Chapter 81: Promotional Event

As the surrounding Kumo ninjas guarding the treasury looked on, at first they intended only to teach Danzō a minor lesson. After all, he wasn't the first drunk to show up causing trouble near the treasury. But when Danzō dared spout such tough-guy lines, they saw no reason to hold back.

"Hey! If you'd just eaten a few more peanuts, you wouldn't be saying that kinda crap!"

"Hit him—who ever heard of such a weird request? Hit the guy who's already smoking!"

"Beat him 'til he's half-dead—keep going 'til he's sober!"

In an instant, a torrent of punches rained down on Danzō like a fierce storm. At first, Danzō waited for Senshi to step in. Surely, once Senshi attacked, these ninjas would retaliate, and in the process Senshi would wipe them out. Then Danzō could pillage the treasury and leave at his leisure. But he remained conscious just long enough to realize Senshi had no intention of intervening. Before he could growl or complain, he lost consciousness.

From his vantage point, Senshi had been watching Danzō carefully. Seeing that Danzō had only been knocked out—his life not in real danger—Senshi had no urge to step in. When the guards finally got tired of beating him, they quietly carried off the barely-breathing Danzō, then dumped him at Konoha's hospital entrance the next morning, and left without a trace.

All was calm that night—until dawn brought shocking news that rattled Konoha's top ranks. The so-called "Konoha F3" raced to the hospital, utterly stunned.

In the intensive care ward, there lay Danzō—bandaged up head to toe like a mummy!

Konoha's F4 (the Hokage plus the other three elders) would never have expected to be meeting again under these circumstances. Danzō had regained consciousness, raging inside while bound in white bandages like a mummy. Another person might have wept bitter tears of regret, but not Danzō—he was no ordinary man. Instead, he seethed with anger at Senshi. He'd tried to exploit Senshi's rules, only to get burned instead. As long as he wasn't about to die, Senshi simply wouldn't lift a finger!

"Danzō—just what happened?" Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded, looking extremely serious and more than a little furious. How could the man who was supposed to assist the Hokage get beaten to a pulp like this in his own village? Did that mean Konoha was no longer safe for anyone? If even Danzō couldn't protect himself, what about ordinary villagers?

Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane wore equally grim expressions. Their foreheads were creased with worry. After questioning the hospital staff, Homura spoke in a low voice:

"We must punish the culprit severely! I spoke with the doctors; apparently in the entire history of Konoha Hospital, they've never treated anyone so horribly injured!"

Hearing that, Hiruzen and Koharu both nodded earnestly. The statement nearly made Danzō break his composure, for he himself hadn't realized he'd been beaten that badly. Inwardly he cursed Senshi:

"Damn that Uzumaki Senshi—I put my trust in you, only for you to screw me over!"

Of course, the truth was that his attempt to exploit a loophole had backfired. Senshi always demanded "two payments for one job," and Danzō was only paying for one. He'd been daydreaming.

…

Not long afterward, Senshi's Wood Clone relayed everything to Senshi himself, who was sitting at his office desk in the Amegakure's Ninja Academy.

"Pfff—!"

He nearly spat water everywhere, laughing the moment he got the news. If there had ever been a more hilarious operation than Danzō's, Senshi couldn't recall it. This attempt to "cheat the system" was truly idiotic—but also quite ingenious in a certain way.

"Danzō, that old schemer, actually tried a stunt like this? I, Uzumaki Senshi, must admit he has some…talent. A real glutton for punishment—our 'Punching-Bag King!'"

As he chuckled, Karin walked in, announcing, "Senshi, Sister Konan's here to see you." Karin had hoped for more juicy rumors between Senshi and other kunoichi but never found any. She did approve of Sister Konan though, and was waiting to see if there'd be any "sparks." Unbeknownst to her, Senshi's personal life wasn't as dramatic as she imagined.

Karin's train of thought aside, Konan soon arrived at the office. Senshi asked, "Konan, what's up?" Then, out of nowhere, he reached over and tousled Karin's neatly brushed red hair into a bird's nest, prompting her to retaliate with indignant little fists pounding his lower back. She'd only just washed and combed her hair nicely—now it was ruined again!

(╬•᷅д•᷄╬)

Once the minor ruckus settled, Konan eyed Senshi with hesitation. Karin's eyes flashed with curiosity—did Konan want to talk about something private but felt awkward saying it in front of her? But it turned out her guess was off the mark.

Senshi, seeing Konan's troubled look, guessed something must be wrong with the academy or refugee shelter. "Konan, is there some problem with the ninja academy or the shelter?" he asked. Both were major drains on his finances, but he had no issue spending money if it furthered his "Will of Rain." After all, money he spent would quickly cycle back to him in the form of mission fees and mercenary points.

Konan looked torn, but finally spoke her mind. "Nagato's health has been declining—worse and worse each day. I'm worried. Do you have any way to help him?"

She looked at him, eyes brimming with hope, though also anxiety. Nagato's condition was rather unique, and normal medical ninjutsu was useless. Senshi realized this was quite good news in a way, because it meant Konan trusted him deeply enough to reveal her partner's secret vulnerability. In the Akatsuki, they had many uneasy alliances, but Senshi was different—he had contributed massively to the organization.

After a brief pause, Senshi decided to tell her part of the truth. In the original storyline, Konan died believing Nagato's Rinnegan had been his all along, never knowing the real story.

He explained: "Konan, Nagato's worsening condition is caused by his Rinnegan. It wasn't originally his—someone transplanted it into him as a child. Even though he's an Uzumaki with huge chakra reserves, he can't withstand the strain of continually using that eye."

Stunned, Konan pressed for details. If anyone else had said these things, she might have dismissed it, but Senshi had his own deeper intel networks. Plus, Nagato's symptoms did line up with Senshi's explanation. Konan thought back to how Nagato's health kept getting worse with every use of the Rinnegan.

Senshi continued: "Any forced use of a foreign Kekkei Genkai can be very harmful. For instance, Konoha's genius Kakashi has just one Sharingan he can't fully control, constantly draining him. For Nagato, the Rinnegan is far more advanced than the Sharingan, so it's only natural it's hurting him."

Konan believed him about 70-80%. She asked, "Do you have a solution?" Of course, she knew how big a problem it was—Kakashi's issues had never been fixed, despite having Konoha's best behind him.

Senshi first put on a show of reluctance. "Well, Konan, the easiest way to halt Nagato's decline is to remove the Rinnegan. But as the leader of Akatsuki, he can't really give it up."

Konan's face sank with worry. Indeed, continuing to use the Rinnegan would ruin him, but throwing it away was impossible. Senshi saw her distress. The time was right to reveal the next step.

Coughing lightly, he added: "Removing his eyes is the normal method, but there's another way that can solve Nagato's problem forever."

Konan's eyes lit up. "Really? A method to let him stay healthy and keep the Rinnegan?"

"Yep," Senshi assured her. Before she could question, Karin chimed in: "Sister Konan, if Senshi says he can do it, he absolutely can! I've never seen him fail at anything!"

Yes—Karin was the perfect little "assistant," backing up Senshi's claims. Konan still had a tinge of skepticism, though. Senshi wasn't known for medical skills, nor was Konoha able to fix Kakashi's issues. Could he really fix Nagato's Rinnegan problem?

So Senshi decided to show her a success story:

"Orochimaru used a technique called Living Corpse Reincarnation (Fushi Tensei). When it fails, you're almost guaranteed to be left in a near-death state. Not long ago, he failed and was on the brink of death, but I saved him. And he's now better than ever."

Karin, nodding fervently, insisted, "Yes indeed! Orochimaru was in terrible shape at that time!" She was merely bluffing, because she actually wasn't present during Orochimaru's operation, but she played the loyal assistant role perfectly.

Shocked, Konan asked, "You saved Orochimaru from the brink of death? And he's totally fine now?" When Senshi nodded, she realized that might mean he truly could help Nagato. But she needed details.

Senshi interpreted her unspoken question. "So, do you want me to treat Nagato? If that's what you want, I can do it, but…" He put on a troubled face. "Konan, we're all in Akatsuki together, but this won't be easy, and you should understand what I mean…" He paused, a hint of teasing in his voice.

Konan rolled her eyes. She'd heard from Nagato how Senshi demanded high fees for everything, so she was expecting he would ask for a big commission. Nonetheless, she'd no choice—Nagato's life was at stake.

…

Meanwhile, in one of Orochimaru's bases…

Orochimaru wore a hospital gown, lying on a bed. He'd rushed back here from Kumogakure, having gained both the Sharingan and Byakugan, eager to transplant them. He'd desired the Sharingan for a long time—ever since being overpowered by Itachi's dojutsu. In the past, he'd feared his body wasn't strong enough to handle the transplant, but now, thanks to the Yamata no Orochi Fruit, he felt invincible.

Beside his bed, Kabuto handled the procedures. After successfully implanting one Sharingan in Orochimaru's right eye, he turned for the other. Suddenly, a swirling red-and-black dimensional portal opened beneath Orochimaru's bed. When Kabuto looked back, both Orochimaru and the bed were gone.

Kabuto: Σ(◎▽◎)

"Where did Lord Orochimaru go…along with the bed?"

…

Amegakure, Ninja Academy, Principal's Office…

A matching crimson-black vortex appeared nearby, in front of Senshi, Karin, and Konan. Then, out popped a hospital bed with Orochimaru upon it, dressed in patient clothes. He blinked, revealing a mismatched set of eyes—his left golden pupil and his newly transplanted right Sharingan. Shocked, he realized Senshi had just teleported him mid-surgery.

"Damn it, Senshi. I was in the middle of a critical operation—what if I'd been halfway through a heart transplant?!"

Karin, Konan, and Senshi all froze at the sight. Then the comedic absurdity broke them. Karin was first to lose it, bursting into giggles at Orochimaru's mismatched eyes. Even Konan's ice-cold composure cracked for a second—though she quickly pretended nothing had happened, returning to her aloof manner.

Flushed with anger and embarrassment, Orochimaru demanded, "Senshi, what's the meaning of this? I was in the middle of major surgery—what if something had gone wrong?!"

His heterochromatic eyes gave the scene a bizarrely humorous twist, making Senshi struggle not to laugh. He coughed, avoiding looking directly at Orochimaru's odd face.

"Ahem… sorry, but I have an important client negotiation right now. She wants to speak with someone who's used my 'product.' So share your experiences from before and after acquiring the Yamata no Orochi Fruit, would you?"

Realizing Senshi had dragged him here for some promotional event, Orochimaru wanted to protest but swallowed it—he was Senshi's major paying client, but Senshi also possessed terrifying power. Offending him could lead to serious pain. Besides, if this turned out to be a huge sale, it meant big money, and Orochimaru liked big money. So he nodded.

Konan's first question, however, made both Senshi and Orochimaru tense up: "Didn't Senshi say your body was totally fine now? Why are you still on an operating table?"

Orochimaru quickly clarified: "I am perfectly fine! I was just performing a transplant for the new Sharingan, that's all!"

Leaping off the bed and out into the academy courtyard, he formed hand seals with ease. Poof! A giant serpentine form, Manda or some other snake, was summoned. Orochimaru deftly hopped onto its head, then released the summoning jutsu and dropped lightly back beside Konan and Senshi. His swift, graceful movements proved he was indeed healthy.

With that, Senshi heaved a sigh of relief—this demonstration should impress Konan. If they could secure a contract worth hundreds of millions again, that'd be perfect. Orochimaru understood, too, that if he ruined Senshi's pitch, Senshi would make him pay dearly.

Hence, after showing off his healthy state, Orochimaru faced Konan and continued, "Not long ago…"

~~~

Patreon(.)com/Bleam

— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!