We're Back on the Government Payroll, Brothers!

"Tsunade, look over there!"

In the Second Year Corridor, Jiraiya had just gotten out of class and was standing by the window. As if he'd spotted something interesting, he called to Tsunade, who was hurrying outside.

"Someone's fighting!

The first year only started recently, and he can already use the Substitution Technique? Impressive!"

"Really?"

Tsunade's eyes lit up. She jogged over. "Where? Where?"

She followed Jiraiya's pointing finger and saw Might Duy using both his hands and feet to kick around the children who had bullied him earlier, tossing them across the playground like balls.

His methods were downright brutal!

"Whoa, which class is that tough guy from? Let me count. One, two, three... Four of them, and they still can't beat one guy?!"

Jiraiya stuck his butt out as he ran back and forth, constantly searching for the best vantage point.

"I've seen him before. Might Duy from First Year Class One. I think he's a year below us because he started school late, but judging by how strong he is..."

Tsunade stared at Duy, who was holding Gongzhu up by the collar, her little face full of astonishment.

Even with her Ninjutsu skills, she probably couldn't take on several classmates at once and keep them all pinned down.

Besides, she'd heard that Might Duy didn't have much talent for Ninjutsu.

So how could he use the Substitution Technique, something most students couldn't learn before graduating from first year?

Could he have found a renowned master to teach him, just like she had...?

Not far from the two, Orochimaru leaned against the wall beside the window. His pale face showed even greater surprise.

He might not have said much in his daily life, but he had an astonishing memory. Even though he'd only met Might Duy once, he knew plenty about his personality.

It wouldn't be wrong to say Duy was the least talented student in the entire first year when it came to Ninjutsu, and also the hardest-working.

Unlike Taijutsu, which could be improved through sheer effort, Ninjutsu talent couldn't be earned that way. It involved too much complicated theory, as well as innate aptitude.

If someone had really taught Duy, then the teacher behind him must have an incredibly deep understanding of Ninjutsu. In a sense, they'd practically reconstructed the Substitution Technique to make it possible to teach a student with little talent.

"Who could that teacher be?"

Orochimaru licked his lips, his eyes shining as he watched Might Duy's retreating figure.

"I wonder if I might be lucky enough to study Ninjutsu under that teacher..."

That evening, on Konoha's main road.

"I can't believe Tobirama actually bought that last bit of intel!"

Uchiha Ao touched the Ninjutsu scroll hidden inside his clothes, his heart swelling with excitement.

As he walked down the main road, neon signs had already lit up at some of the shops lining the street. The delicious aroma drifting from the Barbecue Restaurant made his mouth water as he passed.

He hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he didn't go in. He'd have to collect his Silver Taels reward for the mission from his clan. He'd also bought a lot of Explosive Tags and Ration Pills while on the run, and now he didn't even have ten thousand taels in his wallet. Better to spend carefully.

As for the information he'd just reported to Tobirama, it was that Cloud Village had decided to wait until next year to start a war.

He'd explained that he'd learned it from Kinkaku Ginkaku. They'd been quite troubled by it, and had even threatened to kill the Second Raikage, A.

Unexpectedly, Tobirama wasn't all that interested in the timing of next year's war. Instead, he was very interested in the intel that Kinkaku Ginkaku wanted to kill A.

After confirming it several times, Tobirama seemed delighted. He not only waved a hand and decided to reward him with four Wood Release Ninjutsu, but also promised that he could earn Silver Taels from the village for future espionage missions.

"That old schemer probably wants to stir up conflict within Cloud Village! Tsk, tsk... What a dirty politician."

Uchiha Ao shook his head.

But... none of that had anything to do with him anymore.

He was safely back in the village now, and he'd gotten Wood Release. Though he hadn't obtained the Wood Release Sage Art he wanted most, he'd still come away with a hefty haul.

Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs, Wood Release Wood Clone, Wood Release Violent Gun Tree, and Wood Release: Forest Dwellers.

Some were for survival, some for offense, and there was even Cutting Sprigs, a technique with sealing properties! Once he mastered these, his combat ability would grow even stronger!

Would using these ordinary Wood Release techniques improve his body and give him Hashirama Cells?

"Too bad... There wasn't a single Wood Release Sage Art among the techniques Tobirama let me choose from. Otherwise, I'd have had a much better chance of becoming something like Hashirama Cells."

It looked like he'd have to find another way to obtain Wood Release Sage Arts...

Whoosh!

A figure suddenly flashed past his field of vision, moving with incredible agility.

Ao fought his instinct to turn his head and calmly analyzed the situation.

Anbu?

So the Hokage still didn't trust him and wanted someone to monitor the real purpose behind his Wood Release research?

Whatever. With Destiny's help, all he needed was to grasp the general principles behind the techniques. He could master them whenever he wanted.

"Teacher Sou?"

Ao's thoughts were interrupted. He turned toward the voice and saw a blonde little girl standing in front of him, her lovely eyes sparkling as she looked up at him.

"You're back from your mission?"

There seemed to be a hint of delight in her voice.

"Hmm? You're... Classmate Tsunade, right?"

Uchiha Ao pretended to hesitate, then gazed straight at Tsunade's little face and smiled.

"I didn't expect one of my students to recognize me. What brings you here? Why aren't you going home after class?"

"I-I came to see Granduncle to gamble... Ah, no."

Looking at Uchiha Ao's handsome face and gentle eyes, Tsunade blushed. She lowered her head shyly and stammered, unable to get a full sentence out.

"I-I wanted to ask you... about Ninjutsu."

"Oh..."

Uchiha Ao was about to reply when his gaze suddenly sharpened. He looked past Tsunade's flushed face and spotted someone behind a nearby tree, along with masked figures flickering past on either side. He pursed his lips.

Good grief, what a show of force... No wonder she was Princess Tsunade of Konoha.

They were warning him.

It annoyed him a little, but who could blame them, given his record?

The problem was, he couldn't even get his attempted assassination wiped from his record.

If he chatted any longer, his back would probably be covered in Kunai...

With that in mind, he had no choice but to take his leave. "All right, go on. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me another day.

"I've been studying some basic Ninjutsu lately. I should be able to help."

With that, he headed straight toward the clan compound.

Though he couldn't build a good relationship with her just yet, there was plenty of time. He'd surely see Princess Tsunade again.

He could get to know her better then.

"Huh?"

Ao had said goodbye so abruptly that Tsunade was at a loss. In the end, not knowing what to say, she watched him walk away, lips pursed and mind wandering.

"If only all the teachers at school were as handsome as Teacher Sou..."

Then, as if she'd thought of something, Tsunade's eyes lit up.

If there were no handsome teachers at school, then why not get Teacher Sou to come back and teach?

The Ninja Academy... Granduncle was the principal...

Hehe, she'd go make a bet with Granduncle!

She'd wager on Teacher Sou getting his old job back. She didn't want that weird uncle Hiruzen Sarutobi as her team leader!

Her clan's aunties had said he'd once spied on the Women's Bathhouse. Ew~

And so, lovestruck Tsunade bounced her way to Tobirama's Office, where she pestered him relentlessly. In exchange for promising not to skip class for a month, she actually managed to change his mind.

However, perhaps concerned about the consequences, Tobirama only said he'd reinstate Uchiha Ao as an Assistant Teacher. He'd only be allowed to teach at the Ninja Academy once a month, and Tobirama would choose what he taught.

His salary, however, would remain the same: fifty thousand taels a month.

The next morning, Uchiha Ao received the news and stared blankly.

"What's going on here...?"

Just then, a famous line suddenly popped into his mind.

"We're back on the government payroll, brothers!"