Chapter 180, A Slap in the Face.
"Samehada clearly suits our Senju clan better."
On the Anbu side, an Anbu member was grumbling discontentedly.
"What's this about Uchiha Raijin seizing seven Ninja Swords? Didn't our Senju clan's Tsunade contribute?"
Another Anbu member immediately agreed, saying that's just how people are, not suffering from scarcity but from inequality.
Once the Uchiha got the allocation rights for the seven Ninja Swords, it was inevitable that people would feel discontent.
And disputes began at this time.
"Shut up!"
Senju Osamu glanced at the resting area of the Konohagakure police force nearby and whispered sharply.
"Are you questioning the orders of Hokage-sama?"
Senju Osamu looked coldly at his subordinates in front of him.
The relationship between the Senju and Uchiha had just begun to ease, and Senju Osamu would not allow anyone to disrupt it.
Especially during a time of war.
Although the Anbu members felt aggrieved upon hearing this, since their leader had spoken, they could only hold back their further words.
...
Uchiha Motohide, carrying Samehada, listened intently to the Senju family's words.
With an impassive face, he first approached his deputy chief from behind.
With a casual kick, the deputy chief swiftly dodged to the side, easily avoiding Uchiha Motohide's foot.
"What are you looking for? Am I not aware of who's skilled in Water Release in the squad? You're such a grown man, yet you don't know as much as my son."
As he spoke, Uchiha Motohide continued to aim another kick at the deputy chief.
The deputy chief, sensing the kick, instinctively tried to dodge, but Uchiha Motohide glared sharply.
"Dodge? Can't I handle you anymore?"
Before the words even finished, the deputy chief's body stiffened awkwardly, taking Uchiha Motohide's kick.
"Learn something. With you like this, how can I trust you with the Konohagakure Police Force?"
Uchiha Motohide looked at the deputy chief with a mix of frustration and disappointment. The deputy chief, embarrassed, smiled sheepishly and said quietly.
"When you can no longer do it, I'll step down and take care of you in your old age."
"Get lost, do I not have a son? Do I need you?"
Uchiha Motohide cursed with a laugh and walked towards Senju Osamu, carrying Samehada.
When there was still about ten meters between them, Uchiha Motohide tossed Samehada directly to Senju Osamu.
Senju Osamu caught it instinctively, looking at Uchiha Motohide with some confusion.
"My son did well, seizing seven Ninja Swords. Of course, this couldn't have been done without his teammates' cooperation. Out of the seven Ninja Swords, the best two, one, the thunder blade Kiba, has already been taken by Raijin, and I can't get it back now. This Samehada, I'm giving it to you."
With that, Uchiha Motohide turned and walked away. At that moment, the deputy chief, as if struck by a revelation, ran up to Uchiha Motohide with a look of grief.
"Captain! You're just giving Samehada to them like that?"
"What else? I've always told you to practice more Water Release, but you insist on Fire Release. Now, if I give Samehada to you, could you even use it? Idiot!"
Uchiha Motohide kicked out at the deputy chief.
It looked like he used all his strength, but in reality, it didn't hurt.
"Captain!"
The deputy chief didn't dodge but stood his ground and took Uchiha Motohide's kick.
As long as it annoyed the Senju, he didn't mind being kicked by his own captain. Even a bite from the Hyuga family's dog would be acceptable to him.
...
"Feeling better?"
Senju Osamu asked his subordinate, who seemed to be grinding his teeth in frustration.
The Anbu members all silently bowed their heads.
The Senju, always known as the clan of love, had actually been generous for once by the Uchiha.
This was tantamount to standing at attention in front of the Uchiha and taking a solid slap to the face.
Whether the Uchiha had a ninja skilled in Water Release was no longer important.
The mere willingness to give up the Samehada that was within grasp already spoke volumes compared to idle gossip behind one's back.
...
Let's not dwell on what happened in the Land of Thunder. Currently, on the battlefield of the Land of Water, which served as a breakthrough point, Team 7 had already penetrated deep into Kirigakure's territory.
Plumes of black smoke rose gently. The five members of Team 7 sat casually on the ground, roasting the meat they had just seized from a Kirigakure transport convoy.
This was the first convoy Team 7 encountered after entering the heartland of the Land of Water.
Their combined strength wasn't formidable, with only one Jonin accompanying them. Clearly, Kirigakure had mobilized almost the entire village to ensure the absolute security of the Land of Whirlpools battlefield.
But the Uzumaki clan was indeed worth the effort.
Through this war, even if they only plundered one woman from the Uzumaki clan, Kirigakure could secure a stable Jinchuriki in a decade or so.
Not to mention the wealth and sealing techniques accumulated by the Uzumaki clan over hundreds or even thousands of years.
These were immeasurable treasures.
They were also Kirigakure's chance to once again arm-wrestle with Konohagakure in the future.
"Now that Kirigakure's interior is so empty, why don't we just go and raid Kirigakure?" Jiraiya wondered aloud while roasting meat.
"True to the great toad sage of Mount Myoboku, you're confident in your own strength, not even considering Kirigakure's Mizukage and his guard in your calculations," Raijin said with a light chuckle.
"Indeed, Kirigakure's barriers are incomparable to Konohagakure's. How could they be a concern for the great toad sage?" Tsunade added, raising an eyebrow in agreement with Raijin.
"Then, the ninjas left behind to guard the village couldn't possibly pressure the great toad sage either,"
Orochimaru remarked sarcastically, sparing no feelings as he glanced at Jiraiya.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the three, then at Jiraiya, and turned away, his body shaking uncontrollably.
Indeed, no matter the time, Team 7 was always united in teasing Jiraiya.
Jiraiya pursed his lips, not wanting to speak, yet feeling a bit overwhelmed. He opened his mouth as if to say something but seemed at a loss for words.
"So, by ambushing Kirigakure's transport troops and putting pressure on Kirigakure's main forces in the Land of Whirlpools, we force Kirigakure to divert their strength to deal with us, creating an opportunity for us to raid Kirigakure Village," Raijin explained to Jiraiya.
"I know, I just wanted to see if you guys were thinking the same as me. Good, you're all on the same page as me," Jiraiya said earnestly.
"Huh?" Raijin was taken aback, looked at Jiraiya, smacked his lips, and finally could only utter one word.
"To share the same thoughts as the great Toad Sage is truly an honor."
"Such an honor indeed."
Tsunade nodded in agreement, deeply convinced.
"An honor beyond words."
Orochimaru echoed with a nod, his gaze towards Jiraiya filled with admiration.
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