"Oh? So the Daimyō is planning to hire me?"
"That's not a good idea. I'm at least a Jōnin, and you want to hire me? The price won't be cheap."
With over 20 days left at the Daimyō's Manor, Kazuyama had no intention of cutting ties just yet. He might as well enjoy the Manor's hospitality a little longer. And once he left… hehe, the Shameless Emperor would be far away—who could stop him then?
Hearing the word money, Yanagimura smiled. They lacked manpower and military strength, but they certainly didn't lack funds.
"Money is not an issue. If you're willing, the Daimyō's Manor can provide you with a generous reward."
"The prerequisite, of course, is that you truly join us."
His tone turned serious. This was no casual offer—if Kazuyama wasn't fully on board, there was no reason to continue the discussion.
Watching Yanagimura's grave expression, Kazuyama couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
They were already trying to steal talent from Konoha, so why put on an act?
"Then tell me, how much is the Daimyō willing to pay?"
"My price... heh heh..."
Both of them laughed.
Kazuyama laughed because he felt like he was playing along with a monkey's act—and thoroughly enjoying it.
Yanagimura laughed because he knew Kazuyama had no idea just how deep the Daimyō's pockets were.
"Don't worry. As long as you have the heart to contribute to Daimyō's Manor, I doubt the Lord would hesitate over money."
"After all, our Land of Fire isn't the Land of Wind—a mere sum is nothing."
That was true. The Land of Fire was the wealthiest of the Five Great Nations. But when it came to unity, the Land of Lightning was unmatched.
After all, their Daimyō moved in lockstep with their village, while the Daimyō of the Land of Fire was busy trying to form his own army. There was no comparison.
"It all depends on how much the Daimyō is willing to pay."
"That's enough, Yanagimura. I need to go and... well... patrol, so I'll take my leave."
"It wouldn't do to keep the Daimyō waiting."
Yanagimura watched as Kazuyama walked away, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
"Looks like the Daimyō was right. Someone like him will be easy to buy off."
"And money isn't the only tool at our disposal. There are... other means, some even more effective."
Greed and lust. Money was one thing, but pleasure could be an even better trap.
Daimyō's Manor stood at the pinnacle of the Land of Fire, filled with countless beautiful women. Using them to secure a Jōnin would be a small price to pay.
Free from Yanagimura's presence, Kazuyama immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting back to his residence. Without wasting time, he grabbed the three kids and transported them straight out of Daimyō's Castle.
The movement was so fast that they didn't even have time to react before finding themselves in the forest outside.
"Huh? Where is this?"
"Kazuyama-sensei?"
Rin, still holding a map, flinched at the sudden change in scenery, startled by how abruptly the castle had disappeared.
Kazuyama stepped forward.
"We're not going back to the city for a few days. If Kirigakure doesn't show up within a week, there's no point in waiting around."
"I plan to take the initiative and wipe them out early so we can go home sooner."
"Daimyō's Manor... tsk tsk tsk..."
Hearing the plan, both Kakashi and Obito's eyes lit up.
"This is a great idea!"
"We should've attacked ages ago! I haven't even gotten to fight this whole mission!" Obito exclaimed, buzzing with excitement.
Unlike him, Kakashi was more reserved, though a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
"Kazuyama-sensei, if we go on the offensive but fail to find them... what if they find us first?"
"The risk is too high."
Kazuyama nodded. Kakashi had a point.
But staying in Daimyō's Manor any longer? That was exhausting. Keeping up the act was far too tiring.
"In that case, let's use some special methods."
Kazuyama bit his index finger and smeared the blood on his arm with practiced ease.
"Summoning Technique!"
Boom!
A massive cloud of smoke erupted in the forest, followed by a deep, resonating hum that sent a chilling vibration through the air.
"Sssss..."
"A forest? ...I haven't seen the sun in a long time..."
"Heh heh heh... Kazuyama, was it? …Nice to finally meet you."
A voice filled with pressure echoed from within the smoke.
Kazuyama remained calm, unfazed, but the three young shinobi behind him reacted differently—eyes wide, bodies tense, instinctively stepping back.
"What is this?"
"This voice... it's like it's drilling straight into my mind..."
Obito clutched his ears, but the humming sound still reverberated in his brain.
Rin and Kakashi weren't faring any better. The sensation was overwhelming, and panic set in among the three.
"Alright, stop humming."
"My request to Ryūchi Cave was for a messenger. Seirin and Kinrin mentioned they had two older sisters."
Kazuyama had already recognized the identity of the newcomer from the moment the disturbance began. As a practitioner of Ryūchi Cave's techniques, he was well-versed in the nature of snakes.
The smoke cleared, revealing an enormous serpent with pale yellow scales marked by intricate patterns. Its massive body coiled effortlessly, a distinctive rattle at the end of its tail.
"Heh heh heh... Seirin and Kinrin told you about me?"
"That's right, I am their older sister."
"My name is Korin, and judging by my appearance, you should already know what I am."
The massive serpent slowly curled its body, lowering its enormous head while keeping its rattle raised.
"A rattlesnake, huh?"
"Haha, that's right. But to be precise, a rattlesnake that has trained in Senjutsu for hundreds of years."
A trace of pride flickered in Korin's voice as she spoke. Despite remaining still, her words carried effortlessly to Kazuyama's ears.
"Voice-based Senjutsu?"
"Yes. Exactly the power you're looking for."
The rattlesnake before him was a master of sound-based Senjutsu.
Capable of vibrating its tail up to 40–60 times per second, it could sustain an intense, penetrating sound that disrupted enemies. Combined with its deadly venom, Korin was a terrifying force.
"Boring kid. You're not even surprised."
"Let me guess—Seirin and Kinrin spilled my secrets?"
Korin rested her head against her coils, observing Kazuyama with amusement.
He shook his head, a confident smirk appearing on his face.
"They didn't say a word. I figured it out myself."
"Korin, I'm hunting the Kiri ninjas. I need your power to relay messages."
"If you need chakra to sustain the Summoning Technique, I can use the Transparent Escape Technique to help you gather it."
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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