Drumming Up Business

A small hillside far from the Capital of Hot Water.

The space spun and twisted, Obito, Zetsu, and a dark-skinned, half-dead leader of the Jashin Cult squeezed out of the space.

"Haha, that was exciting!" The moment they revealed themselves, White Zetsu's irritating voice rang out, "We kidnapped this guy right under Taichi Matsushita's nose!"

As he spoke, he kicked the "trophy" at his feet, the intense pain causing the charred Blood Crow to twitch uncontrollably.

"Alright, Jue, if you kick him again, he'll die."

Obito lowered his voice and, in front of outsiders, began to habitually play the role of Madara Uchiha.

"Is there any hope of saving this guy? I don't want to go through all that trouble only to end up with a piece of trash!"

"Don't worry, Lord Madara!" Black Zetsu's hoarse voice answered first, afraid that the quick-tongued White Zetsu say something inappropriate, "Aside from the irreversible burns to his skin, with this guy's vitality and our technology, restoring him to his former state shouldn't be a problem."

"That's good. At least the trip wasn't in vain. This guy's strength is not bad. He's barely enough to make up the numbers for now." Obito said casually.

Throughout the conversation, the group never asked for the opinions of the person being spoken to, as if it were completely unimportant and not worth their attention.

Blood Crow lay trembling on the ground, his fists clenched tightly, whether from pain or anger, it was hard to tell, but at least his life was temporarily spared.

"Who exactly are you, and what is your purpose?"

Blood Crow Raven asked hoarsely, his voice clearly burned in the battle with Taiichi.

"Oh, what remarkable vitality! It even has the strength to speak."

Obito approached Blood Crow, looking down at him as he lay there like a dead dog.

"It's too early to say anything now. You'll be qualified to know more once you've fully recovered. For now, just understand that we saved your life, and that we have a common enemy."

"A common enemy— Taichi Matsushita, good, good, as long as he's his enemy—that's fine."

Despite the excruciating pain throughout its body, Blood Crow roared with hatred, a sound that sent chills down one's spine.

Obito and Zetsu exchanged a knowing glance and both revealed meaningful smiles.

This kind of person is a perfect weapon against Konoha.

On the other side, watching Taiichi finish suppressing the rebellion as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, the Daimyo and the Eldest Young Master finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Eldest Young Master, in particular, felt his strength give way as his resolve weakened, and he staggered back a few steps.

If it weren't for the quick reflexes of the guards around him, the Eldest Young Master would have fallen to the ground.

If he really falls, it will be a huge blow to his prestige.

But just as one wave subsided, another arose.

The cult leader who had just been captured had been rescued. Taiichi had just handed him over to them, and in the short time it took for the other party to go out and fight, he was gone.

"What exactly happened? They were just here a moment ago. Search them; they must be here."

After suffering a series of blows, the Eldest Young Master finally lost control of his emotions and roared at the guards around him.

Seeing that these bewildered guards were about to go out and search the place again, Taiichi, after inspecting the scene, finally spoke up to stop them.

"Eldest Young Master, please calm down. It's too late to go now. The other party used Space-Time Ninjutsu, and they've probably already left the Capital of Hot Water."

"What... what should we do, Taiichi? Could the other side be my second brother's accomplices? Will they come back again?"

This is what the Eldest Young Master truly cares about: intercepting the leader of the Jashin Cult —it all seems like they're in cahoots.

"Eldest Young Master, judging from the situation at the scene, the other party and the Second Young Master should not be accomplices. Otherwise, they wouldn't have only intercepted the leader of the Jashin Cult while ignoring the Second Young Master."

Taiichi's words relieved both the Daimyo and the Eldest Young Master; as long as he wasn't an accomplice of that traitor, it was fine.

But before they could celebrate for long, Taiichi's next words were like a bucket of ice water, waking them up once again.

"However, that Jashin Cult leader suffered such a great loss this time, and now he's been rescued. Once he recovers, he might come back for revenge."

"This—this—" The Eldest Young Master was at a loss for words. Thinking of those terrifying undead warriors, his legs began to go weak again.

Daimyo, however, mustered his strength and looked at Taiichi with hopeful eyes, asking in a trembling voice, "Taiichi, I wonder if you can capture them all in one fell swoop?"

"I'm sorry, Daimyo." Taiichi decisively shook his head, extinguishing the Daimyo's unrealistic fantasies.

"Firstly, the other party has already escaped using Space-Time Ninjutsu, and I have no clues to follow them."

Secondly, my current mission is to solve the case of missing persons in the Land of Hot Water. My previous assistance in suppressing the rebellion was already beyond the scope of my mission. Any further actions will require orders from the village.

Taiichi was clearly using this opportunity to solicit customers; he could tell at a glance that the leader of the Jashin Cult had been rescued by Obito.

Obito and his group's next target is not the Land of Land of Hot Water, a place with only hot springs. Even if the leader of the Jashin Cult recovers from his injuries, he will most likely only set his sights on Taiichi and Konoha.

At that time, Konoha could use the pretext of the Land of Hot Water to search for and suppress the leader of the Jashin Cult and the forces behind him, which would be a win-win situation.

"Yes, yes, we'll go directly to Konoha afterward to issue a mission. We not only need to capture the leader of the Jashin Cult, but we also need Konoha to send people to protect our safety."

The Eldest Young Master then realized, as if waking from a dream, that only a great ninja village like Konoha could protect them now.

The next day.

Daimyo's Mansion was still shrouded in an atmosphere of relief after the disaster. The rebellion had been quelled, and the Second Young Master was under strict confinement, awaiting the final verdict.

Although the leader of the Jashin Cult, Blood Crow, was rescued by a mysterious force right under his nose, like a sharp blade hanging over his head, at least the immediate crisis has been resolved, and Daimyo's Mansion has returned to basic order.

The Daimyo and his Eldest Young Master personally escorted Taichi Matsushita to the gate of the mansion. Sunlight shone on the ancient stone steps, reflecting the sincere gratitude on their faces.

"Your Excellency Taiichi," the Eldest Young Master bowed deeply, his tone sincere, "the Land of Hot Water was able to survive this calamity entirely thanks to Your Excellency's Kamui. We have no way to repay your life-saving grace. We apologize for any neglect we may have caused in the past."

He was referring to the reprimand scene that had been staged earlier to mislead the mole.

The frail Old Daimyo, supported by his attendants, tremblingly bowed and said, "The name 'White Reaper' is truly well-deserved. If it weren't for you, my old bones and the foundation of this Land of Hot Water would probably have already turned to dust. The Land of Hot Water will forever remember your kindness."

Taiichi remained calm and nodded slightly in return. "Daimyo, Eldest Young Master, you flatter me. This is the duty of Konoha Ninja. Although the mission was not fully accomplished, the mastermind behind the disappearances, the Jashin Cult, has been destroyed, its core strength no longer exists, and the hidden danger has been eliminated."

Please handle the follow-up matters with caution, especially be wary of possible retaliation from Blood Crow and the forces behind it.

Taiichi was blatantly trying to solicit clients; he was practically ready to have the Daimyo go to Konoha to place a request.

But the Daimyo and the Eldest Young Master were easily swayed by this, after all, it was Konoha that helped them resolve this crisis.

"What you say is absolutely right," the Eldest Young Master said solemnly. "I have already selected capable and trusted men, and we will be setting off for Konoha soon."

"That's excellent." Taiichi nodded in approval of the other party's arrangement.

Konoha, Hokage's Office.

After leaving the Land of Hot Water, Taiichi didn't waste any time. Using the Flying Thunder God Technique and aerial flight, he completed the journey in just half a day.

They returned to Konoha.

After listening to Taiichi 'Land of Hot Water detailed report on the mission to the Land of Hot Springs, from taking over to the final suppression of the rebellion and the destruction of the Jashin Cult, Minato's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"Well done, Taiichi." Minato's voice was full of approval. "Destroying the Jashin Cult, resolving the missing persons crisis, quelling the Land of Hot Water, protecting the safety of key figures in the Daimyo's Mansion —every single task was completed beyond expectations."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Taiichi bowed slightly, knowing this was just the beginning.

"But—" Minato's tone suddenly turned serious, a sharp glint flashing in his emerald eyes, "The mysterious person you mentioned last, the one who rescued the Blood Crow, you suspect was Madara Uchiha, and that he used extremely sophisticated Space-Time Ninjutsu?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Taiichi's expression also turned serious. "Although I didn't see him with my own eyes, the residual fluctuations of Space-Time Ninjutsu at the scene are unmistakable."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "Besides the Flying Thunder God, the only ones in the Ninja World who know Space-Time Ninjutsu are them. Moreover, they were able to intercept the leader of the Jashin Cult under my senses. I can't think of anyone else besides Madara Uchiha."

The atmosphere in the office instantly became heavy. Minato leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, lost in thought.

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting stripes of light and shadow on his face.

"Madara Uchiha" —Space-Time Ninjutsu —interception—"Minato repeated these keywords in a low voice, his brow furrowed with worry. "They were originally just hiding behind the scenes doing small things, are they now preparing to operate in the open?"

He raised his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Taiichi: "Taiichi, your intelligence is extremely valuable. We must also speed up our actions against them."

Minato's voice was resolute. "The investigation into this force is now the highest priority! I will immediately convene a high-level meeting to reassess all leads and strengthen the village's defenses, especially the spatial Sensory Barrier."

At the same time, the research on Hashirama Cells on Orochimaru's side, as well as the plans for reforming the Ninja Academy's education, must be accelerated. We need greater strength and a more comprehensive system to protect Konoha and even the entire Ninja World in the storms of the future!

Taiichi nodded solemnly. "Understood, Hokage-sama. I will cooperate fully."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work. Go and rest now. I will arrange for someone to handle the follow-up missions in the Land of Hot Water."

Minato waved his hand, a gentle smile returning to his face, but the seriousness in his eyes did not disappear.

Taiichi bowed and took his leave, then turned and pushed open the heavy door to the Hokage's Office. The corridor was bright and quiet. He had just breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to go home and tidy up first—

"You brat!"

A woman's voice, filled with immense resentment and loud enough to resound throughout the entire Hokage Building, rang in his ears like a thunderclap.

Taiichi's hair stood on end. Before he could react, his wrist was gripped tightly by an unusually strong hand! The force felt as if it would crush his bones.

He turned his head stiffly, and what came into view was Tsunade —a face that was extremely striking.

Princess Tsunade is usually dashing and radiant, had her golden hair casually tied into a ponytail, with a few strands sticking messily to her sweaty forehead.

The once elegant and well-fitting medical gown was now wrinkled, and there were even a few suspicious ink stains on the collar.

That face, which should have been radiant, was now clouded with fatigue, and the dark circles under her eyes were so thick that it looked as if she had been punched twice.

However, amidst this extreme "slovenliness" and "fatigue," Tsunade's eyes shone with an astonishing light!

That wasn't the sharpness of combat, but rather a feeling—like finally seeing an oasis after trekking through the desert for three days and three nights.

A gleam mingled with ecstasy and utter grievance!

"You—you actually knew to come back?!" Tsunade's voice was filled with accusatory gritted teeth, but even more so with a relieved excitement. "You slipped out of the village without a word, leaving me with such a huge mess! Do you know how I've been these past few days?! Ugh!"

Taiichi was startled by the overly "bright" emotion in her eyes and instinctively wanted to take a step back, but his wrist was firmly held and he could not move.

"Tsunade-- Teacher Tsunade, I--" he tried to explain.

"Shut up! Come with me!" Tsunade didn't give him a chance to speak, grabbing him and dragging him toward the hospital. Her strength was so great that even the powerful "White Reaper" could only stagger to keep up.

On the way, Tsunade's complaints came like a machine gun. "Mountains of documents! Approving them Tenten! Every night! It's making my eyes see stars!"

"Difficult problems, budget requests, equipment procurement, personnel arrangements—it's never-ending!"

"Shizune is completely exhausted! I'm the only one holding the hospital together!"

"You, the chief assistant, are doing all high and mighty outside, causing chaos and humiliation! While I'm stuck here doing all the work!"

"Do you know how long it's been since I last touched dice?! How long has it been since I've had a decent drink?! Ah!"

"Taiichi, you're so unfair! You're the worst assistant I've ever had!"

Tsunade's voice was filled with "grief and indignation" and "ecstasy" at seeing the dawn of liberation. Her fierce complaints were less of a blame and more of a venting of long-suppressed resentment, as if she were announcing: My savior has arrived! I can finally be free!

Taiichi was dragged along by her, listening to her machine-gun-like accusations, and seeing her current crazed state, a few drops of cold sweat silently slid down his forehead.

The two rushed into the Dean's Office of Konoha Hospital like a whirlwind, and the door was kicked open with a "bang".

Without a word, Tsunade released Taiichi's hand, spread her arms, and in an almost embracing motion, forcefully and all at once shoved the tallest and most precarious pile of documents on the desk into Taiichi's arms!

Splash!

Paper fluttered down like snowflakes, instantly engulfing Taiichi's vision.

"Look!" Tsunade on her hips, pointed to the table that was now mostly empty, and a bright, even "ferocious" smile spread across her face. It was the ecstatic joy of a bull or horse that had been squeezed to its limit suddenly gaining freedom.

"These! These! And those too! They're all yours! The new equipment introduction evaluation, the draft budget for next quarter, and that damn intern rotation plan—I've categorized and labeled them all! You have three days to finish them! Oh, and there's a medical department meeting at 3 PM this afternoon, you're chairing it!"

She finished speaking quickly, then stretched out a long, incredibly comfortable stretch, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, her bones even making soft cracking sounds.

"Ah----!"

She let out a satisfied sigh, then, without glancing again at Taiichi buried in the pile of documents, walked briskly toward the door, humming a tuneless little tune.

"Teacher Tsunade! Where are you going?" Taiichi poked his head out from the pile of documents with difficulty.

"Go home!" Tsunade's voice echoed down the corridor. "Catch up on sleep! Then go to the casino! Drink! Don't anyone come looking for me! Don't call me even if the sky falls! Now, you're the dean!"

Before she finished speaking, her figure had already disappeared at the end of the corridor, leaving only a series of light, almost flying footsteps.