"So it was the Slug Princess." Sakamoto smiled with a somewhat ingratiating expression and said, "Thirty years ago, I was fortunate enough to witness the Battle of the Valley of the End. Ever since then, I've paid close attention to information about those two."
Sarutobi Toru glanced up at him. He had not expected this unremarkable Kusagakure ninja, who looked ready to retire at any moment, to have such an experience.
What Sakamoto did not say was that he had already been a Chunin thirty years ago. Back then, he had been young and passionate, even considered a genius of Kusagakure. But after being ordered to investigate the Battle of the Valley of the End, he had become dejected from that day onward.
Even after news came that the two had died, he remained deeply wary of the Senju and Uchiha. So when he saw the Uchiha Gunbai this time, his first thought had not been to claim it for himself, but to flee as quickly as possible.
"I see!" Tsunade nodded after hearing that, not particularly concerned. "Please keep what happened here confidential. Can you do that?"
Sakamoto's expression hesitated slightly before he said, "I'm only an ordinary Chunin, so I can't make decisions for Kusagakure. But I'll convey your words, Lady Tsunade, to Kusagakure's higher-ups. I believe they'll agree."
Kusagakure had always been like grass in the wind, bowing wherever power lay. Faced with Konoha at the height of its strength, there was no way they would refuse.
Sakamoto then withdrew with the two Genin. Though he was extremely curious about the owner of the Uchiha Gunbai and both sides that had created this battlefield, he restrained that curiosity and left without asking a single question.
"Well, this is a pretty good haul too—the Uchiha Gunbai." Tsunade reached