Ryoma carried the Demon Sword Mò Yé on his shoulder as he walked along the familiar streets.
Spotting a hot spring shop by the roadside, he walked straight in.
Ryoma decided he absolutely had to enjoy himself today.
After all, the past few days of rushing around, was that even a life fit for a person?!
'I've fought my whole life; what's wrong with enjoying myself for a few days?!'
After Ryoma finished washing up and luxuriated in the hot spring for a full two hours, he changed into some clean, new clothes.
When he walked out of the hot spring shop again, that charmingly handsome, cool little boy was back!
Looking at his handsome face and long hair in the mirror, Ryoma suddenly felt he looked pretty handsome even without tying his hair into a pineapple shape.
Just as Ryoma was admiring his own remarkable beauty, an Anbu ninja suddenly appeared beside him.
That Anbu spoke in a low voice: "Nara Ryoma, the Hokage summons you."
Ryoma responded to the arrival: "Okay, I'll go right now."
Konoha Hokage Building.
Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage looked at Ryoma standing before him, completely unharmed, and took a deep drag of his cigarette.
Although this was a happy thing, how did this guy manage to look like nothing had happened at all? It even seemed like he had just come out of a hot spring...
The Third Hokage looked at Ryoma and slowly said: "Ryoma, Chōza already told me about your situation. Can you tell me what happened after you decided to lure the enemy away alone?"
Ryoma naturally knew that returning to Konoha meant this kind of questioning was unavoidable.
After all, in the eyes of others, that situation was basically a death sentence.
But Ryoma not only resolved it perfectly but also bounced back to Konoha healthy and lively.
This would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Ryoma organized his thoughts and began to explain what happened after he decided to lure the enemy away alone.
Regarding the existence of General Niga and the others, Ryoma explained that this was the strongest shadow form his Kekkei Genkai could currently create by exhausting all his strength and overdrafting his life force.
To avoid letting too many words lead to mistakes, he didn't elaborate too much on the two Generals.
Anyway, it was best to blame anything unreasonable on his Kekkei Genkai.
At the same time, he also provided a reasonable explanation for the three scrolls.
During the battle, the Iwa-nin who snatched the three scrolls directly unsealed one of them.
By a fortunate coincidence, Ryoma was the first to gain recognition from the Demon Sword Mò Yé.
Then, using the power of the Demon Sword Mò Yé, he killed one enemy and severely injured another.
After that, he was hit by the enemy's secret technique, falling into a state of severe exhaustion and serious injury.
He only managed to survive and escape by using the Snake Sage's jutsu, the Great Snake Substitute Technique.
As for the remaining two scrolls, they were seized by those Iwa-nin guys.
(Those who wrong you know better than you do how wronged you are~)
He then used his last bit of consciousness to find a suitable cave to hide in and lost consciousness.
The existence of Kōko and Rinsuke was naturally omitted by Ryoma.
He just said that he woke up after an unknown period of unconsciousness, recovered for two days, and then set out on the road back to the village.
The Third Hokage smoked his cigarette while looking at the Demon Sword Mò Yé on Ryoma's back.
It seemed... everything was quite reasonable.
A secret technique of his Kekkei Genkai that overdrafts life force.
Good luck allowing him to be recognized by the demon sword first.
Finally, escaping death through the life-saving ninjutsu taught by his teacher, Orochimaru.
It could only be said that in this battle, Ryoma had a tremendous explosion of strength, intelligence, and luck, allowing him to achieve such brilliant results.
Moreover, since Ryoma was not only a member of the Nara clan but also the student of his own most beloved disciple, Orochimaru...
Someone who could decide to lure the enemy away alone during a battle, just to buy his companions a chance to escape, how could such a person easily betray Konoha and become a spy for another village?
Based on the Third Hokage's observations of Ryoma's various behaviors so far, he believed Ryoma wouldn't do such a thing!
Ryoma's superb acting skills had once again saved him from a lot of trouble.
Ryoma: 'What if I pretend to be good my whole life~'
Afterwards, the Third Hokage reached out and took the Demon Sword Mò Yé from Ryoma's back.
The moment he gripped it, he felt wave after wave of powerful resentment and killing intent emanating from the demon sword.
It had even begun to stir the Third Hokage's nerves, trying to influence and control his mind.
But the Third Hokage was, after all, the Third Hokage.
Upon sensing the immense energy contained within the demon sword, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes. He immediately burst forth with a powerful surge of chakra, directly suppressing the eager Mò Yé.
This caused the hidden Anbu around them to rush into the office, thinking the Third Hokage had started fighting someone!
The Third Hokage waved his hand at the surrounding Anbu, then said to Ryoma: "Ryoma, this sword is very strange. It will affect the user's mind. Before you have sufficient strength, it's best not to use it."
Ryoma naturally understood the Third Hokage's meaning and quickly said: "It's okay, Lord Third. It has already acknowledged me as its master. This situation only happens when others pick it up. It doesn't happen when I use it myself."
No way, Ryoma couldn't just hand over such a cool and useful weapon.
A direct 'acknowledged master' excuse.
It affects everyone else when they use it, just not me.
Would you still have the nerve to make me surrender the Demon Sword Mò Yé to the village?
If they tried to take his sword, he would throw a tantrum!!
The Third Hokage pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded and said: "Since that's the case, alright then. You may continue using it for now. However, if any abnormal situation arises, you must report it to me immediately to prevent it from causing any damage to your body or mind!"
Ryoma bowed to the Third Hokage: "Understood! Thank you, Lord Third!"
The Third Hokage nodded, then reiterated to Ryoma the mission assessment results he had told Chōza and the other two a few days earlier.
Upon learning that he had completed one B-rank mission and three S-rank missions, Ryoma was overjoyed and started calculating in his mind.
Wow, how much money would that be!
One mission pays over a million ryō.
Any single one of these almost catches up to them doing a hundred D-rank missions in a row.
Who said he wasn't interested in money?
Ryoma declared he was extremely interested.
After all, having some cash is what gives you motivation to move forward!
(Frantically hinting to the dear readers~Patreon~Patreon~)
Then the Third Hokage said Ryoma could choose a reward.
Learning ninjutsu, or anything like that was possible.
He could even let him choose a suitable forbidden technique from the Scroll of Seals to study.
Ryoma thought carefully.
The forbidden techniques on the Scroll of Seals were indeed very attractive to him.
But considering Ryoma's current strength and comprehension, there were only two possibilities.
The ones he could learn would cost him his life.
The ones that wouldn't cost his life, he simply couldn't learn.
Things like Shadow Clone Jutsu, Impure World Reincarnation, Dead Demon Consuming Seal, etc.
Ryoma stated he wanted to live a few more days.
As for techniques like Flying Thunder God or Spirit Transformation Jutsu, even if they were laid out for Ryoma to learn, he simply wouldn't be able to grasp them.
These were all forbidden techniques where mastering one move would make you unbeatable.
Ryoma felt he should focus more on finding ways to improve his progress with the masks; that would be more pragmatic.
Trying to dabble in everything would probably result in being skilled in many things but mastering none.
However, he couldn't waste the Third Hokage's kindness, right?
After all, it was something he deserved.
Ryoma thought it over repeatedly and told the Third Hokage the reward he wanted.
The Third Hokage listened to Ryoma's request and couldn't help but rub his forehead.
He said: "You mean, you hope I can issue a certificate allowing you to go learn swordsmanship from various sword masters in Konoha, and one that prevents them from refusing? That's the reward you're asking for?"
Ryoma looked at the Third Hokage with anticipation, nodding quickly.
The Third Hokage sighed.
Sigh! Who asked Ryoma to be his disciple's disciple after all!
Just spoil him!
The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly said: "I can write you a letter of recommendation. You can take it with you then. But it can only be used as a recommendation. Whether they are willing to teach is their freedom. As the Hokage, I don't have the right to force people to teach you their core skills."
Ryoma waved his hand dismissively at this, unconcerned, and said to the Third Hokage: "Understood, understood. But I firmly believe that the ninja of Konoha Village will definitely give you, the Third Hokage, this face! Don't you think so, sir~"
The Third Hokage looked helplessly at Ryoma's smug expression, as if he had just pulled off a sly trick.
He felt he had fallen into Ryoma's trap and couldn't help but sigh deeply inwardly.
"Sigh, young people these days, all as clever as ghosts."
"Being Hokage isn't easy either!"
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