Inside the meeting hall,
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"Quiet."
The noise died instantly.
Utatane Koharu spoke first:
"So it's that child.
If it's him, giving him battlefield experience is acceptable.
But appointing him as a Tier-3 Commander—isn't that too heavy a burden for someone his age?"
Tier-3 Command was no joke.
A Tier-3 could issue orders to tokubetsu jōnin and jōnin without command authority—much less chūnin.
Homura immediately followed her cue.
Koharu played the "soft" role—Homura now took the "firm" one.
"Even so… I believe Hiruzen has a point.
Lady Mito herself once praised that boy repeatedly.
If he succeeds, this could become a monumental precedent in Konoha's history.
A milestone for the village's entire command structure."
Seeing these two old comrades tacitly backing him, Hiruzen felt warm satisfaction.
"This," he declared,
"is why I say Kaito's ability is no weaker than that of a tokubetsu jōnin.
His only obstacle is psychological—he dislikes exams, which is why he hasn't become a chūnin yet.
"But on missions—
on the battlefield—
he remains calm. He completes what must be done.
"He reminds me of another so-called 'forever genin'—
Marustar Gousuke."
A wave of exclamations erupted.
That man—
A genin who had survived countless wars, taught personally by the Second Hokage and the Third Hokage, possessing jōnin-level strength, yet refusing promotions and only serving as an ordinary squad member.
Who in their right mind wouldn't want a jōnin-class "genin" as their teammate?
Nods spread across the room.
Hiruzen smiled.
"Then, for fairness—
we shall conduct a jōnin vote."
"Write 'agree' or 'disagree'.
Majority decides the appointment."
The Jōnin Council Vote
At last, the meeting ended.
On the board:
Agree: 正 正 正 正 正 正 正 正 正 正 正 正
(12 votes)
Disagree:
Only one tally—Sarutobi Shin'nosuke.
Kato Dan packed his notes and glanced at Shin'nosuke, who was standing frozen, as if struck by lightning.
Sorry, Dan sighed internally.
I can't afford to offend the Hokage. Probably ten people wanted to disagree—but nobody dared after seeing Hokage-sama's determination…
He hurried after Tsunade, who was just leaving.
"A-ah, excuse me—may I introduce myself?
I'm Kato Dan, jōnin of the Kato clan."
"Oh, it's you. What is it?"
Tsunade turned back, notebook in arm.
Beside her, Jiraiya gritted his teeth at the handsome newcomer.
Orochimaru simply observed—he instantly recognized the man's ambition.
"Actually," Dan said, "I hoped to make your acquaintance, Tsunade-sama.
I have a niece entering her second academy year.
She's very interested in medical ninjutsu, so I wondered if Tsunade-sama might—perhaps—consider taking her as a student?"
"Ooooh~~ so that's what this is about."
Tsunade looked him up and down.
Handsome, she thought.
But honestly—Kaito looks even better…
"Bring your niece tomorrow," she said.
"I don't take just anyone.
Let me see her first."
Before leaving, she added:
"Oh—
I'm heading to the frontlines soon.
So save the formal introduction for when I return.
But you can bring her information tomorrow; I'll review it."
Dan's face lit up.
"Of course! Thank you. And if possible… may I treat Tsunade-sama to dinner sometime?"
"No need.
Cash is fine."
Tsunade walked out, leaving Dan dumbfounded.
'Cash is fine'…?
Her parting words echoed:
"Let's meet again—
if fate allows."
A battlefield goodbye, Dan realized.
Not 'see you', but 'see you again if we survive'.
"Hope we meet again, Tsunade," he murmured, watching her leave.
He caught Jiraiya making a threatening gesture behind her and smirked.
A rival in love?
He looks like a child.
As for Tsunade supporting Kaito—Dan dismissed it.
Just a genin.
Burdened with heavy responsibility, one mistake and he'd be ruined.
Next Morning
A knock shook Kaito's door at 8 AM.
Still half-asleep, hair messy, he opened it.
"…ANBU? At this hour?"
The masked shinobi handed him a scroll with reverence in his voice.
"By order of the Hokage—
you are hereby appointed Tier-3 Commander of the Bugwood Gorge Forward Camp,
and Captain of the Recon Unit."
The ANBU almost sounded jealous.
"Congratulations, Kaito-genin.
I heard the Hokage personally defended you at last night's jōnin council…
Don't disappoint him~"
Kaito dumbly accepted the scroll.
Opened it.
Stared.
Looked back up.
"…Am I still dreaming?"
SLAP.
He slapped himself so fast the ANBU couldn't even stop him.
A red handprint bloomed across his cheek.
The ANBU blinked.
Kaito inhaled sharply.
"I… understand.
Please thank the Hokage for me."
The ANBU nodded and left—envying Kaito the whole way.
Door closed. No witnesses.
Kaito immediately—
—dove face-first into his pillow and cried.
Then he dragged himself to the mirror and slapped himself several more times.
"That's what you get for showing off.
That's what you get for 100% mission completion, you idiot."
But after a few slaps, he paused.
If I don't complete missions… I don't get paid.
If I fail… I owe money.
If I fail too much—I get restricted from taking jobs.
He sighed and read the appointment details:
Report to Bugwood Gorge by September 3rd.
Position: Recon Division Tier-3 Commander.
May personally select up to 30 subordinates…
"THIRTY?!
What the hell am I supposed to do with THIRTY people?!"
Then he read the salary section.
Basic monthly salary:
1,000,000 ryō.
Kaito froze.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
His eyes turned into money symbols.
"One… one million…
Just for existing on the battlefield?
NO TAXES?!"
He collapsed to the floor.
"I did six years of D-rank missions, day and night, for FOUR MILLION TOTAL!
And now I can earn a million a month by just standing there?!"
He stared further.
Death compensation: 3 million.
Then—
If the commander's failure results in severe loss to the village or allies,
compensation and salary may be withheld.
"Ah.
There it is.
The poison hidden in the sweet bun."
He exhaled.
"First time as a commander… I'm panicking so much I can't think straight.
Okay—
okay, fine.
Go to Orochimaru-sensei. Ask for help."
He washed up, sprinted to Orochimaru's house—empty.
Then ran to the Senju compound, where he found:
Nawaki.
Just Nawaki.
"Yo, Kaito.
Why are you here so early? Looking for my sis?"
Nawaki smirked, leaning in.
"You're not planning to chase my sister, right?
If you are, I can help. I actually like you."
Kaito's emotional storm dissolved into deadpan silence.
He stared at the brat who was trying to push him toward a gambling-addicted woman.
"…Don't be ridiculous.
I can't afford your sister."
Nawaki: "…"
Behind Kaito, footsteps approached.
Tsunade.
Slightly flushed.
Slightly hungover.
Hair damp from last night's drinking.
Her clothes clung just enough to reveal an… unfair silhouette.
She heard Kaito's last sentence.
The veins on her forehead bulged, forming a clear "井" pattern.
"WHO—
WHO SAID I WANT YOU TO MARRY ME?!"
Kaito immediately switched to survival mode.
He bowed with a flawless poker face.
"I only meant—if I don't earn enough money, you might gamble yourself away, and I wouldn't have money to ransom you.
But once I get rich, I'll definitely marry you."
Nawaki: "…???"
Tsunade: stunned. furious. flustered.
Kaito straightened and pretended he just now noticed her.
"Oh! Tsunade-sama.
My apologies.
The Hokage's appointment unsettled me a little."
Tsunade crossed her arms—
pushing up a pair of extremely distracting obstacles—
and stepped closer.
"Look into my eyes.
Do you think I'm pretty?"
Kaito instantly reset to neutral face.
"…Pretty."
"Tch. Saying it with a dead face doesn't count."
She leaned even closer.
The faint scent of sake drifted from her lips.
"You said you'd marry me.
So—
you don't mind giving your future wife some money to spend…
right?"
Kaito: "…"
He was tempted for a full second.
Then regained sanity.
"No money."
Tsunade froze.
A shinobi of legendary heritage—
shocked speechless.
"W-WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO LEND ME MONEY?!"
Kaito thought for a moment.
"…I turned eighteen last year.
I've never been to a red-light tavern.
I was planning to try one today—"
Tsunade recoiled like he had thrown acid on her.
"You're just like Jiraiya!"
"…I've never gone before. Isn't it normal to want to experience the Three Shinobi Taboos at least once?"
"You—!!"
She stomped, furious, embarrassed.
Nawaki whispered:
"She's actually drunk…"
Tsunade snapped:
"I AM NOT DRUNK!"
She jabbed a finger at Kaito.
"You said you'd marry me!"
"…That was a slip of the tongue."
Her finger pressed to his lips.
A soft, warm, orange-polished fingertip.
"You'll give me money… won't you?"
Kaito stared at her.
"…No."
She was stunned again.
"WHY?!"
Kaito didn't hesitate.
"I'm broke."
Tsunade: "…"
Nawaki: "…"
But Tsunade recovered instantly.
She turned on Nawaki.
"Nawaki!!"
You're not letting Kaito inside?
Where are your manners?!
Is this how you disgrace the Senju name?!
FINE.
You owe me 100,000 ryō!"
Nawaki: "...I only have eighty thousand."
Five minutes later—
Nawaki was on his knees
while Tsunade counted his money humming happily.
Kaito sipped the tea Tsunade brewed for him.
It tasted… mediocre.
He commented:
"You know… with your terrible gambling luck, wouldn't it be smarter to let me—someone of legal gambling age—just bet the opposite of you?
We'd get rich instantly."
Tsunade froze.
Then—
Her eyes widened like she had seen God.
"…Right.
RIGHT!!
How did I NEVER think of that?!"
She grabbed Kaito's hands.
"Kaito!
Lend me to yourself for a whole day!
As long as I win, I'll do ANYTHING you want!"
Kaito looked at her—
kneeling, leaning forward, eyes sparkling, voice sweet enough to be illegal—
and thought:
This woman is dangerous.
But he couldn't resist teasing her.
"…Anything?"
"Anything~"
She fluttered her lashes, voice dripping sugar.
In her mind:
Hook him with beauty → take all his money → make him beg me to return it.
She didn't realize—
Kaito was thinking the exact same thing, but faster.
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