Chapter 121

In Sasuke's opinion, nothing should be accepted without reason.

If he wants to get something from Jiraiya, he'll naturally have to pay a price!

Equivalent exchange!

But unfortunately, he may not have what Jiraiya desires.

So Jiraiya didn't answer him directly.

"You'll understand when the time comes, but you've signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave, and the mark of Ryūchi Cave is on your body. It's hard to say if you can even learn the Sage techniques of Mount Myōboku."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin, pondering whether a single person could be aligned with two holy lands at the same time.

But in the end, he found no clear answer. After all, he was only the guardian of the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll, not someone who could represent its interests.

"Anyway, I'll take you to Mount Myōboku when we have time. Whether you can learn Sage Mode or not depends on the decision of the two sages."

Sasuke nodded, expressing his gratitude.

Now, he regretted training so intensely on his own. If he hadn't been so determined to push himself, he could have found a mentor who understood the Sage Arts sooner—and wouldn't have been branded with Ryūchi Cave's mark.

"Can the summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave be broken?" Sasuke asked suddenly.

"Yes, but you'd need a summoning scroll to cancel it. Since Orochimaru went to such lengths to pull you into Ryūchi Cave, he won't make it easy for you to leave," Jiraiya explained.

Sasuke frowned slightly. He was already aware of this complication.

There was no way Orochimaru would let him go without a fight.

Unless… they could find a way to threaten him!

Seeing Sasuke deep in thought, Kazuki, standing by, wondered if he should intervene.

If anyone could pressure Orochimaru into releasing the contract, it would be him!

Kazuki knew many of Orochimaru's secrets—his plans, his weaknesses.

With enough force, he could make Orochimaru sever the bond between Sasuke and Ryūchi Cave.

Hmm… maybe I shouldn't act just yet. Let's see how things unfold.

What if those two frogs from Mount Myōboku reveal something interesting?

That way, I won't have to lift a finger. No need to get involved unnecessarily.

Because the Chunin exams were the following day, the trip to Mount Myōboku was postponed.

Sasuke, along with Jiraiya, returned to his previous training ground. After confirming that Orochimaru wasn't nearby, Sasuke left with little interest.

If he went to find Sarutobi Hiruzen, he would likely learn that Orochimaru was in Konoha, but Sasuke had no desire to meet with him.

If he did, Sarutobi Hiruzen would likely try to convince Jiraiya to stay, which would only lead to more complications.

Jiraiya, however, disliked being tied down. He just wanted to roam free, writing novels! This was the author's ideal.

The next day, the Chūnin Exam Arena was filled to the brim. Countless shinobi, their families, nobles, and wealthy merchants packed every seat in the arena.

"Peanuts! Get your peanuts!"

"Grilled skewers! Grilled skewers!"

"Corn, radishes, potatoes, mutton skewers… anything you want! Extra cumin for flavor!"

"Soda! Juice! Sake!"

"Buy ten, get one free!"

...

Before the Chunin candidates had even arrived, vendors were rushing around the venue, selling their goods.

Kazuki had arrived early, seated in a corner, wearing a sleek black-and-gold robe. He cracked melon seeds, casually observing the lively scene—one that didn't exist in the anime.

Karin, dressed in a black maid's uniform, stood silently behind him, holding a fruit platter.

The two of them attracted quite a bit of attention.

Some of the wealthy merchants and nobles even wondered which clan Kazuki belonged to. He looked so composed, so stylish, even while watching the Chunin Exams!

"Sir, my master has invited you to join him," a man dressed in tan clothing said with a flattering smile, gesturing toward Kazuki.

Without glancing at him, Kazuki cracked another melon seed, his voice calm. "Leave."

The man's face faltered, but he quickly regained his smile. "Sir, perhaps you don't realize—my master is the president of Huomen Trade. He means no harm, only wishing to make your acquaintance."

Kazuki continued cracking seeds, remaining silent.

After nearly a minute, Kazuki finally spoke. "If he wants to meet, he should come to me."

"This…" The man hesitated.

"And tell him," Kazuki added, "I'm not interested in making friends right now. Maybe after the exam."

"After the exam? Sir, you can sit with my master and watch the 'game,'" the man suggested.

Kazuki glanced at him coolly. "I'll be playing soon, so I doubt I'll have time to sit with your master."

"Playing…?"

Before the man could comprehend Kazuki's words, several shinobi approached.

"Excuse me, someone's already seated here. Do you mind moving?" Kakashi, with his usual squint, smiled at the man.

The man turned, seeing the ninja headbands, and quickly backed away, leaving without another word. To him, ninja were nothing more than mercenaries, not people worth respecting.

Kazuki noticed the disdain and asked Kakashi, "Kakashi, do these wealthy merchants and nobles not hold ninjas in high regard?"

"More or less," Kakashi replied. "To them, ninja are just hired hands—mercenaries, really. As long as they have money, they think they can buy any ninja. It's not often they view us as equals."

"Oh? And what about the Hokage?" Kazuki asked, curious.

Kakashi looked at him. "Kazuki, in a sense, the Hokage isn't just a Hokage."

"What do you mean?"

"On the surface, the Hokage is simply the leader of the village's shinobi. But in reality, they hold significant political power. They're considered nobles in their own right."

Kazuki took a sip of his juice, deep in thought. "But isn't the Daimyo the highest political authority? And aren't Daimyo regular people, without any real strength?"

"Exactly," Kakashi said, though confused by the basic nature of Kazuki's question.

Kazuki's next words, however, left Kakashi dumbfounded.

"If that's the case, then why doesn't the Hokage simply replace the Daimyo as ruler of the Land of Fire? Why should someone without power be above a ninja like the Hokage?"

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg