As the village's reconstruction was completed, everything gradually returned to normal.
And Gekko Chizan was clearly living quite happily. After all, every day he either taught students or trained ANBU. After finishing off brats, he moved on to elites. This had truly made him Konoha's devil teacher.
Unfortunately, peaceful days were always broken by unexpected events.
Gekko Chizan looked at the intelligence report in his hand, then at several senior officials around him and Namikaze Minato. Shimura Danzō was, of course, absent. Earlier today, he had just received news that Danzō had been hit by a falling bookshelf. Although there was no reward, it still made him laugh for quite a while.
"Guardian Ninja of the Land of Fire?"
"Sarutobi, you old bastard, even your son joined in."
"I clearly crushed them before, yet they still managed to form their own force?"
"I really can't understand what this generation's Daimyō is thinking."
Namikaze Minato said nothing, instead taking out another intelligence report and handing it to him.
After all, Gekko Chizan's intelligence-gathering ability was publicly acknowledged as strong.
Gekko Chizan: ??? How the hell did I not know this?
"Hm? Investigating the cause of the previous Daimyō's death?"
"Who issued this mission?"
The death of the former Daimyō was extremely suspicious, as was the identity of the mercenary involved.
Gekko Chizan didn't even need to think to know it was that bastard Nagato. After all, a technique that blasted everyone around away—wasn't that Shinra Tensei?
"Chizan, the technique used by the one who assassinated the Daimyō and the Rinnegan wielder who attacked Konoha and fought you is the same."
"From this perspective, he should be that mercenary."
"In that case, it can be determined that the assassination of the Daimyō is closely connected to Uchiha Madara."
"Although we don't know what benefit this brings him, the one who commissioned this mission is Yukimura, a senior retainer of the former Daimyō's residence."
"I want to hear your opinion."
Opinion? What opinion? What opinion could a mere jōnin possibly have?
"I think this is something you shouldn't be asking me."
"You should be asking Advisor Sarutobi instead. After all, he even sent his own son to go undercover."
"Wouldn't the intelligence be sent back in no time?"
Gekko Chizan smiled lewdly, making the old Sarutobi man furious.
"You damn! You know exactly what's going on with Asuma, so are you deliberately trying to piss this old man off?"
"Asuma, that bastard—hmph!"
He laughed. Gekko Chizan laughed outright. Thinking about how Sarutobi Hiruzen used to assign him missions every day just to mess with him—was this revenge? Of course not. This was barely the beginning.
He suddenly pulled a smoking pipe from his clothes and started playing with it, instantly breaking Sarutobi Hiruzen's composure.
"You little bastard! That's my pipe!"
"Give it back to me!"
If not for Minato and Homura Mitokado stopping him, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have already attacked. He had even bitten his fingers bloody.
Enma was already prepared!
"Hehehe, once it's in my hands, it's mine. You want it back?"
"Keep dreaming! I'm doing this for your own good. Isn't smoking fine? Why do you insist on a pipe?"
"Here, have a taste. I bought these good cigarettes from the Daimyō's residence."
Putting the pipe away, he casually tossed a pack of cigarettes to Sarutobi Hiruzen. Gekko Chizan smiled as he lit one, puffing out clouds of smoke, so angry that Sarutobi Hiruzen's beard trembled.
"Alright, Chizan, calm down a bit."
"For this mission, I originally planned to send you, but then I thought it would be better to give the younger generation a chance."
"Who do you think would be suitable to send?"
Oh? So he wasn't called here to take on a mission?
He was here to help select people?
"This kind of thing—how would I know?"
"But if it's going to the Daimyō's residence to investigate, I think my few useless disciples would be more suitable."
"Kakashi, Rin, Obito, Shisui—those four have all been to the Daimyō's residence before. Let them go."
"You all know Kakashi's strength. Rin is now a medical ninja at the hospital, and Obito and Shisui are also quite outstanding."
Namikaze Minato nodded. The four people Gekko Chizan mentioned were all on his list.
After all, there weren't many outstanding individuals among the younger generation, and even fewer who could handle matters independently.
"Hmph, you're not much yourself, but the disciples you raised are all quite good."
"You can be considered to have accumulated some merit."
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed angrily on his cigarette, his gaze toward Gekko Chizan full of hostility.
But no matter how hostile, he still acknowledged his achievements.
"Tch, like you needed to say it?"
"Anything else? If not, I'm leaving. I still have a lot to do."
Namikaze Minato rubbed his temples. Recently, there had been far too many matters. The village had just finished rebuilding.
The Daimyō's residence was one major issue, and the rest were even more numerous.
Among them, the most troublesome were the movements of the other villages.
"Chizan, I need your help."
Hearing Minato say this, Gekko Chizan's heart skipped a beat. Great—once those words were spoken, it was definitely something big.
"Don't—I'm just a small jōnin. I can't shoulder such a heavy responsibility."
"Don't rush to refuse. I need you to take over the village's intelligence network. With the war over, our original intelligence network has already fallen into complete disrepair."
That was the truth. During the war, all intelligence had been piled up with human lives, resulting in the village's intelligence system now being stuck in an extremely awkward situation.
It had to be rebuilt as soon as possible, otherwise the danger to the village would be enormous.
"Even many intelligence sources have been purchased from the black market. This can't continue."
"I've had enough of those profiteers' ugly faces!"
A flash of anger crossed Homura Mitokado's face. He had always been responsible for intelligence work, but with the massive loss of intelligence ninja, he now had to buy intelligence just to get it.
Koharu Utatane also let out a sigh.
"Gekko Chizan, your abilities are the most suitable for intelligence gathering. After discussion, we've decided to let you serve as the head of the intelligence network."
"We can provide you with the necessary funds and personnel."
"There is only one requirement: to complete Konoha's intelligence network in the shortest possible time."
"Can you do it?"
Gekko Chizan rarely frowned.
All the funds and personnel provided? That was rare. For these two old foxes to loosen their mouths—just how trash had Konoha's intelligence network become?
"Any amount of money?"
"As long as it's for the village, yes."
"Anyone I want?"
"Yes, but don't mess around. If the people you choose can't serve as intelligence ninja, we will reject your application."
He laughed. Gekko Chizan laughed again, and this smile was filled with cunning.
Seeing this smile, everyone present—including Namikaze Minato—felt a sudden chill in their hearts.
Too cunning. Too lewd. Just what had this guy thought of?
"I'll take this mission."
"Isn't it just an intelligence network? I'll set out tomorrow."
"Minato, give me ten million ryō first. If it's not enough, I'll ask you for more."