Chapter 33

He truly did not want Uchiha Yan getting his hands on the Book of Seals—the dangerous jutsu recorded within were far too numerous.

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

He would just have to endure it for now.

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

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

Her combat style had long since been set in stone: the Monster Strength Technique as her mainstay, supplemented by taijutsu and medical ninjutsu.

What would she need to learn that stuff for?

Unless she awakened the Wood Release bloodline someday—though then she would need it even less.

Her family had the First Hokage's complete collection of Wood Release jutsu, more comprehensive than the village's.

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 speaking up. "If you have conditions, then state them. Don't keep stringing people along like this. Handing over the Medical Talisman technology is also for Konoha's sake. Can't you show some sense of the bigger picture?"

As Danzo spoke, he silently shifted behind the Third Hokage, stopping just half a step away.

It was obvious he was 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 what it feels like to have someone take the blame and block the bullets for you? Awesome."

A malicious thought even rose in Danzo's heart.

Thinking about all these years, had he not always been the one cleaning up after the Third Hokage and taking the blame?

Yet the Third Hokage had stood there all along, enjoying such comfortable days. It was utterly unfair.

"Looks like I have to 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 disdain.

Then inspiration struck, and she began harboring her own mischief. Turning to the Third Hokage, she said, "Xiao Xuan's condition remains unchanged. Let him pick any one forbidden jutsu from the Book of Seals. As for me, I don't want any jutsu. I want something else instead."

"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!"

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

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

But the Third Hokage had already turned his gaze toward him, so he could only steel himself and reply stiffly, "That's right. What about it?"

"Nothing!"

Tsunade rubbed her hands together with a beaming smile, her face full of calculation. "Then this will be easy!"

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

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

She did not care about jutsu at all. Money was what truly mattered.

"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 else had he kept Root so well-equipped over the years, secretly established so many experimental bases, and carried out so much covert research?

Was it not because he had ways to make money?

The ** were the fastest way for him to make money, aside from embezzling public funds.

Yet Tsunade went to the ** every month to give away money, and 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, eventually winding its way into Danzo's pockets.

Tsunade owed the gambling houses at least one hundred million ryo by now.

Now, not only was he supposed to erase all of Tsunade's gambling debts, 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 wanted.

Was this not just letting her freeload?

How much money would he lose?

"Well, well!"

Tsunade raised a brow and stared at Danzo with a faintly mocking smile. "It hurts when you have to spend a little money, yet you still want my Medical Talisman technology? Are you trying to act generous with someone else's money?"

"Didn't you just keep saying it was for Konoha?"

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

Wasn't this what her younger brother always called a hypocrite?

"I've made my position clear. The conditions won't change."

"Agree, and everyone saves face."

"Refuse, and let's pretend this conversation never happened. Xiao Xuan and I won't do the research either."

Only by making Danzo suffer, feel stifled, and choke on his frustration would she finally feel satisfied.

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

"Tsunade, don't push your luck!"

Danzo's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

He had never expected this woman to pull something like this.

At that moment, the Third Hokage beside him stood up and reached out to pat Danzo on the shoulder.

That pat made Danzo's heart sink.

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

After all, with Tsunade's luck, it was not like she could win any money.

"You give up that small bit of profit, and in exchange you get a complete set of Medical Talisman technology for the village and Root. Isn't that worthwhile?"

"Danzo, it's your turn 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 plotting against others, and 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 pay, what was wrong with making Danzo suffer a little?

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

Today, he would grant him his wish.

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

That would be far too unkind.

"Hiruzen, you..."

Danzo stared at the Third Hokage, his lungs nearly bursting with rage.

So you don't feel bad because it isn't your money being spent, is that it?

But judging by this, 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 the loss.

In the end, Danzo's face turned livid as he forced out the words through clenched teeth. "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 slight approval.

It seemed that old fellow Danzo knew what was good for him after all.

He turned, his gaze falling on Tsunade. "Danzo has agreed. The village's ten million ryo is no problem either. Do you have any other demands?"

"No."

Tsunade waved a hand decisively. "Then it's settled. Once I've worked out the technology, I'll naturally send someone to deliver it. Don't bother Xiao Xuan when you have nothing better to do, so you don't 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 caught up from behind her. "At least give us a definite answer. How long will it take? You can't expect us to wait here while you drag this out for three to five years, or even your entire lives with no results."

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

"Relax!"

Tsunade did not even turn her head, merely waving a hand carelessly. "At most half a year. There'll definitely be results. 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 really cut loose. I can finally have some fun today!"

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

The thought that she could enjoy herself to her heart's content every day from now on filled her with delight.

"My Xiao Xuan really is such a good disciple!"

From the Hokage Office on the third floor, Danzo saw the entire scene clearly through the window.

It made his chest feel tight with anger, leaving him utterly miserable.