The farce was over, but Sakumo still hadn't called Kawakaze "Big Brother."
Kawakaze smirked as he approached Sakumo, clearly enjoying his role as the elder in front of Nawaki.
"Big Brother, I'll teach you."
"There's no need to do that. You're my Big Brother."
Sakumo was still furious, This little brat kept picking on me, even now that he's all grown up.
Kawakaze raised an eyebrow, his tone turning playful. "You've got some backbone. If you don't want to learn, that's fine."
Nayuki, watching the exchange, decided to join in the fun. Meanwhile, Onimaru, ever resourceful, stayed out of it—this was a human matter, after all, and had nothing to do with dogs.
Sakumo shot his wife a sidelong glance. She's really here to stir things up.
"Who said I'm not learning?" he snapped.
"Let's go, let's go." Ignoring her, Sakumo grabbed Kawakaze and led him off to the side, leaving Nayuki behind.
"The most important thing about the Flying Thunder God Technique," Kawakaze began, "is to feel the power of space."
He turned serious as he added, "Big Brother, I can't guarantee you'll be able to learn it."
Sakumo nodded, his attention sharp. Kawakaze's expression grew pale as he retrieved the Scroll of the Flying Thunder God Technique from inside his robes.
"I only learned it by chance, with Lady Mito's guidance," Kawakaze explained. "You can give it a try first, and then we'll see."
He handed the Scroll to Sakumo. If Sakumo could learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, he wouldn't be able to use it continuously like Kawakaze, limited as he was by Chakra reserves. Still, it would be more than sufficient in combat. As the future "Konoha White Fang," his Chakra capacity was formidable.
Sakumo began studying the Scroll. Before long, the Flying Thunder God Technique appeared inscribed on his short sword—a feat that proved no problem for him. But the next step—sensing the power of space—left him stuck. No matter how hard he tried, progress eluded him.
Kawakaze could only stand by helplessly; this part required Sakumo's own insight.
As Sakumo struggled, Kawakaze found his mind wandering, daydreaming about the time Tsunade held him in her arms.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had arrived at the office of the Third Hokage. A box of silver banknotes lay open, placed prominently at the center of the room.
"Sensei, here are 120 million ryō in silver banknotes."
Tsunade stood opposite the Third Hokage, her posture relaxed. The journey had gone smoothly, and no one had dared to interfere with her.
"Haha, the Hatake Clan is truly wealthy," the Third Hokage remarked, a genuine smile forming as he puffed on his pipe. "I thought this would take much longer."
"With this, the village's schools and other facilities can finally be improved," he added. "It's a fortunate turn of events for Konoha."
Tsunade nodded. She couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for her teacher. Under his leadership, the quality of life for Konoha's citizens had genuinely improved.
"Sensei always has Konoha's best interests at heart. That is truly our good fortune," she said earnestly.
"Haha, I am merely a successor of the Will of Fire," the Third Hokage responded with a hearty laugh. His words carried a sense of pride and humility befitting his role.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, standing nearby, exchanged looks of nostalgia. Their expressions softened as they remembered their teacher, though he was no longer with them.
The Third Hokage shifted topics abruptly. "Is Kawakaze Hatake close to you?"
"Why do you ask, Sensei?" Tsunade replied, her tone neutral.
"With such a large sum of money, he didn't deliver it himself. Isn't he wary of an old man like me?" the Hokage teased lightly.
His words struck a chord, and Tsunade's mind flashed back to the warehouse, where Kawakaze had boldly wrapped his arms around her waist. Unconsciously, a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
"We're good friends," she said, forcing a calm tone. Whether the Third Hokage believed her or not was anyone's guess.
"Oh, is that so? Well, if there's nothing else, you may go," he said, his expression returning to one of mild concern. "A major battle is brewing. Stay vigilant."
"Understood, Sensei."
Tsunade nodded respectfully, turning to address the advisors. "Advisors, I'll take my leave now."
She exchanged a brief, knowing smile with Koharu Utatane before departing. Once outside the Hokage Building, she found herself wandering aimlessly. Not wanting to visit the Hatake Clan just yet, she eventually stumbled upon a casino and decided to step inside.
The legendary big spender of Konoha had arrived, and word spread quickly. The small casino filled to capacity as gamblers flocked to catch a glimpse of her.
Tsunade happily shook the dice, oblivious to the fact that her activities were being monitored by the Root.
In an underground chamber, a Root ninja knelt before Danzo.
"My lord, Tsunade has delivered the funds to the Hokage's office," the ninja reported.
"So quickly?" Danzo's eyes narrowed. "It seems the Hatake Clan is indeed wealthy."
Seated in the shadowed main seat of the chamber, Danzo's calculating mind began to turn. The Root operatives stationed around the Hokage's building had observed every movement. His ambitions were well known, and only the Third Hokage could tolerate his machinations.
"They'll begin construction on the hospital next," Danzo mused. "Inform the Uchiha Clan to prepare. We'll wait for our opportunity."
Danzo's orders were swiftly relayed, but unbeknownst to him, the Uchiha Clan Head had similar plans of his own. Two cunning foxes rarely worked in harmony.
As Danzo's messenger entered the Uchiha district, he was immediately apprehended by the Konoha Military Police Force. The two captains, flanking the restrained ninja, brought him before the Clan Head.
"So, you're one of Danzo's," the Uchiha Clan Head remarked coldly, his authoritative tone carrying an unmistakable edge.
"Why don't you release him?"
Feigning humility, the two captains loosened their grip and stepped back.
"We suspected he was a spy and acted accordingly," one of them explained, offering a perfunctory apology.
The Root ninja, silent throughout his capture, finally spoke up. "Lord Danzo has sent word: the Senju Clan hospital construction is about to begin."
Brainwashed and bound by a tongue-sealing technique, the Root operatives were ruthless and unflinching, driven solely by their master's commands.
The Uchiha Clan Head's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Go back and tell Lord Danzo that the Uchiha Clan will cooperate fully."
After the Clan Head finished speaking, he waved dismissively, signaling the Root Ninja to leave. The operative bowed silently and vanished into the shadows, leaving the room heavy with tension.
Fugaku finally broke the silence. "Clan Head, what are your orders? How should we proceed?"
The Clan Head leaned back, his demeanor calm and calculating. "The land for the hospital is under constant surveillance, day and night. There's no need to act hastily. Let's observe for now and reassess if there's any significant movement."
His composure was unshakable, his words laced with quiet authority.
Fugaku lowered his gaze, acknowledging his own shortcomings. In moments like this, he couldn't help but feel that the gap between himself and the Clan Head was still as vast as ever.
...
All morning, Sakumo had been focused on comprehending the intricacies of the Flying Thunder God Technique. His determination and effort were truly commendable, but despite gaining a clearer understanding of the method, he had made no tangible progress.
Sweat beaded on his brow, evidence of the intense mental strain he was under. Kawakaze, noticing this, decided to offer some encouragement.
"Big Brother, take a break," Kawakaze said warmly. "This isn't something you can master in just one day."
He seemed to forget that he had effortlessly mastered the technique earlier that morning, right in front of Sakumo.
Sakumo's expression darkened slightly. "As expected, I'm still no match for you," he muttered, dissatisfaction evident in his tone. His younger brother's remarkable talent often left him feeling inadequate.
Realizing that continuing to brood over his struggles wouldn't help, Sakumo stood up. The two brothers walked over to a stone table and sat down.
Nayuki had thoughtfully prepared herbal tea and pastries for them. Her heart ached as she observed her husband's stubbornness. Sakumo was exceptional in every way, but his relentless determination often pushed him too far.
"Have something to eat and rest," she urged gently. "You can't expect to master a technique like this overnight."
Sakumo exhaled deeply, acknowledging her words with a soft smile. "I know," he replied, his tone subdued. Picking up a pastry, he leaned over and offered Nayuki a bite.
Her cheeks flushed pink at his unexpected gesture. "Sakumo!" she protested softly, embarrassed but touched.
Kawakaze, however, couldn't resist teasing them. "Someone's killing the dog!" he shouted dramatically, startling both Sakumo and Nayuki.
Nayuki, now thoroughly embarrassed, quickly stood and walked away to regain her composure.
Meanwhile, Onimaru, the Hatake Clan's lone dog, heard Kawakaze's exaggerated cry and immediately sprang into action. Lying lazily under a tree just moments ago, he bolted toward the dojo, his instincts screaming danger.
After a frantic search, he finally located Nayuki by following her scent. Crawling into her arms, he whimpered pitifully, trembling as though pleading for his life.