"Chizan, last time you returned from the Daimyō's manor, you reported the matter about the Daimyō forming a ninja unit."
"What do you think about this?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness. He knew the Daimyō's manor all too well.
The current Daimyō was an ambitious man, and that spelled trouble for them.
If they let him continue like this, it would inflict serious damage on Konoha.
Even though he was no longer Hokage, he was still one of the village's advisors. Naturally, he couldn't just watch the Daimyō's manor make a move against the village.
That was also the main reason they kept Gekko Chizan around.
"What else is there to think?"
"The Daimyō's manor has always looked at Konoha this way, hasn't it?"
"The fact that he waited until the war ended before taking action is already showing us respect."
"Now that the war has ended and there's been a change in Hokage, it's the perfect time for him to make his move."
Regarding the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, Gekko Chizan was utterly puzzled.
Because in the original story, this wasn't the same person. Could it be that, due to the Land of Fire's dire situation in the Third Shinobi World War, the original Daimyō retired?
But now, because of his own appearance, the entire plot had veered off course.
Logically speaking, shouldn't the Land of Fire's Daimyō be that soft, spineless guy?
"Sigh, the relationship between the Daimyō's manor and us has grown tense."
"Chizan, this time when you go to the Daimyō's manor, I want you to stand from the village's perspective and gather more intel."
"After all, the last time you went, the Daimyō's attitude toward you wasn't too bad."
"Plus, with your outstanding performance in the Third Shinobi World War, I believe he'll trust you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed great expectations on Gekko Chizan—just like he once did with Namikaze Minato.
If not for Chizan's long-time habit of going off-track, it wouldn't have been impossible for him to become Hokage either.
After all, judging from the numerous meetings, this brat indeed had a uniquely sharp mind.
"Oh? Aren't you worried I'll actually join the Daimyō's manor?"
"You should know, their offer is incredibly generous. For a mundane guy like me, tsk tsk, the temptation is huge."
"Money? They've got it. Power? They've got that too. It's pretty sweet."
Gekko Chizan didn't believe a word from the old smoker in front of him. These old guys were all sly—just look at Danzō beside him, tsk tsk, even sneakier than an octopus.
"Hmph! If you were someone who could be bought with petty benefits, I'd eat this pipe right here."
Sarutobi Hiruzen flicked off the ash, looking at Gekko Chizan with utter disdain.
"You may be rotten, greedy, and lecherous, but at your core, you're still an outstanding heir of Fire."
"I can swear on my name for that."
"So stop testing me."
Gekko Chizan rolled his eyes and fired back mercilessly:
"Give me a break. Just look at Minato and Fugaku sabotaging me."
"Who knows, maybe I should take my wife and my little brother and defect to the Daimyō's manor."
"I—"
BANG!
Before he could finish, a thunderous slam shook the room.
Shimura Danzō's slap nearly flipped the table.
"Bastard! Gekko Chizan, this is a meeting! What nonsense are you spouting!"
"Hmph, Hiruzen, this is the price of indulging him."
"Het is getting more and more outrageous!"
Not only Danzō, but Koharu and Homura also wore unpleasant expressions.
After all, in such a formal setting, Chizan saying something like that was indeed inappropriate.
Only Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen found it normal.
Because if he didn't behave like this—he wouldn't be Gekko Chizan.
"Yo, Danzō-sama, any advice? Should I sit here quietly and wait for you all to assign me tasks?"
"I'm a person, you know. People have emotions. Just like you—one sentence from me and you're already fuming."
"Tsk tsk, look at Old Man Hiruzen. Sigh, you really can't compare."
Gekko Chizan didn't care about Shimura Danzō at all.
After all, that old fossil had already tried to have him killed. If he still kept a good temper, then he'd be a fool.
A newbie and an old veteran—facing off needle to wheat in front of two Hokage and two advisors. Neither budged an inch.
In the end, Namikaze Minato stepped in to mediate.
"Chizan, enough."
"Advisor Danzō, you too."
With his intervention, the two sat back down, though their eyes still locked fiercely onto each other. Clearly, this wasn't going to be resolved easily.
"Chizan, be careful when you go to the Daimyō's manor."
"Even if the Daimyō's attitude toward you seems good, who knows what he might do."
"From what I know, his ninja force already has a certain scale."
Gekko Chizan folded his arms, shaking his head confidently:
"The Daimyō isn't stupid. He won't start a direct war with the village."
"Digging from the inside is the smartest move."
"Who knows, maybe when I go, I'll get great food, great drinks, and great treatment."
"As for the people he recruited, I'll handle them as needed. Hehehehe..."
His sly laughter sent chills down everyone's spine. They all knew—when he laughed like that, nothing good ever followed.
"Alright, let's end here. Meeting dismissed."
When the meeting ended, coincidentally, Shimura Danzō and Gekko Chizan stood up at the same time.
"Hmph!"
"Tch, bad luck!"
Gekko Chizan spat in disgust, flashing backward before vanishing instantly with Flying Thunder God.
Danzō's face turned completely dark.
Minato, Hiruzen, and the others looked at the scene with helplessness.
Leaving the Hokage building, Gekko Chizan returned to the Ninja Academy—where a young boy was already waiting at the gate.
"Hello. I'm Uchiha Shisui."
"The clan head asked me to come find you so we can carry out the next mission together."
Looking at the boy before him—neither tall nor muscular, but full of spirit—Gekko Chizan's lips curled slightly.
Uchiha Shisui—this one was a true prodigy. No, not just a prodigy—an exceptional genius.
Because heaven is jealous of outstanding talent.
"Mm. Let's go. Before the mission, let me test your strength and see whether Fugaku exaggerated his praise."
Gekko Chizan placed a hand on Shisui's shoulder—and the next moment, the two vanished.
They reappeared deep within a forest.
This was Shisui's first time experiencing the Flying Thunder God. His face instantly showed surprise.
You couldn't blame him. Flying Thunder God, a technique that crosses space itself, was simply too miraculous.
"So this is the Flying Thunder God..."
"Amazing. Are we already far away from the village?"