Chapter 61: C-Rank Mission
Danzo was on his way back to Konoha.
He was thinking about the billion-ryō deal.
An S-rank mission paid over a million; Sarutobi Asuma's bounty was thirty-five million.
A billion was astronomical.
But trading it for peaches that could boost Sage Chakra—was it a loss?
Danzo figured it wasn't.
He'd always believed Senju Hashirama dominated the Ninja World with Wood Release and Sage Mode.
He more or less possessed Wood Release.
Add Sage Mode and his strength would skyrocket.
The Hokage seat would be within reach.
'Speak of this to no one,'
Danzo ordered upon returning to Root, addressing Fu Yamanaka and Aburame Torune.
They were loyal and bound by the cursed tongue seal; no need to silence them permanently.
'Next step: raise the money.'
He had no intention of letting Sarutobi Hiruzen find out.
This moment was his alone.
Why let anyone else share it?
Not even blood kin.
But moving a billion carried huge risk of exposure.
He decided to siphon it from Root and the Shimura Clan.
It would pinch finances for a while, but the sacrifice was necessary.
For the Hokage seat, anything was worth it.
They'd just have to take more missions.
Half an hour later, his accumulated prestige let him gather the full sum.
He returned to the Forest of Death alone.
As before, mist rose; eyes shut and opened to the spectacle of the Monkey clan.
Still no flaws.
Every last doubt in Danzo's mind evaporated.
Twice in a row without anomaly.
To a man who trusted only his own power, that meant everything he saw was real.
Naruto's grin was pure satisfaction.
How could it not be?
His modest money-making goal had been exceeded.
'Check it yourself.'
'No need; I trust the Great Sage.'
Danzo forced an ugly smile—he hadn't smiled in years.
Naruto blinked; so that's what tree-bark laughter looks like.
'Great Sage, may we trade again?'
Danzo's refusal to inspect was a show of good faith—he wanted more.
'Of course. Every full moon, come here.'
Naruto spouted nonsense with a straight face.
He regretted not knowing Danzo would skip inspection; he'd hidden dozens of sage-peaches around.
No matter—they posed no threat.
Danzo would run out of Chakra after a few sage techniques.
Unless he could invent a breathing style like Six-Ears.
Naruto didn't believe it.
Danzo was too decayed for such genius.
Even Sasuke couldn't do it.
If he could, Naruto would have to ask the Six Paths Sage if Danzo was his long-lost son.
'Many thanks, Great Sage!'
Danzo's smile widened.
'Till next time.'
Naruto waved cheerfully, sending Danzo off in high spirits.
After a long pause he murmured, 'Shatter, Mirror Flower, Water Moon.'
The illusions vanished, leaving only ten monkeys.
Suddenly holding a billion, Naruto felt money wasn't money anymore.
In his past life he'd seen lottery questions online; now he could answer.
Thanks for the invite—just left Monkey Mountain in the Hokage world.
With a billion, first step: pay off Huabei—no, debts.
He found Neji in the lab.
Rare day off missions.
'Did you rob someone?'
Neji peeled off gloves, stunned.
The guy was paying back too willingly.
Last time he'd dodged with excuses.
'Treat it as early betrothal money, early full-moon gifts, early New-Year cash for your future kids.'
You're twelve!
I'm supposed to pre-pay for a decade?
And how do you know I'll have one boy and one girl?
'Correct—I really did rob someone.'
Naruto answered honestly.
'Stop joking.'
Neji clearly didn't buy it.
Rob a billion in Konoha?
You'd have to mug the Hokage, the hokage advisors, or the Hyuga.
'Fine.'
Truth sometimes can't be believed.
He looked around. 'How's the experiment?''
Neji was frustrated.
'I hit a wall—too little genetic data; my own research is too slow.'
Naruto pondered.
It was tough.
He didn't understand it either.
But sources existed.
Danzo and Orochimaru had mountains of data.
'I'll think of something.'
Naruto said.
What could you do?
Neji took it as comfort. 'It's okay, slow is fine.'
Naruto said nothing more; back in the Treehousehe prepared to train.
But Sasuke sat by the fishpond, lost in thought.
'What are you doing?'
Naruto couldn't help asking.
First time seeing Sasuke stare at his fish.
Hungry?
But they were Hinata's.
'Naruto,'
Sasuke greeted. 'I feel I've hit a ceiling—training gains are too slow.'
'…'
What, want to surpass Six-Paths at twelve, punch Uchiha Madara, kick Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?
Even your dad the Six Paths Sage never hacked it that hard.
Naruto figured Sasuke felt slow only because he couldn't beat him.
Really.
All you think about is thrashing me, huh?
'You're already strong.'
Naruto sat beside him, patting his shoulder. 'Most Jonin can't touch you—don't just train.'
Meaning: don't compare yourself to me; compare to others and you're a monster.
And he was a Genin, not a Jonin.
'You're right—battle breaks ceilings. I'll ask Kakashi-sensei for a higher mission.'
Sasuke stood and vanished in haste.
Naruto blinked—was that C-rank coming?
The bridge-builder Tazuna who moral-blackmailed and lied about mission rank to fund his drinking.
He didn't like him.
But if they refused, Hinata or another team might take it—disaster.
Demon of the Bloody Mist Zabuza and cross-dresser Haku were beyond them.
Only Team 7 could handle it.
Fine—let it be combat experience for Sasuke and Sakura.
Their first real life-and-death fight.
Days later Kakashi led the three to the Hokage Office.
'Here's a C-rank mission for you.'
Hiruzen glanced at Kakashi—he'd insisted.
Said Naruto and Sasuke were ready to see the cruel side of being a Ninja.
'C-rank: escort the son of Yasaimori to the Land of Fire Metropolis…'
Naruto didn't hear the rest.
One thought filled his mind:
Where's my Zabuza?
Some readers felt single-use cards were wasteful—my design flaw. Apologies; I only served plot, ignoring bugs and better uses. I've added limits: Great Sage Equal to Heaven now depends on user's Chakra—no planet-busting without enough juice. Mirror Flower, Water Moon: stronger Ninjamay see through, especially those above user's level. By the time he faces Kaguya or Madara he'll have better cards anyway. PS: if you spot broken combos, tell me and I'll patch (laughs). Feels like game-balancing, huh. Zabuza and Haku are still coming. Happy holidays, everyone!