Even though Kazuki knew just how important this money was to the village—it was, after all, what would determine whether Konoha could finally breathe easy again—he still hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself, to personally lead the escort.
And not only that—there were three additional ANBU teams accompanying them.
Counting their own squad, that made four full shinobi teams. Add in Hiruzen, and it was a force so large and elite that, if they'd been spotted near a border, it might've triggered rumors of another Great Ninja War.
With the Third Hokage leading the way, their travel speed increased significantly. Still, Kazuki didn't slack off. He kept his Shadow Clones working on Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, while his real body focused on chakra nature transformation and Shadow Imitation Technique. Missions or not, the grind for mastery never stopped.
They successfully retrieved the funds from the daimyō, but Kazuki couldn't help noticing the sour look on the lord's face.
"I'm telling you," Kazuki muttered to Kakashi, "if the Third Hokage hadn't come, that guy probably wouldn't have even shown his face."
Kakashi nodded slightly. He agreed.
Without Hiruzen present, that daimyō would've likely turned them away outright. But even retired, the Third Hokage still carried tremendous weight. The daimyō couldn't afford to snub him.
Hiruzen kept his usual warm, genial expression throughout the exchange. After some brief formalities, he gathered the squads and departed immediately.
But once they left the capital, the mood shifted. Hiruzen said nothing, but the atmosphere turned taut.
Kazuki knew well—getting the money wasn't the end. Delivering it safely back to the village was.
Even if leaks were unlikely, staying alert was just smart.
After a while, Hiruzen's expression darkened. Kazuki's senses sharpened instantly. His hands formed signs at a blur.
Kakashi, beside him, noticed something—Kazuki's hand seals had become freakishly fast. Before the thought finished forming in his head, Kazuki had already completed a jutsu.
"Ambush!" Kazuki shouted.
A surge of water shot forward, aiming straight for Hiruzen.
Several enemy shinobi—forehead protectors visible—revealed themselves and rushed in.
Kazuki didn't waste time. A Great Fireball exploded toward the nearest attacker, while his shadow technique silently snaked out.
The fireball struck—only to reveal a log. Substitution Jutsu.
Kazuki wasn't fazed. He immediately began weaving new signs.
"This kid's kinda—" the enemy started, just before a Chidori pierced his chest with a crackling blast of lightning.
"Nice hit!" Kazuki clapped. Kakashi's timing had been flawless.
Meanwhile, Kazuki's shadow had already snared another attacker—this one fighting Kitsune. The instant of paralysis was all Kitsune needed to finish him off with a clean strike.
"Damn it, I knew these guys were trash!" growled the last standing enemy—locked in battle with Hiruzen.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed.
It made sense. Kakuzu was obsessed with money. A top-tier bounty hunter ninja who loved to brag that he'd once fought the First Hokage.
As soon as Kakuzu realized the rest of his squad had been wiped out, he turned to flee—vanishing at high speed. Hiruzen didn't pursue. Instead, he puffed calmly on his pipe as he returned.
"Lord Third!" the ANBU around them were visibly moved.
Even Kazuki was impressed. He had only caught glimpses of the fight, but it was obvious—the Legendary Professor had toyed with Kakuzu.
And yes, Kakuzu was strong. He wouldn't have earned a seat in Akatsuki otherwise.
But against Hiruzen Sarutobi, he'd looked almost clumsy.
Time really was merciless, Kazuki thought. If this had been the Hiruzen who faced Orochimaru, things might've ended very differently. Maybe he would've sealed Orochimaru completely with Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
Even so, the older Hiruzen had still managed to seal the souls of the First and Second Hokage, along with Orochimaru's arms.
Now, younger and still full of stamina, Hiruzen handled Kakuzu with ease.
"Your seals were insanely fast back there," Kakashi said, a little stunned.
"Eh, not bad." Kazuki waved it off, but this had been deliberate.
He'd figured out how to use his passive skill to maximize his seal speed.
So long as the enemy needed to form hand signs, he could always finish faster.
The only catch? If the opponent didn't need hand seals, it wouldn't help.
That's why I still need a sensory jutsu, Kazuki thought.
Even if the Third had already noticed the ambush, Kazuki needed ways to react on his own.
Once Kakuzu fled, the mission's tempo increased. Hiruzen hurried them along. Soon, they returned safely to Konoha—with the cash intact.
The assignment was complete.
Unless the Elders decided they wanted to milk the daimyō for more, Kazuki doubted they'd be returning to the capital anytime soon.
He glanced at his stats.
His Seal Proficiency was close to leveling up.
Not surprising. After all this time grinding, between his fireball spam and clone techniques, his hands had been working nonstop.
"I wonder what kind of skill unlocks from faster hand seals," Kazuki murmured.
Seals were useful, sure, but... what could leveling them really offer?
Still, it was a gain.
"Grind time," he muttered. "Let's unlock the next tier soon."
He'd just turned to head home when—bonk—something smacked his head.
A bottle of shampoo, dripping wet, sailed past his face.
"Ahhh! Someone catch that pervert! He's peeping again!!"
Hearing the furious voice behind him, Kazuki didn't even have to turn to know exactly who it was.