Hattori spent the entire night sketching the Wing Gundam Zero EW from his mind, bringing it to life on paper.
Of course, this was all he could do for now.
After all, building such a thing would not only be incredibly challenging but also absurdly expensive. According to official specs, it stands 16.7 meters tall and weighs 8 tons. The material costs alone would be astronomical for Hattori.
And given his perfectionist tendencies, Hattori would rather not build a "watered-down" version of Gundam; to him, it would be pointless.
So he created a plan called "Three Five-Year Plans."
In the first five years, he would save up enough to buy the materials for the Gundam and accumulate MP (Mana Points) to awaken the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.
In the second five years, he would use the funds he saved to buy Gundam materials, find a blacksmith to craft Gundam parts, assemble the Gundam, and continue accumulating MP to unlock the Rinnegan.
In the third five years, with the Gundam fully built, he'd go find Kakuzu and kill him.
Then, he'd use Kakuzu's chakra threads to make the Gundam a sealed puppet, turn it into a reborn puppet using his own life essence, and fulfill his dream of owning a Gundam.
And once he awakened the Rinnegan, he could revive Pakura and take her on a world tour in his Gundam, sealing it with a kiss in mid-air at 800 meters above ground!
Perfect! Romantic! Just perfect!
"Heh heh… hehehehe…"
Lost in his dream, Hattori chuckled with glee.
But just then, Chiyo's voice came from behind him.
"What's got you so giddy, drooling all over? Wipe your mouth, and don't forget to mop the floor! Where do you get all this drool from?"
"(ω`)"
Hattori sighed and wiped his mouth, then turned to Chiyo, "Teacher, I have something to tell you!"
"Save it for later. I'll make you something to eat first!" she said as she headed for the kitchen.
Seeing this, Hattori shrugged helplessly, put away his Gundam sketches, and, as instructed, mopped the floor.
Once Chiyo finished preparing the meal, he finally voiced his thoughts.
"Teacher, now that we're allied with Konoha, Mist Village has been crushed, and the Iwagakure ninjas wouldn't dare act rashly… so…"
"So you want to leave the village? Why?"
Chiyo picked up on his meaning and furrowed her brows.
"Is this about Pakura? Or Rasa?"
"Neither!" Hattori shook his head. "I just want to get out and clear my mind; the village feels so stifling."
"Oh, that's it?"
Hearing his explanation, Chiyo nodded and offered him a serving of food.
"It's good to get out sometimes. Where do you want to go?"
"To the capital of the Land of Wind!"
Hattori grinned, "It's the most bustling place in the Land of Wind, and I want to see it for myself!"
The lively capital seemed safe, lucrative, and perfect for his "Three Five-Year Plan."
Chiyo didn't know his true intentions; she simply assumed he wanted to broaden his horizons, so she nodded.
"Alright, if you want to go, go ahead. Just remember to write back so I won't worry, and come back if things get tough."
"Understood!"
"Good, now eat before it gets cold!"
"Oh!"
Hattori began to eat, and Chiyo left the room. She returned with a suitcase a few moments later.
Carrying the case, she set it down before Hattori and opened it, revealing a full stack of 10,000-ryo bills. Hattori stared at it in shock.
"This…this is…"
"This is part of the compensation from Iwagakure Village. There are thirty million ryo here, and it's yours now!"
She pushed the case toward Hattori.
"For me?"
Hattori was stunned, then looked hesitant.
"Teacher, you're a Sand Village advisor. If you're using public funds like this, won't that look bad if people find out… Ow…"
Before he could finish, Chiyo flicked his forehead and glared at him.
"Talking nonsense—do I look like someone who would embezzle village funds? This is your mission reward!"
"My reward?" Hattori froze again. "There's this much in rewards?"
"Of course!"
Chiyo nodded and began counting.
"In the Battle of Kikyo Mountain, you protected everyone, defeated Konoha, and forced them to ally with the Sand Village, bringing in tons of resources for us.
"On the Northern Front, you repelled Iwagakure's large-scale assault, even killing their Four-Tails Jinchuriki, making Iwagakure yield to us.
"And then, the Mist Village fight—though it was unplanned, you killed the Third Mizukage, delivering a major blow to their forces. That achievement counts too!"
With a smile, Chiyo patted the cash case.
"This is your reward for bringing peace to the Sand Village. You've earned it!"
"Oh, I see!"
Hearing Chiyo's words, Hattori grinned, scratching his head.
"Hehe, in that case, I'll gladly accept it. Money really is a wonderful thing!"
"Hahahaha…"
Chiyo couldn't help but laugh at his words, then addressed him again.
"With your skills, you don't need a bodyguard, but it's always good to have someone for daily support. How about I let Mizu Suna go with you?"
"No need!"
Before she could finish, Hattori waved it off.
"The Sand Village Hospital relies on her. If she leaves with me, it'll just mean more work for you. I can handle myself."
"Well…alright."
Seeing Hattori's insistence and recognizing his logic, Chiyo nodded. She reluctantly took out a scroll and handed it to him.
"This is your puppet. I examined it all night. Aside from a Waterfall Jutsu seal, I couldn't find anything else. You should take it with you!"
"Haha, no need!"
Seeing her reluctance, Hattori chuckled and gestured to the scroll on his back.
"I have one here. This one can stay with you. You're free to study it as much as you like. And if you ever miss me, just send it to the Land of Wind—it'll find me!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Chiyo's eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately.
"Alright, I'll keep it, then. If there's any issue, I'll send it with a message. So, when are you planning to leave?"
"Hmm…no time like the present. Now's as good as ever!"
With that, Hattori stepped forward and gave Chiyo a hug.
"Take care of yourself, Teacher. Once I settle down in the Land of Wind's capital, I'll come and get you. You could use a quiet vacation!"
"Haha!" Hearing this, Chiyo laughed, "So I'll wait for you to come fetch me, hmm?"
"Heh, you can count on it. I'm off now, Teacher!"
"Go on, and be careful!"
"Mm!"
Hattori nodded, turned, and left Chiyo's residence.
Outside, he summoned his giant-winged dragonfly and flew off into the sky.
By the time Chiyo stepped outside, he was already out of sight.
From the distant sky, his voice rang out:
"You carry the load, I lead the horse, welcoming the sunrise and bidding farewell to sunset. Overcoming obstacles, paving the way, fighting hardships, and setting out once more, once more. La-la…la-la-la-la… la… la… cough, cough…"
Chiyo: "…"
(End of Volume 1: Sand Village Arc)
(Volume 2: The Resurrection Alliance will start soon—stay tuned!)
(End of Chapter)