Let's Find Someone to Take Him Out

"Actually, you didn't need to overthink it. I wasn't planning to do anything with you right now. Huh, this sandwich was pretty good." Tsunade took a big bite of the sandwich in her hand and spoke casually.

"Ahem. I'm rather conservative when it comes to relationships. Don't laugh at me, but yesterday was my first time." Jing Hang spoke stiffly.

"Mine too." Tsunade lifted the blanket from the sofa bed, revealing a tiny blossom of blood on the sheet.

"I... I... I'm at a loss for words. I'll let you deal with me however you want. I'll... take responsibility." Jing Hang's mind completely short-circuited for a moment. He stammered, not knowing what to say.

Damn it, I actually took Tsunade's first time. It seemed she and Kato Dan only met after something happened to Nawaki. Didn't that mean I'd stolen someone else's love? Pah! Pah! Pah! I got there first! No, that didn't sound right either. Sigh, that kid could go play somewhere else.

"You'll take responsibility? Hmm, then I'll have to think carefully about how to make you do that." Tsunade tilted her head and looked at Jing Hang teasingly, wearing an expression that seemed torn between laughing and not laughing. It made his skin crawl a little.

When it came to relationships, Tsunade was absolutely not a loose woman. Though born into privilege and possessed of a somewhat spoiled young lady's temper, she was no wastrel. Despite being doted on by Hashirama since childhood, aside from her fondness for gambling, she had no other bad habits.

After all, she had been personally taught by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and had fought her way up from Genin step by step to become an outstanding female Jonin. She could be called the "revolutionary successor" of the Will of Fire.

Yet deep in her heart, she did have feelings for this young Kazekage. From the "three heroes fighting Lu Bu" at Moon Lake, to Danzo's Beast Trap plan falling apart, to the interception of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the Land of Fields, Jing Hang's heroic exploits on the battlefield had left an extraordinarily deep impression on Tsunade.

Among people their age, Jing Hang was undoubtedly the best. There was no second place.

Whether it was his combat ability and ninjutsu, his decisiveness and judgment, or even the status and position Tsunade valued least, if one sifted through all five great ninja villages and dragged everyone out for comparison, at most only the future Fourth Raikage, A, could go toe-to-toe with Jing Hang.

But even A was far behind him in looks. Besides, A was not yet the Raikage at this point, at best a "crown prince," while Jing Hang had already been Kazekage for over a year.

As for people like Orochimaru and Jiraiya, they were even further behind. After arriving in the Hidden Sand Village, Tsunade had watched Jing Hang carry out sweeping reforms with her own eyes. She had watched a dying village become flourishing and vibrant before her very eyes, and even the ever-competitive Tsunade secretly admired that ability.

He had even boldly delegated authority to her, an "outsider," and entrusted her with important duties. That breadth of mind truly impressed Tsunade as well. Combined with their shared aspirations and similar ideals, many of Tsunade's ideas for governing happened to coincide with Jing Hang's.

Of course, anyone who had read the manga knew Tsunade's views were completely right.

Even the ideals she had failed to realize in the Hidden Leaf Village had become reality here! Capability, strength, courage, broad-mindedness, boldness, and good looks; young and accomplished, wealthy, with both parents dead, a car, and a house—what young woman would not be moved by such an outstanding unmarried young man?

As for those so-called political factors, they could go play somewhere else! This princess wasn't considering them.

Jing Hang finally grew unnerved under Tsunade's gaze, and a trace of anger rose in his heart. He suddenly stood up, his face flushing red as he said—

"Fine, fine, fine. I, Jing Hang, am a dignified seven-foot man. My principle in life is to distinguish only right from wrong, never weigh gains against losses. At worst, I'll stop being the Kazekage. I can't betray you."

The moment Tsunade heard this, her face bloomed into a smile. She gently pulled Jing Hang into her arms and gave his little face a smack of a kiss.

"Fool, why would you stop being Kazekage when you're doing such a good job?"

Whew. Jing Hang secretly wiped away a cold sweat. He had finally passed the test.

In truth, he had a second plan in mind. Did she really expect him to choose between being Kazekage and a woman? Sorry, this seven-foot body had already been pledged to his country; it could not be pledged to her as well. He would be the ninja world's Cai E and Xiao Fengxian—would Tsunade really be willing to leave?

The mood had been built up so perfectly that she definitely wouldn't be willing to. If the card of masculine responsibility didn't work, would she take the card of tragic love for country and home? One of them was bound to suit her.

"Come on, let's go see how Nawaki is doing. We can clean up the operating table while we're at it. By the way, how did you get to the Hidden Sand Village? Was it the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

"Mm, more accurately, it was the Flying Thunder Formation Technique. Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were all disciples of my second grandfather. With the combined power of the three of them, they could use the Flying Thunder God Technique, provided the destination had one of my second grandfather's technique marks."

"I see." Jing Hang picked up the marked kunai and fell into thought.

"I think Rasa's proposal is worth considering." Chiyo set down the report Rasa had sent over.

"Minister Chiyo, you mean..." Her subordinate hesitated.

"Mm, that's what I mean." Chiyo rose to her feet and walked to the window.

"My reason for wanting to get rid of Hanzo of the Salamander is absolutely not personal resentment, even though I truly hate that old geezer with a breathing tube."

Chiyo paused before continuing.

"The Hourglass Group is now a vital department of the village. It is not only the village's source of revenue, but also the safeguard of Moon Lake New District. Nothing must happen to it.

"I know Hanzo of the Salamander well. He has ambition and methods, but he is narrow-minded, with his eyes fixed only on the tiny bit of profit in front of him. If it were merely a matter of giving up some money, that would be nothing, but this man's desires are endless.

"Today he wants money; tomorrow, he may want the factories. We cannot place our bets on someone like him. We should find someone to take him out. It would save us a great deal of trouble. Replacing him with an Ame Kage who is obedient and not so ambitious would better serve the interests of the Hidden Sand Village."

"But Hanzo of the Salamander is known as the demigod of the ninja world. He probably won't be easy to handle. The only one in the village who might be confident of doing it is Lord Kazekage."

"Lord Kazekage cannot make a move, and neither can anyone else from the village. It must be done by an outsider, with no loose ends left behind."

"Then the cost may be very high."

"Hehe, times have changed. Our finances are no longer so strained. We can still afford ten or twenty million to kill someone." Chiyo smiled.

"I still think such a person will be difficult to find."

"Take your time looking. There's no need to rush. Oh, put this plan into writing and inform the Kazekage. No, putting it into writing isn't safe. I'll speak to him personally."

"I think we can do this!" Jing Hang pushed open the door and entered. Everyone in the room besides Chiyo bowed to him.

"Minister Chiyo is right. I can't do this, nor can any other Jonin from the village. It has to be done by an outsider. As far as I know, there are fewer people in the entire ninja world who could take this job than the fingers on one hand." Jing Hang smiled and held up one hand.

"Oh? It seems Lord Kazekage already has someone suitable in mind. Could you tell me who it is, so I can consider it as well?" Chiyo was rather curious. She knew exactly what Hanzo of the Salamander was capable of, and she truly could not think of anyone suitable who could take him down one-on-one.

"I do have someone in mind. Back when I was still a Jonin, I met him while earning some extra money at the bounty exchange. He's highly capable at his job and can absolutely handle this assignment." Jing Hang scratched the back of his head sheepishly. After all, the bounty exchange was not exactly a respectable place.

"Enough suspense. Tell us this friend's name."

"We're not really friends. We only crossed paths once. This man is known as the one who lives as long as heaven and earth—Kakuzu!"