Kakuzu and Hizashi walked slowly into Konoha.
Just like the exchange students from Kirigakure when they first arrived…
Faced with the present-day Konoha—expanded after a massive influx of capital—Kakuzu showed a look of surprise.
As a shinobi deeply familiar with money, even versed in economics…
Kakuzu understood better than anyone what this implied.
"This isn't the level a hidden village should be operating at. A single stream of ninja missions cannot sustain such a vast peripheral commercial district. The economic center of the Land of Fire is no longer the capital—it's Konoha…"
"Konoha is a collective of shinobi. It shouldn't have grown into such a large consumer market. That doesn't align with the conservative attitude ninja are supposed to have toward money. Have they stopped setting aside reserves for survival?"
Walking side by side with Hizashi, Kakuzu observed everything while frowning and analyzing: "This suggests that Konoha's shinobi are extremely confident in the village's future. And the village must be providing them with some form of guarantee, otherwise they wouldn't dare spend so freely."
Hizashi gave Kakuzu a somewhat surprised glance.
Wasn't he supposed to be a cold, ruthless bounty hunter? This was practically a top-tier economist capable of drawing conclusions from the smallest details!
Just a quick look at Konoha's outskirts, and he had already deduced so much…
Hizashi suppressed the strange thoughts in his heart.
He had originally believed that a missing-nin from a minor hidden village—even if he had lived for many years and possessed secret techniques—shouldn't have deserved such attention from the Hokage…
Suddenly, Hizashi slapped himself hard across the face.
Smack!
Kakuzu looked at him in confusion. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"I'm repenting."
Hizashi spoke bluntly: "I once thought you were someone chasing empty reputation, but it turns out you truly have ability…"
"I shouldn't have harbored even the slightest doubt about the Hokage's judgment."
"This is self-punishment."
Kakuzu frowned. "Are you from the main branch or the side branch? Side branch, I assume… Your way of thinking and behavior—even by Warring States standards—would be considered backward."
To Kakuzu, this near-fanatical "loyalty" was a product of conditioning by the Hyūga main family.
Having always held a negative impression of villages as collectives, he found this kind of near-erasure of personal identity deeply distasteful.
"I am indeed from the side branch—but it's not as you think…"
Hizashi's Byakugan seemed to see straight through Kakuzu's thoughts: "My loyalty isn't blind. As a man, I simply understand the importance of repaying kindness."
"Before I followed the Hokage, I was nothing more than a servant—a dog of the main family—with no freedom whatsoever."
"After following the Hokage, I became a Konoha council member respected by thousands. Even when I voiced controversial opinions at village assemblies, the Hokage would use his own reputation to shield me."
"Now, within the Hyūga clan, the side branch is no longer oppressed by the main family. Everyone lives under the village's protection. We have access to the outside world, and we have our own careers and aspirations."
Hizashi spoke coldly: "Even the main family—Hokage-sama considered their gains and losses, and sought to provide them with respectable positions."
"This is the Will of Fire. It's normal that you don't understand it—but don't make baseless judgments with your narrow perspective."
This time, it was Kakuzu who fell silent.
Repaying kindness, huh?
He agreed with that principle.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have refused all missions involving the Land of Fire and Konoha to this day.
Kakuzu was simply more pragmatic. In his view, Hashirama's favor had been repaid after fifty years.
After all, for a ninja, reaching fifty was already a long life—practically an entire lifetime.
'He not only granted the Hyūga side branch a degree of freedom, but also took care of the main family…' Kakuzu slowly digested Hizashi's words.
The Hyūga's Caged Bird Seal was infamous throughout the shinobi world…
A clan rule passed down for a thousand years—broken in the hands of Sarutobi Hiruzen?
"The Hokage truly lives up to being the man who broke the rules of the ninja world. I spoke out of turn."
Kakuzu lowered his head slightly. "My apologies."
Hizashi nodded. "It's fine. You're not a Konoha shinobi, after all. I'm reasonable."
"The Hokage said you would likely take interest in Konoha's policies. Given your experience, you'd also be interested in Uchiha Yashiro's situation. He's already on his way."
"The Hokage hopes you'll take a look around Konoha first, then go speak with him."
Hizashi activated his Byakugan, focusing on Kakuzu's numerous bags and the scroll strapped to his back.
"Beyond this point lies Konoha's core district…"
"What are you carrying? I can sense unusual chakra fluctuations. My ANBU colleagues are also signaling me through jutsu to remain alert."
Kakuzu paused. Konoha's security was far stricter than he had expected.
There was invisible surveillance—some kind of technique he couldn't yet decipher…
And it allowed real-time communication.
In present-day Konoha, security could roughly be divided into three layers.
The first layer: patrol units in the outer village, mainly composed of the Aburame and Inuzuka clans.
The second layer: within the outer commercial district, Hyūga ANBU monitored merchants with the Byakugan, alongside members of the Police Force.
The third layer: the inner ring—the shinobi residential and operational zone.
Guarded jointly by the Police Force, ANBU, and Root.
The Yamanaka clan formed the backbone of intelligence sharing and sensory communication, while the Nara clan oversaw macro-level deployment of the village's defensive forces.
With Konoha's rising fiscal revenue, some shinobi unsuited for frontline combat had found full-time roles in the Police Force based on their specialties—positions like "operators" and "dispatchers."
Key research institutes and intelligence departments had been relocated near the Senju compound, while Uzumaki Mito would occasionally conduct inspections using the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and malicious intent sensing…
"Some souvenirs for Hokage-sama and Mito-sama—economic intelligence from other villages, and some relics from the Warring States era…"
Kakuzu spoke calmly: "As for the scroll on my back—it contains a corpse. A Storm Release user from Kumogakure. I killed him along the way."
"I figured it might be of some value to Konoha. The Hokage paid me a deposit and gave me freedom to collect materials beneficial to the village. This is one of those commissions."
"Of course, whether you want it or not still depends on Hokage-sama's decision. I don't do forced sales."
Hizashi blinked.
Just a few days ago, Hokage-sama had mentioned that Storm Release's long-range strike and tracking capabilities paired extremely well with the Byakugan…
He had told him not to rush, not to take risks trying to obtain a bloodline limit that didn't suit him—good things were worth waiting for…
And now it was practically being delivered right to his doorstep?
For a moment, Hizashi didn't even know what to say. He recalled something Sarutobi Hiruzen had once said offhandedly: those who follow the right path gain many allies; those who don't gain few.
"Hizashi, I'm here…"
"This must be Kakuzu-san, right? I'm Uchiha Yashiro…" Yashiro walked over with a smile.
After the turmoil caused by the Ancient Mirror incident, Sarutobi Hiruzen had personally held a fireside talk with him to discuss matters. Instead of leaving him labeled as a "criminal," it had turned him into a well-known figure…
Everyone now knew that Yashiro was a shinobi who, even when facing a powerful enemy, still prioritized protecting his comrades. People in the village would greet him with smiles, even if they hadn't known him before…
Even the Uchiha clan's reputation had improved along with it.
From once being seen as arrogant, cold, and aloof, some now viewed them as "not good with words, but unexpectedly reliable when it matters."
"Alright, I'll head out first." Hizashi nodded.
"Kakuzu-san, where would you like to take a look in Konoha?" Yashiro asked with a gentle smile.
"Are Konoha's various systems open to be understood?" Kakuzu asked cautiously.
A village's institutional framework wasn't exactly top-tier classified intelligence, but it certainly wasn't something casually shared with outsiders.
"That's easy. Let me think…" Yashiro said something that surprised Kakuzu: "Let's head to the Uchiha clan district. Clan Head Isshin and Fugaku have recently put a lot of effort into setting up a model bulletin board. The village's policies and the key points of Hokage-sama's speeches are all posted there…"
"They even invited Advisors Koharu and Homura from the administrative department to provide official interpretations, so everyone can understand them more easily."
"Honestly, it's been pretty effective. A lot of shinobi come by the Uchiha district just to sit around and take a look because of it…"
Kakuzu silently nodded.
He was starting to realize that Konoha's uniqueness compared to other hidden villages was reflected in every detail.
Even small things were handled differently…
"Let's go. We'll drop your luggage off at the Police Force first. Carrying all that around makes you stand out too much…" Yashiro hummed a tune as he walked ahead.
The two soon arrived at the Konoha Military Police Force.
In the past, although the Police Force held significant authority, its headquarters had only been a two-story semi-circular building.
At the center of the second floor was the Uchiha clan crest, alongside the words "Konoha Military Police Force."
Many shinobi had found the design somewhat odd.
After all, aside from the Uchiha, no other clan had ever so completely controlled an entire department.
Now, with funding from the village, the Police Force had constructed an imposing high-rise building.
The Uchiha crest was long gone, replaced by a large Konoha insignia.
And from top to bottom, several eye-catching banners were hung across the building:
[Strictly uphold Konoha's discipline, remain forever loyal to the Hokage.]
[No matter how small the matter, policing it brings warmth and peace.]
[Strike down disorder with thunderous force; protect the village with an unshakable heart.]
[Bear the weight of public security; put the Will of Fire into practice.]
Kakuzu's mouth twitched slightly.
He hadn't been to Konoha in a long time, but the awkward relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha was widely known throughout the shinobi world…
The reason was simple—everyone knew the story of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.
The Valley of the End was even considered one of the Land of Fire's famous landmarks.
And the once-dominant Uchiha clan had vanished from the battlefield for over thirty years, only recently reminding the world of the terror of the Sharingan…
"So, what do you think? Not bad, right?"
Yashiro crossed his arms, looking quite proud: "It was Clan Head Isshin's idea. Hokage-sama personally came up with the slogans, and even the words 'Konoha Military Police Force' were handwritten by him…"
"And if you look behind the plaque, it's filled with red and white—that's an element of the Uchiha clan."
"Hokage-sama believes that even though the Police Force is no longer composed entirely of Uchiha, their past contributions shouldn't be forgotten. That's why he deliberately incorporated the clan's elements into it…"
"Sigh! Hokage-sama is always so considerate…"
Kakuzu rubbed his temples. For a moment, he felt like he had fallen under a genjutsu…
At the underground bounty exchange, there had already been rumors about improving relations between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Many believed the two sides had reached a certain level of reconciliation, though the exact extent was unclear. Some intelligence analysts had even speculated that this might be a sign that the Uchiha had gained the upper hand over Sarutobi Hiruzen…
After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was a disciple of Senju Tobirama.
In the shinobi world, if a disciple went against their sensei's will—especially when that sensei was a previous Kage…
That was something people could easily blow out of proportion.
But after seeing things for himself, Kakuzu couldn't help but lose faith in the so-called intelligence experts of the underground bounty exchange.
The logic of their analysis might sound reasonable—but the conclusion was completely off the mark!
Was this really the Uchiha?
Even the ANBU directly under the Kage of the major hidden villages were only about this level, at best.
"Careful there, miss—take it slow…"
"At your age, you've got to watch your step. If your legs aren't steady these days, just call out. I can have someone bring you meals after work…"
Not far away, Uchiha En caught an elderly woman who nearly slipped while crossing the street and spoke gently.
"Oh dear, I wouldn't want to trouble you…"
"It's no trouble at all! I've got the village stipend. I can just have a few of the newly graduated kids run errands for me—lets them earn a bit of pocket money too…"
The old woman smiled as she spoke: "As for you—still working at your age? You're in better shape than I am. Uchiha En, you might've forgotten me, but we actually fought each other decades ago…"
Uchiha En froze for a moment. Who was this?
"I'm from the Senju clan…"
The old woman raised her brows slightly: "I saw how you lost that arm back then. Your Fire Release burned quite a few of my clan members. No wonder the Second Hokage cut it off."
"Hey now, miss, why bring up the past!"
Uchiha En didn't get angry. Instead, he grinned and raised both arms: "Yeah, Senju Tobirama did cut it off—but Hokage-sama helped me reattach it!"
"I've even adopted a grandson now. Who knows, maybe he'll become a Konoha council member someday!"
"What happened back then? That was all that old bastard Senju Tobirama's fault! If he'd died earlier and passed the position to the Third, Konoha would've unified the shinobi world long ago!"
The Senju old woman rolled her eyes at him. "What nonsense! If the Second hadn't died early on the battlefield while stabilizing things for the Third, Konoha could've developed even faster…"
"Either way, he died at the wrong time!" Uchiha En chuckled.
The old woman sighed and nodded. "Yeah… not the right time…"
Two former enemies from the Warring States era had, in this moment, reached a strange kind of reconciliation over Senju Tobirama.
Time could smooth over most scars.
But because of their shared past, they still needed a respectable way to bridge the gap—a so-called scapegoat.
And Senju Tobirama had ended up playing that role perfectly.
Watching this scene, Kakuzu found it almost surreal.
'When Senju Tobirama died, the Uchiha and Konoha were at each other's throats…'
'Now that he's dead, he's the one holding the Senju and Uchiha together?'
'Sometimes the dead are more useful than the living…' Kakuzu thought to himself.
"Yo!" Uchiha En spotted Yashiro and Kakuzu, greeting them loudly before leaning in to whisper to the old woman, "Let's chat again another day…"
Then he strode over: "You're Kakuzu, right? Thanks for cooperating with the village—otherwise, there's no way my arm could've been reattached…"
As he spoke, Uchiha En rolled up his sleeve, revealing the black threads of Earth Grudge Fear coiled around his shoulder: "Yashiro, take good care of him! Here, take this—treat him to a meal later!"
"I'm on duty today, so I'll get going!"
Uchiha En grinned at Kakuzu, stuffed a thick wad of cash into Yashiro's hands without waiting for a response, and waved casually as he left.
Yashiro looked helpless. "That old man En, honestly…"
"That's got to be at least a hundred thousand ryō, right? Are Konoha's ninja always this generous?" Kakuzu couldn't help asking.
"Not all of them. En's a special case." Yashiro sighed:
"He receives three different stipends! A solitary elderly allowance, his Police Force salary with adjustments, plus a teaching stipend from occasionally working as an instructor with the patrol unit. And Minato drops by sometimes to bring him cigarettes and drinks…"
"He always says he can't spend all his money, so he likes handing it out whenever he meets people—especially Ninja Academy students. He's basically like a god of wealth."
"Sometimes when disputes over small sums come up in the village, he'll even pay out of his own pocket to settle things. He has the prestige, so no one dares push things too far…" Yashiro rambled.
Kakuzu's face was filled with confusion.
What kind of spending habits were these old Konoha shinobi?
And more importantly…
Kakuzu had assumed Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted his Earth Grudge Fear to replicate the technique.
But it was actually being used for limb regeneration for disabled shinobi?
"How much did it cost to restore his arm?" Kakuzu asked instinctively.
"It didn't cost anything… En was part of the first batch of volunteers, so it was free."
"If it's a disability caused in the line of duty, it's free too. As for personal cases, I'm not really sure how much it costs."
Yashiro thought for a moment: "It shouldn't be too expensive. Tsunade and Orochimaru said the Konoha mutual aid fund covers medical expenses. There'll be dedicated discounts for it in the future…"
Kakuzu let out a long breath.
Now he understood…
Konoha wasn't just wealthy—it was spending money at an insane rate.
To Kakuzu, the silver flowing through the village looked like a torrential downpour pouring over its shinobi…
"What kind of shinobi qualifies for this kind of treatment?" Kakuzu asked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.
It wasn't that he wanted it for himself…
He possessed the body of Earth Grudge Fear and could live for at least several hundred more years. He had no need for ordinary medical ninjutsu.
But if all Konoha shinobi could enjoy this kind of treatment…
Deep down, Kakuzu felt that the values he had built over decades were on the verge of collapsing!
So not all hidden villages were the same?
Then hadn't he wasted decades of his life for nothing?!
'Even Ninja Academy students can benefit from this, right?'
"Wait here a moment. I'll go put your luggage away—don't worry, no one will touch it." Yashiro took the bags from Kakuzu and walked into the Police Force building.
A short while later, Yashiro returned with a silent Kakuzu and brought him to the demonstration bulletin board at the entrance of the Uchiha district.
[Subsidies for the elderly and orphans.]
[Pensions for fallen shinobi.]
[Hardship post allowances and commendations for Root of the Sky.]
[Public disclosure of procurement for infrastructure and research funding.]
[Childbirth subsidies and policies.]
[Full transcript of Hokage-sama's fireside talks.]
Kakuzu seemed as if he had fallen under a genjutsu, his dark green pupils fixed on the contents of the board.
Yashiro stood quietly beside him, reading through the fireside talk again.
It was a classic he never grew tired of—he could already recite it from memory.
It was also the reason he had decided to submit a request to Hokage-sama to join Root.
A man had to understand gratitude…
After a moment, a familiar voice reached Kakuzu's ears—but the words didn't match the person they came from at all…
"Fugaku, Isshin!"
"I, Shimura Danzō, admit that I had prejudices against the Uchiha before. That was my fault—I was narrow-minded!"
"From now on, let's have ANBU and the Police Force work together properly, and devote ourselves fully to the village and Hokage!"
"As for Seisui, you can rest assured leaving him with me. I'll pour all my resources into him—he has the makings of a Hokage!"
Kakuzu and Yashiro both turned around, witnessing a jaw-dropping scene.
Danzō had his arms slung over Fugaku and Isshin's shoulders, his flushed face reeking of alcohol as he spoke loudly.
The former "darkness of the shinobi world" now looked like nothing more than a drunken old man…
Meanwhile, Senju Tobirama followed behind them in silence, his expression complicated—but inwardly, he was quite satisfied.
This kind of attitude from Danzō… was barely acceptable to him.
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