I Want to Borrow a Sword

A sharp smack rang out in the ninja tool shop. Sasuke sighed and shook his head helplessly.

"Boss, you're not still holding a grudge over what happened last time, are you?"

"How many ninja swords is this now?"

"Can't you give me one that won't break?"

The shopkeeper's face fell, and he replied with lingering apprehension.

"Oh, Sasuke, how could I dare?"

"The one you're holding is the best-quality ninja sword in my shop. I swear, I'm really not lying to you..."

The shopkeeper kept bowing and nodding.

Sasuke frowned. It seemed the man really wasn't lying, and he found himself at a loss.

What am I supposed to do?

Without a suitable ninja sword, I can't use Dance of the Crescent Moon.

Does that mean I've already sealed away half my strength before I've even fought Kakashi?

He looked at the ninja sword in his hand, snapped in two, and fell into thought.

His chakra reserves weren't looking good.

His taijutsu was nothing special, either.

At the moment, his strongest trump card was probably Dance of the Crescent Moon.

But if he couldn't use it because he didn't have a suitable ninja sword...

He'd be absolutely miserable.

At the thought, Sasuke took a deep breath, then turned to the shopkeeper again, still unwilling to give up.

"Boss, you've been in this business for so many years. Can't you think of a way to help me?"

"As long as you can solve this for me, we can work out the money."

Merchants were driven by profit, but fortunately, as long as you paid enough, they were more than capable of getting things done.

So Sasuke decided to try anything, and unleashed his ultimate secret technique: Money Talks...

At this, the shopkeeper hesitated. After a moment, he finally replied.

"Sasuke, even if I found someone to make you a custom sword..."

"With swordsmanship as unpredictable as yours, I doubt a new sword would hold up to the way you put it through its paces."

"Besides, didn't you say you needed it by tomorrow?"

His tone was tactful, but every word struck home.

After listening patiently, Sasuke felt his heart sink.

After a long while, he sighed and stood up.

"Forget it, then. I'll figure something out myself..."

He hadn't expected much, but just as Sasuke reached the door, the shopkeeper suddenly called out to him.

"Wait..."

Sasuke stopped. "Is there something else?"

The shopkeeper pursed his lips. He seemed to have something to say, but didn't dare say it, and began stammering.

Sasuke frowned, his tone turning displeased.

"Look, I paid you for those few broken swords that didn't meet the quality standards, didn't I?"

"Why are you making that face? Do you have a problem with me?"

Sasuke was already in a bad mood over not finding a suitable ninja sword.

Now the shopkeeper had called him back only to stammer, and Sasuke's temper flared. His words took on a hint of hostility.

The shopkeeper turned pale with fright and hurriedly waved his hands in explanation.

"No, no, Sasuke, don't get the wrong idea."

"I just thought of a way to meet your needs, but... but..."

"But what?!"

At those words, Sasuke could no longer sit still!

Finding a suitable ninja sword wasn't just essential for tomorrow's test.

It was also necessary if he wanted to keep using Dance of the Crescent Moon in the future.

The shopkeeper leaned in and whispered in Sasuke's ear, acting mysterious.

"You could try looking for that pretty kunoichi who wanted to buy your ninja sword the other day."

"She's a ninja, and she mainly uses ninja swords."

"There's nothing an ordinary person like me can do, but as a ninja, I'm sure she'll have a way!"

"Holy crap..."

Sasuke's eyes lit up at once. Even the profanity he'd used in his past life slipped out in his excitement.

"Brilliant! If you old fox hadn't reminded me, I really might've forgotten about that..."

"Thanks..."

With a smack, Sasuke swept a stack of bills onto the counter.

Before the shopkeeper could react,

a puff of white smoke suddenly burst where Sasuke had been standing.

In the next instant, all that remained was a section of wooden log—and the shopkeeper, standing there with a baffled expression.

After a long while, the shopkeeper finally came to his senses.

But instead of going to the money on the counter, he hurried to the door and shouted into the empty air:

"Young master! Whatever you do, don't tell that kunoichi I gave you the idea!"

Sasuke naturally didn't hear the shopkeeper's desperate cry.

By then, he had already dashed to Gekko Hayate's house.

As soon as he got close, he saw the same familiar scene as the other day.

A cherry tree, a bench...

Unlike last time, though, a couple were now embracing beneath the cherry tree.

Caught off guard by the public display of affection, Sasuke's mouth twitched as he thought:

No wonder a full-fledged elite Jonin is in such poor shape and has dark circles under his eyes all the time...

The way you two cling to each other, you'll wear yourselves out before long!

As he thought this, he unknowingly drew closer, finally alerting the couple to his presence.

Gekko Hayate released Uzuki Yugao's hand and turned around. When he saw Sasuke, he scratched his head awkwardly and gave a sheepish laugh.

"Sasuke? You're here?"

"Heh, is there something in Konoha you can't handle on your own, so you need me to step in?"

The moment he saw Sasuke, he understood.

He had promised Sasuke earlier that if Sasuke failed to learn Konoha-Style Swordsmanship and burned the scroll in time,

he would make it up to him by agreeing to help him once.

In his view, it was only natural that Sasuke hadn't learned Konoha-Style Swordsmanship.

He just hadn't expected the day Sasuke would ask him for help to come so soon.

As soon as Gekko Hayate spoke, Sasuke immediately understood what he meant.

He smiled, then stepped forward and replied respectfully.

"Senior Gekko Hayate, you guessed right. I do have a small favor to ask, and you're the only one who can help me."

At this, Gekko Hayate laughed and waved a hand grandly.

"No problem. Just tell me what it is. I'm not going to go back on my promise to you."

At those words, a sly curve appeared at the corner of Sasuke's mouth. He fixed his gaze on Gekko Hayate.

"You said it!"

"Once I tell you, you can't go back on your word!"

Gekko Hayate frowned, suddenly sensing that something wasn't right.

A few seconds later, it seemed he realized what was going on.

He studied Sasuke and replied cautiously.

"Sasuke, let me make this clear first."

"Although I promised to help you once,"

"I won't do anything that violates Konoha's rules."

"That's a matter of principle for me as a Konoha Ninja. Understand?"

"Heh..."

Sasuke chuckled and shook his head.

"Don't worry, senior. This definitely doesn't break any Konoha rules. Not even close..."

"Good. In that case, tell me what you need."

Gekko Hayate breathed a sigh of relief.

"I want to borrow a sword!"

"What?"

At Sasuke's words, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao both looked utterly shocked!