Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

"The Third Hokage... doesn't seem to think highly of you, Gengetsu-kun."

“That’s normal.” Shimura Gengetsu showed no anger at being tricked and said calmly, “Who made my grandfather Danzo? He wanted me to be a gentle Root leader and never thought of me becoming Hokage.”

"So what do you mean?" Hiashi Hyuga asked tentatively.

Whether I become Hokage or not is not up to others, but only to myself.

Gengetsu Shimura laughed, "It's just that Hiruzen Sarutobi still hasn't come to terms with reality and still thinks he can control everything."

The Hyuga brothers both felt a chill run down their spines.

That sounds bloody.

However... the two brothers also felt that if Jiraiya was unwilling to become Hokage, no one else was qualified to compete with Shimura Gengetsu.

Not now, of course, but several years from now.

By the time Shimura Gengetsu comes of age, the third generation will have aged a few years. With the balance of power shifting, they will probably have to face reality by then.

Half an hour later, Shimura Gengetsu left the Hyuga clan.

Konoha was composed of countless ninja clans. One of the main reasons why Minato Namikaze was able to defeat Orochimaru was that Orochimaru's research on forbidden techniques made many ninja clans feel threatened, so they united to support Minato.

The Hyuga clan was the first ninja to express their support for him, and they won't be the last.

Gengetsu Shimura wasn't in a hurry to seize power right now. Konoha's troubles weren't completely resolved yet, so he could let the Third Hokage hold the fort for a while.

When the Uchiha clan was destroyed, and his most valued eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and his wife died in a mission, it was then that Oshio's spirit was completely shattered.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio are allies of Sarutobi for generations, but only the incompetent Sarutobi Asuma remains. Will they continue to cling to the same tree?

At that time, it wasn't up to Hiruzen Sarutobi to decide who became Hokage.

Walking down the street, Shimura Gengetsu bought some fruit to take home.

During his time on the front lines, he barely ate any of his favorite oranges, but he also bought a lot of freshly ripened cherries, which are Quan's favorite fruits.

However, when Shimura Gengetsu arrived at his doorstep, he saw a lewd-looking white-haired man sitting there.

"Hey kid, you're really busy, making me wait so long."

The unruly Jiraiya was squatting on the ground, picking his nose listlessly.

Seeing Shimura Gengetsu return, he excitedly stood up, but because he had been squatting for too long, his legs gave way and he knelt on the ground.

Genzuki Shimura: "......"

"You old lecher, you don't need to be so polite."

"You wretched brat." Jiraiya stood up awkwardly. "My legs are numb from waiting for you."

"What do you want with me?" Shimura Gengetsu didn't invite Jiraiya inside, and started chatting with him at the door.

"Kid, how about you become my apprentice?" Jiraiya asked tentatively.

“No.” Gengetsu Shimura resolutely refused.

"Ok."

Jiraiya was somewhat disappointed, but it was also within his expectations.

Once you reach Shimura Gengetsu's level, there's not much you can learn from him.

Jiraiya changed his mind and wanted to take Gengetsu as his disciple because of the prophecy that influenced his entire life.

Since he refused, it means he is not the person predicted.

"You've been waiting all this time, you didn't just ask me this, did you?"

"More or less. By the way, let me say goodbye." Jiraiya laughed heartily. "The war is over, and I should continue my creative journey."

"You must support my work when it's released."

"Okay, I promise you."

"gone."

The man waved his hand and turned away with a flourish.

The boy narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Jiraiya's retreating figure.

The Child of Prophecy?

Gengetsu Shimura was extremely wary of the toad sage who made the prophecy.

Jiraiya's life was practically controlled by a toad.

However... the ninja world has already become such a mess. With him, this overpowered character, the future outcome can only be determined by his own will, not by any so-called prophecy.

"Xuan Yue, what are you standing there for at the door?"

The door was suddenly opened, and Kurenai Yuhi poked her head out, asking in confusion.

"It's nothing... wait, why are you still in my house?"

"Oh dear... don't worry about the details, come on in and let's play mahjong, we're one short."

Chapter 84: Taking Samui as a retainer, Yamato? A!

After a few days of slacking off, Shimura Gengetsu was finally dragged out by Sarutobi Hiruzen to lead his squad on a mission.

Recently, Konoha has been backlogged with a mountain of missions. The ninjas who have just returned from the battlefield don't even get a break and have to go back to their daily lives as laborers the very next day.

It's already pretty good that they can stay for a few days.

To improve efficiency, Shimura Gengetsu only accepted assassination and sweep missions this time, leaving the village with five A-rank missions at once.

Samui has been released by him, and he has sealed her chakra with the Four Symbols Seal and the Five Elements Seal, and also used other methods to seal most of her physical strength.

Having lost most of his strength, even if his swordsmanship experience remains, he won't be able to unleash much power.

Samui did not resist, perhaps because Xuan Yue had told her that the Cloud Village ninjas would be coming soon, and she thought she could be redeemed, so she kept her hope of living.

Two weeks later, Shimura Gengetsu returned to Konoha.

The delegation from Kumogakure arrived shortly after him.

This time, the Cloud Village delegation was led by Tsuchidae, with Mabui as his deputy. Compared to the previous peace negotiation delegation, the delegation was of a much higher caliber.

Last time, they were just cannon fodder sent to their deaths, giving the Hidden Cloud Village an excuse to blackmail them and start a war.

Who would have thought that his attempt to steal a chicken would backfire, leaving him severely injured?

During the negotiations, in order to both kill him and demoralize him, and to increase his deterrent effect, Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically invited Gengetsu Shimura over.

When they saw the Konoha Reaper appear, Tsuchida and the others' eyes changed, filled with hatred.

But it was suppressed again.

They have reason to be angry, but no ability to retaliate.

"Now that everyone's here, let's begin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, puffing on his pipe, quite satisfied with the effect. "Konoha's demands are not high. They only require Kumogakure to compensate them with 3 billion ryo for Konoha's losses in this war. We will not pursue any other responsibilities."

"That's impossible!" the dark-skinned girl, Mabui, blurted out. "Lord Hokage, we came with sincerity. Why are you asking for such an exorbitant price?"

The funding for each major ninja village is basically composed of several parts.

The first is the commission from missions. Taking Konoha as an example, the annual income from this is about one billion ryo. This is because the Land of Fire has the most developed trade and employs the most ninjas.

Other countries certainly have fewer than this number.

Secondly, there is the funding from the Daimyo. In name, the ninja villages belong to the armed forces of various countries, and the Kage is the Minister of Armed Forces. Therefore, it is only natural for the Land of Fire to pay for them. Their annual income and mission income are basically equal.

Finally, there are revenues such as taxes and rents. The rents and taxes of shops in Konoha are entirely controlled by Konoha itself, and these account for a significant proportion of their income.

Even so, the figure of 3 billion is close to the annual fiscal revenue of Hidden Cloud Village.

"Lord Hokage."

Tsuchikage, barely suppressing his anger, said, "Konoha lost no more than a hundred ninjas, while Kumogakure has lost nearly a thousand. The Konoha Death Slayers even destroyed our village..."

"Wait a moment."

Xuan Yue forcefully interrupted Tu Tai's sophistry, "That was the work of your Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. I was just passively redirecting his attack. Don't blame everything on me."

"it is good!"

Tsuchikage clenched his fist under the table so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh as if he could taste it. "Even so, do you think Kumogakure, which needs to rebuild the village, has enough funds to compensate Konoha?"

"We can pay in installments. Konoha isn't some bad people who would force you to your death."

Mitokado Homura, who had been calm and collected all along, suddenly spoke up, which made Tsuchida's eyes widen in anger, but he was helpless.

He now deeply regrets not dissuading the militant faction from their plan a few months ago, and forcing them into war with Konoha.

If you lose on the front lines, you'll be constantly pressured in negotiations.

As expected... a weak nation has no diplomacy.

After that, Gengetsu Shimura had nothing to do with the negotiations; his presence was merely a deterrent.

After going through countless sleep and wake-ups, until the sun had already set, the two sides finally reached a preliminary consensus on the figure of 1.5 billion.

"I'm not coming tomorrow, I'm so bored~"