Subduing

Hiroya suspected he had misheard: "What did you say?"

Even he knew that Water Release: Water Severing Wave was an S-rank ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage, possessing unparalleled offensive power among all water-style techniques.

The Flying Thunder God Technique went without saying; the reason Namikaze Minato was gaining such immense prestige in the village was precisely because of his widely known S-rank space-time ninjutsu, the Flying Thunder God!

"This subordinate wants Water Release: Water Severing Wave or the Flying Thunder God Technique, plus a sum of money. This subordinate is currently short on funds."

Byakuya spoke clearly and articulately, without a hint of a blush, as if the conditions he proposed were perfectly reasonable—a fair trade.

Hiroya chuckled, "Senkaku Byakuya, did you injure your brain while on your mission? I know the contents of this mission; at most, you can exchange for an A-rank ninjutsu. As for money, that's not a problem, I can give you a few tens of thousands of ryo."

He couldn't be bothered to waste breath on this old fox. Though his attitude remained respectful, his words were filled with confidence: "The Principal only needs to report to your superiors; I can provide intelligence worth the equivalent of an S-rank ninjutsu."

"What?! What intelligence? Tell me quickly!!"

Hiroya's face flushed red instantly. He grabbed Byakuya by the shoulders and glared into his eyes, hoping to use the pressure of his status as a superior to force Byakuya into handing over the precious intelligence.

If Byakuya had truly been a ten-year-old child, he might have actually been intimidated by Hiroya.

"Principal, why must you adopt such a pathetic posture?"

"What kind of talk is that?! I am your superior; your achievements are my achievements. We rise and fall together! Senkaku Byakuya! Don't forget, it was I who made you the Ninja Academy Warehouse Manager. Without me, you would have been sent to the battlefield to die by the village!!"

Hiroya was anxious and red-faced, desperate to know the intelligence Byakuya spoke of. If it were truly of immense value, the position of Ninja Academy Principal would not be his final destination; he would surely climb even higher.

Byakuya sneered inwardly. Some things were due for a change.

Living in the shadows wasn't meant to be this humiliating.

He pushed away Hiroya, who was acting like an ant on a hot pan, and locked the door.

Just as Hiroya was about to fly into a rage, Byakuya easily threw him to the ground. In the blink of an eye, a kunai was pressed against his throat. With just a little force, this Vice Principal, who held the actual administrative power of the Ninja Academy, would be dead.

Byakuya was expressionless, his calmness making Hiroya shudder with fear.

"Principal Hiroya, I advise you not to act rashly now. Don't bet on the idea that I wouldn't dare kill you."

Upon hearing this, Hiroya, who was about to struggle, immediately wore a smile uglier than a cry: "Byakuya, I had a friendship with your parents. They were heroes of Konoha, and you are the son of heroes. Don't tarnish their reputation because of a moment of impulse."

"Enough, don't treat me like a child." Byakuya pushed the kunai forward, the sharp tip touching his throat.

Immediately, Byakuya caught a whiff of the smell of urine.

This Vice Principal, who had long held a high position in the Ninja Academy, had actually wet his pants in fear.

Byakuya sneered: "From now on, you will honestly do as I say, and your share of the credit will not be lacking. Just like now, I am not greedy; I have shared a portion of the credit with you. You will hand in those four scrolls containing sealing techniques, and the rest of the matter will have nothing to do with you."

Observing the changing expressions on Hiroya's face, he coaxed: "Why be so short-sighted, looking only at the present? My strength is no longer what it once was. If you and I cooperate properly, we will both have a bright future. Principal Hiroya, you are no fool; I understand your ambition, and you should know mine by now."

"I, I have one thing I don't understand."

"Speak."

"Have you been pretending all this time?"

"Correct, though I didn't expect you to force me into becoming an unofficial member of Root."

Hiroya forced a smile: "Isn't it quite good to be in that organization? But, what exactly did you experience in the Land of Rivers?"

"You don't need to know. Principal Hiroya, are you willing to cooperate with me?"

Hiroya raised his hand, wanting to shake Byakuya's as a ritual to seal their cooperation.

But Byakuya glanced at it with disgust and withdrew the kunai from his throat: "You are not my benefactor; on the contrary, I am yours. Our cooperation is mutually beneficial. Oh, right, you might know nothing of my current strength. To put your mind at ease..."

He formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Byakuya controlled his chakra, spitting out a small wave of water. However, this water rotated at high speed, like a sharp blade, with the faint crackling sound of air bubbles popping.

Hiroya widened his eyes to see that the Water Formation Wall, which rotated around Byakuya without any blind spots, was covered in tiny, twisting bolts of lightning.

The eerie crackling sound was caused by that lightning.

"Principal Hiroya, did you see clearly?"

"I saw it! I saw it!"

Byakuya dispelled the Storm Release version of the Water Formation Wall, leaving some water behind to wash over Hiroya's body.

Although Hiroya had become a drowned rat, he dared not blame him in the slightest.

With the ninjutsu just displayed, Byakuya had geniusly integrated lightning-attribute chakra into the Water Formation Wall, turning this defensive technique into one that combined offense and defense. It possessed not only the impact and force-dissipation of Water Release but also the paralysis and piercing power of Lightning Release.

Though he didn't know how it was done, it proved to him that Byakuya possessed value far exceeding that intelligence.

Hiroya stood up, exhaling the stagnant air from his chest. He looked back at his desk; the items on the surface remained dry, untouched by the water, which further proved that Senkaku Byakuya's control over chakra had long reached a level far beyond his peers.

A simple conversation held no binding power.

He could easily play along for now, then report to the Root organization that Byakuya had defied his superior, fabricating a scenario where he intended to defect from Konoha with the intelligence.

But with the backing of such tangible strength, Hiroya decided to cooperate with him.

As for the humiliation, there was no third person here to witness it.

Since no one had seen it, compared to the power and status he would gain in the future, this was not an insult, but rather Senkaku Byakuya showing him a newly mastered ninjutsu.

Hiroya was in no rush to change his clothes, instead standing before Byakuya and bowing respectfully: "Byakuya, you and I are both smart people; I know what you are trying to do."

"Oh?" he asked with a smile, "And what am I trying to do?"

"You are still young and do not wish to attract too much attention, yet to increase your strength, you must demonstrate sufficient value. A person like you is perfect for the Root of Konoha. I will pave the way for you; I will not utter a single word against you, and I will do my best to resolve any matters that might harm you."

"Principal Hiroya, I am in your debt."

Hiroya bowed again: "I dare not accept that. It is my honor to serve the future Senkaku Byakuya, who will one day shake Konoha to its core."

Byakuya watched him calmly, thinking to himself, He fears power but lacks virtue.

Hiroya changed into clean clothes, gathered the four scrolls from the table, and left the Ninja Academy in a hurry to report to Shimura Danzō.

As the cold wind blew outside the school, Hiroya's mind gradually cleared, and he realized belatedly that Byakuya had intentionally used intelligence to lure him into losing control of his emotions, only to then naturally display his strength and achieve the result of a subordinate dominating his superior.

He shook his head, unable to help but laugh, and sighed in a low voice: "You were right; I truly shouldn't have treated you like a child..."