101-110

*Chapter 101: Chiyo's Surprise (Part 1)*

As Hattori found himself with his ear firmly pinched by Chiyo, his mind wandered to scenes from police dramas, recalling the classic moment:

A criminal, cornered by the police, stubbornly resists and refuses to confess. But, once his psychological defenses are broken, he spills everything like beans from a bamboo tube, hoping for a lenient sentence.

In this moment, Hattori felt just like that criminal, desperate for leniency.

"Officer… no, Teacher! I’ll tell you everything. Just ease up on my ear, will you? It’s innocent in all this!”

Chiyo: “…”

This little rascal!

Seeing his shameless, unrepentant grin, Chiyo sighed and let go of his ear, giving him a stern look.

“You act so carelessly day after day. Who knows what goes on in that head of yours? Out with it. What else are you hiding from me?”

“Oh, nothing much, just… uh, well, two things!”

“….”

Seeing Hattori nervously holding up two fingers, Chiyo was both amused and annoyed, shooting him another glare.

“Well, spit it out already.”

“Oh!”

Hattori nodded, then reached into his sealed scroll and pulled out a Mist Puppet.

“First of all, after seeing your Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu last time, I experimented with sealing chakra into a puppet. The results were pretty decent—now I can use puppets to perform ninjutsu.”

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, and noticing the sky-blue seal marked “封” on the puppet, Chiyo's face showed surprise.

“This is… a sealing puppet?”

To confirm, she took the puppet from Hattori's hands and began to operate it directly.

Watching her take his puppet so readily, a warm feeling welled up in Hattori’s heart.

Puppets were weapons to a puppeteer, so taking one directly was like grabbing a blade bare-handed—a sign of absolute trust!

“It seems I was right to trust her; Chiyo is truly a teacher worth my confidence.”

Thinking this, Hattori’s smile grew warmer.

But, of course, Chiyo had no idea what was running through his head.

Her full attention was focused on the Mist Puppet in front of her.

“Yes, it's not as refined as the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, but it’s indeed a sealing puppet. If I'm correct, this sealed ninjutsu must be a Water Style technique.”

She turned to Hattori.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah!” Hattori nodded, not hiding anything. “It’s the Mist Concealment Jutsu from Water Style!”

“Aha, the Mist Concealment Jutsu!”

Realization dawned on Chiyo, and she nodded.

“Let me try it!”

With a quick motion of her left hand, she sent the Mist Puppet forward, forming a “rat” sign with her right hand.

“Water Style: Mist Concealment Jutsu!”

As she spoke, the puppet she controlled opened its mouth, releasing a thick fog that filled the entire tent.

Seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Hattori’s eyes.

“She can use the Mist Puppet too?”

However, his surprise only lasted a moment before he relaxed, realizing that Chiyo was able to convert her chakra into a water attribute through the puppet, then cast the Mist Concealment Jutsu.

In her hands, the Mist Puppet’s range and effectiveness were directly tied to her hand signs, chakra input, and technique.

But Hattori had no such limitations.

With just 100 MP, he could deploy a dense mist covering an area of one hundred meters, rendering visibility so poor that people and animals couldn’t tell friend from foe.

“So, mastering core technology is the real key!”

Thinking this, he pulled out a small mirror and gave his reflection a satisfied smile.

“Yes, you’re indeed a genius. Respect!”

As he spoke, Chiyo dispelled the Mist Concealment Jutsu, looking at the Mist Puppet with admiration.

“I thought only Monzaemon could craft sealing puppets, but you managed it too!”

She turned back to Hattori, her eyes full of praise.

“Kikyo, you’re indeed a talented puppeteer. How did you do it?”

"Uh... well…”

Of course, Hattori wasn’t about to reveal that he got his materials from defeating monsters. Instead, he offered a plausible excuse.

“It’s simple. You just prepare the puppet, then seal chakra from the battlefield into it before it dissipates.”

“Sealing chakra into a puppet’s body, huh?”

Hearing this, Chiyo seemed deep in thought, nodding.

“Yes, this aligns with my own ideas, but capturing and sealing chakra fully is no easy task—too much room for failure.”

She then looked back at Hattori. “So, how many of these puppets have you made?”

“Two… just two!”

Considering Chiyo had just mentioned the low success rate, he couldn’t say he’d made twenty. But claiming only one didn’t leave much room for future explanations, so he slightly hedged.

Even so, Chiyo was still stunned to hear he’d managed to make two sealing puppets.

“Two? Monzaemon only ever created his Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, yet you’ve already made two? You’ll surely surpass him someday!”

“Uh… Can I say I’ve actually already surpassed him?”

Hattori muttered honestly, earning a disbelieving glare from Chiyo.

“Stop with the nonsense! Now, since you have two sealing puppets, leave this one with me for a bit. I’ll add a few mechanisms—no sense wasting such a valuable puppet!”

Hattori: “(ω`)”

You're the boss; whatever you say goes!

Seeing his obedient look, Chiyo smiled again.

“Apart from improving this puppet, I plan to make you a defensive puppet to ensure your safety. Any special requests?”

“Hmm, nothing specific, really.”

Scratching his head, Hattori grinned sheepishly.

“As long as it’s waterproof, fireproof, shockproof, explosion-proof, and beast-proof, I’m good. Oh, and if you could make it a bit more stylish, that’d be great for my peace of mind. Those are my only requests.

“Of course, if you have any ideas, feel free to add them. What do you think, Teacher?”

“Get out!”

“…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 102: Chiyo's Astonishment (Part 2)*

Chiyo's firm stance left Hattori with no choice but to lower his expectations for the defensive puppet, stating that as long as it didn’t look too ugly, he’d accept it.

This response, of course, earned him another scolding from Chiyo.

However, since he had managed to create a sealing puppet, Chiyo restrained herself and only scolded him briefly before stopping. She then asked about the second thing he had kept hidden.

Given his accomplishment with the sealing puppet, Chiyo no longer dared to underestimate Hattori.

Her instincts told her that this second hidden matter would be another shocking revelation. So, she did her best to calm herself, preparing to avoid an overly surprised reaction that might compromise her dignity as a teacher.

Once she was mentally prepared, Hattori finally spoke.

"Teacher, the second thing I kept from you... I’ve already been to Shikkotsu Forest!"

“Gasp…”

Hearing this, Chiyo couldn't help but take a deep breath, her face showing utter shock.

Clearly, all her preparations were in vain.

But she couldn’t worry about that now, and immediately pressed him for details.

“You mean Shikkotsu Forest, the place that’s as famous as Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave? One of the Three Great Sage Regions?”

“Yes!”

Seeing Chiyo's shock, Hattori smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that Shikkotsu Forest—and I even met the Great Slug Sage!”

“Gasp…”

With Hattori’s confirmation and learning that he had met the Great Slug Sage, Chiyo inhaled sharply again, her face filled with disbelief.

“Then… does that mean… you can also summon slugs?”

Her voice was trembling with excitement.

Seeing her reaction, Hattori grinned and nodded again.

“That’s right. I can summon slugs, and the one I summon is larger and stronger than the one Tsunade summons!”

With that, he bit his finger and performed the Summoning Technique right before Chiyo.

“Summoning Technique—come forth, Katsuyu!”

Boom!

As his words fell, a powerful sound echoed.

In the swirling white smoke, a massive slug appeared within Chiyo’s tent.

To save MP, Hattori used only 100 points this time, summoning just one percent of the Great Slug Sage’s division.

Despite that, the nearly five-meter-tall slug blew Chiyo’s tent wide open, sending various items scattering.

However, Chiyo wasn’t at all concerned with these minor details; her attention was entirely on the enormous summoned slug before her.

“It’s… it’s really Tsunade’s slug. But how is this possible?”

Seeing her disbelief, Hattori laughed and then sat cross-legged on the slug’s head, gently patting it.

“Katsuyu, tell my teacher, didn’t I sign a summoning contract with you?”

“Yes, Master Hattori!”

The giant slug Katsuyu replied, bowing her head toward Chiyo with a soft voice.

“We meet again, Lady Chiyo. But don’t worry; Master Hattori has signed a blood pact with the Great Slug Sage. Without his orders, I would never attack you!”

“Uh…”

Hearing Katsuyu words, Chiyo widened her eyes again. Then, as if something dawned on her, she quickly asked Katsuyu, “Since you’re here, where is Tsunade? Where is she now?”

“I don’t know where Lady Tsunade is!” Katsuyu shook her head, a note of sadness in her gentle tone.

“Ever since Lord Dan passed away, Lady Tsunade has not summoned me in a long time, so I’m unaware of her current whereabouts.”

“Oh, I see!”

Hearing Katsuyu’s response, Chiyo finally relaxed a bit.

But seeing her reaction made Hattori feel a little dissatisfied, so he pouted.

“Teacher, you still don’t believe me, do you? I told you I contracted the slug on my own. Do you really think I have some connection to Tsunade?”

“Nonsense!”

The moment Hattori finished speaking, Chiyo couldn’t help but snap at him.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Do you know who Tsunade is? Even if you wanted a connection with her, she wouldn’t give you the time of day! Now, get down here—you want me to strain my neck to look up at you?”

“Uh…”

Realizing his mistake, Hattori quickly jumped down from the slug’s head and obediently stood before Chiyo.

“Hehe, Teacher, you’re kidding, right? I wouldn’t dare make you look up at me. If anything, I’m the one who should look up to you, right? Hehe!”

“Pfft…”

Seeing his expression, Chiyo couldn’t hold back her laughter, reaching out to tweak his ear again.

“You’re something, aren’t you? Not only did you give me a scare, but you caused such a commotion. Look around—how many people are watching you?”

“Uh…”

Hearing this, Hattori turned and saw that, at some point, the Sand ninja and medical ninjas in the camp had all gathered around.

They stood there, staring in shock at him and the massive summoned slug beside him.

Realizing this, Hattori was stunned, then angrily shouted at them.

“What are you staring at? It’s the middle of the night! Don’t you all have work tomorrow? Go back to sleep!”

Hearing Hattori’s righteous scolding and seeing Chiyo tugging his ear, the onlookers couldn’t help but react with peculiar expressions.

Soon, strange sounds reached Hattori’s ears.

“Snicker…”

“Pfft…”

“Ahem…”

Hattori: “(╬￣皿￣)”

Who dared to laugh?

“Who was laughing? Step forward!”

Feeling his dignity compromised, Hattori erupted.

“You guys are seriously undisciplined! Don’t you have anything better to do—ow, Teacher, I’m giving a lecture here. Don’t pull my ear—it damages my image as a elder in the Sand Village!”

“Image? What elder image? Stop babbling nonsense and come with me!”

Chiyo showed him no mercy, dragging him away by his ear.

Seeing this, the Sand ninja dropped all pretenses, bursting into laughter.

“Hahaha…”

“Hehehe…”

“Ha-ha-ha…”

Hearing the laughter behind him, Hattori, led by Chiyo, widened his eyes in anger and shouted at the slug behind him.

“Damn it! You people are so disrespectful to a senior Sand Village official like me! Katsuyu, take a good look at who’s laughing—I’ll make sure they pay for it later!

“Ow, Teacher, don’t twist—I was wrong… ow, my ear… it’s going to come off… YAMETE…”

“…”

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 103: Rushing to the Battlefield*

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Hattori’s voice betrayed a hint of bluff and embarrassment, making everyone laugh even harder.

This is commonly known as the reverse effect.

Unbeknownst to the others, once Chiyo dragged Hattori out of sight, he immediately stopped shouting, and his expression became calm.

"Alright, teacher, you can let go now. They can't see us anymore!"

"Hm?"

Hearing Hattori's words and seeing his composed expression, a flash of surprise crossed Chiyo's face.

"Did you do that on purpose just now?"

"Isn’t that obvious?" Hattori said, spreading his hands.

"Slug is Tsunade's summoning beast—everyone knows that. Now that I've summoned it, even with your endorsement as my teacher, it’s not enough to completely erase their doubts."

"Oh!" Chiyo's face lit up with understanding. "So that’s why you were acting foolish earlier!"

Hattori: "..."

What kind of description is that?

Normally, he would argue with Chiyo about such a term, but not now. He just waved dismissively at her.

"That's not important. What matters is that I can contribute on the battlefield. I may not be able to change the final outcome, but I can at least help keep as many ninja alive as possible!"

Chiyo fell silent upon hearing this, her brow furrowing as she contemplated.

After a while, she sighed and nodded.

"Alright, at this point, we have no other choice. Having a strong summoning beast like the Slug with you will indeed make you safer on the battlefield."

"So, you’re allowing me to go?" Hattori asked for confirmation.

"Yes," Chiyo nodded, then patted his shoulder with a smile.

"If you want to become one of Sunagakure's leaders, you need merits to your name. Just be careful, don’t overextend, and take Pakura with you."

"Understood!"

With that, Hattori did something that took Chiyo by surprise.

He opened his arms and gave her a big hug, whispering in her ear, "Don’t worry, teacher, I’ll come back alive!"

Hearing this, Chiyo felt something tug at her heartstrings, making her shiver slightly and bringing a misty sheen to her eyes.

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but by the time Hattori let go and turned to leave, she remained silent.

As his figure disappeared into the night, she whispered in a hoarse voice.

"Be careful out there..."

---

Of course, Hattori didn’t hear Chiyo's words. By now, he had returned to the camp and summoned the giant-winged dragonfly.

However, he didn’t cancel the summoning of the Slug; he left it in the camp and gave it instructions.

"Katsuyu, this clone of yours will stay here. If anything urgent happens, notify me immediately!"

As a clone, the Slug could share vision, transmit chakra, and relay information. Tsunade had often used this technique, so Shengyu was quite familiar with it.

After hearing Hattori’s instructions, it nodded.

"Understood, Master Hattori. Please take this part of me along so I can notify you instantly if needed."

The Slug then split off a palm-sized clone, placing it in front of Hattori.

Seeing this, Hattori smiled and nodded.

"Thanks for your help."

He picked up the tiny Slug and placed it on his shoulder, then turned to Pakura with a smile.

"Alright, Sister Pakura, it’s time for us to go!"

"Mm!"

Pakura nodded and joined Hattori on the giant-winged dragonfly. Under the watchful eyes of hundreds from the medical camp, they soared into the sky.

The dragonfly’s wings beat rapidly, and soon they vanished into the night sky.

The echoes of voices lingered in the camp.

"Lord Hattori, travel safely!"

"Come back safe with Lady Pakura!"

"We’ll be waiting for you to return and make our lives harder…”

Hattori stood on the dragonfly’s back, watching the firelight of the camp gradually dim and disappear in the distance. A slight smile curved his lips.

"What a bunch of troublesome people. So weak, yet so full of chatter!"

"Yes, indeed," Pakura replied, laughing as she nodded.

"But that’s why we have to protect them. By the way, why does the Slug call you Hattori? Is that your name? Can I call you Hattori?"

"Of course!" Hattori answered immediately.

"Hattori is my name. You can call me that, just like I can call you Sister Pakura, or even wife."

"Stop it... Who’s your wife? Don’t say that!"

Pakura burst into laughter and playfully poked his forehead.

"You cheeky kid. Don’t forget, I’m over ten years older than you. You want to marry me? By the time you’re grown up, I’ll be old!"

"Not at all!" Hattori chuckled again.

"You may be older now, but in ten years we’ll be the same age. Isn’t that perfect? Will you marry me then?"

"But I like men older than me."

"Then I’ll try harder?"

"Hahaha…"

The two laughed and joked as they flew, the mood light as if they were simply out on an adventure.

But both Hattori and Pakura knew the truth: they weren’t out for fun. They were heading to the battlefield, risking their lives.

With the giant-winged dragonfly's swift flight, they soon crossed the border of the Land of Rivers and entered the Land of Fire.

The distant silhouette of Kikyo Mountain was in sight, its fiery glow and the sounds of explosions growing ever clearer.

Hattori’s expression turned serious.

"That’s it. That’s Kikyo Mountain."

He pointed at it, then looked at Pakura.

"Old Man Ebizo told me he planned to have the decisive battle with Konoha there in a month."

"A month?" Pakura asked, puzzled as she glanced at the distant mountain, already ablaze with fire and echoing with explosions.

"Then why does it seem like the battle has already started? Did something unexpected happen?"

"Nothing unexpected."

Hattori shook his head, a touch of helplessness mixed with the seriousness on his face.

"As I expected, Konoha sees Sunagakure as its top priority. They’re concentrating all their might to defeat us as quickly as possible. Sunagakure is in big trouble."

"..."

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 104: Mutual Probing*

Hattori wasn’t wrong—Sunagakure was indeed in big trouble.

No one felt this more deeply than Ebizō.

When he led his troops into the Land of Fire, he had anticipated that Konoha would come at them with full force. What he hadn’t expected was how fast they would move.

Had he not retreated quickly, he would have been trapped in the heart of the Land of Fire like a turtle in a jar!

To escape Konoha’s pursuit, he pushed the Sand Ninja through sleepless nights of marching at full speed, barely making it back to Kikyo Mountain.

He knew well that if they faced Konoha’s main forces head-on now, they’d be finished. But if he could hold them off for even one more day, their chances of victory would slightly improve.

To this end, he was prepared for anything, even scenarios involving Konoha setting fires, cutting off water supplies, or poisoning them.

But what he didn’t expect was that just as he was ready to play a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with Konoha, a Tailed Beast Bomb came crashing down on him.

Luckily, Rasa reacted quickly and defended them with his gold sand. If not, even the shockwave from the Tailed Beast Bomb would have wiped out Sunagakure’s command center!

Even though they survived by a stroke of luck, Ebizō didn’t feel a hint of relief. He knew the game of hide-and-seek was over.

That single Tailed Beast Bomb was not just a powerful attack; it was also an unmistakable “signal flare.”

In the dark of night, the booming explosion and searing flames of the Tailed Beast Bomb clearly signaled Sunagakure’s position to Konoha.

Now, what awaited them was an encounter with Konoha’s main force!

“If we can’t hide, we’ll have to fight,” Ebizō thought.

Having survived two Shinobi World Wars, he wasn’t one to hesitate. He immediately ordered the Sunagakure ninja units to defensive positions to brace for Konoha’s assault.

The terrain of Kikyo Mountain was perfect for puppet users to blend in, allowing them to leverage the full strength of their puppet corps.

Leading the charge, naturally, was Sunagakure’s puppet unit, masters of poison and deception. Positioned behind them was the Wind Release unit.

This arrangement served dual purposes: the puppet unit’s poison clouds could be blown into Konoha’s ranks when they attacked, and the Wind Release unit could counter Konoha’s Fire Release techniques.

Ebizō’s preparations were spot-on.

In the middle of the night, when Hiruzen Sarutobi led the Sarutobi clan in an assault, they indeed used Fire Release techniques.

The dark forest provided ample cover, and Fire Release not only allowed them to destroy traps but also lit the path for their advance.

The downside? It exposed their position.

Sunagakure seized the opportunity. Almost as soon as Konoha’s Fire Release unit attacked, Sunagakure responded.

Hundreds of wind blades slashed toward Konoha’s forces, while the puppet unit unleashed poison gas. The toxic wind surged forward like a vicious dragon, aimed straight at Konoha’s troops.

But Konoha was no stranger to Sunagakure’s tactics. At Hiruzen Sarutobi’s command, the Sarutobi clan’s Fire Release unit withdrew immediately. Injured fighters received treatment, and those poisoned were given antidotes—all in an orderly fashion.

With the Sarutobi clan pulling back, Konoha’s offensive didn’t cease. Hiruzen ordered the Inuzuka clan’s ninja beast unit to take the lead.

The Inuzuka clan’s hallmark was their agility; their speed was unmatched.

Most importantly, these ninja beasts had night vision!

Everyone in the Inuzuka clan was equipped with sharp “dog eyes” and an acute sense of smell, giving them exceptional tracking and countering abilities, especially in low light.

Their offensive power was formidable, and as they moved in, Sunagakure’s puppet unit suffered immediate losses.

No matter how well the puppet users hid, they were quickly found. Fighting against both an Inuzuka and their dog was a daunting task for any puppeteer.

Most puppeteers weren’t adept at taijutsu, and once the Inuzuka clan closed the distance, they were defeated swiftly.

The silver lining was that training ninja dogs was no simple task, and the Inuzuka clan didn’t have large numbers. This gave Sunagakure a chance to regroup.

Taking advantage of this, the puppet unit clustered together, using their numbers to turn the tables and hold off the Inuzuka clan with two-on-one or even three-on-one tactics.

The once-silent night erupted with the sounds of battle. Explosive tags illuminated the sky with bursts of fire. Under the glow of the blood moon, neither side could tell if their opponents’ faces were streaked with blood or sweat.

But both Sunagakure and Konoha knew that, despite the fierce skirmish, this was just a test—a prelude, like the shoving match before a real fight.

They were probing each other’s capabilities, waiting for the moment the real battle would begin.

As the battle raged, something unexpected happened.

A loud roar echoed from above, and suddenly, several flash bombs dropped from the sky, blinding the combatants with their intense light.

Both sides were elite fighters and reacted quickly. Almost instantly, they hit the ground, shielding themselves.

This was the right move. In the forest, staying low was the best defense against aerial assaults—a lesson even wild animals knew.

True to their instincts, there was no immediate follow-up attack after they dropped to the ground.

But when their vision returned, they found the entire forest shrouded in a thick fog.

Visibility in the forest was already low at night, and this fog made it even worse, making even the Inuzuka clan pause.

Both sides found the sudden fog suspicious, prompting them to make the same decision—retreat!

Thus, the probing skirmish ended. Up in the sky, Hattori breathed a sigh of relief.

“Made it just in time!”

It turned out that Hattori himself was the mastermind behind the fog.

He and Pakura had flown in on a giant winged dragonfly, and hearing the battle below, Hattori knew both sides had already clashed.

As usual, he tossed several flash bombs down.

He had prepared explosive tag puppets for an airstrike on Konoha, but seeing that both sides were entangled, he reluctantly pulled them back to avoid friendly fire. Instead, he deployed a Mist Puppet, releasing the Hidden Mist Jutsu.

Within moments, the entire battlefield within a hundred-meter radius was engulfed in dense fog.

This was to give Sunagakure the chance to retreat. He had worried that someone impulsive might disperse the mist with Wind Release.

Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Both sides chose to pull back, giving Hattori a sense of relief.

“Phew… Now, I just need to find Ebizō and plan how to drag this out with Konoha.”

---

End of Chapter

Chapter 105: Keeping Them Guessing

The strategy against Konoha was clear: delay. That was the consensus Hattori and Ebizo had reached.

After all, their opponent was incredibly strong. A straightforward confrontation was out of the question; their best hope was to wear Konoha down through a prolonged engagement, forcing them into a position where they’d eventually have to yield.

But this strategy was easier said than done. Konoha wasn’t naïve and wouldn’t let the Hidden Sand Village lead them by the nose.

This was also why Hattori wanted an alliance between Sand Village and Konoha.

Since they couldn't defeat Konoha, why not join forces with them? Together, they could take on battles they could win, and Sand Village could recoup the losses it had suffered over the years.

For Hattori, this wasn’t cowardice; it was strength aligning with strength!

Unfortunately, Hattori had no decision-making power in Sand Village at the moment, forcing him onto the toughest path—defeating Konoha!

Or, perhaps, just scraping by with a victory.

"Well, it’s one step at a time now," Hattori sighed as he headed in the direction where the Sand Village puppet troops had recently retreated, planning to catch up with them and have them take him to see Ebizo.

Before he could land, though, a familiar figure standing on gold dust blocked his path.

It was none other than Rasa.

“Rasa?”

Seeing Rasa suddenly blocking his way, Hattori’s face lit up with surprise.

“You’re just in time! I’m here to reinforce you guys, so take me to see old Ebizo!”

“…”

But Rasa didn’t immediately respond to Hattori. He glanced first at Pakura behind him, then at the slug perched on Hattori’s shoulder.

“Who are you?”

“???”

Hattori’s face went blank for a moment before he looked at Rasa with an incredulous expression.

“Oh, Little Rasa, did the Konoha guys hit you so hard that you’ve gone stupid? Did you forget? I’m your long-lost dad!”

Rasa: “(╬￣皿￣)”

Get lost!

Seeing Hattori’s irritating face, Rasa wanted nothing more than to slap him to the ground, then send him off with a Gold Dust Funeral.

After several deep breaths, he finally calmed his anger, shot Hattori a cold glare, and flew off on his gold dust without another word.

Seeing this, Hattori grinned, then patted the giant-winged dragonfly under his feet.

“Good buddy, follow that guy up front! Wherever he flies, you fly. When he lands, you land!”

“Buzz…”

At Hattori’s command, the dragonfly instantly surged ahead, hovering right over Rasa’s head, making Rasa’s face darken even more.

To shake Hattori off as soon as possible, Rasa increased his speed and soon landed in a clearing.

The clearing wasn’t naturally formed; it looked like the result of a massive impact. A faint burnt smell lingered in the air.

Around them lay numerous wounded soldiers, most unable to move, groaning in pain.

Seeing this, Hattori frowned as he landed.

“It looks worse than I thought…”

He de-summoned the dragonfly, sending it back to the spirit world, and approached the wounded to begin treatment.

Given the large number of injured, he used basic healing jutsu to conserve his chakra, only performing advanced regeneration or palm healing for the most critically injured.

Even so, his chakra quickly dwindled like water poured into sand.

But the results were evident: by the time his chakra was nearly depleted, over 200 wounded had been healed or stabilized.

This display instantly raised the morale of the Hidden Sand ninjas.

“Haha, there’s hope for us now!”

“He healed over two hundred people! Even Lady Tsunade from Konoha couldn’t do that!”

“Lord Hattori is incredible…”

Amid the cheers, Hattori wiped the sweat from his forehead and popped a soldier pill into his mouth.

Watching Hattori, the previously stern-faced Rasa couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Although he found Hattori annoying, he had to admit that Hattori’s arrival was timely.

“With his medical ninjutsu, our odds against Konoha have just improved.”

“Indeed.”

Unbeknownst to Rasa, Ebizo had come up behind him, nodding in agreement.

“This kid’s timing is perfect. Alone, he’s as effective as our entire medical team. This will ease our burdens considerably!”

“Master Ebizo!”

Rasa immediately saluted, then said hesitantly, “He has a slug on his shoulder that looks a lot like Tsunade’s…”

“Yes, I noticed that.”

Ebizo nodded with a grin.

“Don’t worry. No village would waste a genius like him as a spy. Besides, he’s originally from Sand Village. I trust him.”

He patted Rasa’s shoulder reassuringly.

“Rasa, both you and the Third Kazekage inherited the Second Kazekage’s Magnet Release. You’re natural-born leaders; remember to think big, okay?”

“Yes, I understand!” Rasa nodded resolutely at Ebizo’s words.

Seeing his response, Ebizo nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Dawn is almost here. Gather the troops and prepare to defend against Konoha’s attack as planned!”

“Yes!”

Rasa acknowledged the order and left.

After he was gone, Ebizo walked over to Hattori, offering him a water pouch.

“Tired? Here, drink some water.”

Hattori took the pouch without hesitation and gulped it down.

“Ahh…” He let out a burp, wiped his mouth, and returned the empty pouch to Ebizo. “Thanks!”

“No problem.”

Ebizo smiled, taking back the empty pouch before asking, “So, why did you come? Did sister send you?”

“Yes.” Hattori nodded. “When we heard the explosion, teacher guessed Konoha had used a tailed beast, so she sent me here.”

“She knew Konoha had deployed a tailed beast and still sent you?”

Ebizo looked at him in surprise but quickly seemed to understand, nodding.

“That makes sense. With your medical skills, you can significantly reduce the casualties caused by a tailed beast.”

“No, that’s only part of the reason.”

Before Ebizo could finish, Hattori shook his head and, with a serious expression, said:

“My main purpose here is to deal with Konoha’s tailed beast!”

“Deal with Konoha’s tailed beast?”

Ebizo was stunned. “How do you plan to do that?”

“Hehe, you’ll see when the time comes!”

Ebizo: "..."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 106: Genius Hattori*

Seeing that Hattori was being cryptic, Ebizo didn’t press for more details.

Or rather, he simply didn’t take Hattori’s words seriously.

After all, in his mind, no matter how much of a genius Hattori was, taking on a tailed beast—especially the fierce and powerful Nine-Tails—was nothing short of fantasy.

Still, though he didn’t believe him, he didn’t show it. Instead, he chuckled and nodded along.

“Hehe, I’ll look forward to it, then. Now, you must be tired after treating so many people. Let me arrange a place for you to rest.”

“Alright, that works.”

Hattori was indeed tired, so he nodded right away, then grabbed Pakura’s hand beside him.

“Sister Pakura, come with me.”

“This…”

Pakura hesitated, and seeing this, Ebizo laughed.

“Hehe, you’re here to protect this kid at my sister’s request, right? So just come along, or he might start holding a grudge against me!”

“Um… yes, Lord Ebizo!”

With Ebizo’s approval, Pakura nodded and followed alongside Hattori.

Soon, the three reached their destination—a dark cave entrance.

Seeing this, Hattori froze. “Uh… what’s this? A wild boar’s den?”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Hearing that, Ebizo couldn’t help but cough and reached over to give Hattori’s head a quick knock.

“What wild boar’s den? Nonsense. I had this dug out to prevent the Leaf Village from using tailed beasts again; it’s a place to hide and rest!”

With that, he led the way into the cave, motioning for Hattori to follow.

“Come on down. I had Rasa reinforce it, so it’s safe.”

“Tsk…”

Hearing Ebizo’s reassurance, Hattori sighed and, with Pakura, followed him into the cave.

Perhaps because it was a temporary excavation, the tunnel wasn’t very deep, sloping downward for a few steps before they reached the end.

At the end of the passage was a small, makeshift wooden door. When Ebizo pushed it open, a small room about twenty square meters appeared before Hattori.

The room held many sealing scrolls, likely Sand Village’s supplies.

On one wall was a map of Kikyo Mountain with several marked spots.

“This must be Ebizo’s battle map!”

Thinking this, Hattori turned to Ebizo.

“Old Ebizo, the Leaf Village has come to us. We can’t fight them head-on, and hiding won’t work either. Do you have any strategies?”

“Well…”

Ebizo hesitated before shaking his head with a bitter smile.

“There’s not much we can do. The Leaf came too quickly, and I’m not even sure how they found us. All we can do now is delay. If we can stall for a day, we will.”

“Um… that’s it?” Hearing Ebizo’s response, Hattori looked stunned.

Seeing Hattori’s expression, Ebizo felt even more embarrassed, but he nodded anyway.

“That’s all we can do now. I think if we can hold them off for half a month, our chances will be much better.”

“Heh…”

As soon as Ebizo finished, Hattori let out a cold chuckle and poured a bucket of cold water over him.

“Impossible. It can’t be done. Don’t even dream about it!”

Ebizo: “(╬￣皿￣)”

Are you here just to make things worse?

Hearing Hattori’s words, Ebizo nearly choked, his face turning red.

“You… you… then tell me, what’s your plan?”

“Heh… of course, I have a plan!”

Hattori smiled, rubbing his chin.

“I’ve spent years studying warfare and devised thirty-six strategies for defeating enemies. I’ve divided them into six categories: Strategies of Victory, Strategies of Confrontation, Strategies of Assault, Strategies of Confusion, Strategies of Cooperation, and Strategies of Defeat!”

Chiyo: “(Д*)”

Even if she didn’t fully understand, it sounded impressive!

Seeing Hattori’s confident manner, Ebizo couldn’t help but ask, “So, which strategy do you think we should use against the Leaf?”

“The enemy is strong, and we are weak, so we’ll use the Defeat Strategy, which has six sub-strategies!”

With that, Hattori found a place to sit and held up six fingers to Ebizo.

“These six strategies are the Beauty Strategy, the Empty City Strategy, the Counter-Spy Strategy, the Suffering Strategy, the Linked Strategy, and… the Fleeing Strategy!”

“Um…”

Though Ebizo didn’t understand the first five, he recognized “Fleeing Strategy,” so he shook his head immediately.

“Leaving isn’t an option. Why don’t you tell me about the first five?”

“Alright, then!”

Hattori nodded and raised one finger.

“First, there’s the Beauty Strategy. As they say, heroes fall for beauties. We could send a beautiful woman to seduce the Leaf’s Hokage or leadership, and when they let their guard down, we carry out a decapitation strike. Simple, right?”

“Hmm, that does sound simple!”

Ebizo nodded, then spread his hands.

“But we don’t have any beauties in the Sand Village who could seduce the Hokage. The prettiest we have is this young lady beside you. If she’s willing, she can give it a try!”

“Uh… let’s skip that!”

Hearing this, Hattori quickly waved his hands.

“I just realized this strategy only works on heroes like me. It might not work with the Leaf. Let’s move on to the next one—the Empty City Strategy!”

“Hm, nice name for a strategy.”

Ebizo nodded, then spread his hands again.

“But we don’t have a city here!”

Hattori: “╭(°A°`)╮”

No city? How am I supposed to work with this?

No beauties, no city—how am I supposed to fight a war here? This isn’t a strategy; it’s an impossible mission for Genius Hattori! Surrender is our best bet!

After silently grumbling to himself, Hattori took a deep breath and spread his hands to Ebizo.

“Alright, maybe I overlooked something. After rethinking, there’s only one strategy left that fits our situation.”

Ebizo quickly asked, “Which one?”

“The Suffering Strategy!”

This time, Hattori didn’t keep him guessing and revealed the answer directly.

“The Suffering Strategy is simple. You bring Rasa in, let me beat him up until he’s crying, and then send him to the Leaf to say he’s willing to surrender and become their guide to help them fight us!”

“Um…”

Hearing this, Ebizo was stunned for a moment, then caught on.

“You mean a fake surrender? Would the Leaf even buy it? What if they don’t, and Rasa just ends up beaten for nothing?”

“Well, then he’s just beaten for nothing. We don’t really lose anything!”

Hattori spread his hands again.

“It might even fire up Rasa, making him fight harder when facing the Leaf!”

Ebizo: “…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 107: The Plan to Delay the Enemy*

After hearing Hattori's “self-harm ploy,” the initially hopeful Ebizo, who had high expectations for the Thirty-Six Stratagems, instantly felt most of his excitement drain away. A bitter smile appeared on his face.

“Looks like I was desperate, placing my hopes on a child to come up with a strategy to defeat the enemy!”

Shaking his head helplessly at the thought, Ebizo told Hattori to “get some rest” and then turned and walked away.

After Ebizo left, Pakura, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.

“Um… Hattori, it seems like you have a deep grudge against Rasa. Why is that?”

“There's no reason!”

Hattori couldn’t explain too much to Pakura, so he answered vaguely, “Just know that he's not a good person and be careful around him.”

“Uh… okay.”

Seeing Hattori speak so firmly, Pakura could only nod in agreement. She then sat down next to Hattori and closed her eyes to rest.

A while later, she felt something unusual on her leg. Opening her eyes, she found that Hattori had fallen asleep on her lap, his red, tousled hair lightly resting against her.

At the sight, she smiled gently and stroked Hattori’s hair before closing her eyes again.

Unlike the peacefully sleeping Hattori, Pakura remained alert.

When she heard footsteps echoing down the tunnel, her eyes snapped open, and she reached into her pouch to grab a kunai, assuming a defensive stance.

It wasn't until she saw a Sand Ninja enter, carrying a tray, that she relaxed slightly.

Raising her index finger to her lips, she motioned for the Sand Ninja to stay quiet and then pointed at Hattori, who was still fast asleep on her lap, signaling not to wake him.

The Sand Ninja understood, nodded, placed the tray on the ground quietly, and retreated softly.

Several hours later, Hattori finally woke up. Rubbing his eyes drowsily, he asked Pakura, “Pakura-sis, what time is it?”

“I’m not sure,” Pakura replied, shaking her head and glancing toward the tunnel.

“The tunnel is too deep, so no light reaches here. We can’t see what’s going on outside…”

“Wait!” Hattori suddenly sat up straight, wide-eyed. “What did you just say, Pakura-sis?”

“Uh…” Pakura looked at him in confusion. “I said we can’t see outside from here.”

“Not that, the part before that!”

“The part before?” She frowned, thinking. “The tunnel is too deep, so light doesn’t reach here?”

“Yes, that’s it!”

Hattori clapped his hands and sprang to his feet.

“I’ve got a way to delay the Leaf Village now. Let’s go find Old Man Ebizo!”

With that, he dashed out of the tunnel, and Pakura quickly got up to follow him.

Outside the tunnel, the two soon found Ebizo.

Hattori, always impatient, rushed over to share his idea as soon as he saw him.

“Old man, I have a way to hold off the Leaf Village. I can't guarantee for how long, but definitely for ten days to half a month!”

“Hm?”

Ebizo was momentarily stunned before giving a wry smile.

“You’re not thinking about using that self-harm ploy on Rasa again, are you? Maybe let's not. He's had it rough too…”

“No, no, it's not that! Just watch!”

Seeing Ebizo’s doubt, Hattori grew anxious, glanced around, then picked up a stick and started drawing on the ground.

Ebizo, puzzled, crouched down to see what Hattori was drawing.

Gradually, as Hattori's diagram took shape, Ebizo’s expression went from thoughtful to a sudden realization.

“This is… a tunnel? Are you suggesting we dig tunnels under Kikyo Mountain and fight the Leaf Village there?”

“Exactly!” Hattori beamed. “Talking to a smart person is easy!”

“Old man, you've fought in two great ninja wars. You should know that battles rely on timing, terrain, and unity.

We can’t control ‘timing,’ nor can we match the Leaf Village in ‘unity,’ so we have to use ‘terrain’ to our advantage!”

“That’s true.” Ebizo nodded in agreement.

“The Leaf Village has concentrated its forces, so we need to avoid direct confrontation. That’s why I chose Kikyo Mountain as the battleground.”

“But that’s not enough!”

Hattori shook his head as soon as Ebizo finished.

“Hiding outside won’t work. They have sensory ninjas, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, and the Inuzuka Clan’s sharp noses. They’d easily find us. But if we hide in tunnels, it’s different.”

“Hm?” Ebizo's eyes lit up as an idea struck him.

“I get it! Because of the angle, Byakugan won’t easily spot people inside the tunnels.

Plus, the soil will block most scents and chakra signatures, hiding us from the Leaf's ninjas and sensory units!

If we use these tunnels well, we could delay the Leaf not just for ten days, but maybe even for a year or more!”

Excited, Ebizo clapped Hattori on the shoulder.

“Haha, this is brilliant! How did you come up with such a great idea?”

“It’s nothing, really. I just sleep in goddess thigh. Anyway, I’ve said my piece. The rest is up to you. I’m going to catch up on sleep!”

With that, Hattori turned and left with Pakura, humming a song as he walked.

“Tunnel warfare, hey! Tunnel warfare! An army of millions lying in wait… hey! An army of millions lying in wait…”

“…”

Hearing Hattori’s song, Ebizo couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

But he quickly dismissed the feeling and focused on the diagram Hattori had drawn.

Carefully, he made some adjustments and, once satisfied, transferred the plan onto paper.

With the blueprint ready, it was time to start digging.

Upon Ebizo’s command, the Sand Ninjas began an extensive tunnel excavation project across Kikyo Mountain.

For the Sand Ninjas, it was a relatively simple job. Compared to building underground shelters beneath the rocky terrain of the Hidden Sand Village, digging through Kikyo Mountain’s soil was easy in both difficulty and scale.

The Puppet Brigade used puppets to dig the tunnels, while the Wind Release Brigade used their jutsu to disperse the excavated soil.

Working together, they gradually built a massive tunnel network beneath Kikyo Mountain.

Seeing the bustling activity, Ebizo felt a rush of excitement and couldn’t help but sing the song Hattori had hummed earlier.

“Tunnel warfare, hey! Tunnel warfare! An army of millions lying in wait… hey! An army of millions lying in wait…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 108: Captured*

While the Sand Ninjas were busy digging tunnels at the base of Kikyo Mountain, Sarutobi Hiruzen was deep in thought.

The Inuzuka clan had returned with a report that during their battle with the Sand Village the previous night, someone had used the Hidden Mist Jutsu to cover the enemy's retreat.

This news caught Sarutobi Hiruzen's immediate attention—he suspected that the Sand Village and Mist Village had allied. His suspicion was based on the fact that the Mist Village had recently launched an attack on Konoha, followed closely by an offensive from the Sand Village.

And this was no minor attack; it was a full-scale invasion, indicating it was premeditated.

In such a situation, the likelihood of the Sand and Mist Villages collaborating to strike Konoha was at least fifty percent.

That probability was too significant to ignore. At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not concerned about whether there were Mist Ninjas within the Sand Village forces but rather how many of them were present.

The Mist Village, after all, boasted formidable clans with unique abilities, such as the Kaguya Clan with their Shikotsumyaku (Bone Pulse) and the Hozuki Clan, known for their Hydrification Technique.

"If these clans are indeed within the Sand Village's ranks, a direct assault would be disastrous. We need to clarify the situation first!"

With this thought, he summoned Namikaze Minato and gave him an urgent mission.

"Minato, I need you to scout Kikyo Mountain and gather intel on the Sand forces. Capture a high-ranking individual if possible. If that's not feasible, bring back the head of a deceased one, but ensure it's intact."

"Understood. I’m on my way!"

With that, Namikaze Minato's figure transformed into a flash of golden light, disappearing instantly.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face.

"He’s a promising one. Once the war is over, he will be the one to succeed me as Hokage," he mused, his gaze turning resolute.

"But before that happens, we must win this war. The honor of the previous Hokages cannot be tarnished here. With the Will of Fire, I will not fail!"

He stepped out of his tent and issued orders to the ANBU guarding outside.

"Summon Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Nara Shikaku, and Yamanaka Inoichi. Have them come here immediately, even if they have to set aside their current duties."

"Yes!"

The ANBU dispersed swiftly to relay the message, and within minutes, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Shikaku, and Inoichi gathered in Sarutobi Hiruzen's tent.

Once they were assembled, Hiruzen addressed them.

"The situation with the Sand Village is becoming more suspicious. I’ve sent Minato to gather intelligence. We should have news soon."

The group listened in silence, acknowledging Hiruzen's words. After all, Minato had successfully completed previous missions with excellence, and this time should be no exception.

Their expectations were met when, only ten minutes later, a flash of golden light filled the tent. Namikaze Minato had returned, carrying a red-haired boy, about seven or eight years old. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked puzzled.

"Minato, who is this child?"

"I’m not sure," Minato replied, setting the boy down. "But he was heavily guarded by Sand ninjas, including Pakura of the Scorch Release. He must be important, so I brought him here."

"Pakura of the Scorch Release?"

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to the boy, curiosity and intrigue evident in their eyes.

Surrounded by so many people, the sleepy red-haired boy finally came to his senses, looking utterly confused.

"Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?"

Seeing the boy’s bewildered expression, Jiraiya squinted and moved closer.

"Hey, kid, you seem familiar. Have we met before?"

The boy quickly snapped out of his daze and shook his head vehemently.

"Nope! Never seen you before! You must be mistaken!"

Jiraiya paused, surprised by the boy’s swift denial, but then he had a sudden realization.

"Oh... I remember now! You’re that kid who pretended to be Tsunade’s apprentice! I even let you stay in my tent! Don’t think dyeing your hair will fool me!"

Hattori: "Σ(°△°|||)"

Damn it, he thought. Busted!

The boy was indeed Hattori. Just moments ago, he had been comfortably napping on Pakura's lap, only to be abruptly captured. Now he found himself face-to-face with a group of high-level Konoha shinobi, all seemingly above Level 70.

It felt like a nightmare come true, especially as Jiraiya recognized him.

"Life is so unfair," Hattori groaned inwardly, racking his brain for an escape plan. After a minute of thinking, he concluded:

There's no way out!

With nearly all of Konoha's top brass present, escape was impossible.

"It looks like I have no choice but to surrender. Live to fight another day," he resolved, raising his hands toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"I surrender! I’ll tell you everything! Just don’t kill me!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

Is he really this cowardly? How did he even manage to pass himself off as Tsunade’s apprentice?

The group turned skeptical eyes on Jiraiya, who felt insulted and leapt to defend himself.

"I’m not mistaken! Almost everyone on the western front saw him summon slugs and heal the wounded. There’s no doubt about it!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned serious.

"Reports did mention Tsunade’s 'apprentice,' but Tsunade herself denied having any disciple. So, it was this boy impersonating her?"

He stepped forward, addressing Hattori sternly.

"Tell us who you really are. How can you summon slugs, and what is your connection to the Sand Village? If you’re honest, we won’t harm you."

Hattori bowed gratefully.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage. My name is truly Hattori. Besides not being Tsunade’s apprentice, everything else is genuine. I have a deep, personal vendetta against the Sand Village!"

He clenched his fists dramatically.

"Lord Hokage, I used to live peacefully in the Land of Rivers, with a house and fields. But that tyrant, Ebizo, colluded with the Sand ninjas, seizing my land and home! My grandfather protested and was killed with a single punch. My grandmother, who stood up to him, was abducted and violated a hundred times until she hung herself in despair!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

*Chapter 110: Frenzied Attack *

Faced with Hattori’s nonsense, if this had been the Sarutobi Hiruzen from ten years later, he might have simply laughed it off. But not now.

"It seems you’re not planning to speak. Inoichi, proceed."

"Yes!"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s words, Yamanaka Inoichi responded immediately and reached out towards Hattori’s head.

Seeing this, Hattori prepared to dodge, only to find that he couldn’t move at all!

"What’s going on? Is this…?"

Realizing something, he looked towards Nara Shikaku, noticing that he was forming a hand sign, with his shadow connected to Hattori’s own.

"It’s the Shadow Imitation Technique!"

"Correct!"

Hearing Hattori’s words, Nara Shikaku grinned, a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Recognizing it right away shows you’re no ordinary kid. But it doesn’t matter; we’ll soon find out who you are. Inoichi!"

"Mm!"

Yamanaka Inoichi nodded, placing his palm on Hattori’s head.

"Mind Reading Technique!"

"Damn it!" Hattori’s face turned pale at Inoichi’s words. As someone who had seen Naruto, he knew Yamanaka Inoichi, as the Konoha intelligence chief, could read memories without any device.

Once he started, not even the dead could keep their secrets! So when Inoichi’s hand touched his head, Hattori couldn’t hide his alarm.

However, to his surprise, Inoichi’s hand lifted after a moment on his head, a look of shock mirroring Hattori’s own.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn’t help but ask, "Inoichi, what did you find?"

"I…"

Inoichi opened his mouth in shock, casting a wary glance at Orochimaru before shaking his head.

"Nothing."

"…"

The onlookers, sharp as they were, frowned at Inoichi’s unusual reaction. Orochimaru, however, looked intrigued, breaking into a laugh.

"Heh heh heh… Inoichi, that look you gave me wasn’t one you’d give a comrade. I’m curious: what did you see in that kid’s mind?"

"Well…"

Inoichi hesitated, but before he could answer, Jiraiya stepped in.

"Orochimaru would never betray Konoha. This must be a Sand Village trick. This kid’s suspicious, so who knows what you saw was even real!"

Hearing this, Inoichi hesitated further, prompting Nara Shikaku to chuckle.

"Heh heh, Inoichi, just tell us what you saw. This is your job, after all; let Hokage-sama judge it!"

"Mm, Shikaku’s right."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, adding, "Whatever you saw, share it. As the Third Hokage, I can handle it."

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

Encouraged, Yamanaka Inoichi took a deep breath.

"I saw Sand infiltrating Konoha. And…Orochimaru, wearing the Kazekage’s robes, using the Edo Tensei to summon the First and Second Hokage—to kill you, Hokage-sama!"

"Uh…"

Everyone reacted with mixed expressions at this seemingly absurd revelation.

But Hattori was a bit surprised.

"Inoichi actually saw that? Right, with so many memories in a person’s mind, what he sees depends on selected memories. It’s like using a search engine—Inoichi’s keywords were ‘Sand Village’ and ‘Konoha Village.’”

Realizing this, Hattori relaxed, even allowing a smile.

"Then it’s fine. I have no incriminating memories of Sand or Konoha. Let them look. I’m not the one who’ll have to worry!"

Sensing Hattori’s relief, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped in front of him, narrowing his eyes.

"Didn’t expect you’d know a genjutsu to mislead mind-reading. But I wonder, if I killed you, would it still work?"

Hattori: "(Д*)"

Whoa, are you even human?

Infuriated by Hiruzen’s words, Hattori lost his temper and snapped.

"you Monkey! What did I do to deserve death? Genjutsu? Genjutsu your grandmother! Who would hide one in their mind like that? Did you get your Ninja Professor title from a dog or monkey?"

"Uh…"

Hiruzen hadn’t expected Hattori to lash out, momentarily caught off guard.

And Hattori didn’t stop there, instead growing even more vocal.

"You absolute moron! You should know what a scumbag your student Orochimaru is! He’s obsessed with immortality, conducting all sorts of human experiments. His betrayal is only a matter of time, and you’re blaming me?"

"…"

"If you don’t believe me, have Inoichi check Orochimaru’s mind for incriminating evidence. See if he knows Edo Tensei!"

"…"

"What’s the matter? Why won’t you speak? Afraid he’ll flee if you press him? So, I’m the scapegoat now? ‘Professor,’ you’re the bear in brave, aren’t you?"

"…"

"Can’t believe I ever respected you; turns out I was blind! No wonder Orochimaru will end up killing you!"

"…"

"Fire of Will, my foot! The Second Hokage handing you hokage was a waste. It would’ve been better off with Danzō—at least he has a brain. But you… ha… ptooey!"

Hiruzen showed no reaction to Hattori’s rant, as though it wasn’t directed at him.

When Hattori finally stopped, Hiruzen simply asked, "Finished? Aren’t you afraid I’ll really kill you?"

"Heh…"

Hattori’s lips curled into a cold smile.

"Try it. Go ahead."

"Oh?" Intrigued, Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Seems like you’ve got some leverage after all."

"Whether I do or not, you’ll find out if you try."

Hattori locked eyes with Hiruzen, preparing to lift the seal on his hidden power.

---