"If I help you but don't even offer you a favor, what's the point?" Mitokadu Homura remarked with a smile. "Although my favor may not hold much value in the future, if you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask."
Having chosen a neutral stance, Mitokadu Homura found his perception of Shinki shifting. He no longer saw him through a tinted lens. In fact, Shinki seemed like an easygoing person—someone who didn't scheme or manipulate needlessly.
"Senior, are you planning to retire so soon?" Shinki asked with feigned surprise.
"Retire?" Mitokadu Homura was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "If possible, I'd rather not retire so early. But…"
After the fallout from the Third Hokage's scandal, Mitokadu Homura knew his continued presence in a high-ranking position was unlikely. Tsunade, now leading the village, wouldn't allow individuals closely tied to Hiruzen to retain significant power.
The very idea of retirement, however, was bitter.
Shinki took a sip of tea and spoke casually. "Then you might be in for a surprise. Tsunade has kept the position of the logistics department reserved for you."
"Really?" Mitokadu Homura stood up in shock. If he could remain in charge of logistics, early retirement wouldn't even cross his mind. But could Tsunade really trust him after his association with the previous administration?
Shinki leaned back in his chair. "In theory, it would make sense to replace you with someone closer to her. But the Ino-Shika-Chō families have already received substantial rewards and influence—they're not candidates for further advancement. Meanwhile, the Uchiha and Hyuga families have internal issues that prevent them from taking such a role."
He smiled knowingly. "Senior, Tsunade doesn't have a wealth of people she can trust and rely on. You, however, have already proven yourself. And besides, didn't you proactively repay the funds your family benefited from during the Third Hokage's tenure?"
Mitokadu Homura nodded, recalling how he had prepared for such contingencies. After Hiruzen's actions came to light, he'd ensured his family repaid what they'd gained, distancing them from the scandal. Of the key figures associated with Hiruzen, Mitokadu Homura's family had benefited the least—partly due to his inability to compete with the more aggressive Utatane Koharu and Shimura Danzo.
That past disadvantage now worked in his favor. When it came time to settle accounts, he had far less to repay.
Shinki continued, "So long as you make significant contributions during the war, I see no reason why you can't retain your role in logistics."
Mitokadu Homura sighed in relief, his earlier anxieties dissipating. Compared to Danzo and Koharu, his situation was far less dire. He knew they would not enjoy similar second chances.
When Mitokadu Homura departed, visibly overjoyed, Shinki couldn't help but ponder. Is power really so important? Though Mitokadu Homura spoke of dedication to the village, Shinki suspected that same fervor would vanish if he were relegated to an idle position.
Despite his exhaustion, Mitokadu Homura returned to the front-line camp immediately. His disheveled appearance startled even the Third Hokage.
"Homura, are you alright? Did you not rest properly?" Hiruzen asked, concerned.
Mitokadu Homura looked haggard, his hair disheveled, dark circles under his eyes, and lips pale. He appeared as though he'd just recovered from a serious illness.
"I'm fine. Just didn't get enough rest," he replied, brushing off the concern. "Hiruzen, this is the ninjutsu scroll I brought from the village. Learn it as quickly as possible. Whether we can break the deadlock depends on this."
Hiruzen accepted the scroll and opened it curiously. Chiyo, standing nearby, tilted her head, trying to catch a glimpse.
Without hesitation, Hiruzen rolled the scroll up tightly. He wasn't certain what kind of ninjutsu it contained, but if it was something classified, sharing it would be a costly mistake.
Chiyo sighed, clearly annoyed. "Oh, relax, old man. I wasn't going to steal your secrets."
Still, she walked away, knowing Hiruzen wouldn't let her get a peek.
Hiruzen unrolled the scroll again once Chiyo was gone, scanning its contents carefully. His brow furrowed as familiarity struck. "Homura, this jutsu…"Mitokadu Homura, after guzzling some tea to rejuvenate himself, chuckled. "It probably feels familiar because it's based on the Water Dragon and Fire Dragon Techniques. Shinki developed it into a new lightning jutsu. It requires a strong leader and cooperative participants to unleash its full power."
"Gathering a large amount of lightning chakra amplifies its destructive force. Properly executed, it's as powerful as a forbidden technique."
Hiruzen's lips pressed into a thin line. "This Thunder Dragon Technique sounds… promising, but can it really be trusted?"
He couldn't deny the potential of the jutsu but remained skeptical. If it was a joint technique requiring precise coordination, its success depended heavily on the participants' skills and timing.
"I don't know about reliable," Chiyo quipped from a distance, "but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it."
Hiruzen ignored her and focused on the scroll. Known as the "Professor" for his mastery of ninjutsu, he felt confident in learning the technique quickly. Whether it could effectively break the stalemate on the battlefield would require testing.
With his trademark determination, Hiruzen rolled up the scroll. "Homura, you've done well. Leave the rest to me."
As Hiruzen began strategizing, Chiyo's mind wandered to the new technique. A Thunder Dragon Technique? Based on the Water Dragon and Fire Dragon jutsu?
Her memories of the original Water Dragon Technique—complex and demanding with its numerous hand seals—left her skeptical. Could something built upon such a foundation really be effective in combat?
Still, she admitted to herself, the potential for destruction intrigued her.