Tobirama's Reward (Seeking Follow-ups, Monthly Votes)

Konohagakure.

The half-moon setting sun had already dipped below the horizon, the last traces of crimson and gold in the sky slowly fading.

As night approached, the summer cicadas still sang tirelessly in the trees. Uchiha Ao stood motionless under the shade of a tree not far from the Hokage Building, his face unreadable.

He was enveloped in the heat, staring blankly at the building ahead. A drop of sweat trickled down his forehead, sliding across his pale cheek, tracing his jawline before falling towards the collar of his casual clothes.

He tugged at his damp collar and let out a sigh, his heart filled with conflict.

"What should I say when I meet Tobirama Senju later?"

While relaying the intelligence to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had held back some information.

He understood that even with his influence, the outbreak of war between the two sides had been delayed for a short period. However, in his estimation, a major war would still erupt next year, the eighteenth year of the Hokage era.

Therefore, he thought, why not use this intelligence, combined with the information he had personally scouted, to exchange for some of Hashirama Senju's Wood Release Ninjutsu from Tobirama.

But how to make the other party believe him had been the problem that troubled him all the way here.

Whoosh!

Before he could ponder further, an Anbu member with a leopard mask appeared directly in front of him with a Body Flicker Technique, and said in a low voice:

"Uchiha Ao, the Hokage requests your presence."

Ao nodded. Led by the leopard-masked Anbu, they navigated through winding paths and arrived before a door.

"Hokage-sama, Uchiha Ao has arrived."

"Let him come in himself," a voice came from within the room.

The leopard-masked Anbu acknowledged the order, pushed the door open for him, and then vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.

Uchiha Ao pushed the door open and entered. What met his eyes was vastly different from the Hokage's office at the Ninja Academy. The room's layout was circular. Although stacks of documents and scrolls were placed on the desk and in the corners, a closer look at their arrangement revealed an orderly feel throughout the entire room.

He didn't dare to look around too much and walked straight to a spot not far from the central desk. He bowed slightly and said, "Hokage-sama."

"..."

Tobirama Senju, still clad in his Hokage cloak, rested his chin on his hand, his cold eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe.

After a long silence, he finally spoke:

"Not bad. In these past two weeks, your strength has indeed improved. Now I'm starting to believe you could escape from the Land of Lightning."

"You flatter me, Lord."

Uchiha Ao dared not be arrogant, and forced a bitter smile, "My ability to escape back that time was largely due to luck..."

"No need for false modesty."

Tobirama waved his hand, "Luck is also a part of strength."

As he spoke, he changed the subject and asked casually, "You just arrived in the Village today, you must be tired.

Have you returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound?"

His tone barely changed from before, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.

However, Uchiha Ao was not an impulsive young brat of the clan. He understood very well how much Tobirama disliked the Uchiha Clan.

It seemed this Hokage was testing him, trying to see which faction he belonged to now.

Thinking this, he pondered for a moment, then said with a sincere expression:

"I haven't returned to the clan compound yet. This reconnaissance mission was a Village mission after all, so I felt it was more appropriate to report to you first.

After I return to the clan, I plan to report this mission to the Clan Head."

Indeed, upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed in Tobirama's eyes, though his tone remained cold.

"Very good. Hiruzen has already told me about your performance. I have always advocated for rewarding merit. What Ninjutsu from the Village do you wish to learn?

Hmm... A-rank Ninjutsu. If you have any you fancy, you can choose any two."

Only A-rank?! A flicker of disappointment flashed in Uchiha Ao's lowered eyes. He had initially thought that the intelligence he brought back this time would at least earn him a forbidden Jutsu from Tobirama.

At the very least, it should have been Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, a forbidden Jutsu that was practically useless to ninjas with low Chakra reserves.

And that's all?!

Just as Ao was about to look up and try to negotiate further, "Hokage, I..."

A bundle of scrolls was thrown over, and Tobirama's cold voice echoed again.

"This is a list of all A-rank and below Ninjutsu. Read it here, and tell me your choice when you're done. I'll have the Anbu get it for you.

I think... there might be something you need among them."

As he said the last sentence, Uchiha Ao seemed to detect a hint of amusement in the voice of the cold Hokage.

Something I need?

Could it be that your brother's Wood Style is among them?

Ao mentally grumbled, and half-believing, he unrolled the scroll in his hands, examining it closely.

A moment later, his pupils constricted.

He hadn't expected the ninjutsu within this scroll to be more numerous than he'd imagined. Besides the common ninjutsu used in Konohagakure and the Water Release A-rank Ninjutsu that the Second Generation excelled at, it actually recorded A-rank ninjutsu from other villages.

Although the quantity wasn't large, every single one was A-rank level. Among them was even the B-Rank Ninjutsu, Lightning Release Armor, which he had learned from Kinkaku Ginkaku this time.

"Could it be..."

As if thinking of something, Uchiha Ao's eyes flashed.

"Is this what the Hokage was referring to?"

After all, he had been training frantically under the state of Thunder Breathing not long ago to maximize his physical conditioning.

Given the Hokage's personality, he must have had the Anbu watching him frequently. It was natural for him to know Ao was interested in Lightning Release Armor.

But... he already had this thing!

Next, he quickly scanned through it again. While some of the A-rank ninjutsu looked very tempting, the forbidden jutsu he wanted wasn't even mentioned.

"Hokage..."

Seeing this, Uchiha Ao decisively closed the scroll and said to Tobirama, "There's no ninjutsu I want here."

"Oh?"

Tobirama Senju's eyebrows twitched, and he retorted, "Then what do you want?"

As he spoke, he seemed to recall something and quickly added, "Although your contribution this time is significant, it's not enough to exchange for my S-rank self-created forbidden jutsu based on this contribution alone.

Also, your status... you are neither my disciple nor a Jonin. So, if you want me to teach you my self-created forbidden jutsu, you must first join the Anbu, like Kagami, and publicly separate yourself from the Uchiha Clan's hawk faction.

Do you think you can do these things now?"

"..."

Uchiha Ao fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Sorry, Hokage, I probably cannot separate from the Clan Head's faction for the time being."

It wasn't because he had deep feelings for the Uchiha Clan, but rather that he hadn't obtained the advanced dōjutsu such as Izanagi and Izanami yet.

If he were to separate from the hawk faction led by the Clan Head this early, he would have no hope of getting those ninjutsu. The other party would definitely be on high alert against him.

Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment flashed in Tobirama's eyes. However, this answer was within his expectations. If someone could truly betray their clan for a ninjutsu, he would have a different opinion of that person.

It seemed... he could only proceed with the original plan and take things slowly.

"Since you can't do it, make a choice quickly. You've already delayed me for five minutes."

"Give me your answer within the next minute!"

With that, Tobirama stopped looking at him and glanced at the clock beside him.

Tick, tick...

At this moment, the second hand had already completed three-quarters of its rotation on the dial.

Tobirama frowned.

Did this kid even hear what he said? For so long, he still hadn't unrolled the scroll to choose. What was he agonizing over? He had opened and closed his mouth several times, but held back.

He still seemed unwilling to give up.

Seeing this, Tobirama secretly decided that if this kid got arrogant and insisted on his forbidden jutsu, then this time his reward would be downgraded to B-Rank Ninjutsu!

He didn't like subordinates who didn't listen!

Click, one second left.

"Hokage, I've figured it out."

Uchiha Ao gritted his teeth and said, "I'm willing to give up learning your forbidden jutsu."

"Very good."

Hashirama Senju nodded, but his tone had lost its earlier warmth. He said curtly, "Which A-rank ninjutsu did you choose?"

"..."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ao's throat bobbed. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke the answer:

"I want to see the complete set of Wood Release Ninjutsu left by Lord Hashirama Senju!"