Chapter 174: Danzō and the Dragon Vein

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"I'll handle these two. Stay here—don't wander, but stay alert."

Sasame pointed at himself with a grin. "This Hokage's head is worth a hundred million ryō. Your fight isn't over yet."

"Don't worry, Sasame-sensei!" Naruto pumped his fists, brimming with fighting spirit. "Next time, we won't be so helpless! Right, Sasuke?"

"Yeah."

Sasuke's tone was firm.

Sasame noted the shift in his attitude.

The Uchiha really do respect strength.

Of course, the fact that Mikato Uchiha was still alive had softened Sasuke compared to his original timeline counterpart.

His gaze then settled on Hinata.

Unlike the other two, her face carried a faint trace of worry—and reluctance.

She looked like a little wife seeing her husband off to war.

Unable to resist, Sasame ruffled her hair before vanishing.

Kirigakure, Terumi Mei's Residence

It was late at night.

Terumi Mei wasn't in her office but at home—soaking in the bath.

Suddenly, her eyes sharpened.

Wrapping herself in a towel, she slipped out silently.

"Couldn't you pick a better time?"

She glared at Sasame lounging on her couch, arms crossed.

Had she not recognized him, she would've dissolved him into bone sludge with a single spit of acid.

"Sorry."

Sasame raised his hands in surrender, though his eyes lingered appreciatively.

Damp auburn hair cascaded down her back.

The white towel clung to her, revealing smooth shoulders and long, toned legs.

Her bare feet peeked from her slippers, toes still pink from the bath.

She looked… dangerously tempting.

"What do you want?"

She tightened her grip on the towel. "Make it quick."

Her tone was icy.

No one liked being interrupted mid-bath.

"You could finish first," Sasame suggested, smirking. "Not that I mind the view."

Mei shot him a withering look and stalked back to the bathroom.

Minutes later, she emerged in loose blue sleepwear.

"Need help drying your hair?"

Sasame grinned. "I could even style it for you."

A memory flashed in Mei's mind—

After he'd rescued her in Uzushio, he'd altered her hairstyle while she was unconscious.

Oddly, she'd kept it ever since.

Wordlessly, she tossed him a towel and sat on the couch.

"Here to sell me something?"

Her lips curled. "Since when does the Hokage dabble in trade?"

"Momochi Zabuza and Haku."

Sasame worked the towel through her hair. "Interested?"

Mei's breath hitched.

"You captured them?"

Kirigakure was starved for strong shinobi.

Zabuza, a former Seven Ninja Swordsmen, was a powerhouse.

More importantly, he'd rebelled against Yagura's bloody reign—a true Kiri-nin at heart.

"They tried assassinating me."

Sasame set the towel aside, fingers combing through her strands. "Thought you might want them back."

"...Thank you."

Warmth flickered in Mei's chest. "What's your price?"

Her cheeks pinked as she recalled their earlier kiss.

If he demanded that again, would she—

"Be my maid for seven days."

Sasame's voice was devilishly smooth.

Mei blinked.

"Absolutely not!"

She was the Mizukage. If word got out, her reputation would be ruined.

"Are you sure?"

His whisper grazed her ear. "Seven days for two elite shinobi. Quite the bargain."

Mei clenched her fists.

Logically, it was a good deal.

If she could stomach the humiliation.

"...When?"

The words tasted like ash.

"Next time."

Sasame's smirk deepened.

He'd known she'd cave.

Pity timing wasn't ideal—otherwise, he'd have enjoyed some roleplay.

Leaving Zabuza and Haku behind, he returned to camp.

His students were still awake, waiting.

"Rest up."

After setting perimeter seals, Sasame slid into his sleeping bag.

Unlike home, ninja on missions slept fully clothed—always ready to fight.

[Due to your actions, the fates of Momochi Zabuza, Haku, and Terumi Mei have shifted. Total Fate Points gained: 137.]

The Next Day

As Sasame predicted, Zabuza and Haku were just the beginning.

The farther they traveled from Konoha, the more assassins emerged—

Chūnin. Jōnin.

But by the Five Great Nations' standards, these "jōnin" were discount knockoffs at best.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata slowly regained confidence.

Turns out they weren't weak—Zabuza was just that strong.

By dusk, they reached the capital.

Seven assassination attempts later, the trio had grown decisively sharper.

They still hesitated to kill, but progress was progress.

"Whoa! This place is huge!"

Naruto gawked like a country bumpkin.

Even Sasuke and Hinata couldn't help staring.

As the wealthiest nation, the Land of Fire's capital was unrivaled.

Yet Sasame remained unimpressed.

Compared to the megacities of his past life, this was quaint.

Since it was late, he treated his students to a feast before meeting the Daimyō.

That night, Naruto dragged Sasuke out to explore.

Hinata stayed behind—content just being near Sasame.

Rooftop, Under the Moonlight

Sasame handed Hinata a bag of chips.

Above them, the full moon loomed massive.

I wonder if Tsunade's sleeping alright without me.

Hinata stole glances at him between nibbles.

"How'd today feel?"

He stole a chip from her bag.

"Good."

She paused. "At first, I was nervous, but… it wasn't so different from training."

Her "training" involved his Mangekyō genjutsu—battles sometimes deadlier than real combat.

"You did well."

Gently, he guided her head onto his lap.

Hinata short-circuited, face burning as she mechanically chewed.

Sasame said nothing more.

The quiet soothed her.

Exhausted from the day's fights, she soon dozed off.

Carrying her to bed, Sasame returned to Konoha.

"Couldn't sleep?"

He slipped under the covers.

"No."

Tsunade clung to him. "I can now."

He kissed her forehead and let her rest.

Morning, Daimyō's Palace

Nara Hisashi, Konoha's liaison, guided Sasame to a private audience—not the usual court session.

Odd.

"When Tsunade sent word, I thought she was joking."

Daimyō Enichi Ōshiro chuckled. "But here you are—a Hokage younger than some of my grandsons."

"You flatter me."

Sasame remained politely indifferent.

His past life—and current power—left no room for groveling.

As long as Enichi behaved, he'd play nice.

If not… well.

"How fares Konoha?"

Enichi's smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Recovered well since the Third War."

"Good."

The Daimyō's tone shifted. "These past years have strained the Land of Fire's treasury."

Ah.

So that's why he'd summoned him.

A budget cut.

In the original timeline, Naruto had foolishly agreed to similar demands—despite being the world's strongest shinobi.

Now, Enichi was testing the new, "young" Hokage.

Pathetic.

"Ever heard this saying?"

Sasame's Eternal Mangekyō whirled to life.

"Kings and nobles—are they truly born superior?"

Enichi's eyes glazed over.

"Disappointing."

Sasame sighed.

He wouldn't kill the Daimyō—too messy, and Tsunade might object.

But a puppet regime? Perfect.

Since he couldn't babysit Enichi, he'd assign Shisui Uchiha—currently idle in Snow Country—to the task.

Mission accomplished, Sasame headed home.

Four more assassination attempts later, the trip proved fruitful:

His students had grown.

The Daimyō was under control.

Konoha's finances would never be an issue again.

Now, he could implement reforms—like standardized ninja salaries.

Expensive, but the benefits outweighed costs:

Loyalty: Poorer shinobi would rally behind the system that fed them.

Unity: Clan-centric mindsets would erode when money talked.

If Hiruzen had brainwashed them with "Will of Fire" platitudes, Sasame would buy their devotion.

[Due to your actions, the fates of Danzō, Fūya (Anrokuzan), and Sara have shifted. Total Fate Points gained: 112.]

The notification gave Sasame pause.

Fūya and Sara—key figures from Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower.

The ruins of Loulan held the Dragon Vein, a source of infinite chakra.

In the movie, Tsunade sent Naruto's team to investigate, leading to a time-travel fiasco where Fūya (as Anrokuzan) tried harnessing the Vein's power.

Wait… is Danzō trying to rewrite history since he can't become Hokage now?

Ironically, his timing was impeccable.

And his alliance with the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa?

This'll be fun.

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