"Did you all understand what I just said?"
Tsunade barked from the podium, voice sharp enough to rattle bones.
"Y–Yes, ma'am!"
Watching the rows of students nodding clumsily like bobbleheads, Tsunade covered her face with one hand, suppressing the volcanic rage bubbling in her chest.
"Don't get angry… I won't get angry… Orochimaru and the others are still locked up here."
Crack—!!
With a thunderous bang, the desk on the podium exploded beneath her fist—again.
The workers stationed by the door rushed over, sweeping away what was left of the shattered furniture and bringing in another "desk" already prepared outside.
They had long grown used to it. In the past month alone, Tsunade had destroyed well over a hundred desks—possibly close to two hundred. There was even one day recently when half a day passed without the sound of something breaking; the workers found that more unsettling than normal.
Tsunade stared at the newly delivered "desk," her eyelid twitching.
A massive white iron block—so heavy it took four men to carry it—was placed before her. Panting, the workers wiped their foreheads as Tsunade gritted her teeth.
"This… is a desk?"
"Yes, ma'am. The principal had this specially built for you. They say it's reinforced with the village's limited supply of chakra metal on top."
"Ahem… ma'am, you've smashed one hundred and seventy-nine desks this month. That's an average of six a day. Every furniture shop in the village is… currently dedicated to making desks."
…
As the four workers slipped away like frightened rabbits, Tsunade burst into a fresh wave of fury.
"It's all because of you little brats!"
"Do you have any idea what kind of reputation you've given me!?"
She slammed her fist down again—this time the iron block dented inward, and the remaining force reverberated through the floor, making the entire classroom tremble.
Dozens of students nearly lost their souls.
The workers at the door began sweating again.
"Did… did that iron block just dent?"
"The top layer is chakra metal, right!?"
"What do we do!?"
"…Notify the principal… again…"
Tsunade wasn't feeling great either.
To be honest, hitting chakra metal hurt. She had punched stone walls and skulls in her life, but this was the first time she'd ever punched chakra metal.
"Class ends here for today. Whatever you were supposed to learn—remember it yourselves."
With that, Tsunade stormed out of the room.
---
Back in her quarters, she sat down—only for Hanzō to appear in front of her.
"Judging from your mood, their level must've really pissed you off."
Hanzō added,
"But what surprises me more is that I've been away for a month… and you didn't run."
"Tsk. I never break my promises," Tsunade said.
"And you're the bold one. Aren't you afraid I'd free Orochimaru and the others? Without you, your Amegakure wouldn't survive us."
"Because I heard you've lost every bet since childhood."
"So I bet you wouldn't run."
"…"
This time, Tsunade was the one rendered speechless.
"Forget it—let's talk about your village.
Honestly, your medical standards are way too low. I searched through every medical scroll you had, and not a single one was a complete, systematic text."
"Their basics are awful. To put it simply, your healing ninjutsu is still stuck at the most primitive stage of chakra control. They can treat external wounds, sure, but anything beyond that? Unbelievably bad."
"Honestly, having me teach them is a complete waste of talent."
"So, do you have a solution?" Hanzō asked.
"I'm only fulfilling our deal. I don't owe your village any strategic advice—that wasn't part of the agreement." Tsunade retorted flatly.
"I'll pay extra."
…
Tsunade blinked.
Hanzō was being… surprisingly reasonable?
"You're really willing to invest that much in them?"
"Even though, realistically, you might not even produce a handful of true medical talents?"
"I said before—they're the future of Amegakure." Hanzō pressed.
"Even if this generation produces few talents, they'll gain experience, and they'll be able to train the next."
"One day, Amegakure will have elites—true powerhouses."
"What I'm merely doing is give them opportunity and possibility."
"…You really are confident."
Without further talk, Tsunade opened a drawer and pulled out a book.
"Here. I wrote this over the past month, adapting everything to your village's level. It's a basic foundational medical handbook—it includes systematic theory and training methods."
"It's standard information from the Five Great Nations, along with my personal research and conclusions."
"Don't misunderstand—I'm not doing you a favor."
"Technically, this still counts as part of our deal."
"I have a reputation to uphold. Imagine paying a billion ryō for my teaching, only for the results to be worse than a normal instructor. Where would my dignity go?"
"Thank you, Tsunade."
"I said it's a transaction."
"But… even if we're enemies, you're still worthy of respect."
"You won't be staying in Amegakure much longer. Konoha has issued a ceasefire agreement."
"During the signing, they'll hand over your ransom."
"Once that's done, you can all leave."
Tsunade let out a long breath.
"…Konoha's situation has gotten that bad?"
Hanzō:
"You're facing the combined assault of four Great Nations. Lasting this long already proves your village's strength."
Deep inside, he added silently:
If Sarutobi and Danzō weren't backstabbing each other, it would be even stronger…
Tsunade cracked her neck.
"Alright. If that's all, stop bothering me. I'm furious from teaching all day and need to blow off steam. Want to spar?"
"…You're a prisoner."
"Got a problem with that?"
"..."
Spar? Hell nah, that's a waste of energy.
*(TL/N - I smell potential love interest lol.)
---
Back in his office, Hanzō was still thinking about refining his new Sage Arts when an Ame-nin entered.
"Lord Hanzō, a message from Sunagakure."
He handed over two scrolls—one black, one white—then left.
Hanzō unrolled them.
…
After reading both, even he felt anger rising.
"I knew Konoha was up to no good. This disgusting trick… It has to be Danzō's doing."
Meanwhile, far away on the battlefield in the Land of Earth, Shimura Danzō sneezed.
He nearly got hit by a stray shuriken.
What was that?
Why do I feel like something bad is happening?
Crushing an Iwa-nin beside him, Danzō looked toward the direction of Konoha.
He had already received reports regarding Amegakure.
Hold on, Hiruzen. I'll finish up here and return to back you up.
Konoha must not fall on our watch!
---
Back in Amegakure, Hanzō clenched his fists.
"Looks like I'll have to give them a proper education."
"They've probably already prepared ways to restrict me."
"A banquet meant to kill the guest, huh?"
"In that case, I'll prepare a little 'gift' inside the Hidden Leaf Village."
"Though their sensory barrier is annoying…"
…
"Riku-Nin-Bing, Riku-Nin-Bi."
"Lord Hanzō."
Two shinobi appeared before him.
"I have a mission for you both."
"In a few days, I'll give you a specially crafted explosive tag."
"I want it planted inside the Hokage Rock."
"Don't worry—Konoha's internal defenses are stretched thin during wartime. There shouldn't be major obstacles."
"I'll give you the barrier formula. Test whether you can slip through. If it works, perfect."
"If not, plant the tag on Konoha's outer wall and retreat."
When Uchiha Itachi infiltrated Konoha years later, he used a similar sealing formula.
Hanzō still remembered it.
He just wasn't sure if Konoha had changed their barrier since then.
He recalled the incident when the Cloud-nin kidnapped Kushina Uzumaki—they slipped into Konoha undetected, only for Minato—still below jōnin level at the time—to defeat them.
Why hadn't anyone else noticed the intrusion?
Why tie up a jinchūriki and make her walk slowly?
"…Ugh. Must've been the Third Hokage's meddling—restraining their jinchūriki using this so-called 'Will of Fire' and 'bonds.'"
"But that's not enough… I need to prepare too."
"No way I'm letting them kill me through tricks."
"Perfect chance to test this new technique."
-----------------------------///
150 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
300 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
500 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
700 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
1000 Powerstones - Bonus Chap