Tamura Hao didn't take the blade immediately. Instead, he spoke calmly:
"Teacher, please accept it. I damaged your ninja sword earlier—this can serve as compensation.
And in the future, we'll inevitably be sent outside the village on missions. If danger arises, having a good blade will help you protect me better.
"If that still feels inappropriate, then treat it as me lending it to you for now. When you no longer need it, you can return it."
Seeing that Fukuroi was still hesitant, Tamura Hao shifted the framing to a temporary loan.
"Take it," A added.
"There will be great danger ahead—and war is not far off."
A's words made Fukuroi pause. He could hear the deeper meaning beneath them.
After a moment of silence, Fukuroi finally accepted the blade.
"I swear that I will protect my student," he said solemnly.
"Anyone who wishes to harm you will have to step over my corpse first."
The words were earnest.
But hearing them made Tamura Hao's eyelid twitch violently.
For some reason, his mind flashed to that legendary curse from another world—the kind that rivaled 'Daoist, please stay' in sheer lethality.
And this world even had resurrection techniques.
For example… the Rinnegan.
If he really did die someday, would his teacher shout, 'Rise again, my disciple!'?
…Please don't.
"I'll borrow this one as well," A said casually, accepting the other sword.
"If you need it back someday, just say the word."
Tamura Hao was very satisfied.
A future Fourth Raikage's favor was far more valuable than a single ninja sword.
After chatting with A for a while longer, and once his condition stabilized somewhat, Tamura Hao finally hobbled home on a cane.
Bone fractures weren't something that healed easily—especially when the medicinal power still needed time to fully integrate with the skeleton.
For now, medical ninjutsu had only allowed basic fusion. The strength was far below normal, so even walking required caution.
Back home, Tamura Hao lay on his bed and opened the scrolls given by A and Fukuroi.
He began by studying their insights into Lightning Release chakra nature transformation and shape transformation—exactly what he needed most.
In the original Naruto canon, Wind Release nature training was shown in detail, but Lightning Release nature transformation was never clearly explained.
The Academy and library offered no concrete methods.
Previously, he could only grope forward using scattered hints from old texts—slow and inefficient, without even touching the threshold.
Now, with the firsthand notes of two Lightning-specialized jōnin with inherited techniques, it was like rain after a drought.
Lightning nature transformation was currently the only path that could rapidly increase his combat strength.
He even wanted to see whether he could recreate Hatake Kakashi's Chidori, or Uchiha Sasuke's Chidori system in the future.
Even a downgraded version would do.
This was precisely where his **golden-finger—enhanced comprehension—**would shine.
However, before he could truly begin Lightning nature training, an unexpected visitor arrived.
"Ninja-sama, your ramen delivery."
A middle-aged man stood outside, holding a large sealed bowl of ramen.
With his other hand, he subtly formed several hand signs.
Tamura Hao recognized them immediately.
They were from Shimura Danzo—or rather, Danzo-sama.
"Come in."
Tamura Hao glanced around calmly, then stepped aside and accepted the ramen.
The man entered without a word.
The moment his foot touched the carpet, Tamura Hao noticed something off.
"A shadow clone?" Tamura Hao remarked lightly. "How cautious."
The man's foot hadn't depressed the carpet at all—as if he had no weight.
Either he was hovering… or more likely, he wasn't a physical body at all.
"The order from Danzo-sama," the man said flatly.
"You are to do everything in your power to investigate Kumogakure's war plans—especially any strategies aimed at the Land of Fire.
"In addition, you must determine their progress in tailed beast utilization. This task must be completed."
"I want the Second Hokage's Sword of the Thunder God."
Tamura Hao responded just as directly.
Lightning nature transformation was notoriously difficult.
Even A and Fukuroi had taken over five years to complete it.
In the future, Uzumaki Naruto would rely on countless shadow clones and massive chakra reserves to brute-force the process.
Tamura Hao did have a comprehension boost—but it wasn't omnipotent.
He estimated at least one year of hard training.
Too slow.
He needed an external catalyst.
The first thing that came to mind was the Bashōsen, once wielded by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, which could convert chakra into all five elemental natures.
Unfortunately, it had been sealed away before their deaths.
The Third Raikage had only recovered the Amber Purifying Pot.
That left one option.
The Sword of the Thunder God, wielded by the Second Hokage.
If he could obtain it, Lightning nature training would be far more efficient.
The middle-aged man's expression turned cold.
To dare make demands of Danzo-sama—this brat was courting death.
"I need means of survival and power," Tamura Hao said calmly.
"Only then can I climb higher within Kumogakure—and become more valuable to Danzo-sama."
His tone was steady, unwavering.
He continued eating his ramen as he spoke.
The explanation made the man frown.
He couldn't refute it.
The Sword of the Thunder God was no ordinary weapon—being the Second Hokage's blade, it was almost certainly beyond easy reach.
Even for Danzo.
"I will report your request to Danzo-sama," the man said coldly.
"You'd better deliver intelligence worthy of it."
With that, he left.
As a deliveryman, he couldn't linger.
"One more thing," Tamura Hao added lazily.
"Take this and the trash outside with you. You stayed too long—needs better cover.
"And I didn't like your tone or your eyes. As punishment, bring barbecue next time."
He finished the broth and handed over the empty bowl and packaging, pointing at the trash bag by the door.
If only there were a direct hotline to Danzo-sama—this corrupt middleman could've been skipped entirely.
Using cheap ramen as cover clearly meant he'd pocketed the rest of the funds.
Such corruption was a tumor within Root—an obstacle to Danzo-sama's path to becoming Hokage.
It had to be purged.
The man's forehead twitched violently, but he still took the trash and left.
He had never seen such an arrogant, stingy little spy.
But luck mattered.
This brat had reached Kumogakure's core—and that alone made him far more valuable in Danzo-sama's eyes.
"Don't disappoint me, Danzo-sama," Tamura Hao murmured after the man left.
He was confident.
After all—
That was the Pot Shadow himself.
As night fell, Tamura Hao dressed and left his home, heading toward a nearby bathhouse.
Since Danzo-sama had already made contact and issued orders, Tamura Hao naturally had to deliver results—quickly.
For that, he needed Tutai.
That bathhouse was one of their agreed contact points.
Tamura Hao was certain Tutai would be very interested in this.
Perhaps he'd even use it to orchestrate something larger.
As a high-quality half-double-agent, one had to be absolutely clear about one's true allegiance.
There could be no ambiguity.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/InfoAlex