"What? One billion!?"
Uzumaki Mito's expression hardened, her voice rising in anger.
"Has Salamander Hanzō completely lost his mind over money?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed awkwardly.
"He later realized the number was unreasonable… or maybe he just wanted room for negotiation later. In the end, his final offer was one hundred and seventy million."
"He must have noticed something special about Tsunade, so he opened with the highest price. One hundred and twenty million for her alone. Jiraiya and Orochimaru are both twenty-five million each."
Hiruzen hesitated, then added with embarrassment:
"Cough… The village is already under wartime strain. Our funds are stretched thin. We might barely scrape together Jiraiya and Orochimaru's ransom, but Tsunade's… that sum is simply…"
"That's enough. I understand what you're trying to say."
Mito closed her eyes briefly, then exhaled.
"The ransom for Tsunade will be paid by the Senju. You don't need to worry. The Senju may have declined, but we are not destitute."
"Thank you, Lady Mito—truly."
"Forget it." Mito waved her hand, but when Hiruzen turned to leave, she added, almost casually:
"Jiraiya and Orochimaru are Tsunade's teammates, aren't they? I'll cover their ransom as well."
Hiruzen froze mid-step.
He definitely hadn't expected this blessing to fall into his lap.
"T-Then… thank you, Lady Mito. Konoha will never forget your generosity."
"Go on then. You still have far too much to deal with."
Hearing the gentle dismissal, Hiruzen bowed deeply and left.
After a long moment of silence, a small boy peeked out from behind a sliding door and ran straight into Mito's arms.
"Grandma! Grandma! Big Sis—she won't be hurt, right!?"
The boy trembled, tears spilling uncontrollably as he buried himself in Mito's embrace.
"Don't worry, little Tsunade will be just fine," Mito said softly.
"She's worth a hundred and twenty million, after all."
"Nawaki, you must work hard from now on. Never let your sister be bullied again."
The boy wiped his tears and straightened up, eyes burning with conviction.
"I'll do it! I'll become as strong as Grandpa Hashirama! I'll protect Big Sis and Konoha—I'll become a great Hokage!"
"Mhm… Grandma believes in you. But no more crying, understand?"
"I know, Grandma!" Senju Nawaki rubbed his eyes dry. "I'll go train now! I'll be stronger than that Salamander Hanzō!"
He dashed toward the door—but turned back suddenly.
"Grandma! You can't tell Big Sis that I cried!"
Mito chuckled.
"All right. Grandma won't say a word. Now go. You must grow strong enough to protect your sister."
"Yeah!"
When Nawaki left, Mito's consciousness slipped into the sealed darkness of her mind.
And there—behind thick iron bars—was a gigantic red fox.
The Nine-Tails.
Its massive, crimson eyes stared at her with cold disdain.
[Uzumaki Mito.]
[How laughable. Even through this seal, I can feel the Hokage's lies… and his malice.
Yet you—my jailer—pretend you can't.]
"Nine-Tails, this is not your concern. Why did you call me here?"
[Hmph. Nothing important. You're dying soon.]
[I simply wanted to take one last look at the first human who stole my chakra.]
"You really have nothing better to do."
[Once you die, this seal breaks. I'll be free again.]
[A few more years, and I will revive elsewhere.]
[But you—once you die, I'll never see you again.]
"Konoha won't give you the chance. You will be sealed again. You have no escape."
At that, the Nine-Tails seemed to remember something—specifically, the red-haired little girl who had visited recently.
Its rage erupted.
A claw slammed against the gate, making the entire chamber tremble.
[Damn humans!]
[So that's your plan!?
[I am NOT your weapon!]
[You think you can lock me up forever? Keep dreaming!]
The growing storm of chakra shook the space violently.
Mito whispered:
"Forgive me. Whenever your power is used, hatred follows."
"Stay quietly inside me."
Golden chakra blossomed around her.
Her presence changed instantly—regal, overwhelming.
She clasped her hands together.
Dozens of red torii gates materialized in the air and came crashing down one by one, pinning the Nine-Tails to the ground.
[Uzumaki Mito… hatred feeds me.
One day, I will break free of these chains—and Konoha will drown in ruin.]
Mito said nothing more and withdrew her consciousness.
Back in the real world, she opened her eyes slowly.
"Sarutobi…"
"The darkness in your heart grows thicker by the day."
"If you don't turn back now… it will be too late."
Her Nine-Tails chakra allowed her to sense malice with frightening clarity.
No lie could hide from her.
The Senju's slow decline…
The greed she felt every time the Hokage's advisors visited…
The way Koharu's eyes glittered with envy whenever she looked at Mito's ageless face…
She often had the urge to simply kill that foolish woman.
"Enough. The Senju are down to two people.
What use is preserving anything now?"
"I only hope… that Konoha remembers what the Senju have sacrificed."
---
Meanwhile — Amegakure
"Lord Hanzō, everything has been surveyed. These are the maps and environmental sketches."
Hanzō flipped through the papers, nodding.
"Good. Well done. This is the place."
"Rikuto, Kan."
Two Amegakure shinobi stepped forward.
"I'll be leaving the village for a while."
"Keep your eyes on Iwagakure's movements."
"But, Lord Hanzō… if you leave now, aren't you afraid someone will exploit the opportunity?"
"Yes, half of our forces are still 'collecting' supplies in the Land of Fire."
"Defense is thin here…"
"And despite everything, Sunagakure might still try something!"
Hanzō pondered, then replied:
"Chiyo has already returned to Suna to report."
"They won't move."
"I don't intend to keep attacking Konoha. With war everywhere, taking Konoha is nearly impossible. As long as we hold Iwakagure at bay, the Rain will be fine."
"The village is in your hands."
"Both of you have talent. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, sir!"
A knock came from outside.
"Enter."
The door slid open, and Hanzō broke into a smirk.
"Oh? What's wrong this time?"
Standing there was Yakushi Nonō.
"Lord Hanzō, meeting you is never easy."
"I'm here to request additional funding for the orphanage."
"Rain has far too many orphans. The original plan doubled… and it's still nowhere near enough."
"Supplies disappear faster than we can restock."
"The budget has collapsed."
"Ah… that." Hanzō tossed her a scroll. "A wealthy donor just delivered something."
Nonō opened it—
Her eyes widened.
The wealth listed inside was… absurd.
---
A few hours earlier
Hattori Murakami had returned with his squad.
"Lord Hanzō, our storage scrolls are full. We had to return early."
"So soon?" Hanzō lifted a brow.
"The civilians had nothing left to take. We couldn't bear to keep looting."
"But the nobles… they were overflowing with riches."
"And Lord Hanzō, we disguised ourselves as Suna-nin."
"Not a trace of Rain was exposed."
---
Back in the present, Nonō, Rikuto, and Kan stared at the scroll, stunned.
"How… how is there this much? More than what Suna paid us!"
"Lord Hanzō, who is this wealthy benefactor!? A daimyō?"
"We need to thank them properly!"
Hanzō burst out laughing.
"Oh, the benefactor?"
"It's the Land of Fire itself."
"We should thank them deeply."
"And more squads are still out collecting.
There will be plenty more."
"Take what the orphanage needs."
"The rest goes to you two—handle it as you see fit, and report to me when I return."
"Amegakure cannot depend on me alone.
You must learn to manage a village."
"If the workload becomes too heavy, recruit more capable people."
"You two are responsible for both security and administration until I return."
"We won't fail you, Lord Hanzō!"
"But first… I have something else to deal with."
Hanzō suddenly remembered something and strode toward the underground prison.
Yakushi Nonō paused—
Then quietly followed him.
----------------------------///
150 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
300 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
500 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
700 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
1000 Powerstones - Bonus Chap