Chapter 86: He Paid Too Much
The day after returning to Konoha, Haruko received a summons from the Hokage Office.
'As expected..."
Haruko stood beneath the Hokage Building, looking up at the iconic structure, having expected this in his heart.
Leaving the Village with Fugaku this time was ostensibly a private commission, but since it involved the Uchiha Clan Head and Tsunade, the Third Hokage couldn't possibly not know.
Calling him over now was likely just to "show concern."
'Whatever, can't avoid it anyway."
From the moment he decided to get involved with Tsunade, this day was bound to come sooner or later.
Pushing open the door to the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage was sitting behind his desk.
Seeing Haruko enter, he put down the documents in his hand, a signature kind smile appearing on his face.
"Haruko, you're back."
"Hokage-sama." Haruko bowed formally.
"Sit down, don't be so formal." The Third Hokage pointed to the chair beside him. "You worked hard leaving the Village this time. How is Fugaku's eyesight recovering?"
"Very smoothly." Haruko sat in the chair. "His vision is completely normal, and he can activate the Sharingan normally as well."
"That's good... I heard you met Tsunade during the mission to escort Teuchi?" The Third Hokage asked seemingly casually, but his eyes flickered slightly.
Here it comes.
Haruko had long expected the Third Hokage to ask about this.
"Yes." He answered truthfully. "We met at a casino in Tanzaku Town."
"Is she... is Tsunade doing well?" The Third Hokage's tone was somewhat complex.
"She's doing quite well. Lady Tsunade is in very good health." Haruko answered literally.
The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment, then looked at Haruko: "Does she... have any intention of returning to the Village?"
"No." Haruko answered instantly. "But she hasn't completely rejected the Village either. She refused to return to treat Fugaku, but she agreed to let people come to her."
"Also..." Haruko paused, "Lady Tsunade has taken me as her disciple."
"Oh?" The Third Hokage's eyes lit up, and the smile on his face became noticeably more sincere. "Good! That's good!"
"If Tsunade is willing to take a disciple, it means she still has the Village in her heart." He stood up and walked to the window. "Haruko, do you know? Tsunade is the finest Medical Ninja in the Ninja World. Both her Medical Ninjutsu and her super strength are peerless."
"If she is willing to pass these on to you, your future achievements will be limitless."
Haruko listened with a straight face, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
'What does her teaching me have to do with you? But the old man doesn't seem to have any objection to this; looks like I was overthinking it."
The Third Hokage turned around and changed the subject.
"By the way, how is your progress in learning Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade?"
"I've already learned the Mystical Palm Technique." Haruko answered honestly. "I'm still learning the others."
"Oh... what about the Summoning Jutsu? Have you met the Slug Sage?"
"I've already signed the summoning contract."
"Then..." After beating around the bush for a while, the Third Hokage finally asked the question he cared about most. "What about Sage Mode?"
Haruko shook his head: "Sage Mode... is not easy to learn."
"Hmm?"
"The Slug said I have too much Natural Energy in my body, so it's impossible to synthesize Sage Mode Chakra according to the normal process and ratio..."
Haruko quickly explained.
The Third Hokage pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Have you tried using a Shadow Clone?"
"Shadow Clone? I haven't tried it, and I don't know how to use it."
The Third Hokage walked back to his desk and took a scroll out of a drawer.
"A Shadow Clone is a physical entity constructed from Chakra. If you use a Shadow Clone to create a clone without Natural Energy, have the clone absorb Natural Energy to synthesize Sage Mode Chakra, and then dispel the clone so the Sage Mode Chakra returns to your main body..."
Haruko was stunned.
Is this the value of a "Professor of Ninjutsu"?
Although the efficiency might not be as high as entering Sage Mode directly, this could indeed bypass the physical constitution problem.
"Hokage-sama, this method... is theoretically feasible."
"Then let's give it a try."
The Third Hokage pushed the scroll toward Haruko.
Haruko took the scroll and looked—"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu," an A-rank Forbidden Jutsu.
"Ordinary Shadow Clones can only create a few, but the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu can create hundreds or thousands. However, this Jutsu consumes a massive amount of Chakra. Losing too much Chakra at once can be life-threatening. You must be careful and not push yourself."
This technique was the Hokage's cheat code; it was useful for fighting, training, and working. Haruko had been craving it for a long time.
However—
'This old man is so generous? It looks like he had it prepared in advance? He's up to no good..."
Sure enough, the Third Hokage sat back in his chair and said casually:
"By the way, there's one more thing I need to tell you."
"Please, go ahead."
"Konoha is preparing to host a joint Chunin Exams. We are inviting Genin from Sunagakure, Kusagakure, Amegakure, and other Villages to participate. On one hand, it's to promote exchange between the Villages, and on the other..."
He paused and said meaningfully:
"It's also to showcase Konoha's strength. After the battle with 'Madara', the outside world has many speculations about Konoha's true state. We need to demonstrate the power of the new generation to deter those who are restless."
"I want you to participate."
Haruko naturally understood the Third Hokage's meaning.
This exam wasn't just a martial competition; it was a political game.
And he was the strongest trump card, an absolutely safe insurance policy.
The Third Hokage wouldn't yield on such a major matter concerning the development of the Village. Being given a treat beforehand was already giving him face.
He definitely couldn't avoid it, and besides, with his strength, going there would just be "bullying the weak," which wasn't difficult.
However...
"Participating is no problem, but the Chunin Exams are usually held in teams of three, right?"
"Yes, we will confirm your teammates and instructor shortly." The Third Hokage nodded. "Do you have any ideas?"
"I want to team up with Kaguya Kaede."
"That probably won't work." The Third Hokage refused flatly.
"Why?"
"Her mission experience on her record is almost zero; she doesn't have the qualifications to participate. And..."
The Third Hokage paused, smiling cryptically: "Since we want to showcase Konoha's new generation, what's the point of bringing a woman several years older than you? We want the shock factor of a 'teenage genius'."
Haruko curled his lip.
He knew the old man wouldn't agree—age and experience were just excuses; he wanted to kick the Taketori Clan out.
But that didn't matter; this was also within his expectations, and the next part was the key.
Haruko put on a troubled expression:
"Hokage-sama, Kaede and I have been partners for a long time, and her strength is guaranteed. If I suddenly switch to a stranger, and the teamwork is bad or their strength can't keep up..."
In short—Need. More. Money!
The Third Hokage looked at the teenager in front of him, who was so righteous, and suddenly felt it was a bit funny—this kid was realistically excessive.
"I heard there's an idea to sell the land around the Ichiraku Ramen Shop... The business in your shop has been getting more and more prosperous lately; Teuchi probably wants to expand the shop, right?"
The Third Hokage offered the bargaining chip.
"...But no matter what the difficulties are, I believe I can overcome them. I will definitely prepare well and win glory for the Village."
Haruko also changed his tune.
...
Watching Haruko's receding figure, the Third Hokage picked up his pipe, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
Haruko had managed to fleece him for a piece of land, but—
The land couldn't be moved away.
"Go check the rent price of the house Haruko is currently renting. Also... have Kakashi come see me."
The Third Hokage issued an order to the Anbu.
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