:
Hearing this, the Third Hokage frowned slightly.
"Then what conditions do you want?"
This was already the best offer he could make.
"That's right! If you have conditions, just state them. What's with all this posturing?"
"We want this medical talisman technology for Konoha's sake too. Can't you think about the bigger picture?"
Danzo also spoke up in dissatisfaction.
At some point, he had quietly moved to stand just behind the Third Hokage, half a step to the side.
Clearly, he was guarding against Tsunade suddenly making a move on him.
With the Third Hokage acting as a shield, he felt much safer.
So this is what it feels like to have someone take the blame and stand as a shield in front… not bad at all.
Danzo couldn't help but think smugly.
For all these years, hadn't he been the one taking the blame for the Third Hokage?
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage had always been the one enjoying that comfort. Truly outrageous.
As expected, I must become Hokage.
Danzo's resolve deepened further.
"Tch. Coward."
Naturally, Tsunade noticed his little movements and curled her lip in disdain.
Then, a flash of inspiration crossed her mind. A sly smile appeared on her face as she looked at the Third Hokage.
"Sora's condition remains the same—he gets to choose one forbidden technique from the Scroll of Seals. But as for me, I don't want any ninjutsu. I want something else instead."
"Oh?"
The Third Hokage immediately relaxed and smiled.
"And what would that be? Don't make things too difficult for an old man like me."
He wasn't afraid of conditions—he was afraid of refusal.
"Don't worry, I won't make it difficult."
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, then turned to Danzo.
"Elder Danzo, if I remember correctly, all the casinos in Konoha are run by your Shimura clan, right?"
Danzo's heart immediately sank at the sight of her expression.
But with the Third Hokage watching, he could only nod stiffly.
"That's right. Is there a problem?"
"No problem at all."
Tsunade rubbed her hands together with a grin, looking almost like a streetwise hustler.
"In that case, it's simple."
"You all know I like to gamble—and that I've accumulated quite a bit of debt at the casinos."
"So my condition is this: wipe out all of my gambling debts. And from now on, every time I go to the casino, your Shimura clan's establishments must provide me with 1,000,000 ryō in chips for free."
"Additionally, the village will give me another 10,000,000 ryō. That's all I want."
As for ninjutsu?
She couldn't care less.
Compared to that, she preferred money.
"Impossible!"
The moment Tsunade finished speaking, Danzo exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
This was absurd.
Casinos were one of his biggest sources of income.
How had he managed to expand Root, build so many hidden bases, and support so many experiments over the years?
Because he knew how to make money.
The casinos were his largest income stream aside from siphoning public funds.
And Tsunade herself had been one of the biggest contributors over the years.
Over the past decade or so, most of the Senju clan's wealth had flowed into the casinos—ending up in Danzo's hands.
If he remembered correctly, Tsunade currently owed at least 100 million ryō.
Now she wanted him to erase all that debt—and worse, to give her 1,000,000 ryō in free chips every time she visited?
Wasn't that just letting her gamble for free?
How much money would that cost him?
"Oh?"
Tsunade looked at Danzo with a playful expression.
"So when it's your money, you're unwilling to part with it—but when it comes to taking the medical talisman technology from me, you're all for it?"
"So generous with other people's things, aren't you?"
"Where's your so-called 'big picture' now?"
Hypocrite.
"That's my condition. It won't change."
"If you agree, everyone's happy."
"If you don't, then we walk away. Sora and I simply won't continue developing it."
Honestly, making Danzo feel miserable was reward enough for her.
Opportunities like this didn't come often—how could she let it slip?
"Tsunade, don't push it too far!"
Danzo's face turned ashen.
He had never expected her to play this move.
At that moment, the Third Hokage stood up and placed a hand on Danzo's shoulder, patting it lightly.
Danzo immediately felt a bad premonition.
Sure enough—
"Danzo," the Third Hokage said earnestly, "it's just some gambling debts and chips. That's practically costless."
After all, with Tsunade's luck, it wasn't like she would actually win.
"You lose a bit of profit, and in return, the village—and even Root—gain access to medical talisman technology. Isn't that a great deal?"
"Danzo… it's time for you to make a small contribution to the village. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"
Inside, the Third Hokage was practically laughing.
So the hunter has become the hunted, huh?
Danzo, of all people, getting cornered like this?
And truth be told, even he had long been envious of the Shimura clan's casino profits.
If he could make Danzo bleed a little, why not enjoy it?
As long as it wasn't him being squeezed.
Didn't Danzo always talk about serving Konoha?
Well, here was his chance.
After all, empty slogans were hardly honorable.
"...Hiruzen, you—!"
Danzo glared at him, fury boiling inside.
Easy for you to say when it's not your money.
But looking at the situation, Tsunade and the Third Hokage were clearly on the same side.
If he wanted the medical talisman technology, he would have to pay the price.
In the end, he could only grit his teeth and say,
"Fine! I agree! But I want immediate access to the medical talisman technology once it's completed."
"No problem."
The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
Danzo could be reasonable after all.
He then turned to Tsunade.
"Danzo has agreed. As for the 10 million ryō from the village, that's no issue either. Any other concerns?"
"None."
Tsunade shook her head.
"That's it. Once the technology is complete, I'll send it over."
"And remember—don't interfere with Sora. Don't disrupt his thinking or progress."
"I'm leaving."
With that, she turned to go.
"Wait!"
Danzo suddenly called out.
"At least give us a timeline. What if it takes years—or even a lifetime?"
Without a deadline, how could he rest easy?
"Relax."
Tsunade waved her hand without turning back.
"At most, six months. Just wait."
With that, she left the Hokage Building without even going home, heading straight toward the casinos.
It's been so long since I've had a proper game… today I can finally enjoy myself.
She rubbed her hands together, grinning happily.
Just thinking about being able to gamble freely from now on filled her with joy.
Sora really is my good disciple.
This entire scene was seen clearly by Danzo through the window of the Hokage's office on the third floor.
It made him feel utterly suffocated.
But to avoid Tsunade causing chaos in the casino, he immediately summoned a Root ninja and ordered him to go inform the casino staff of the situation.