Returning to the Hidden Leaf, the three-man squad headed straight for the Hokage’s office.
Since the Third Hokage had personally assigned the mission, a debriefing was mandatory.
“I see.
So Takigakure still intends to maintain its strict isolationist policy, and the Seven-Tails remains somewhat unstable.” Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow drag from his pipe.
“Is that right, Senzan?”
Looking at the perverted old man, Senzan nodded with sheer, utter exasperation.
Why exasperation?
Because he could perfectly see the well-hidden, smug little smirk playing at the corners of the Hokage’s mouth.
‘Damn it!
He really did send me there just to get back at me!’
“Alright, you are all dismissed.
You can collect your mission compensation at the assignment desk,” Hiruzen instructed.
Nara Suzaku and Aburame Shibi bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
But when it came to Senzan, the boy suddenly paused and flashed a devious grin.
Hiruzen blinked, thoroughly confused.
Had the kid actually lost his mind during the mission?
“You know, Lord Hokage…” Senzan leaned in conspiratorially.
“Takigakure actually has some incredible hot springs.
And let me tell you, the kunoichi who live under that waterfall all year round?
Their skin is absolutely flawless.”
He chuckled darkly.
“Thank you so much for assigning me to this mission, Lord Third.
I managed to gather quite a lot of excellent material.
Hehehe…”
With that, he turned on his heel and sauntered out the door, leaving Hiruzen staring blankly at his retreating back.
A long moment passed.
Suddenly, Hiruzen slammed his hand onto his desk.
“A massive miscalculation!
I knew that little brat was up to no good!” he howled in despair.
“Hot springs in the Hidden Waterfall?!
Ahhh!
I wanted to see them too!”
After collecting their mission pay, Senzan called out to Aburame Shibi, who was just about to head home for a well-deserved nap.
“Do you need something, Senzan?” Shibi asked in his usual monotone.
“Heh, well, you see, Shibi…
when I was all alone infiltrating the Hidden Waterfall, your bugs were my only company.
They really kept the loneliness at bay.”
Oh?
Shibi was mildly interested, but mostly confused.
If that were true, why had all his bugs spontaneously died at the exact same time?
“So, I was thinking,” Senzan continued smoothly.
“Could you give me a few of your bugs to raise?
I’ve suddenly developed a huge interest in them.”
Of course he was interested!
This was directly tied to Chomei’s food supply.
He couldn’t exactly break into the Aburame compound and steal their bugs—if word got out, he’d be the laughingstock of the village.
“Is that so?
For a guy who barely talked, he suddenly launched into an unprecedentedly long lecture.
“Our clan breeds a vast variety of insects, each serving a different function.
Even among the kikaichu I cultivate, there are numerous subspecies…”
Senzan tuned out almost immediately.
His understanding of the Aburame clan started and ended at ‘they control bugs’.
He had absolutely no idea what kind of bugs they were, nor did he want to know.
“Shibi, hold on, time out,” Senzan interrupted.
“Listen, since it’s my first time raising them, do you have any that are, you know…
easy to keep, plump, and super juicy?”
A swarm of invisible question marks practically popped up over Shibi’s head.
‘Easy to keep’ made sense—no one wanted their new pets to die.
But ‘plump’?
‘Super juicy’?
What was that supposed to mean?!
Shibi didn’t understand, but someone else definitely did.
Inside the mindscape, Chomei was practically vibrating with joy, ready to burst out and give Senzan a massive hug.
‘My man!
You totally get me!’
Eventually, worn down by Senzan’s relentless pestering, Shibi agreed to fetch him a few boxes of kikaichu larvae to start his new hobby.
Although they were standard parasitic insects, Shibi had specially bred this batch to be incredibly resilient and beginner-friendly.
Senzan was so thrilled he was practically ready to bow down and worship the guy.
Bug supply secured, Senzan leisurely made his way home.
Along the way, he bumped into two familiar faces.
“Yo, Duy-san!
Training with your son?”
“Oh!
Senzan!
Hahaha!” The Hidden Leaf Genin, Might Duy, flashed a brilliant thumbs-up.
“Are you back from your mission?
Youth waits for no one!
Care to join us for a workout?!”
Beside him stood his son, Might Guy.
“Yeah, just got back from Takigakure,” Senzan smiled.
“I remember Guy is supposed to start at the Ninja Academy this year, right?”
Speaking of the Academy, Senzan couldn’t help but think of someone else.
The legendary genius ninja, Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi was enrolling this year, too.
He would graduate the very next year, and make Chunin a year after that.
Tsk, tsk.
The kid truly lived up to the ‘genius’ title.
“Hahaha, that’s right!
He reports in a few days,” Duy beamed.
“Guy, don’t forget your manners!”
Guy immediately paused his push-ups, sprang to his feet, and offered Senzan a highly enthusiastic bow.
“Senzan-nii-san!
Long time no see!
My taijutsu has improved significantly!
Next time, I will definitely beat you in a footrace!”
Senzan actually had a great relationship with Might Duy.
Knowing exactly how insanely powerful the man’s Eight Inner Gates formation was, Senzan had made a point to befriend him early on, helping him out whenever he could. Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.
Over time, they had become genuine friends, which naturally earned him Guy’s utmost respect.
“Hahaha, you’re on.
We’ll race next time,” Senzan chuckled.
“Duy-san, let’s spar again when we both have some free time.
I’ve got to head back now—the little guy is waiting for me at home.”
Duy let out a booming laugh, his pearly white teeth literally sparkling in the sunlight.
Saying goodbye to the green-suited duo, Senzan finally arrived home.
Sami was in the living room looking after baby Hayate, but there was an extra kid in the courtyard today.
“Oh?
Little Ebisu, you’re here.
Working out?”
“Senzan-nii-san, you’re back!” The boy, Ebisu—one of the village’s future notorious perverts—wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Yeah, I’m starting at the Academy soon, so I’m doing some early physical conditioning.”
Sami poked her head out the door.
“Senzan, you’re back!
How was the mission?”
“Eh, same old, same old.
Takigakure is relatively peaceful.
It was just a standard recon run.
Still, Suzaku and Shibi totally threw me under the bus for the dangerous part!
Hmph.
So I extorted them for five thousand Ryo each.
Add that to the mission pay, and here you go.”
Senzan casually handed Sami thirty thousand Ryo.
Without an ounce of modesty, Sami took the cash and immediately started counting the bills.
Meanwhile, Senzan decided to ‘help’ Ebisu with his training, claiming he was pushing the boy to reach his true potential.
In reality?
This meant tossing small pebbles at Ebisu while he did squats, and casually adding extra weights to his back just to watch him suffer.
Ebisu’s face scrunched up in absolute misery.
“Is Gekko Senzan home?”
A bright, clear voice suddenly called out from the front gate.
Hmm?
That voice sounded familiar.
Senzan opened the door to find a blonde-haired boy standing outside.
Minato Namikaze.
“Yo, Minato.
What brings you here?”
“I’m not the one looking for you,” Minato smiled politely.
“My sensei is.”
“Your sensei?
Oh, Lord Jiraiya!
Alright, give me a sec, I’ll be right out.”
Jiraiya was looking for him?
Heh.
The old pervert had probably caught wind of his trip to Takigakure and wanted to beg for some fresh ‘material’.
Perfect.
If someone was going to willingly deliver themselves to his doorstep to be extorted, he’d be doing himself a massive disservice not to bleed them dry!