"The base of Kirigakure is ahead. You're safe now."
"The mission of my clone can end here."
Looking at the Kirigakure base in the distance, Zenkichi spoke in a relaxed tone.
Master Gen stared at him and said, "Without us slowing you down, you could've left Konoha easily, couldn't you?"
Zenkichi smiled casually. "I can leave Konoha anytime—I just don't want to leave that easily."
"Since Konoha is so determined to deal with me, shouldn't I return the favor?"
"I've decided to stir things up in Konoha."
"Speaking of which... if I do serious damage to Konoha this time, how much commission will the village give me?"
Zenkichi asked with interest.
Gen replied, "It depends on the results—the rank of the enemies you defeat, the number, and the overall impact."
"But you just extorted a hefty sum from Konoha. Do you really still care about the commission?"
Zenkichi grinned. "Of course I care! Gotta eat, right?"
"Once the commission's locked in, the Hokage is done for! Just wait for my good news. I'll bring Konoha to its knees."
His body transformed into a pool of water and dispersed—the clone dispelled.
---
Konoha Village.
Zenkichi lounged on a deck chair in the guest house yard, eyes closed, basking in the sun.
On the coffee table beside him sat Konoha's specialty snacks and a cup of tea—all bought using the hospitality funds provided by the village.
"Sigh... If Konoha hadn't tried to screw me over, I'd feel bad about attacking them after all this hospitality."
He quietly sighed, picked up the teacup, and drank it in one gulp.
Just then, his expression changed slightly.
When the clone dispelled, its memories returned to him.
"So, they really are suspicious of me. That's fine."
Zenkichi stood up and walked toward the door, smiling.
He had a mission in Konoha—and a negotiation to finish with the Third Hokage.
"Orochimaru and the others are back. That should make this negotiation much smoother."
A faint smirk tugged at Zenkichi's lips. There was no conversation in the village he couldn't hear.
The plan the Third Hokage and his advisors spent so much time crafting? Zenkichi already knew it inside and out.
Curling his lips into a teasing smile, he muttered, "Since you want to play… let's play."
---
Hokage Building — Negotiation Office
The Third Hokage wore his formal hat, a smoking pipe in hand. Smoke curled in the air as he smiled warmly at Zenkichi walking in.
"We've talked quite a bit over the past few days."
"The main issues are mostly settled, but we need to iron out the details."
He placed a thick document on the desk in front of him.
"Great."
Zenkichi nodded with a grin, sat across from the Hokage, and picked up the file.
"So many regulations... gives me a headache just looking at it."
He gave the Hokage a half-smile as he flipped through the pages.
The Third Hokage chuckled. "It concerns the entire village's interests. It's best to be thorough."
Zenkichi nodded, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and began reading.
---
More than half an hour passed.
Zenkichi lazily looked over the last pages, eyelids drooping, nearly drooling from boredom.
"Oops—sorry!"
He suddenly snapped awake, flicked the burnt-out cigarette aside, and offered a half-hearted apology.
He was a little surprised—the Third Hokage hadn't taken the chance to strike.
"Don't worry. It is boring stuff. It's only natural to get sleepy."
The Hokage smiled understandingly and knocked on the table.
"Tea."
An ANBU stepped in and set a teacup beside Zenkichi.
The Hokage said kindly, "A bit of tea helps keep the mind sharp. I always use it when I read."
"Really? Thanks a lot," Zenkichi replied with a grin.
He glanced at the ANBU ninja with a playful smirk. "It's quite an honor to have one of the legendary Sannin personally serve me tea, don't you think, Orochimaru?"
The ANBU ninja froze.
After a moment, he turned and removed his mask.
"Genius of Kirigakure, Arakawa Zenkichi… how did you know it was me?"
Zenkichi smirked. "Want to know? Tell me what kind of snake venom's in this tea, and maybe I'll consider telling you."
The Third Hokage's face changed. He picked up the cup and smashed it on the ground.
Zenkichi blinked. "That wasn't in the script... Dramatic flair, huh?"
Still, he had to admit—dramatically smashing a cup worked in every world.
---
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As the cup shattered, two figures flashed into the room—masked ANBU operatives.
One had white hair—likely Jiraiya. The other's long black hair suggested Shimura Danzo.
Impressive. Konoha had two Shadow-level powerhouses disguised as personal ANBU.
"Ninja Art: Four Red Yang Formation!"
The moment the two ANBU arrived, the Hokage and Orochimaru moved in unison, forming a four-man team to cast an advanced barrier.
Red walls formed on all sides, boxing Zenkichi in.
---
"Barrier ninjutsu? Not bad!"
Zenkichi observed the formation with a smile, not the least bit alarmed.
"Zenkichi, it's over for you!"
"If you're willing to accept Konoha's binding seal and serve the village, we'll let you live."
Danzo took off his mask and said coldly.
"Over?"
"Danzo-sama, which eye of yours says I'm done?"
Zenkichi tilted his head with a smirk.
---
Let Him Cook !!
Join my p@treon for 20+ advanced Chapters.
patreon.com/Zphyr_