Chapter 110: Tsunade, Where Is My Home?

"I heard you wanted to see me? So, how is it? Did what I taught you bring you great benefits?" "Uh..." When Yagura saw Kyoichi, he was at a loss for words from the very first sentence. What the... Taught him? He really couldn't refute that. "You’re no good. You can’t even respond to a simple question like this, and you still want to be Mizukage?" "I just didn't expect you to be so young." Yagura quickly regained his composure. That was the truth, after all. Kyoichi was too young—he looked at most seventeen or eighteen years old. The key point was that Kyoichi had always worn a mask before, making him seem like the heir of the White Fang. Now, looking closely... Isn't this the spitting image of the Second Hokage? A true Senju. With this realization, Yagura felt much better—losing to a descendant of the Senju wasn't shameful. After all, the forefathers of the Four Great Nations had all been thoroughly trounced by the Senju brothers. One more loss was nothing. "You didn't expect many things, did you? Like the matter of the Seven Swordsmen, for example. And don't think that little bit of strategy you've learned is enough—my tactics aren't that simple." "Though I don't know what you're talking about, I appreciate the advice." Yagura's expression remained calm, never admitting to having secretly studied Kyoichi's strategies. However, deep down, he was genuinely surprised. Kirigakure was indeed studying Kyoichi's tactics, considering how to integrate them with the Mist's assassination techniques, and they had already made some progress. Yet... Had Kyoichi predicted this all along? "Also, your village's Hidden Mist Technique and Silent Killing Technique are far from perfect. You're missing many details. You need to keep researching, and don't get complacent." Kyoichi chatted casually as they walked, giving Yagura no chance to ask questions. Yagura was fuming inside. This guy... Can't he say something nice for once? Why is he so prickly! Yagura took a deep breath and said, "Could you offer me some pointers?" Good grief... He had the potential to achieve great things. Kyoichi glanced at him and said, "Increase your chakra reserves! Without enough chakra, how can you maintain control over the mist?" Empty words. Yagura hadn't expected real advice from Kyoichi, so he remained unruffled. But then... "However, when dealing with Kumogakure, I can give you some real pointers." "Please, enlighten me!" "Bring sensory ninjas, launch surprise attacks on their weaker rear areas—they're bound to be underdefended. The key is to avoid engaging with their reinforcements. Grab the supplies, take the benefits, and retreat without getting entangled. This way, you'll never suffer a loss." Kyoichi explained. Kirigakure hitting the enemy's rear? No problem at all! "This... actually sounds feasible!" Yagura's eyes lit up. Though this strategy seemed a bit cowardly, it ensured a guaranteed return. But then he hesitated. "Aren't you afraid I'll use this tactic against Konoha?" Kyoichi merely smiled, saying nothing. His expression clearly said— Go ahead and try. "Ahem, of course, I didn't mean that. I was just curious." After a moment of contemplation, Yagura asked, "What is your village's strategy against Kumogakure?" "Fight! Konoha never compromises with its enemies." Kyoichi said firmly. S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yagura didn't know how to respond, so he just pretended to take it seriously. His purpose in seeking out Kyoichi was simple. He wanted to meet this legendary genius in person. As for probing him, that was just a casual attempt because Kyoichi was young—there was nothing to lose. It was worth a try, at least. Then... Kyoichi continued, speaking earnestly: "Your village has serious issues. With all those clans and an unchecked council of elders, you can't hope to become strong." "You're right. The various clans in our village are indeed a headache. Since Kirigakure looks up to Konoha, could you share some of your experience?" "Simple. See the Uchiha in our village? Give them the role of the police force, and they'll struggle to build good relations with the villagers. Gradually isolate them until they end up on the opposite side—and then... wipe them out!" Kyoichi mimed a cutting motion with his hand, exuding a chilling aura. Yagura was stunned for a long time. To be honest, this plan sounded quite convincing. So... The Uchiha police force wasn't an honor but a carefully orchestrated plot by Konoha? To be honest, he didn't quite believe it. The Uchiha's strength was well-known throughout the ninja world. Even if Konoha had to make sacrifices, this method seemed extreme. But... There was a sliver of plausibility. Because as far as he knew, the Uchiha did seem to be isolated in Konoha. "As for the elders—both of our village's advisors have stepped down. One is now focused on medical research, and the other is teaching chunin." "Really?" "Guess for yourself. Or, you know, your Kirigakure could send ANBU to investigate." Kyoichi smiled as he walked away, leaving Yagura in deep thought. Guess? Guess what, exactly! ... "What did you say to him?" Orochimaru was curious. Yagura had left, but his expression had been tangled and conflicted. Anyone with eyes could see his frustration. "Nothing much. I just told him that a village shouldn't have too many voices, and that our advisors had stepped down. I also hinted at plans to eliminate the Uchiha." "Huh? Haha, as expected of Kyoichi-kun!" Orochimaru paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. This was truly... Konoha did have two attitudes toward the Uchiha. The Third Hokage believed in following the Second Hokage's method of division and assimilation. Danzo believed they should continue the Second Hokage's approach of suppression—perhaps even wiping out the Uchiha. From the outside, either scenario seemed possible. As for the advisors... Orochimaru had also heard about Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado being reassigned. Even if Kirigakure risked everything to investigate, they would find this was true. The mix of truth and lies made it hard to discern reality. And the most critical part... Whether Yagura believed it or not, Kyoichi's words did hold some truth—it wasn't random advice. If not, Danzo wouldn't have gained so many supporters. And... Orochimaru didn't know that in the original anime, Kirigakure had indeed followed such methods. Kyoichi could imagine— Yagura probably wouldn't get much sleep now. The Eastern Border Truce However, the troops couldn't withdraw yet because Kirigakure's compensation hadn't arrived. Since they hadn't explicitly demanded Kirigakure attack Kumogakure, Orochimaru had asked for a heap of reparations. Though Jinpachi Munashi and the other two swordsmen had been released, their three swords remained with Kyoichi. No payment, no swords. This time, Kirigakure was surprisingly quick. Within two days, their ships reached the Land of Fire's coast. A mountain of explosive tags! Explosive tags were hard to produce, and their supply had always been limited. During peacetime, it was manageable. But Konoha had just fought Suna and barely rested a year before another war started—how could they have stockpiles? In addition, there were ninja tools, medicinal supplies, and more. Although there were no jutsu scrolls, the delivered goods were still quite valuable, providing Konoha with exactly what it needed. After the supplies arrived, Orochimaru led a team northward with a portion of the resources. The police force remained on the eastern front. Kyoichi was tasked with bringing the rest back to Konoha. On the way back, Asuma asked in a low voice, "Sensei, why aren't we heading directly north to support Minato-sensei and the others?" "Why are kids so nosy?" Kyoichi scolded him lightly. To be honest, he didn't know the reason either. But orders were orders. When he asked Tsunade privately, her response was cryptic— "Don't you want to go back?" A dangerous question. Kyoichi had no intention of guessing what was on her mind. Asuma, having received no answer, dropped the matter quickly. The good thing about this age was his short attention span. Soon enough, his mind wandered to other things—specifically, weapons. In this battle, he realized that simple kunai no longer met his combat needs. He needed a weapon that could work with his "Flying Swallow" technique. But... Asuma didn't want to ask his father, the Third Hokage, for help, leaving him stuck in a dilemma. Of course, Kyoichi knew exactly what Asuma needed. At this point, he probably understood Asuma better than Asuma understood himself. As for chakra metal... The Third Hokage had some chakra metal, and Kyoichi could provide the rest— With the Decapitating Carving Knife's excellent materials and special properties, it would be a waste not to use them. He could also forge a sword for Shisui. After all, it was all free material. When they were near Konoha, Kyoichi glanced back. Yamanaka Inoichi and the others were still trailing behind. Escorting such a large load of supplies naturally slowed them down. Meanwhile, Might Duy and Might Guy had already dashed ahead, pushing their limits all the way back to Konoha. By now, they were either home or in the hospital. If they stayed with the convoy, who knew when they'd get home? Kyoichi discussed it with Inoichi. Inoichi agreed. The area was safe, especially with the Hyuga clan providing security. Not even spies could get close, so there was no need for an exaggerated defense. And so... With a quick burst of speed, Kyoichi led Asuma and the others back to Konoha in just half an hour. "Go home and let your families know you're safe. We don't have the next mission yet, but don't slack off on your training. Understood?" Kyoichi emphasized this while looking directly at Shisui. Shisui understood. He had awakened his Sharingan, but he still wasn't proficient with it. This was the perfect time to study his clan’s scrolls and practice in secret, ensuring that when the time came, he could fully harness the power of his Sharingan. After sending the three kids home, Kyoichi headed straight for his own place. What was Tsunade up to, calling him back like this? Kyoichi was puzzled. Could it be... Had he made such great contributions that his fame had spread far and wide, and Tsunade was worried he might die on the battlefield? That couldn’t be it. Or maybe... Had Tsunade cracked the secret to healing without hand signs? A plausible theory! From Orochimaru’s attitude, it was clear he had lost interest in the First Hokage’s cells, so he likely handed over the research data. Tsunade could very well have received a copy. With the data on Hashirama’s cells, Tsunade’s research on hand seal-free healing would progress by leaps and bounds. He didn’t dwell on it. With a few Body Flicker Techniques, he was at the village gates in a minute. But... When he saw his home, Kyoichi stood there for a long time, stunned. What the... Where's my house? He was dazed for a few seconds, then saw Shizune open the door and peek out. "Kyoichi-sama, welcome home." "Shizune, what happened to my house while I was away?" Kyoichi’s face was blank. It wasn’t just a renovation—it was a total overhaul. The outer walls had been completely torn down and rebuilt. When he walked inside, he saw the yard had been redone as well. There was even a small pond in the middle. It had a nice aesthetic, but the shape of the pond... Looked suspiciously like a crater that had been remodeled.