit talking crap. I'm from Konoha, not some outsider. If you're really asking for a beating, Danzo, I don't mind giving you one right now." Tianqi didn't let Danzo get away with it and shot back at him.

"I don't believe you'd dare attack someone in broad daylight, right here in Konoha. Go on, try it. I'd like to see just how arrogant you Uchiha Tianqi really are. Evil Uchiha." Danzo spoke with a look of disdain.

"Heh!" Tianqi sneered and slapped Danzo across the face.

Smack! Danzo was sent flying by the slap. The two guards stared at Tianqi in shock, secretly giving him a thumbs-up. They'd long been sick of Danzo's arrogant attitude.

"Uchiha Tianqi, I'm not letting this go! I'm telling Sarutobi about this. I'll make him punish you!" Danzo clutched his swollen cheek and shouted angrily at Tianqi.

"Why are you barking here? I hit you, so what? If you don't like it, go tell the Hokage. I'm not stopping you, am I?" Tianqi finished and turned to ask the two guards.

The guards didn't dare answer. They couldn't get involved in something like this; both men were members of Konoha's High Command, and they couldn't afford to offend either of them.

"Fine! Uchiha Tianqi, just you wait!" Danzo said, then left with a hand over his face.

Once Danzo was gone, the two guards came over. "Tianqi, you're incredible! You even dared to hit Danzo!"

"That's nothing. From now on, every time I see that bastard, I'll look down on him. If he doesn't like it, I'll beat him up." Tianqi spoke with utter disdain.

"You're something else. But Danzo's famously petty, so be careful," the two guards kindly warned him.

"Relax. Even if there were ten more people like Danzo, I wouldn't be afraid."

Just as Tianqi finished speaking, a ninja's voice rang out.

"Tianqi, Lord Hokage wants to see you. Get to the Hokage Building at once." After delivering the message, the messenger left.

"See? I told you Danzo was petty. Now you're in trouble." One of the guards patted Tianqi on the shoulder, then went back to guarding the gate.

Tianqi headed toward the Hokage Building, grumbling as he went. "That dog Danzo's such a wimp. I only slapped him once. Did he really have to run and tell the Hokage?"

Tianqi soon arrived at the Hokage Building. Danzo came out looking furious, clearly without getting the result he wanted.

Tianqi raised his middle finger at Danzo. He'd said he'd look down on him every time they met, and he meant it.

Seeing Tianqi give him the international sign of friendship, Danzo snorted and left.

"Coward!" Seeing Danzo just walk away made Tianqi look down on him even more.

Then he went straight to Sarutobi's office. Inside, several chairs and tea sets lay broken.

"Hey, Big Brother Sarutobi. What did you want me for?" Tianqi asked with a cheeky grin.

"You've got some nerve asking. You know what you did. Do I really have to spell it out for you?" Sarutobi Hiruzen rolled his eyes at Tianqi.

"I didn't think Danzo would be such a wimp. I only slapped him once, and he actually came running to you to complain."

Looking at Tianqi's cheeky grin, Sarutobi could only sigh.

"I've dealt with this for you this time. In the future, when you run into Danzo, try to talk things out instead of resorting to violence. He'll soon become one of Konoha's elders, so you should at least show him some respect."

Hearing that Danzo was going to become an elder, Tianqi said, "I understand, Big Brother Sarutobi. But don't invite me to your elders' meetings from now on. I'm afraid I'll see Danzo and lose the urge to slap him again."

Sarutobi could only nod helplessly at Tianqi's words. There was truly nothing he could do about the relationship between Danzo and Tianqi.

"By the way, Tianqi, how are those little ones doing?" Sarutobi asked, thinking of his students.

"They're all doing pretty well. I've got them training by running laps at the gate right now," Tianqi said nonchalantly.

"What about Jiraiya? What do you think of him?" Remembering what Jiraiya was like, Sarutobi shook his head. He wanted to hear Tianqi's opinion.

"He's the type who's wiser than he lets on. I have a lot of faith in Jiraiya. His future achievements will absolutely be no less than Orochimaru's or Tsunade's. He just needs someone to guide him. You should give him careful instruction from now on." Jiraiya's future would undoubtedly be legendary, and Tianqi didn't hesitate to praise him in front of Sarutobi.

Hearing Tianqi say that, Sarutobi felt relieved. He'd been afraid he might have misjudged Jiraiya.

"I've got some free time in a couple of days, so I'll teach them for a few days. You can take a couple of days off too. Let's invite the little ones to dinner tonight." Thinking of his students, Sarutobi smiled. He hadn't seen them in days and had rather missed them.

"That works out perfectly. I promised to treat them to barbecue, so let's meet at that barbecue place a little after nine tonight." Tianqi left as soon as he'd finished speaking.

Hearing Tianqi say he'd promised to treat the kids to barbecue, Sarutobi smiled. It seemed Tianqi was pretty good to them.

But on second thought, something didn't seem right. He'd made the promise, so wouldn't Sarutobi end up paying? Then he thought it over again. Never mind; he'd planned to treat them to dinner anyway. He might as well pay.

By then, Tianqi had reached the outskirts of the village. He watched the three of them run, drenched in sweat, while cursing him under their breath.

A smile crept across Tianqi's lips. "This really is just like when Sarutobi used to put me through the wringer. Back then, I'd run around cursing Sarutobi and his whole family. Who'd have thought I'd be the one getting cursed now? Hahaha, this is great. Just great."