Chapter 33

He truly did not want Uchiha Yan to touch the Book of Seals—the dangerous jutsu recorded in it were far too numerous.

But if he refused, the Medical Talisman would probably be out of reach.

He would endure it for now.

Tsunade curled her lips, lowered her head to look at her fingers, and casually flicked her nails. "Not much. What appeal could the jutsu in the Book of Seals possibly have for me?"

"Did you forget? More than half of that stuff was created by my second granduncle."

Her combat style had long since been set in stone: the Monster Strength Technique as her main focus, with taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu as support.

What was the point of learning those things?

Unless she awakened the Wood Release bloodline someday—oh, then she would need them even less.

The First Hokage's complete set of Wood Release jutsu was in her family's possession, and it was even more comprehensive than the village's collection.

The Third Hokage's brow furrowed even deeper. "Then what do you want?"

This was already the best offer he could make.

Danzo could not help but speak up as well. "If you have conditions, then state them. Stop playing people like this. Handing over the Medical Talisman technology is for Konoha's sake too. Can't you show some awareness of the bigger picture?"

As Danzo spoke, he silently shifted behind the Third Hokage, leaving only half a step between them.

He was clearly guarding against Tsunade suddenly losing her temper and attacking.

With the Third Hokage standing in front of him, he felt much more secure.

"So this is how great it feels to have someone take the blame and block the bullets for you? Amazing."

A malicious thought even rose in Danzo's heart.

Thinking back over the years, had he not always been cleaning up the Third Hokage's messes and taking the blame for him?

Yet the Third Hokage had been standing there all along, enjoying this comfortable life. It was simply unjust.

"It seems I must sit in the Hokage's chair."

The obsession in Danzo's heart burned even hotter.

"Tch, coward!"

Tsunade saw through Danzo's little maneuver at a glance. Her lips curled in contempt.

Then an idea flashed through her mind, and she began harboring some mischief of her own. Turning to the Third Hokage, she said, "Yan's condition remains unchanged. Let him freely choose one forbidden technique from the Book of Seals. As for me, I don't want any jutsu. I'll trade it for something else."

"Oh?"

The Third Hokage relaxed and asked with a smile, "Then what do you want? Don't make things too difficult for this old man!"

He was not afraid of her naming conditions. He was afraid she would refuse to negotiate.

"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you!"

Tsunade waved a hand and pointed directly at Danzo. "Elder Danzo, if I remember correctly, all those ** in Konoha are run by your Shimura Clan, right?"

The moment Danzo heard this and saw the mischief on Tsunade's face, his heart skipped a beat.

But the Third Hokage's gaze had already swept over him, so he could only stiffen his resolve and say with a straight face, "That's right. What about it?"

"Nothing!"

Tsunade rubbed her hands together with a beaming smile, calculation written all over her face. "That makes things easy!"

"You know I love gambling, and that I owe quite a lot of debt at your **, right?"

"My condition is simple—waive all my gambling debts. Also, every time I go there in the future, your Shimura Clan's ** must give me one million ryo worth of chips for free. And the village will give me another ten million ryo. That's all."

She did not care about jutsu at all. Money was much more practical.

"Impossible!"

The instant Tsunade finished speaking, Danzo exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

What kind of joke was this? Those ** were one of his greatest sources of income.

How had he managed to raise Root into such a powerful force over the years, secretly establish so many experimental bases, and conduct so much hidden research?

Was it not because he had ways of making money?

The ** were the fastest source of money for him besides embezzling public funds.

But Tsunade went to the ** every month to hand over money. Now she wanted to take it for free instead?

Over the past decade or so, most of the money earned by the Senju Clan had been thrown into the ** by her, and after making the rounds, it had all ended up in Danzo's pockets.

Tsunade now owed the gambling houses no less than one hundred million.

Not only was he supposed to waive all of Tsunade's gambling debts, but he also had to give her one million ryo in chips for free every time she came, letting her play for as long as she pleased.

Was this not just letting her freeload?

How much money would he lose?

"Well, well!"

After hearing him, Tsunade raised an eyebrow and looked at Danzo with a half-smile. "It hurts that much to spend a little money, yet you still want my Medical Talisman technology? You're being generous with someone else's money, aren't you?"

"Weren't you just going on and on about doing it for Konoha?"

"Where did your sense of the bigger picture go?"

Wasn't this exactly what her little brother called a hypocritical double-standard dog?

"I've made my position clear. The conditions will not change."

"Agree, and everyone gets to save face."

"Refuse, and we'll act as if this discussion never happened. Yan and I won't continue the research either."

Only by making Danzo suffer, feel miserable, and choke on his frustration could she finally vent this anger.

It was rare for her to catch an opportunity to force him to bleed. How could she let him off so easily?

"Tsunade, don't push your luck!"

Danzo's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He had never expected this woman to pull such a move.

At that moment, the Third Hokage rose from beside them and reached out to pat Danzo on the shoulder.

That pat made Danzo's heart sink.

Sure enough, the Third Hokage spoke with a solemn expression. "Danzo, it's only a few gambling debts and some chips. It's not as if you have to pay any costs."

After all, with Tsunade's luck, she would not win any money anyway.

"If you earn a little less pocket change, you can exchange it for a complete set of Medical Talisman technology for the village and Root. Isn't that a worthwhile deal?"

"Danzo, it's time for you to make a small contribution to the village. You wouldn't refuse, would you? Hmm?"

The Third Hokage was already laughing inwardly.

You spent all day scheming against others, yet today you finally got burned, didn't you?

So even you, Danzo, had a day like this?

Besides, the profits flowing into the Shimura Clan every month made even him, the Hokage, jealous.

Being able to make Danzo bleed a little made him happy as well.

As long as he did not have to spend money, what was wrong with making Danzo suffer a bit?

Did Danzo not always have "for Konoha" on his lips?

Today, he would grant him that wish.

He could not let him shout slogans without actually doing anything.

That would be too inconsiderate.

"Hiruzen, you..."

Danzo glared at the Third Hokage, so furious that his lungs were about to burst.

So because it was not your money, you did not feel the pain, was that it?

But judging by this situation, Tsunade and the Third Hokage were already in league with each other.

He knew that if he wanted the Medical Talisman, he could only accept his loss.

In the end, Danzo forced out a sentence through clenched teeth, his face livid. "Fine! I agree! But once the Medical Talisman technology is obtained, I must be the first to receive it."

"No problem."

The Third Hokage nodded with faint approval.

It seemed that old fellow Danzo was still sensible enough.

He turned, his gaze settling on Tsunade. "Danzo has agreed, and the village's ten million ryo is not a problem either. Do you have any other requests?"

"No."

Tsunade waved her hand decisively. "Then it's settled. Once I finish developing the technology, I'll naturally send someone to deliver it. Don't bother Yan when you have nothing to do, or you'll interrupt his train of thought and delay the progress. I'm leaving!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and headed for the door.

"Wait!"

Danzo's voice chased after her from behind. "At least give us a definite answer. How long will it take to finish? You can't drag this out for three or five years—or even leave us waiting for a lifetime with nothing to show for it, can you?"

He had to nail down the timeline before he could rest easy.

"Relax!"

Without even turning around, Tsunade casually waved a hand. "At most half a year. There'll definitely be results by then. Just wait!"

After saying that, she strode out of the Hokage Building. Without even going home, she turned a corner and headed straight for the **.

"It's been so long since I've had a proper game. I can finally enjoy myself today!"

Tsunade rubbed her hands together, her face brimming with barely restrained excitement.

At the thought of being able to play to her heart's content every day from now on, she was overjoyed.

"My little Yan really is such a good disciple!"

This scene was clearly witnessed by Danzo through the window of the Hokage Office on the third floor.

It left Danzo so furious that his chest felt tight, utterly stifled and aggrieved.