Chapter 390: Chapter – 385 Change Upon the Horizon
"So, your proposal will be accepted once all three problems you were having back then are resolved..."
Tsunade had a contemplative look on her face as she weighed all Kuroto had said, and after a long pause, she finally added, "And what is the second deal you mentioned?"
When it came to the Second transaction, Kuroto had a dubious expression on his face, 'Should I really do it? Should I or shouldn't I?'
Tsunade scowled when she noticed Kuroto's reluctant expression and said, "Out with it...!"
"Sigh... okay," he said. "So, I heard that Tsunade-sama owes quite a bit of debt to various gambling houses in the Land of Fire and its surrounding countries," Kuroto said after a brief pause.
"Huh...?" – perplexed, "A-and what of it...?" – Tsunade assumed it was a terrible situation, but debts? Why, of all things, would he bring up debts?
Kuroto paused for a moment before ultimately saying, "The second deal I'm offering you is that I'll pay off your debts."
"Huh…?" – Tsunade took a few seconds to comprehend Kuroto's comments, but she believed she had misheard him and inquired, "What did you just say?" again.
"I stated I was willing to pay off your debts," Kuroto reiterated.
"Did he say I believe what he said, Shizune?" - Tsunade inquired about Shizune's confirmation.
"If Kuroto-san said something about paying our debts, then... "I believe he said it." - Shizune smiled and nodded.
"Care to repeat that?" Tsunade asked, nodding.
"As I previously stated, I am willing to repay your debts." - Kuroto said it again, this time for the third time.
This time she heard it louder than ever before, but when she did, she had a strange smile on her face, as did Shizune. "So, to clarify, you're saying you're willing to pay off the obligations I owe to numerous gambling houses throughout the Land of Fire and its surrounding countries?"
"As long as it's not too much, I'm willing to d-...!" Kuroto nodded.
"SHIZUNE!" - Tsunade exclaimed.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shizune responded hurriedly.
"Add up the total and give it to the brat, along with a list of all the individual gaming establishments to which we owe money." - Tsunade gave Shizune instructions with a solemn gaze.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama, I'll go ahead and do it." – Shizune nodded and reached into her Kimono for a black diary, which she began to tally up.
'How much debt does she owe?' Kuroto wondered, as the speed at which the two of them worked convinced him that he had made a mistake here. 'All I ask is that it be something I can afford.'
Kuroto had to wait five minutes for Shizune to complete, and at that time, Tsunade kept ordering Sake after Sake after Sake... 'Sigh, as long as Yui can learn under Tsunade-sama's instruction, it will be worth it,' Kuroto thought as he felt more and more that he had made a foolish decision here.
"Tsunade-sama, here you go." – After adding up the total, Shizune handed the document to Tsunade, who checked it over to make sure nothing was missing... It was no issue to add two or three more, but none should be left.
"All right, the list is spot on... here you go, brat," Tsunade nodded and handed Kuroto the list.
'I proposed it, and I can't back out now,' Kuroto thought as he nervously grabbed the list from Tsunade's grip... Then he turned the page to see the total.
"Huh...?" - Kuroto was taken aback at the sum.
"What exactly is it...?" You won't be able to back out now, kid." - Tsunade remarked, with a look on his face that stated, 'I'm not going to let you back away here.'
"Well, this is an unexpectedly... lower amount." – Kuroto grumbled.
"It's less?" she muttered in surprise, "Are you sure?" Tsunade inquired to confirm.
"It's only 85.345 million Ryo," Kuroto said, nodding. This sum isn't excessive... whew… With the Legendary Sucker's fame, I estimated that the sum may reach several hundred million Ryos... Surprisingly, you appear to be rather moderate..."
Tsunade and Shizune exchanged puzzled looks, and they both wondered aloud, 'How wealthy is the Hyuga Clan?'
"Cough-cough… Anyway, as I previously stated, I am also willing to pay off your debts... Now that both deals have been proposed, Tsunade-sama, it's your turn."
"I give you my word," Tsunade said with a nod. If you manage to keep your half of the bargain, I'll accept the Kunoichi Hyuga Yui, your fiancé to be exact, as my disciple."
"Thank you very much, Tsunade-sama!" Kuroto exclaimed, relieved.
"But before everything, there's one thing I want to make clear with you," Tsunade continued, nodding. "Regardless of how much work I put into training her, it'll all come down to the girl herself." It will be up to her if she can learn everything or not. Iryo Ninjutsu has the same depths as Fuinjutsu and other high-end Kinjutsu, so it all comes down to her perseverance and talent; if she can learn, I'll keep teaching her everything I know; if she can't, there's nothing I can do."
"I understand," Kuroto said, nodding. "I have faith in Yui; she will not only maintain but even surpass you, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade chuckled. "If that's the case, I guess I'll be looking forward to the day it happens."
"With that decided, I will be taking my leave now," Kuroto said as he stood up after placing some Ryo bills on the table. "I'm sorry for having to continue, please forgive me, but I need to attend to some business. Goodbye, Tsunade-sama, it was a wonderful talk."
As Kuroto walked away, Tsunade nodded and said nothing further.
"Tsunade-sama, was it really alright?" Shizune asked after Kuroto had left. " You stated before we arrived in Konoha that you have no plans to accomplish anything. Even when Jiraiya-sama delivered Hokage-sama's command, you consented on the condition that you would simply assist with Chiyobaasama's therapy and thereafter do nothing else...! "And now..."
Tsunade remained silent until she took another sip of sake and replied, "I don't know... Shizune. When I saw Orochimaru a few days ago, he told me about some of the finer nuances that have been going on in the Shinobi World, facts that most people are unaware of... Orochimaru has determined, based on all he has theorised thus far, that the current direction of the guiding winds is more unpredictable than it has ever been, and that a new era awaits us... But even for someone like him, predicting what that new period would bring is incredibly difficult.
It's difficult to say whether this will be a brighter and more tranquil era or a darker and more chaotic one than ever before, especially since Amatsukami's current intentions remain unknown. But one thing is certain: this new period will only come after horrific conflicts, and one of those wars, in particular, will be more dangerous and devastating than anything ever seen or known.
I'm not sure what type of drivel he was spewing, but the things he said reminded me of Jiraiya's 'Child of Prophecy', and at the heart of it all is the concept of 'change.'
Whether it's Orochimaru or Jiraiya, they're both saying it... So, I've reached the conclusion that there may be some truth to it, and that Konoha will need all the support it can get if it is to survive these changes. My mission as an Iryo-nin will remain unchanged: to save as many lives as possible."
"But Tsunade-sama... your..." – Shizune intended to bring up Tsunade's aversion to blood.
"A shift is upon us, time waits for none," Tsunade stated. " I'm afraid I won't be able to continue to wallow in my anxieties and despair... As Senju Hashirama's only living descendant, I must do everything in my power to guarantee that his legacy carries on..." - Tsunade stood up after finishing the last sip of Sake and said, "Come on Shizune, we can't keep wasting our time here; we have a lot of work to do."
Shizune was taken aback by Tsunade's resolute expression, the same determined expression Tsunade had been missing for almost a decade. However, she appears to have undergone some 'change' since her arrival in Konoha.
Shizune was overjoyed to the point of crying, but since she didn't have the time, she nodded to Tsunade, stood up, and followed her with a determined expression.
'There is a shift in the horizon.' We must do everything possible to ensure Konoha's survival.'
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Read up to Chapter - 639 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. Page: p-atreon.com/Milta_translations
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Chapter 391: Chapter – 386 Meaning of Life
Kuroto was on his way to the Hyuga Clan after leaving Izakaya.
Now that Tsunade has been persuaded, he must complete his part of the bargain. The issue of cash to pay off Tsunade's debts is entirely his responsibility, and Kuroto would not engage the Clan in it, but for the first deal, the Hyuga Patriarch must be persuaded.
Kuroto's belief in his ability to persuade Hyuga Hiashi is based on two factors.
Shisui's Kotoamatsukami is clearly the first. Even if all of his previous efforts to persuade the Patriarch fail, he can always use Kotoamatsukami, which is guaranteed to work.
The second is Konoha's current state, which is complicated by the fact that no clan can oppose the Hokage's order, therefore the clans will have to make the most of it.
Sandaime-sama's defeat has had a significant impact on his political influence, therefore the notion of electing the next Hokage is on everyone's mind. Of all the candidates the village has at the moment, Senju Tsunade is the best fit in terms of status, reputation, fame, and ability.
And if the Hyuga Clan assists Tsunade-sama in a project that will greatly benefit Konoha, and if one of their clan members becomes a disciple of the next Hokage, the Clan's reputation and authority will greatly improve.
As a result, Kuroto believes the Hyuga Patriarch will not refute the subject.
Kuroto's brows pinched and a glimmer of doubt flickered across his face as he approached the Hyuga clan compound and walked in the direction of the Patriarch's residence. This is because he noticed that clan members' gazes were oddly following him.
Clan members were courteous and greeted him one by one with respect and admiration, as is customary. It appeared that they all admired and respected him, and perhaps they did, but upon closer inspection, it was easy to see that there were traces of fear in their eyes as well, and as a result, they were all keeping a safe distance from him.
'I wonder what the reason is...?' - Kuroto pondered. He didn't seem to mind because there were no signs of hatred in their eyes, only worry. Fear fueled by hatred should not be taken lightly, but fear fueled by worry is a different story...
"I believe it's due to Asahi-sama's assassination." - Kuroto muttered towards the end.
Hyuga Asahi's killer was never apprehended.
Kuroto was also considered a suspect because he expressed his displeasure with the Hyuga Clan's rigid stance toward Gentle Fist, as well as a few needless rituals, only a few days before the murder.
Of course, nothing was confirmed, and since Hyuga Hiashi insisted that it couldn't be Hyuga Kuroto, Kuroto was never involved in the situation, but there was still some displeasure.
Kuroto, understandably, is unconcerned about what everyone else thinks, and as a result, he is uninterested in the situation.
Kuroto arrived at the Hyuga Patriarch's residence after a long walk and was immediately met by one of the maidservants, who said, "Kuroto-sama, the Patriarch is waiting for you in his study, please follow me."
Kuroto currently holds a position in the Hyuga Clan that is second only to the Patriarch, Elders, and Hizashi. As a result, the Patriarch was immediately informed of his visit so that neither of them wasted time.
Kuroto politely nodded and trailed behind the maidservant.
Kuroto quickly arrived in the Patriarch's study after following the servant.
"I am happy to see that you returned safely from Amegakure, Kuroto-kun," the Patriarch said, looking at Kuroto up and down to check on his wellbeing, " Please have a seat when you come in."
"Thank you for your concern Hiashi-sama." – Kuroto nodded and sat in front of the Patriarch in the traditional seiza stance.
The maidservant brewed tea for the two and passed the teacups as they sat in silence for a while.
Kuroto was the first to break the silence after the maidservant had excused herself, saying, "Yui told me about Himeji-sama."
"Everything has to end one day or another, the same goes for a human's life, I am only grateful that Himeji-san passed away quietly with a smile, even during the last minutes of her life, she was touching our girls' sleeping head," Hiashi remarked after a brief pause, " If she had a regret, it was that she wouldn't be able to see our daughters grow up, but she had enough faith in them to know that they would both grow up to be powerful Kunoichi the Hyuga Clan could be proud of."
Kuroto nodded, and the room was silent once more as the two people sat quietly.
"It's strange that people can find serenity even when they're dead... It makes me wonder what the point of life is." mumbled Hiashi, then asked Kuroto " What is your opinion of life, Kuroto-kun?"
Kuroto pondered the subject for a moment before responding, "I believe that Life itself has no significance. Each of us has meaning in our lives that we bring into it; the meaning we bring into our lives is derived from our beliefs and ideologies, which are shaped by our experiences and knowledge, and our experience and knowledge are derived from life itself."
"So life is a never-ending loop in your opinion?" - Hiashi inquired after interpreting Kuroto's words.
"Death is only the end of our bodily forms; our souls remain on and may reincarnate... So, sure, I believe in a never-ending cycle of life." - Kuroto agreed with a nod.
"Hahaha... that is a truly unusual notion... I'll think about it while I think about stuff." – Hiashi sama stated with a nod, then added, "I am truly delighted that you have returned safely Kuroto-kun, and I also want to congratulate you on your promotion to Anbu Squad Commander, y our and Yui's elevation to Jonin will be decided by a vote of the Hyuga Clan. You won't be promoted formally while you're in Anbu, but you can be confident that you're already an unofficial Jonin, on the other hand, in a few days, Yui will be promoted to Jonin rank."
Kuroto is important to Hyuga Hiashi since he is one of the pillars who can help the Hyuga Clan in the future. And this concern stems from the fact that the child has done a lot for the clan; even if unwittingly, the Clan has benefited from Hyuga Kuroto's efforts, therefore it is normal for him to be concerned about Kuroto as the Patriarch.
"I am appreciative for the gift," Kuroto said with a bow.
"No need to worry," Hiashi remarked, nodding. "Now that that's out of the way, what brings you here, Kuroto-kun?"
Kuroto nodded and firmly stated what he had previously discussed with Tsunade.
Hiashi remained deafeningly silent after hearing all of the data, particularly Tsunade's plan to make Iryo-nin a requirement for each four-man squad.
"I understand that we cannot oppose Hokage-sama's command, given the gravity of the situation," Hiashi stated after some thought, "but I want to ask you personally, are the leaders of Akatsuki and Amatsukami really as strong as the rumors make them out to be?"
"I'm afraid that no one in Konoha, nor in other villages, is capable of fighting those two right now," Kuroto said solemnly, " Even if all of the villages pooled their resources, they will be up against individuals who are gods in human form.
A blade that can cut through clouds, and another that can create stones large enough to cover the horizon, both powerful enough to render Hachibi, Susanoo, and Jiraiya-sama and his giant Kuchiyose absolutely useless.
When all we can hope for is to find ways to survive, such power cannot be readily rejected, and Tsunade-sama's proposition does just that.
As a result, I believe that using these strategies is in the village's best interests."
Hiashi was deafeningly quiet at the meeting where the details of the raid were disclosed; at first, he couldn't believe such power existed, but after further consideration and listening to the evidence, Hiashi had no choice but to believe.
In such a condition, the Hyuga Clan's future appears gloomy. What good will Gentle Fist do if even Uchiha's Susanoo, known for its ultimate protection and great power, can't do anything? True, the Byakugan can see Chakra Pathway, but what good does that do when you aren't even strong enough to approach the enemy?
"Sigh… I sincerely hope that Hokage-sama can work out an appropriate solution for the village's protection in such a situation." –Hiashi said with a sigh, then nodded to Kuroto, "I will put forward Tsunade-san's suggestion in the next meeting," and added, "Before that, I will have some discussions with Tsunade-san, and decide on a few things to have a better grasp of her proposal." You can rest easy knowing that Hyuga Yui's apprenticeship with Tsunade-san will be completed. I would support her studies under Tsunade-san's supervision because it is advantageous to the Hyuga Clan as well."
"I am grateful Hiashi-sama," Kuroto stated as he bowed before the Patriarch.
"This is the least I can do for the Hyuga Clan's future," Hiashi said, nodding.
Kuroto nodded and went on to explain a few possibilities. Kuroto opted not to get into the Hyuga Clan's traditions and such for the time being. When old fools realize the true face of this Shinobi World, their ideals will crumble. Kuroto doesn't have to spend any of his valuable time with them.
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Read up to Chapter - 640 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. Page: p-atreon.com/Milta_translations
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Alex_Clive
Alex_Clive
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
For P.A.T.R.E.O.N. Support:
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