161-170

Chapter 161: Great Prosperity (Part 2)

The *[Reviver] Puppet*, though only level 19, was polished by Hattori after its creation with some basic training, so its stats aren’t bad at all:

- *Name*: Rebirth Puppet - Hardened

- *Level*: 19

- *HP*: 1900

- *MP*: 1900

- *Skills*: Swordsmanship, Hardening Technique, Charge Attack

- *Combat Rating*: B (A)

A combat rating of B already matches a mid-level shinobi, which is the peak for a guard captain in the Land of Wind.

If twenty *[Reviver]* puppets can’t bring him down, Hattori thinks it might be time to shut his doors.

Seeing the amazed expressions of the lord and surrounding officials, Hattori chuckled and said, “Apologies, my lord. While these creatures have awareness, they lack any real emotion. For them, your safety is their purpose, so they may act a bit out of line. I hope you’ll forgive that.”

He then showed a hint of regret and continued, “Of course, if you find them difficult to accept, I could take them back and destroy them, as they’ll only recognize you as their master now.”

This was, of course, a lie. The *Rebirth Puppets* would only ever recognize Hattori as their true master; he was merely granting the lord usage rights.

Unaware of this fact, the Lord of the Land of Wind grew anxious at the mention of destroying the puppets.

“What? Destroy them? Absolutely not!” he exclaimed, looking at the *[Reviver]* puppets guarding him, his face filled with satisfaction.

“With such strength, unwavering loyalty, and no emotions to sway them, these *[Reviver]* puppets are superior to any human guards.”

“Indeed!” Hattori nodded with a grin. “Plus, they’ll only grow stronger with experience. They could easily reach the level of a village's Jonin shinobi.”

“What?” The lord was even more amazed. “Jonin shinobi level? So I’ll have twenty Jonin shinobi protecting me?”

“That’s right!” Hattori’s smile grew even wider. “With them around, your safety is assured!”

“Marvelous!” Overjoyed, the lord turned to his officials and declared, “Hattori has presented me with such a treasure. I must reward him. He shall be named the *Number One Puppet Master of the Land of Wind*. Prepare the honor!”

“Yes!” The officials responded and hurried off, clearly going to fetch the medal.

Hattori, still smiling, offered his thanks. Though not overly concerned with medals, he knew how valuable an honor could be. This title, *Number One Puppet Master of the Land of Wind*, was essentially an endorsement from the lord himself—sure to boost his puppet business.

Soon, a golden medal was presented, and the lord himself pinned it on Hattori, clapping his shoulder in encouragement. Hattori, feigning immense gratitude, poured out his thanks with flowery praise.

“My lord, you truly are the most brilliant leader of the Five Great Nations! My respect for you is as boundless as the ocean and as unstoppable as a sandstorm!”

“Hahaha…” The lord’s laughter grew, and he quickly ordered the officials to settle Hattori’s outstanding fees and prepare a feast for him.

After dinner, the lord gifted Hattori two cows, a grandly decorated cart, and granted him open access to the estate.

For… praising him.

Hattori gladly accepted. After all, a little flattery costs nothing, and he could enjoy the lord’s hospitality while expanding his clientele.

The days that followed went smoothly. Hattori spent Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at home resting, while on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, he went to the lord’s estate for free meals, keeping an eye out for business opportunities.

To stay in the lord’s good graces, he even created a mahjong set, teaching the lord how to play.

It worked perfectly. Now, under his “curse of perpetual loss,” the lord enjoyed Hattori’s company more than that of his own son, Kazue, eager for daily games.

One day, as usual, Hattori left his home, preparing for another mahjong session with the lord. Surrounded by his twenty ornate *[Reviver]* puppets, he set off grandly towards the lord’s estate.

Seeing the grand procession, townspeople stepped aside in awe.

Upon arriving, a young man in luxurious clothing approached and bowed. “Master Hattori, my master would like to invite you to our estate in two days. Would that be convenient?”

“Not convenient!” Hattori replied without a second thought. “I’ll be playing mahjong with the lord and Kazue in two days, so I won’t have time to visit. But I’ll be home tomorrow if he wishes to come by.”

Without waiting for a response, Hattori turned and walked into the lord’s estate.

He had learned that being overly polite only made people nervous. Acting a bit arrogant actually seemed to put them at ease.

As expected, the young man seemed pleased with Hattori’s bluntness, bowing with respect. “Thank you, Master Hattori! I’ll inform my master.”

Hattori gave no reply, disappearing into the estate.

Once inside, his face lit up with a smile. “Business is finally coming in!”

He knew that with his reputation, these nobles of the Land of Wind would come to him only for one reason: to buy puppets.

And that was precisely what he wanted.

The notion of “the customer is king” did not apply to him. With Hanaki and Damyo as his walking billboards, Hattori had no worries about selling his *Rebirth Puppets*!

With the profits he expected, he wouldn’t need frequent business—one sale could last him three years.

“But at this rate, I won’t even need to wait that long.”

Thinking about it, his smile grew even brighter.

“Another fortune on the way!”

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 162: Huge Profits (Part 2)*

Just as Hattori expected, he was about to make a fortune again.

Early the next morning, a luxurious ox-drawn cart arrived at his doorstep, and a finely dressed middle-aged nobleman stepped out.

After some small talk, the nobleman got to the main point: he was there to buy puppets! Already aware of the price, he produced a few briefcases full of money and bought five “Reviver” bodyguard puppets from Hattori.

Each one sold for a hefty 30 million taels.

Things moved quickly after that.

With a few grandiose lines, Hattori completed the ownership ceremony, and the nobleman happily left with his newly purchased puppets.

After the nobleman's departure, other nobles gradually started arriving over the next few days, each eager to buy puppets as well.

Within days, Hattori’s entire stock was sold out, and his wealth soared past the 2.5 billion mark!

With his newfound wealth, Hattori found himself playing mahyong against the daimyo of the Land of Wind with much greater confidence.

Of course, he lost quite a bit too—losing a few million in a day was common.

But Hattori didn’t care, as he was making money far faster than he was spending it!

Once he sold out his first batch of puppets, he immediately got to work on a second batch.

This time, though, he didn’t need to make them himself.

The capital city of the Land of Wind was teeming with skilled craftsmen, and finding puppet artisans was as easy as buying salt from a store.

In fact, it was even easier.

All Hattori had to do was post a notice outside his gate saying he was hiring puppet-makers, and by that afternoon, hundreds of people were gathered at his door.

With a quick glance, he easily selected over a hundred artisans skilled in puppet-making, including several ninjas.

He didn’t care about their backgrounds; if their skills were up to par, he hired them immediately, handing over the materials and blueprints for the puppets.

The puppets’ armor was still custom-made by the blacksmiths, but once finished, these newly hired puppet-makers handled the assembly.

As for Hattori, he focused on sealing each puppet with chakra cores and performing the Rebirth ritual.

This arrangement massively sped up the production rate—he could complete 20 puppets a day!

If not for his chakra supply from the Four-Tails running low, he could’ve made 200 sealed puppets daily.

But Hattori didn’t mind this small limitation; after all, the “Reviver” was a premium product, and he didn’t intend to sell too many each day.

After the puppet-makers finished producing a thousand “Reviver” puppets, Hattori had them halt the production of the “Ironwood Mix” puppets and start making entirely iron-structured puppets.

These puppets were still designed after the Swordmaster, but they were ten times larger than the original 1.8-meter version.

Now they stood 18 meters tall!

Clearly, Hattori was aiming to create a giant mecha, and this 18-meter iron puppet was his “prototype”!

He named it the “Avenger.”

In the past, he wouldn’t have dared attempt something so bold, but now, having sold so many “Reviver” bodyguard puppets, he was financially secure and didn’t fear the risk! Even if it failed, he’d only lose a few billion, which he could recoup by selling a few more puppets.

With that in mind, Hattori continued living his lavish life.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, he’d sleep in and sell puppets; on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, he’d go to the daimyo’s residence to play mahjong; on Sundays, he’d check the puppet-makers’ progress and do a bit of shopping.

At the end of each month, he’d check if his chakra reserves were full. If they were, he’d release the seal and use all the stored chakra to upgrade his Mangekyo Sharingan.

After all, the Land of Wind was perfectly safe, with the Four-Tails as a backup, so Hattori had no concerns about his security.

Finally, at the end of the year, he received the two notifications he’d been waiting for:

*[Upgrade in progress... Consumed 197,000 MP, upgrade successful. Obtained Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan!]*

*[Upgrade in progress... Consumed 68,000 MP, insufficient MP to continue upgrading!]*

With his MP running low, Hattori quickly swallowed a chakra replenishment pill and let out a long breath.

“Phew… It took nearly a year and almost 2 million MP, but I finally unlocked the Eternal Mangekyo!”

Using the Susanoo twice in Kirigakure and Sunagakure had severely damaged his vision, leaving him with almost 600-degree myopia.

But with the Eternal Mangekyo unlocked, he felt his vision returning, sharper than ever.

He could even count the wingbeats of a tiny insect flying in front of him!

Most importantly, the Eternal Mangekyo brought him a new ability, *Truth Reverse*.

*[Truth Reverse: A dojutsu from the Eternal Mangekyo, capable of completely sealing the focused space. In this sealed space, no ninjutsu, taijutsu, or secret techniques can penetrate.]*

*[Note: Izanagi blocked the passage to the underworld from his wife Izanami by sealing it with the “Truth Reverse” stone!]*

Seeing this ability, Hattori couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

“Eyes like these—2 million MP was worth it!”

In the ninja world, space-based jutsus were notoriously hard to counter, nearly impossible to defend against.

So, gaining a technique to counter spatial jutsus was a blessing.

Moreover, names like Izanagi and Izanami were legendary, each associated with powerful techniques.

How could “Truth Reverse” be anything but incredible if it was on par with those?

At that moment, Hattori felt his confidence rise—even if Madara and Hashirama were absent, he was the top boss of the ninja world!

Of course, he wasn’t interested in taking over the ninja world; his real goals were to earn money, build giant mechas, and upgrade his Rinnegan to revive Pakura.

However, thinking about the Rinnegan left him a little troubled.

If the Eternal Mangekyo cost 2 million MP, wouldn’t the Rinnegan require 20 million?

Thinking about the cost, he couldn’t help but sigh.

“Sigh… Seems my three five-year plans will need to continue!”

As he was sighing, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from outside.

“Hattori... Hattori, something big has happened… something big!”

“Uh…”

Hattori turned towards the sound, and there, at his gate, was a luxurious ox cart, with Hanaki stepping down.

He stumbled as he ran over and threw his arms around Hattori.

“Hattori, my father wants me to go to the Land of Fire as an emissary, but I’m afraid to go alone. I don’t trust anyone else. You’re strong; would you come with me?”

“To the Land of Fire?”

Hearing the name, Hattori raised an eyebrow and then broke into a smile.

“All right, I’ll go with you!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 163: Visit to the Land of Fire*

After being accustomed to the endless sands of the Land of Wind, Hattori didn’t think a change in scenery was a bad idea.

With his current strength, as long as he avoided provoking Nagato and his Rinnegan, no one else would pose much of a threat.

As for any future confrontation with Nagato, that would depend on the abilities he unlocked after awakening his own powers. If worst came to worst, he could still go head-to-head with him—after all, they’d both have those "sage eye." Who would fear whom?

For now, though, it was best to steer clear.

Though there was no concrete proof that the Susano'o couldn’t withstand Nagato’s powerful Shinra Tensei, there was definitely a difference in level, meaning he’d be at a disadvantage.

Nonetheless, accompanying Hanaki to the Land of Fire’s capital should pose no issue at all.

Even in the original story, when Nagato controlled the Six Paths of Pain to stir up trouble, he targeted the Hidden Leaf Village, not the capital of the Land of Fire.

It was akin to two gangs fighting; only the underlings would clash, while the leaders would avoid direct confrontation. The leaders would step in only after their respective forces lost, at which point they’d negotiate and perhaps exchange reparations to settle things.

The Land of Wind operated this way, and so did the Land of Fire.

Therefore, Hattori felt no pressure accompanying Hanaki to the Land of Fire.

He closed up the *Alliance of Revivers* shop, left a few puppet bodyguards to guard it, and climbed onto the ox cart with Hanaki.

Of course, he didn’t want to delay the production of his Gundam. He instructed the puppet masters to continue developing the experimental model "Avenger," leaving them funds to carry on the project.

Hattori figured that by the time he returned from the Land of Fire, the model should be close to completion.

At that point, he could test if the Avenger could be transformed into a resurrected puppet.

If so, the next step would be to track down Kakuzu and acquire his shinobi gem.

As for how to find Kakuzu, Hattori wasn’t too worried.

If all else failed, he’d simply wait for the storyline to catch up, let the Leaf Genins make the first move, and swoop in at the last moment—a foolproof plan.

To make that happen, however, he’d need to establish a good relationship with the Leaf Village, so that his appearance as backup wouldn’t seem out of place.

And with time to spare before the Pain invasion, visiting the Leaf Village would not cause any trouble.

"It’s been nearly two years since I visited the Leaf. Obito should have graduated from the Ninja Academy by now. I’ll have to go mess with him a bit so he doesn’t forget about me, haha!"

At the thought, Hattori recalled his past pranks on Obito, which made him chuckle.

"Hahaha..."

Hanaki, sitting with him in the ox cart, looked at Hattori curiously.

"Hattori, what’s so funny? Did you remember something amusing?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Hattori nodded, then said, "Hanaki, when we reach the Fire Capital, I’ll have you stay at the Fire Daimyo’s residence. I want to wander around the surrounding towns. Is that okay?"

"No problem!" Hanaki nodded, then asked, "Are you planning to search for materials for a new puppet?"

"Yes, exactly."

Hattori nodded, his grin widening.

"I’m looking for a rare puppet material. Once I find it, I’ll be able to create a puppet that will astonish everyone!"

"Wow!" Hanaki looked excited. "You have to show me first when it’s done!"

"No problem. You’ll be the first to see it!"

"Hehehe..."

Having someone to chat with made the journey less dull.

Due to the ox cart’s slow pace, it took Hattori and Hanaki nearly half a month to reach the Land of Fire.

Though they had once been enemy nations, they were now allies, and thus were treated as distinguished guests.

Upon their arrival at the Fire Capital, the officials welcomed them and escorted them to the Daimyo’s residence, where a banquet awaited.

The Fire Daimyo, a thin middle-aged man, greeted them in person. Upon seeing Hattori, he covered his mouth with a fan, his face expressing surprise.

"Oh… Are you the son of the Wind Daimyo? I’ve heard of you, but I didn’t expect you to be so young!"

"Actually, Lord Daimyo, there are many things about me that you wouldn’t expect!"

Hattori nodded, gesturing to Hanaki, who looked a bit awkward.

"This is the Wind Daimyo’s son. I’m just accompanying him!"

"Ah…"

The Fire Daimyo paused at Hattori’s words, looking surprised.

The surrounding officials quickly stepped in to clarify.

"Lord Daimyo, this is Hattori, the Wind Country's top puppeteer, while the young master here is His Highness Hanaki, son of the Wind Daimyo."

"Ah, I see!"

Understanding at last, the Fire Daimyo turned to Hattori.

"I’ve heard your name before. I heard you’ve created a kind of puppet with life—one that the Wind Daimyo and his nobles use, is that correct?"

"Yes, indeed!"

Hattori smiled.

"Since we lack the Twelve Guardian Ninja like the Land of Fire, we had to come up with alternative methods to protect our Daimyo and nobles. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"Yes, certainly."

The Daimyo then turned to his officials and asked, "By the way, where are my Twelve Guardian Ninja? I haven’t seen them in ages."

"Uh…"

The official replied awkwardly, "Lord Daimyo, your Twelve Guardian Ninja disbanded. A new group is currently being selected, but it may take some time."

"Oh… I see."

The Daimyo nodded in understanding.

"In the meantime, why not purchase some of the Wind Country’s life puppets? I hear the Wind Daimyo speaks highly of them."

"Um…"

The official hesitated. "Lord Daimyo, since that involves military secrets from an allied nation, it might not be convenient."

"Ah… Is that so?"

The Daimyo looked at Hattori.

"Are your puppets classified military secrets of the Land of Wind?"

"Haha, not at all!"

Hattori chuckled.

"In fact, one of the gifts we brought for you, Lord Daimyo, includes a life puppet as a token of friendship between our two nations."

In truth, the gift list included no such puppet; Hattori made that up to promote his product.

Yes, he planned to open a branch in the Land of Fire!

The Fire Daimyo, unaware of Hattori’s intentions, beamed at the news of such a gift.

"Really? How gracious of the Wind Daimyo! I’ll have to think of a special return gift…"

As he folded his fan, a messenger called from outside.

"Lord Daimyo, the Third Hokage requests an audience!"

Chapter 164: The Daimyo of the Land of Fire

"The Third Hokage is here?"

Upon hearing his attendant's report, a flash of confusion crossed the Land of Fire Daimyo's face, and he momentarily forgot to lift his small folding fan.

"Why is he here again? Hmm... well, it's not really important why he's here. What's more important is what kind of attire I should wear to meet him."

He lifted his small folding fan again, half-covering his face as his eyes filled with deep contemplation.

"Hmm... I should probably look a bit more dignified for the Hokage. But before I decide on my attire, let him wait for me a while!"

Hattori: "(ω`)"

This sounds sort of reasonable, but honestly, isn’t it just nonsense? You’re going to keep someone waiting outside just because you’re unsure of what outfit to wear? Negative points! Get out of here!

Watching the Land of Fire Daimyo seriously pondering this, Hattori couldn’t help but twitch his mouth, thinking to himself:

"I thought the Wind Country Daimyo was unreliable, but I didn’t expect the Fire Country’s Daimyo to be even more eccentric. How sad that the ninja world is governed by people like this, sigh!"

With a helpless shake of his head, he bowed toward the Land of Fire Daimyo.

"Honored Daimyo, the Rebirth Puppet I’ve prepared for you needs to be unsealed in a spacious area to absorb the spirit energy of heaven and earth. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll step out briefly."

This, of course, was complete nonsense. The Rebirth Puppet could be unsealed from the scroll just like any other puppet. Hattori just couldn’t bear watching the Daimyo struggling over his outfit any longer, so he wanted some fresh air.

Unexpectedly, the Daimyo’s eyes lit up as he heard this.

"So that puppet is called a Rebirth Puppet, and absorbing the spirit energy is its preparation for bonding with a master?"

Hattori: "(ω`)"

This guy actually knows about master bonding?

As Hattori stood, mildly astonished, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire spun around dramatically, waving his folding fan, and began reciting with a solemn expression.

"Explode, reality; shatter, spirit; exile this world! From this day forward, this man before you is your new master.

Hesitation is defeat, and cowardice invites death. Fight for him until the world is obliterated!"

Then he suddenly turned to Hattori.

"Is that how you say it?"

Hattori: "(ω`)"

Wow, talk about over the top! He's even more intense than me! Watching the Daimyo’s eager expression, Hattori could only bow respectfully.

"I’m impressed. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire even knows this. It truly seems destined that you are to be master of Rebirth Puppet."

"Oh-ho-ho-ho..."

Hearing Hattori’s praise, the Daimyo raised his fan to cover his mouth, letting out an owl-like laugh. Afterward, he enthusiastically headed outside, calling out to Hattori.

"Come, little Hattori. Let’s go outside together. You’ll let the Rebirth Puppet absorb the spirit energy, and I’ll oversee the master bonding ceremony. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?"

Hattori: "(ω`)"

I feel like I can’t get rid of this guy!

Watching his overjoyed expression, Hattori forced a smile as he looked at him.

"Um… Honored Daimyo of the Land of Fire, shouldn’t you wear something a bit more dignified for such a ceremonious bonding ceremony?"

"╭(°A°`)╮"

Startled, the Daimyo showed deep agreement, nodding emphatically.

"You're absolutely right, little Hattori. I’ll change first. Once I’m ready, you can unseal the puppet. I want to be the first to see them!"

"Sure, no problem!" Hattori immediately agreed.

Seeing how quickly he agreed, the Daimyo shot him a look of admiration.

"You’re truly reliable. Once the bonding ceremony is over, I’ll give you a medal. I’ll call it… um..."

He thought for a few seconds before clapping his hands.

"I’ve got it! The medal shall be called the ‘Honorary Puppet Master Medal, officially recognized and awarded by the Daimyo Palace of the Land of Fire, Konoha Village, the Daimyo Palace of the Land of Wind, and the Hidden Sand Village of the Land of Wind.' What do you think?"

Hattori: "╭(°A°`)╮"

What the heck is that?

Hearing that long-winded name, Hattori couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching again.

"Um… Honored Daimyo, how about just calling it the ‘Honorary Puppet Master Medal’?"

"No way!"

Before he could finish, the Daimyo vehemently rejected his suggestion.

"The name must be long to display the dignity of the Daimyo Palace!"

Hattori: "(Д*)"

Does a long name really add dignity? Although he kept silently criticizing this, Hattori knew that if he continued to argue, it would be never-ending.

So, he forced a smile.

"Haha, Honored Daimyo of the Land of Fire, you’re absolutely right. I realize now how shallow and ignorant I was. I’ll be waiting outside."

"Yes, that’s the spirit. I’ll go change now!"

With that, he cheerfully went off to change.

Watching this, Hattori finally sighed in relief, raising his hand to halt Hanaki, who was about to speak.

"Don’t ask anything, don’t say anything. Just wait here; I’ll be back soon!"

"???"

Ignoring Hanaki confused look, Hattori walked outside.

As he stepped out, he immediately saw Sarutobi Hiruzen in a red and white robe, wearing the Hokage’s hat.

At the same moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen spotted Hattori.

Seeing Hattori dressed in an elaborate black robe and wearing a tall green hat with the character "Wind" embroidered on it, Hiruzen looked taken aback.

"Are you… Hattori? Aren’t you from the Hidden Sand Village? Why are you dressed like that?"

"Sigh, it’s a long story!"

Hattori shook his head helplessly, spreading his hands.

"In short, I’m here as an official from the Land of Wind Daimyo Palace, accompanying Lord Hanaki on a goodwill visit to our ally, the Land of Fire. But what about you, Third Hokage? Why are you here?"

He glanced at Hiruzen and the Anbu members behind him, his face showing confusion.

"Aren’t you supposed to be stepping down for Minato Namikaze? Oh… I get it now. You’re here for the transfer of power to Minato, right? It’s long overdue. So, where is he?"

"……"

Seeing Hattori’s look of sudden realization, Sarutobi Hiruzen stayed silent for a long while before finally replying.

"Minato… is dead."

"..."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 165: Dialogue with Hiruzen Sarutobi*

“Minato Namikaze is dead?”

Upon hearing this news, a trace of doubt flashed in Hattori's eyes.

“The timing doesn’t seem right. Could I have remembered wrong?”

He frowned at the thought, then asked the Third Hokage, “What about Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara? What happened to them?”

“…”

Hiruzen’s face grew somber at the question, and after a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.

“Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara… also died. It was last year, during a battle with the Mist. They died three months after you left the village.”

“I see.”

After hearing this answer, Hattori sighed with a tinge of understanding on his face.

“What a pity!”

“Yes,” Hiruzen nodded. “Both Obito and Rin were good kids.”

At that, he seemed to remember something and suddenly asked Hattori a question.

“Did you kill the Third Mizukage?”

“No!”

Hattori immediately shook his head in response.

“I didn’t kill him. I went to the Hidden Mist Village to sign a peace treaty. Maybe he thought my terms were too harsh, so he took his own life!”

Hiruzen: "→_→"

The Third Mizukage would commit suicide?

As if! This kid just loves to spin tales, not a single honest word. But even if Hattori didn't admit it, Hiruzen had already figured out the truth, so he decided not to press the matter and remained silent.

A moment later, Hattori’s voice reached his ears again.

“That ‘Dattebane’... did she die too?”

“Dattebane?”

Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. “You mean Kushina, right? Yes, she died alongside Minato.”

“I see.”

Hattori’s expression turned wistful upon hearing this.

“So, she died too. She was always going around saying ‘Dattebane, Dattebane,’ and meddling in other people’s business—so annoying!”

“…”

Hiruzen remained silent, watching Hattori as if searching for something in his expression.

But Hattori, having gone through so much, was no longer the naive shinobi who wore his emotions on his face.

Seeing Hiruzen looking his way, Hattori grinned widely.

“Heh heh, without Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, Konoha must be at the end of its rope, right? So, Third Hokage, if the Sand and Leaf villages were to fight again, who would win?”

“Haha… hard to say.”

Hiruzen adjusted the brim of his Hokage hat slightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.

“We’d have to try it to find out. Does the esteemed Flame Salamander want to test my strength and see how I compare to the Third Mizukage?”

“Hm… that sounds like a good idea.”

Hattori nodded and casually pulled out the puppet seal scroll behind him.

“Be careful, Lord Hokage!”

Seeing his move, the two ANBU standing behind Hiruzen immediately leaped in front of him to shield him.

But Hiruzen burst out laughing.

“Hahaha, don’t worry. Hattori and I are old friends, after all. Besides, this is the daimyo’s residence; he won’t make a move on me here!”

“Hehe… don’t be so sure!”

With just those words, Hattori’s remark had the ANBU on high alert again.

At that moment, a sharp voice reached their ears.

“Hattori, look at me—does this outfit suit the master-puppet recognition ceremony?”

Hearing the voice, Hiruzen and the two ANBU looked toward the source of the sound.

In their sight appeared the daimyo of the Land of Fire, dressed in a green-and-white striped robe, accompanied by several officials of the Fire Nation as he approached them.

Seeing this, Hiruzen bowed to him immediately.

“Daimyo!”

“Oh-ho-ho-ho…”

The Fire Daimyo let out an owl-like laugh and waved his fan.

“Well, if it isn’t the Third Hokage! Are you here to witness Hattori’s master-puppet ceremony as well?”

“Master-puppet?”

Hiruzen looked confused, then chuckled and shook his head.

“No, I didn’t know about any puppet ceremony. I was just reminiscing with Hattori about some old friends.”

“Old friends? Oh, so you know Hattori too, Third Hokage!”

The daimyo’s face lit up with realization, nodding.

“Ah, no wonder. These days, anyone of stature wishes to have a loyal master-puppet as a bodyguard—it’s quite the treasure!”

“Hehe… you flatter me, Daimyo.”

Hearing the daimyo’s high praise, Hattori smiled and slowly unrolled the sealing scroll in his hand.

“Enough chit-chat; let’s begin the master-puppet ceremony—Seal, Release!”

With a low shout, ten elegantly designed “Samurai Spirits” puppets appeared before everyone.

After unsealing the puppets, Hattori spun in place and pointed toward the Fire Daimyo with a dramatic flourish.

“Shatter reality, destroy spirit, banish this world! From this day forward, this man is your new master.

“Hesitation leads to defeat, cowardice invites death. Fight for him until the world meets its end!”

At his words, the ten puppets, controlled by his mind, knelt before the daimyo—

“My sword is your sword!”

“I will guide you.”

“Though the enemy is many, I will fell them in a single strike!”

Fire Daimyo: “(Д*)”

Officials: “(Д*)”

Hiruzen Sarutobi: “(Д*)”

Hattori: “(ω`)”

Looking at everyone’s reactions, Hattori felt as if he were back in the Land of Wind, dealing with its foolish aristocrats.

So, fooling them came naturally.

“Daimyo of the Land of Fire, from now on, these ten ‘Resurrected’ puppet guards are yours to command!”

“Ah… excellent!”

The daimyo’s expression shifted as he looked curiously at Hattori. “How do they compare to the Twelve Guardian Ninjas?”

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen grew interested and nodded.

“Indeed, I’d like to know as well. After all, as your bodyguards, even if temporarily, they must be reliable.”

“Hehe, Lord Hokage is absolutely right!”

Hattori nodded in agreement, pointing at the two ANBU beside Hiruzen.

“These two must be strong if they’re your guards. Why don’t they test the strength of the ‘Resurrected’ puppets?”

“Hmm…”

Hiruzen pondered for a moment before nodding at the two masked ANBU.

“Be careful and give it a try.”

“Yes, Lord Hokage!”

The two ANBU responded, drawing short swords as they approached the puppets.

To their surprise, the puppets stood motionless as though lifeless.

Just as everyone looked puzzled, Hattori spoke to the daimyo.

“Lord Daimyo, these ‘Resurrected’ puppets belong to you alone and will follow only your orders.

“If you command them, they are your warriors; if you don’t, they remain mere statues.”

“Oh… so that’s how it is!”

The daimyo nodded in sudden understanding, then waved his fan.

“My ‘Resurrected’ bodyguards, I, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, command you—attack!”

Hattori: “…”

Hiruzen: “…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 166: The Revived*

The Fire Country Daimyo was overly verbose, but the Revived puppets were straightforward.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, ten Revived puppets charged forward, attacking the two Konoha ANBU, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Hattori.

The puppets attacked the two ANBU and Hiruzen Sarutobi under the orders of the Daimyo. However, their attack on Hattori was due to his own command.

Since the Daimyo's "attack" order was an indiscriminate one, if Hattori didn’t also order the puppets to target himself, they would leave him alone, which would look too suspicious.

If the loyalty of the Revived puppets were ever questioned, the noble reputation he had painstakingly built would collapse instantly.

So, he ordered the puppets to attack him too—even sending three against himself! This way, he and Hiruzen Sarutobi each took on three puppets, while the two ANBU handled two puppets each.

Hattori and Hiruzen Sarutobi were fine; both had Kage-level strength, and facing Revived puppets with no higher than B-level strength was manageable.

One of the ANBU members was skilled in swordsmanship and held his own against the two puppets.

However, the other one struggled.

After less than ten exchanges, he was cut on the arm by a puppet, forcing him to resort to ninjutsu.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

With this Fire Style technique, a massive fireball engulfed the two Revived puppets in front of him.

But as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he was shocked to see the two Revived puppets emerge from the flames, charging at him with blades raised!

"Damn!"

He couldn't react in time to dodge.

Just as the puppet was about to decapitate him, his teammate arrived in time to assist.

"Lightning Style: Chidori!"

With a blinding flash of lightning, the puppet's back armor was cut open, revealing a wooden framework inside.

But it had no effect—the puppet’s blade continued to swing down on the ANBU member.

Swish!

The blade stopped just at the ANBU member's neck but did not strike.

This was not due to any mercy from the puppet; it was because Hiruzen Sarutobi intervened.

At that moment, Hiruzen held the puppet's arm firmly, speaking in a low voice, "These are puppets; you can’t measure them by ninja standards!"

"Yes, sir!"

The shaken ANBU quickly responded, raising his sword to block another puppet.

But to his surprise, the puppet suddenly shifted its attack, dodging his block, and came in with an elbow strike!

Bang!

"Argh!"

The puppet’s iron elbow hit him hard, knocking the ANBU to the ground.

Seeing this, Hiruzen's face changed immediately.

"These guys can grow stronger during battle—be careful!"

With that, he kicked away one of the attacking puppets and cast a jutsu toward the one preparing to finish off the ANBU.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

A massive dragon's head emerged from the ground beside him and shot earthen bullets at the Revived puppet.

Bang, bang, bang...

The earth bullets forced the puppet back a few steps, saving the ANBU member.

Still shaken, the ANBU thanked Hiruzen profusely.

"Thank you... Lord Hokage…"

But before he could finish, Hiruzen interrupted sharply.

"It’s not over yet—watch out!"

Turning to look, the ANBU saw the Revived puppet that Hiruzen’s Earth Dragon Bullet had hit charging at him again.

Raising its blade high, the puppet darted forward with unprecedented speed, dodging the Earth Dragon Bullets effortlessly!

"Alpha Strike!"

Recognizing the technique, Hattori’s eyes lit up.

Realizing the danger, Hattori shouted.

"Lord Daimyo of the Fire Country, stop them now!"

"Huh?"

The shocked Fire Country Daimyo snapped out of his daze and quickly called out.

"My Revived guardians, I, the Daimyo of the Fire Country, command you to halt!"

Hattori: “(ω`)”

Come on! Couldn’t you just shout “Stop!”?

Because of the Daimyo's slow command, the Revived puppet performing the Alpha Strike had already closed in on the ANBU, its blade just a hair away from his head.

A mere 0.5 seconds later, and they would have seen a real-life “slicing a melon on the beach”—with a white interior.

As the Revived puppet halted, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in relief, bowing to the Fire Country Daimyo.

"Thank you, Daimyo!"

"No… no need!"

The Daimyo was still shaken but quickly became distressed.

All ten Revived puppets had sustained damage, with two in particularly bad shape.

One had its body partially sliced open by Chidori, and another had its front armor dented from the Earth Dragon Bullet.

For someone as image-conscious as the Daimyo, this was unacceptable!

Seeing the Daimyo’s expression, Hattori guessed his thoughts and smiled.

"Heh, Lord Daimyo, there’s no need to worry. These Revived puppets are not only powerful in battle—they have an equally strong repair ability!"

With that, he tapped on a puppet’s armor.

"The armor is replaceable. Any internal parts without seal markings can be swapped.

And you don’t need anyone’s help. Just provide the materials, and the puppet will repair itself. That’s why it’s called the Revived!"

"Oh, oh… I see!"

The Daimyo’s face brightened, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the Revived puppets.

"So that’s why it’s called Revived—they don’t die and can fix themselves. Impressive!"

His gaze at Hattori grew warmer.

"Hattori, I’d like 100 more of these Revived puppets. I know the price—30 million each. How about I pay 3 billion upfront?"

"Deal!" Hattori grinned, nodding, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi speechless.

"3... 3 billion? (Д*)"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 167: The Deal is Closed*

Money in the ninja world isn’t exactly valuable, but 3 billion is no small sum. To put it in perspective, a basic bowl of Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha Village, without any toppings, costs 60 ryō.

For something fancier, like BBQ at Yakiniku Q, a meal for four usually costs around 1,000 ryō. If Choji, the big eater, joins, the price goes up to about 3,000 ryō.

From this, we can roughly estimate Konoha’s purchasing power at about 10 ryō = 1 yen. This means that Hattori’s deal with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire for 100 Reincarnation Puppets is worth around 3 billion !

That's equivalent to Konoha's two-year budget!

So when Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, heard the Daimyo’s offer, he was immediately on edge.

“Daimyo, please hold on! I think purchasing puppet guards may need further consideration.”

“Hm?”

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was taken aback but then turned to Hiruzen. “Does the Third Hokage have any suggestions?”

“Not at all!” Hiruzen respectfully bowed, then offered his reasoning.

“Daimyo, while these puppets are strong, their overall power is roughly on par with Konoha’s special jonin, though still some ways off from true jonin level.

"So, I propose we assign ten jonin from Konoha to protect you. This would ensure your safety and save a great deal of money. What do you think?”

“Hm... That does make some sense,” the Daimyo mused after a moment of thought.

Hattori: “(Д*)”

Wasn't that a bit spineless?

Seeing his big business about to slip away, Hattori couldn’t keep quiet any longer. He stepped forward immediately.

“With all due respect, Third Hokage, I beg to differ!”

As he spoke, Hattori moved to stand beside the Daimyo and gave him a respectful bow.

“Oh wise Daimyo, after long hours of duty, who is more likely to get tired and sleepy—humans or puppets?”

The Daimyo chuckled at this question.

“Haha, of course, it’s humans. Puppets don’t get tired or sleepy!”

“Daimyo, you are indeed wise!”

Hattori gave him a thumbs-up and continued.

“Now, noble Daimyo, in times of great temptation or danger, who is more likely to hesitate or betray—humans or puppets?”

“Humans, of course!” The Daimyo answered without hesitation. “Puppets are just tools; they don’t waver or betray.”

“Absolutely wise, Daimyo!”

Once again, Hattori praised him and opened his arms.

“So, honorable Daimyo, would you prefer 100 loyal, tireless, and unwavering puppets to stand by your side until the end, perhaps even accompany you to the afterlife?”

“Of course, the puppets!”

Before Hattori could finish, the Daimyo decisively spoke his answer.

Hattori raised another approving thumbs-up.

“Congratulations, wise Daimyo! You’re a quick learner!”

Daimyo: “(つ^ω^)つ”

Sarutobi Hiruzen: “Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”

What kind of people are these?

Watching Hattori’s confident smile, Hiruzen wanted to persuade the Daimyo again, but the Daimyo gave him no chance.

“Third Hokage, no matter why you’ve come, I’ll agree to it. So you may return to Konoha now. Go!”

Sarutobi Hiruzen: “Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”

Is that a dismissal?

Upon hearing the Daimyo’s words, Hiruzen’s face shifted through a range of expressions before he finally gritted his teeth and spoke.

“Daimyo, in fact, the Fourth Hokage has died in battle, and I came to humbly request to once again serve as Hokage.”

“Oh… The Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya’s student, is dead?”

Surprised by the news, the Daimyo covered his mouth with his fan, looking regretful.

“That’s quite unfortunate. But I trust you, Third Hokage, so please resume the role.”

“Thank you for your trust, Daimyo.”

Hiruzen bowed respectfully and continued.

“There’s one more matter. Due to certain unfortunate events, Konoha has suffered considerable damage, so I hope the Daimyo’s office could provide a grant to aid in our rebuilding efforts.”

“Certainly!” The Daimyo nodded again. “How much do you think you’ll need?”

“Around 12 billion ryō,” Hiruzen said, “or equivalent resources would suffice.”

“No problem!” The Daimyo nodded once more. “Tomorrow, I’ll arrange the supplies to support Konoha’s restoration!”

“Thank you, Daimyo!” Hiruzen expressed his gratitude again.

Watching this scene unfold, Hattori couldn’t help but marvel internally.

“The Land of Fire is truly wealthy. Hiruzen requests over 10 billion ryō, and the Daimyo doesn’t even blink. If this were the Land of Wind… sigh!”

Thinking of the Land of Wind, Hattori realized he had a long road ahead.

But one thing was clear: expanding puppet sales to the Land of Fire was a wise decision.

“As long as the Land of Fire’s nobles are as generous as the Daimyo, my puppet business will thrive!”

With that in mind, he addressed the Daimyo.

“Honorable Daimyo, I’ve thought it over, and perhaps the Land of Fire’s nobles would also appreciate the [Resurrector]. Might I open a shop here to sell and rent [Resurrector]?”

“Oh-ho-ho-ho… Little Hattori wants to sell puppets here in the Land of Fire?”

The Daimyo chuckled and nodded.

“Certainly, certainly. You may open your shop…”

“Daimyo, please wait!”

Before the Daimyo could finish, Hiruzen interrupted with a smile toward Hattori.

“Hattori and I are long-time acquaintances. I believe he’d prefer to open his shop in Konoha. That way, even if he returns to the Land of Wind, Konoha can help protect his property!”

Hattori: “→_→”

Protect my assets? Sounds like you just want them for yourself!

More importantly, you’re clearly trying to keep an eye on me by having me in Konoha!

You crafty old fox!

Although Hattori kept his thoughts to himself, he actually wanted a good relationship with Konoha, so he didn’t argue and nodded toward the Daimyo.

“Yes, the Third Hokage is right. I also think it would be safest to set up shop in Konoha. Let’s go with that!”

He turned to Hiruzen with a smile.

“Then… I’ll be counting on the Third Hokage’s guidance!”

“Mr. Hattori, you’re too kind.”

Hiruzen beamed.

“It is Konoha that should count on your support!”

“Haha, that’s no problem. The Hokage is truly gracious!”

“Aren’t you the same, Mr. Hattori? Hahaha…”

The two exchanged a warm smile like old friends reuniting, making for a cozy, harmonious scene.

But witnessing this, the two Konoha ANBU agents nearby couldn’t help breaking into a cold sweat—

These two are too devious. Better be cautious around them in the future!

*Chapter 168: Kakashi*

After reaching an agreement, Hattori unsealed the scroll once again, releasing a hundred Reviver puppet bodyguards. He then performed another over-the-top ritual to declare allegiance to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

When he finished, the Daimyo left, content and accompanied by a large entourage of puppets. Hattori, meanwhile, followed Hiruzen Sarutobi to Konoha.

As for Hanaki, he stayed behind at the Daimyo's mansion, ready to begin mingling with the nobles of the Land of Fire—a boring life in Hattori’s opinion, but just another part of life for Hanaki.

But Hattori had more pressing concerns.

As he left the Daimyo’s mansion with Hiruzen Sarutobi, his attention fell on a certain ANBU member with white hair and a fox mask.

"Hey, just now, did you use the Chidori?" Hattori asked.

“...”

The ANBU didn’t respond or even move, acting as if he hadn’t heard Hattori at all.

Hattori raised an eyebrow at the silent treatment. "Are you Hatake Kakashi? The son of White Fang of Konoha?"

"...."

The ANBU remained silent, apparently hoping that ignoring Hattori would make him lose interest.

But Hattori’s next words got under his skin.

"I heard you were romantically involved with Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin was your rival in love, so you killed her?"

"(╬￣皿￣)"

The ANBU's body stiffened at those words, and his hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his short sword, clearly provoked.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped in with a resigned expression.

"Enough, Kakashi. He’s just teasing; he doesn’t mean any harm. He's just… curious about you."

"Understood!"

At Sarutobi’s words, Kakashi let go of his sword and continued forward without sparing Hattori a second glance.

"Well, isn’t he the frosty one!” Hattori shrugged, turning to Hiruzen Sarutobi with an exaggerated sigh. “I feel unwelcome already. Maybe I should go back to the Daimyo's place and set up shop instead of going to Konoha."

He stopped as if to turn back, but Sarutobi only looked more exasperated.

"Kakashi is always like this… He's not like Obito. Don't torment him."

"How am I tormenting him? He’s the one giving me the silent treatment, and he tried to slice me just now!”

Sarutobi: “…”

He wanted to argue, but he could only force a smile to keep Hattori from causing any more trouble.

"What would it take for you to forgive him, Lord Hattori?"

"Well… let me think…” Hattori thought for a moment, then clapped his hands dramatically. “To be honest, I’m exhausted. My arms and legs can’t handle all this walking.”

Sarutobi’s eye twitched as he recalled Hattori had once led the Sand Shinobi across half of the Land of Fire to attack Konoha.

"Alright, Kakashi, carry him."

“Yes.”

As emotionlessly as a machine, Kakashi nodded and lifted a grinning Hattori onto his back, resuming the journey.

Hattori stayed quiet for a short while, but it didn’t last long.

Before ten minutes had passed, Hattori reached out, ruffling the spiky white hair in front of him.

"Wow, surprisingly soft! Kakashi, what shampoo do you use?"

Kakashi: “...”

Oh, he was tempted to snap.

Reading the mood, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again, urging, "Let's pick up the pace, everyone."

Kakashi took the hint and started running faster, hoping to get this ordeal over with.

But as he sped up, he felt a tug on his hair. Furious, he snapped, “(╬￣皿￣) What do you think you’re doing?”

“You’re running too fast. I need something to hold on to, or I’ll fall off!” Hattori replied matter-of-factly. “If you don’t want me holding your hair, I could tie a rope around your neck instead!”

Kakashi: “(╬￣皿￣)”

A leash? What am I, a dog?

Suppressing his irritation, Kakashi wordlessly sped up, determined to return to the village and escape Hattori as soon as possible.

Hattori nodded approvingly. “Not bad, but you’re still far behind your teacher Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique!”

Kakashi ignored the comment, which made Hattori lose a bit of interest.

Reflecting, Hattori thought, “This Kakashi is very different from the one who later teaches Naruto. He’s still haunted by the loss of his comrades and his teacher.”

Feeling sympathy for the young ANBU, Hattori started singing an old song that the Tailed Beasts loved, Endless Sorrow:

“Just like that, we part, never to look back.

Only as I leave, I know how deep the bond was,

So many memories remain in my heart.

Ah… mountains endure, rivers flow…

And the autumn wind follows me, unable to blow away this sorrow…”

“...”

Kakashi’s face changed slightly. When the song ended, he spoke up.

“Have you… lost someone important too?”

“Haha… maybe.” Hattori chuckled, looking off into the distance.

“You could say I lost them. Or maybe I haven’t. She can’t answer me anymore, but I know she’s still here.”

He placed a hand over his heart, a soft smile on his face.

"She’s right here."

“…”

Kakashi’s expression changed subtly behind his mask.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 169: King of Scapegoats in Konoha

To protect the daimyo's palace, villages are always situated near the country's capital—this holds for both the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. Thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi and his team's swift journey, by afternoon, Hattori returned to Konoha with them.

Upon returning to the village, Kakashi and another Anbu member left, while Hattori followed Hiruzen to the Hokage's office to discuss his plans to open a shop.

To their surprise, someone was already in the office when they entered. It was a man with a bandage wrapped around his head, even covering one eye, seated comfortably in Hiruzen's chair, looking quite pleased.

Seeing this, Hiruzen's face darkened, and he said, “I wasn’t planning on giving that chair up just yet!”

Hearing Hiruzen’s voice, the man in the chair looked up in shock. Hiruzen pulled his Hokage hat down slightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.

“Surprised I’m still alive?” he asked.

“N-no…,” stammered the man, standing up quickly. “I only heard you went to the daimyo’s palace this morning.”

“Someone tipped me off about an ambush along the way.”

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the man’s nervous demeanor. “Of course, it will be easy to track down the traitor, and when I do, the penalty will be… severe.”

At this, the man’s face went pale, and sweat began to bead on his cheeks.

“But,” Hiruzen continued, “I don’t want any more unnecessary sacrifice. Should we encounter this person, I would tell him… Konoha will not pursue this incident further. In return, I would hope that, for the sake of the village, he might serve it wholeheartedly in the future.”

The man hesitated a moment before responding, “You’re as committed to peace as ever. That naivety may burn you someday, Hiruzen.”

“Perhaps,” Hiruzen replied nonchalantly, turning his back on the man.

The man turned to leave but paused at the door, looking back at Hiruzen. “You’re always the light, and I am the shadow.”

“Where there is light, there must also be darkness,” Hiruzen replied.

The man gave a dark chuckle, then exited, casting a long, hard look at Hattori as he did.

Hattori smiled and bowed slightly. “A pleasure to meet you, King of Scapegoats in Konoha.”

The man scowled, clearly puzzled, but said nothing as he left, closing the door behind him.

Hiruzen sighed and apologized to Hattori. “I’m sorry you had to witness that… Every village has its unsavory secrets.”

Hattori chuckled. “I didn’t expect you’d remember my earlier, immature remarks.”

“No, I think they’re quite true,” Hiruzen replied, looking back at Hattori. “By the way, why did you call him the ‘King of Scapegoats in Konoha’?”

“Oh, just what it sounds like.” Hattori shrugged. “He’s the so-called ‘Darkness of Ninja World,’ right? That means he’s held accountable for every disaster in Konoha, big or small…”

Hattori snapped his fingers. “Basically, whenever there’s trouble, blame him! Every mishap and mistake can be pinned on him. He’s practically Konoha’s official scapegoat—Danzo Shimura,King of Scapegoats!”

“Pfft…cough, cough…” Hiruzen, who was smoking, choked, erupting in a fit of coughing.

At that moment, there was a thud outside the door.

“Hm?” Hattori opened the door to see who was outside but found no one. When he closed his eyes and activated his Sensory Perception, he saw Danzo stumbling away.

Deactivating his perception, he turned to Hiruzen. “Looks like our scapegoat king was eavesdropping!”

Hiruzen laughed heartily. “You’ve probably made an enemy of Danzo now, but rest assured, he’ll be more likely to recruit you than retaliate once he investigates your background.”

“Yeah, I figured,” Hattori chuckled. “And if I make it clear I’d support him as the Sixth Hokage, we might even become friends. What do you think?”

“I think it’s possible,” Hiruzen replied with a smile. “But isn’t a friendship with the current Hokage a safer investment?”

“We’ll see. Time will tell,” Hattori replied with a grin.

After their lighthearted banter, Hattori and Hiruzen moved on to serious matters. Konoha was undergoing reconstruction after the Nine-Tails incident, so Hiruzen suggested that Hattori’s puppet shop could be built in the south district, which needed a complete overhaul.

In exchange, Hattori offered to cover fifty million ryō for the reconstruction, while Konoha would provide materials and labor.

Hattori agreed right away, even proposing a more ambitious deal.

“I’ll put in one billion ryō to rebuild the entire south district,” he said, “in exchange for 80% of the district’s shop revenue for the next sixty years.”

“Eighty percent is too high,” Hiruzen countered after some thought. “I can offer you 40% for thirty years at most.”

Hattori gasped. “Come on, Lord Hokage! One billion for one small street, and you still want to cut my share? You have no shame!”

Hiruzen: (╬￣皿￣)

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 170: Acquiring What’s Needed*

To compete over the interests of the southern district, Hattori and Hiruzen Sarutobi engaged in a fierce verbal battle in the Hokage’s office.

Hiruzen, as the Third Hokage, kept his composure for the sake of appearances, but Hattori had no such concerns.

Hattori’s shouting and slamming of tables and chairs filled the office with tension, as though he and Hiruzen might engage in a real-life showdown at any moment.

Outside, the Anbu guards were on edge. Should they go in to protect the Hokage? But Hiruzen hadn’t called for help. Yet if they stayed outside, it might be seen as negligence.

Just as they were hesitating, the office door suddenly opened, and Hiruzen and Hattori walked out smiling.

"Hattori, I look forward to working with you in the future!"

"Ah, Lord Hokage, you’re too kind. It’s my honor to cooperate with you—please guide me in the future!”

“Haha… Sir Hattori, such a talented young man!”

“Hokage-sama, you flatter me. I truly admire your wisdom and experience.”

“Oh really? Hahaha…”

Seeing them so friendly, the Anbu outside were bewildered, as if the earlier intense argument was merely an illusion.

However, what the Anbu thought didn’t concern Hiruzen or Hattori, because both had achieved their objectives.

Hattori had secured 60% ownership of the Konoha South Street district for the next sixty years. In return, Hiruzen received 1.5 billion ryo in development funds, plus a 10% sales tax from Hattori’s future puppet sales in Konoha.

Both were satisfied with the outcome.

Originally, they’d planned to celebrate with a meal at the BBQ restaurant, but a disagreement over who would pay led them instead to Ichiraku Ramen, where the owner, Teuchi, offered the meal for free.

This solidified their mutual understanding and laid a strong foundation for future cooperation.

After finishing the ramen, Hiruzen returned to handle Konoha’s many affairs, while Hattori decided to take a stroll around the village.

During his walk, he “happened” to encounter Danzo and an old acquaintance, Orochimaru, who looked pale.

“Oh my, if it isn’t my old friend from base of Kikyo Mountain—Uncle Snake! And… mighty Lord of Pots. Have you both eaten?”

“Hehehe…”

Orochimaru’s raspy laugh filled the air, and he looked toward Danzo.

“Lord Danzo, it seems you two know each other as well. But what does ‘Lord of Pots’ mean?”

“(╬￣皿￣) I don’t know!” Danzo gritted his teeth, then turned to Hattori.

“I heard from Orochimaru that you can see people’s fates. Just as you said, Minato Namikaze became Hokage and died protecting Konoha. So, tell me, what is my fate?”

“You will become Hokage!”

Hattori’s words made Danzo beam with joy, his gaze softening.

“Really? I’ve thought the same. Now tell me, will I die like Minato, protecting Konoha?”

“Certainly not!”

Hattori waved his hand.

“Your death will be even more glorious. You’ll die after using Reverse Four Symbols Sealing to seal half a bridge, a record in the ninja world!”

Danzo: “╭(°A°`)╮”

Why on earth would I end up fighting a bridge? Danzo’s expression froze, while Orochimaru laughed again.

“Hehehe… no need to mind him, Lord Danzo. This young man likes to speak nonsense. Isn’t it more worth noting what he discussed with Lord Hiruzen?”

“Indeed,” Danzo nodded, then looked at Hattori.

“Although I could ask the Third, it would be better to hear it from you directly, wouldn’t you agree, Sir Hattori, the ‘Flame Salamander’?”

Hearing Danzo mention his title, Hattori laughed, waving his hand.

“Oh, that’s just a nickname, Lord Danzo. No need to mind it.

Right now, I’m just a puppet merchant doing business in Konoha, so I’ll be counting on you and Lord Orochimaru’s support, won’t I?”

“Hehehe… we’ll see about that.”

Orochimaru chuckled, then respectfully nodded to Danzo.

“I’ll take my leave, Lord Danzo.”

With a lingering smile at Hattori, Orochimaru turned and left.

After he was gone, Danzo spoke to Hattori again.

“I need ten of your Reincarnation Puppets. The payment will come from your deal with Hiruzen. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course!”

Pleased to make another sale, Hattori handed Danzo a sealing scroll.

“There are twenty Reincarnation Puppets in here. The extras are a gift for you, Lord Danzo. I only ask that my business in the southern district runs smoothly. I really hate trouble.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Danzo replied as he took the scroll, his lips curling into a smile.

“The security of Konoha is handled by the Uchiha clan; there won’t be any problems or trouble, I assure you!”

With that, Danzo slipped the scroll into his robe and left, satisfied.

For Danzo, the real goal was simply to gauge Hattori’s attitude, and now that he’d done that, he was content.

Hattori, meanwhile, had made a big sale and gained some trust from Danzo, which was a win.

Suddenly, he felt something. Looking up at the sky, he narrowed his eyes.

He extended his right hand and raised his middle finger toward the sky, his expression one of disdain.

“Eat shit… hmph… ptoo!”

…

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been watching with his crystal ball, saw Hattori flipping him off and spitting, causing his lips to twitch.

“That little punk—his sensory skills are even better than Kushina’s. He must be an Uzumaki descendant for sure!”

Thinking this, he released the telescope technique and furrowed his brows.

“I wonder if he knows about Naruto. Better be cautious just in case.”

He then summoned an Anbu guard from outside and gave his orders.

“Inform the sealing team to move the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to the village’s eastern border. This must be done secretly. Without my orders, no one is allowed to approach the Jinchuriki!”

“Yes, sir!”

(End of Chapter)