Waiting for Kakashi

Their conversation had all fallen on Uchiha Feng's ears.

"No wonder they could never shake off the title of the Two Gate Guardians. With such keen perception and their tireless spirit, they're the perfect candidates for guarding the gate."

Uchiha Feng felt somewhat emotional. He had only come to Konoha's main gate a few times, back when he was still young and had not yet entered the ninja academy.

Some older brothers who, like him, had survived the Uchiha Clan's downfall had been pushed aside to guard the gate, and he had come here to play with them.

Kotetsu Hagane actually remembered him. What remarkable memory and deductive ability.

The two soon arrived at the mission hall beside the Hokage Building.

After presenting their identification, the staff took them very seriously.

In this era, nobles represented both wealth and power. Konoha needed partners like them, and they were also a force worth winning over.

Especially nobles from the Land of Iron. Half the bladed weapons circulating through the ninja world came from the Land of Iron.

Before long, the two were invited into a private VIP room, where all manner of snacks had been laid out.

Uchiha Feng did not eat any. Instead, he had Tien eat them.

After consulting the Uchiha Clan's records, the two had discovered a secret: these snacks had been tampered with.

The snacks were naturally harmless, and they were even beneficial to the body. They contained nourishing medicinal ingredients that gave them a unique flavor.

However, the Aburame Clan's insects could identify the herbs inside, making them a basis for tracking.

This was something an Uchiha Police Force member had discovered by accident.

And the ones apparently behind it were the Nara Clan.

"Gentlemen, forgive me for keeping you waiting. I am Sarutobi Ippei, a Konoha special jonin. What do you require? How may we assist you?"

Sarutobi Ippei wore a smile. After seeing Tien's actions, he became even more convinced that the youth before him was a noble from the Land of Iron.

In the Land of Iron, whenever a noble wished to eat, there would be a dedicated subordinate to taste the food first.

If Tien knew what he was thinking, he would definitely blast him into nothing but dust with a Ki Blast Cannon.

"I came here because of Konoha's reputation. I heard that some of your village's ninja excel in swordsmanship, and my own swordsmanship has reached a bottleneck. I wish to spar with a master swordsman. Does the Hatake Clan's White Fang of Konoha still have a successor?"

Uchiha Feng tactfully stated his request, though his true target was Kakashi.

"This..." Sarutobi Ippei's expression froze.

There were people who requested specific ninja for missions, but they were usually ninja who had worked together for years and already trusted one another.

What troubled him most was that Hatake Kakashi was currently carrying out some secret mission.

"Is there a problem?"

Uchiha Feng asked, signaling Tien.

Tien pulled a thick stack of banknotes from his clothes and placed it atop the empty snack plate.

Sarutobi Ippei's eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the stack of banknotes before him.

Why had he hesitated?

It was not merely because a specific ninja had been requested. A completely risk-free mission like this was usually difficult to rank above A-rank. In the end, it was simply because the money was not enough.

Now that Uchiha Feng had voluntarily offered sufficient mission payment, the rank could be set however they pleased.

The only problem now was that Kakashi was on a secret mission.

Sarutobi Ippei had wanted to test the waters, but Uchiha Feng did not care in the slightest.

He began picking up the banknotes and counting them.

"Ten million ryo?"

He cried out in shock, then immediately made up his mind. He had to make Kakashi accept this mission.

He set down the banknotes, his expression turning somewhat embarrassed. His behavior just now had been a little disgraceful.

This was already the reward for a top-tier S-rank mission. If Konoha took half, that would be five million ryo.

Most importantly, there was not even the slightest danger.

"Honored guest, Kakashi is currently on a mission. We have better candidates: Moonlight Hayate of the Moonlight Clan, inheritor of the Second Hokage's swordsmanship, and Maruboshi Kosuke.

Both are masters of Konoha-Style Swordsmanship."

An ingratiating smile appeared on Sarutobi Ippei's face as he pulled two exquisite brochures from behind him.

They contained some information on Moonlight Hayate and Maruboshi Kosuke.

One was a sickly-looking young man, while the other was an old man with a pot strapped to his back.

Their mission records were equally impressive, along with several specially selected examples.

One was a special jonin, and the other a genin?

Uchiha Feng's gaze landed on Maruboshi Kosuke's portrait. Combining it with his memories, he finally recalled who this man was: Konoha's eternal genin.

Maruboshi Kosuke, the Konoha chef said to stand alongside Might Dai at the pinnacle of genin.

Anger appeared on Uchiha Feng's face. His voice rose as he began questioning him, "Are you brushing me off? One sickly man and one genin? Is this how Konoha treats honored guests?"

As he spoke, Uchiha Feng placed the samurai sword at his waist onto the table.

His furious posture made Sarutobi Ippei tense as well.

He could not help but resent those two. They had no sense of maintaining appearances. And that Maruboshi Kosuke—he clearly had jonin-level strength, yet refused to advance. Wasn't he dragging Konoha down?

Every time someone discussed a mission with him, they ended up getting thoroughly berated.

"Honored guest, please do not misunderstand. Hatake Kakashi, the White Fang of Konoha's successor, is currently carrying out another mission and cannot get away for the moment. That is why I found two replacements for you. If you are dissatisfied, I can speak with Hatake Kakashi immediately, but the lessons and sparring can only take place within Konoha.

But rest assured, Konoha will provide you with the finest training grounds."

Seeing Uchiha Feng's anger, Sarutobi Ippei immediately tried to soothe him and offered terms Uchiha Feng could accept. This was a major client, and one who looked capable of long-term cooperation.

He would go all out this time and make Hatake Kakashi accept the mission.

Not long ago, he had been the one to transfer Hatake Kakashi's ninja registration out of the Anbu. If Hatake Kakashi were still an Anbu ninja, Sarutobi Ippei would not dare direct him.

"Fine. Arrange somewhere quiet for us. I need to begin training my swordsmanship."

From what Sarutobi Ippei had just revealed, Uchiha Feng had formed a few guesses. It seemed he would have a chance to meet Kakashi.

He straightened up, lifted his samurai sword with his left hand, and gripped the hilt with his right.

"Draw Slash!"

A flash of blade light swept across the snack plate, leaving behind a streak of sword energy.

The plate, which had clearly been concave, had been sliced through horizontally.

The samurai sword returned to his waist.

Sarutobi Ippei jumped at Uchiha Feng's sudden move. Though he was a jonin, he had received the Third Hokage's favor and had been handling clerical work all along.

He had not fought in years and had long since grown rusty.

He looked around. Nothing in the room appeared damaged.

Then his eyes narrowed as they landed on the plate that had held the money.

A crack had appeared along the rim of the round, concave plate.

He stepped forward to inspect it closely, then pulled it apart with a bit of force.

One plate became two thinner plates, both retaining their shape and still usable.

"This? What incredible control. To have such control at such a young age?"

Sarutobi Ippei sighed in amazement. No wonder he wanted to seek out the White Fang of Konoha's successor.

It was just that Hatake Kakashi seemed not to have inherited the White Fang of Konoha's complete swordsmanship. He hoped Kakashi would not offend this honored guest.

"Arrange accommodations for us. Tien, leave some compensation behind."

Uchiha Feng watched Sarutobi Ippei's constantly shifting expression until it finally settled into an even more respectful smile.

It seemed his display of intimidation had worked, and Sarutobi Ippei had also accepted his persona as someone seeking to study swordsmanship.

Tien pulled out another stack of banknotes from his clothes, drew out more than a dozen one-hundred-thousand-ryo notes, and placed them on the table.

Sarutobi Ippei's eyes were filled with nothing but banknotes.

"And this money?" he asked in confusion.

"The deposit for posting the mission, the fee for arranging accommodations where we can train, and the rest is compensation."

Uchiha Feng spoke calmly.

All this money had been accumulated by the Uchiha Clan. The most tragic thing now was that the other members of the Uchiha Clan were gone, while so much money remained. Uchiha Feng would use it to seek justice for them.

"Honored guest, please follow me. I will personally arrange your accommodations."

Sarutobi Ippei's eyes gleamed brightly.

With a sweep of his sleeve, all the banknotes on the table vanished. He walked to the door and respectfully led the way for Uchiha Feng.

Aside from the ten million ryo that belonged to the village, he had no intention of letting the other banknotes go.

After a rough glance, there was more than one million ryo there—already the reward for a low-tier S-rank mission.