Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 199 A High-Stakes Gamble in the New Era! The Serpent Sect's Alliance

Early morning, at the restaurant of the Kikyō-kan.

Sosuke sat in the main seat, holding a newspaper in his hand.

The newspaper headlines were still about the aftermath of Danzo's death and the series of charitable initiatives by the new "strategic materials advisor," Sousuke Takaya.

Although he knew these were just official documents, he still read them very carefully. Public opinion is also part of the business.

"Good morning, Dad!"

A series of hurried footsteps came from the stairs.

Yugao flew down like a happy little lark.

Her long purple hair was tied into two high ponytails, bouncing as she ran.

Good morning, Yugao.

Sosuke put down his newspaper and smiled as he caught the little girl who rushed towards him.

Why are you so happy today?

"Because we have a practical lesson today!"

Xiyan waved her little fist.

"Mom taught me a technique for throwing a spinning shuriken, and I'm going to try it out on Hongdou today! I have to beat her!"

Mitarashi Anko, Orochimaru's disciple, is also Yugao's "rival" at school.

"Red Beans—"

Sosuke raised an eyebrow.

That's a girl with an abundance of energy.

"That—Dad."

Xi Yan suddenly became a little awkward, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers.

"What's wrong? Not enough allowance?"

"no----"

Yugao glanced towards the kitchen to make sure her mother was still busy before leaning close to Sosuke's ear and whispering, "Anko said—her master Orochimaru has lots of fun snakes."

"I want one too—can I have one? I want to learn the technique of having a snake retrieve my shuriken!"

Sosuke paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

This is probably what "competition" is like among the kids at the ninja academy. They compare who has the most ninja tools and whose summoning beast is the coolest.

"Raising snakes, huh?

Sosuke stroked his chin, pretending to think seriously.

"Snakes are cold-blooded animals; they need to eat raw meat and hibernate, which is quite troublesome."

Xi Yan's face immediately fell.

"but----"

Sosuke then changed the subject.

"If you get a perfect score in your theory courses this semester, I might consider giving you one."

"real?!"

"Really. And it's not an ordinary snake."

Sosuke thought of Ryuchi Cave.

"I'll have Uncle Orochimaru pick out the most obedient and beautiful summoning beast for you."

Since it's Orochimaru's disciple competing against his own daughter, he naturally can't lose in terms of equipment.

"That's great! Daddy's the best!"

Yugao excitedly gave Sosuke a loud kiss on the cheek.

"What's so amazing?"

Kaori came out of the kitchen carrying a plate and placed the fried eggs and bacon on the table.

She was wearing light blue loungewear, the sleeves rolled up to reveal a section of her fair wrist. In the morning light, that wrist was white and delicate, showing hardly any signs of injury.

"It's nothing, it's a secret between father and daughter."

Sosuke winked at Yugao.

Xi Yan immediately covered her mouth, nodded vigorously, and gave an "I understand" look.

Kaori shook her head helplessly and poured Sosuke a cup of hot tea.

"Just indulge her."

She sat down and began spreading jam on Xiyan's bread.

"By the way, boss."

Kaori said casually as she spread the jam.

"The milkman just said that there's been a lot of commotion at the Hyuga clan lately."

"Oh?"

Sosuke cuts open the bacon.

"How so?"

"I've heard that the branch family has been holding frequent gatherings lately. And—Mr. Hyuga Katsu seems to be suggesting to the main family that they revise the Gentle Fist teachings."

"Although the main family hasn't said it explicitly, I've heard that several elders are very dissatisfied with it, but they don't dare to express it openly."

Kaori handed the bread with jam to Yugao, then looked at Sosuke.

"Mr. Sheng—isn't this a bit too hasty?"

"No rush."

Sosuke took a sip of tea, and the bitter taste invigorated him.

"He holds power in his hands, and the main family dares not touch him."

The core taboo of "not touching the caged bird as long as victory is achieved" is merely a matter of elaboration on techniques and doctrine; the main family will most likely compromise on this.

"Because they need to defeat this powerful force to save face."

"I hope everything goes well for Mr. Katsu," Kaori said.

She placed a fried egg into Sosuke's bowl.

"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?" she asked.

"Hmm. But I might be a little late. I have some errands to run."

"I'll make you sukiyaki tonight."

"it is good."

After breakfast, Xiyan went out full of energy.

Kaori helped Sousuke straighten his collar at the door.

"Be careful on the road."

She said softly.

"Although things have been peaceful in the village lately, I always feel like—some eyes are watching us."

That was her intuition as a ninja.

"rest assured."

Sosuke took her hand and squeezed it.

"We are no longer prey that anyone can just take a bite out of."

He pushed open the door and went out.

The sunlight shone on him.

His back was straight, and his black trench coat fluttered slightly in the wind.

Kaori stood at the door, watching his back until he disappeared at the end of the street, before slowly closing the door.

She walked to the window and glanced at the four corners of the yard.

There was nothing there.

Perhaps she overreacted? No, she trusted her own judgment.

"Looks like I can't let my guard down too much."

She muttered to herself, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger hidden behind the vase.

To protect her family, she was ready to kill at any time.

Akatada, an izakaya (Japanese pub) in Konoha.

Early in the morning, there weren't many people around. There was only a few empty wine bottles on a table in the corner.

Tsunade sat there alone, swirling a half-empty cup of sake in her hand.

Jingyin sat to the side, looking at her with some difficulty, wanting to advise her but not daring to.

"Lady Tsunade, are we leaving first thing tomorrow morning?" Shizune asked softly.

"Um.

Tsunade tilted her head back and drank the wine in one gulp.

"The surgery is all done. I've also paid back the favor I owed that kid."

"The air in this village is too polluted. If I stay here too long, I'll suffocate."

Her eyes were unfocused.

Although Danzo is dead, Konoha's politics have not become more transparent. The two advisors still hold power, and the various clans are secretly vying for the position of Hokage successor.

Those disgusting schemes reminded her of her younger brother, Nawaki, and the deaths of her lover, Dan.

"Let's go. Even if we lose all our money gambling, it's better than staying here and seeing the faces of these old bastards."

"jingle."

The curtain of the izakaya was lifted.

A gust of cool air crept in.

"Boss, warm up a pot of Daiginjo sake. The best I can."

A calm voice rang out.

Tsunade paused for a moment. She knew who it was without even looking.

Sousuke walked in. He walked to the opposite side of Tsunade and sat down.

"Lady Tsunade, are you leaving?"

Sosuke poured himself a cup of tea; he didn't drink alcohol.

"none of your business."

Tsunade didn't give him a friendly look.

"Our contract is over. A year as a consultant? Hmph, the number of surgeries I performed in this month is equivalent to what others did in ten years. That debt has long been settled."

"really."

Sousuke nodded.

"According to the spirit of the contract, you no longer owe me anything."

"Then what are you doing here? Seeing me off?"

Tsunade glanced at him sideways.

"If it's a farewell party, one pot of wine won't be enough."

"I'm here to discuss a new business deal."

Sousuke looked at Tsunade with a deep gaze.

"Lady Tsunade, what do you think of Konoha right now?"

"It's completely rotten."

Tsunade made no attempt to hide it.

"The upper echelons are corrupt, and the young people are lost. They shout about the Will of Fire, but behind the scenes they're all about business. In that respect, you're quite similar to them."

"no the same."

Sosuke shook his head.

"They are depleting Konoha's resources. I, on the other hand, am building it up."

"Lady Tsunade, you want to leave because you feel this village is beyond saving. You can't change it, so you choose to run away."

"Who are you calling escaping?!" Tsunade slammed her hand on the table, causing her wine glass to tremble.

Sosuke did not back down and met her anger head-on.

"Isn't that right?"

"You possess the strongest medical ninjutsu and enjoy the prestige of the Senju clan. If you stay, you can clearly do so much more."

"But you were afraid. You were afraid to see your loved ones die again, afraid to see hope shattered again."

A flicker of pain crossed Tsunade's eyes. Being hit where it hurts is never a pleasant experience.

She remained silent for a long time before letting out a sneer.

"So what if it is? I'm not like you, still clinging to illusions about this pile of rotten wood."

"Napaki is dead, broken, and Minato is dead too. The tragedy will keep repeating itself."

"I can't save everyone, Takaya Sosuke."

Tsunade's eyes revealed a deep weariness.

"I'm tired. I want to gamble, lose money, and forget who I am."

"What if I said I could change all of this?"

Sousuke's voice clearly reached Tsunade's ears.

Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! You? With what ability?"

Sosuke looked at her calmly, his single eye showing no emotion, only absolute tranquility.

Tsunade's laughter stopped abruptly.

This man isn't crazy. His eyes are colder than a scalpel.

"How do you want to change things?" Tsunade's voice lowered.

Sousuke took a document out of his pocket and pushed it in front of Tsunade.

Konoha Medical System Reform Plan.

"Take a look at this."

Tsunade frowned and glanced at it.

Her gaze gradually froze.

This plan details how to use the funds from the Takaya Chamber of Commerce to establish a medical security network covering the entire village.

By concentrating resources, a large number of medical ninjas were trained within a few years.

Medical ninjas are incorporated into each combat squad and given veto power—"If the mission is deemed too risky or there are too many wounded, the medical ninja has the right to terminate the mission."

This was Tsunade's dream back then. It was also the proposal she put forward at the meeting, but it was rejected.

The reasons are always the same: no money, no people, it's not realistic.

"you----"

Tsunade's fingers were trembling.

"Where did you get so much money? This requires an astronomical amount of funds."

"I have."

Sosuke said calmly.

"The money from the Daimyo's military purchases, the profits from the new shipping routes, and the revenue from the Uchiha factory. I will use the money I earn to create these systems."

"Lady Tsunade, you couldn't do it before because you didn't have the leverage to force the higher-ups to compromise."

"But I have it."

Sosuke lowered his voice.

"Konoha cannot function without me now. I have the authority to change the rules."

"What are you planning to do?"

Tsunade put down the documents, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"You want me to stay, not just for the surgery, right?"

"certainly."

"I want to nominate the Fourth Hokage."

Sousuke's words were startling. Tsunade, however, didn't seem to mind; she had expected it.

"Lord Hiruzen has grown old. His kindness has become weakness, and he's always trying to smooth things over. Danzo may be dead, but this corrupt foundation remains."

Sousuke continued.

"Konoha needs a new Kage. A strong, rational, even—ruthless Kage."

"You mean—" Tsunade thought of someone.

Orochimaru.

Sosuke uttered that name.

Tsunade frowned slightly. She loathed Orochimaru as he was now, but she had to admit that the freak was indeed capable.

"Orochimaru is a madman. He'll turn the village into a laboratory."

"Therefore, I need you to stay in the village."

"If a princess of the Senju clan were to serve as a medical advisor, or even as the 'Hokage's assistant,' she could be kept in check."

"You and Orochimaru, plus the economic lifeline I control, the three of us will form a new iron triangle."

"Orochimaru will be in charge of technology and military force, you will be in charge of medical care and maintaining morale, and I will be in charge of money and resources."

"Isn't this kind of Konoha better than the current corrupt old-fashioned politics?"

Tsunade remained silent.

Sosuke poured her a full glass of wine.

"Lady Tsunade, please stay."

"It's not about paying off debts, nor is it about the village. It's about seeing—can we end this flawed era with our own hands?"

"If you leave, this will truly just be a drunken dream."

Tsunade stared at the wine in her glass.

a long time.

She picked up her glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Damn it—"

She wiped the wine stains from the corner of her mouth, her eyes sharpening again—the aura of the Sannin.

"Sousuke Takaya, you're even crazier than Orochimaru."