Chapter 120 — "Feeding the Tiger with One's Own Flesh"
Outside the forge, Taichi and the others stared at one another in silence. The craftsmen in the shop were just as bewildered.
Master Kritz had barely returned before shutting himself inside the forging room, completely cutting off the outside world. Yet the shop had already received instructions: once the master returned, he was to be invited immediately to the noble's residence.
Fortunately, no one had to wait long.
About twenty minutes later, the true owner of the forge—and the mission's client—sent someone over. After hearing the full story, he promptly signed off on the mission completion.
What happened afterward had nothing to do with Taichi and his team.
---
"Taichi, what kind of weapon do you think the master plans to forge this time?"
Yōhei asked eagerly, unable to suppress his curiosity, glancing back at the forge as it faded into the distance.
"What, planning to ask him to forge a weapon for you?" Taichi stopped and looked at him. "But Yōhei, your swordsmanship isn't exactly impressive."
While speaking, the corner of Taichi's eye flicked toward the shop behind Yōhei. A servant-like figure had just passed by in a flash.
If Taichi remembered correctly, this was already the third time that man had appeared near him. The same servant had once secretly welcomed him when he visited the daimyō's estate.
So the daimyō's household truly had capable people. Taichi had been in Kyoto for less than half a day, and they were already making contact.
His heartbeat quickened slightly. The daimyō clearly never missed an opportunity. Thankfully, Taichi had prepared in advance, knowing he would come to Kyoto.
"I may not be good, but you are!" Yōhei laughed. "With this connection, won't the master give us a discount next time?"
He glanced up at the sun.
"It's almost noon. How about we grab lunch?"
Standing between his carefree teammates and the daimyō's hidden contact nearby, Taichi felt an odd surge of excitement.
So this is what a spy's life feels like?
Frankly, it was far worse than fighting on the battlefield.
He quickly adjusted his expression and smiled casually.
"Sure. That place ahead looks good."
He pointed at a small restaurant hung with red lanterns. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the servant casually drift toward the same direction, pretending to be a passerby.
---
Inside the restaurant, the wooden floor creaked softly. Taichi deliberately chose a seat by the window, allowing him to monitor the street.
Saori flipped through the menu with interest, while Yōhei enthusiastically ordered several signature dishes.
"I'm going to the restroom," Taichi said once the food arrived. "You two start without me."
"Don't take too long!" Yōhei shouted behind him. "Or I'll eat everything!"
Taichi exited through the back door and quickly turned into a narrow alley.
The servant was already waiting there, bowing slightly—as if he knew Taichi would come.
"The daimyō is very concerned about Konoha's recent movements," the servant said quietly.
"It's been a long time, yet you haven't reported a single person of value."
Ignoring the complaint, Taichi reached into a hidden inner pocket of his ninja pouch and produced a thumb-sized scroll.
"This is what the daimyō wanted."
He scanned the surroundings cautiously.
"Konoha's mission load has skyrocketed. Large numbers of ninja have been recalled. Is the daimyō planning something? I need specifics to gather targeted intelligence."
The servant said nothing. He accepted the scroll without even checking it and disappeared into the alley.
Taichi watched him go in silence.
So the daimyō truly trusted him not at all—even the liaison was just a disposable messenger.
He exhaled slowly.
Hopefully this intel is enough to earn a more serious contact next time.
But when Taichi thought about the list he had handed over, a chill ran down his spine.
That old man really dares to gamble…
---
Earlier — The Day the Mission Was Assigned
When Yōhei and Saori chose a mission bound for Kyoto, Taichi suddenly remembered his unfinished espionage assignment.
Nearly two months had passed with zero progress. Even he felt embarrassed—let alone what the daimyō might think.
With a "might as well try" mindset, Taichi claimed he needed supplies and slipped away to the Hokage's office.
The moment he explained the situation, Taichi clearly saw the expression on the Hokage's face:
the look of a grandfather whose kid messed up, but who's holding back from smacking him.
"Grandpa Hokage," Taichi said shamelessly, leaning on familiarity and youth,
"you know how busy missions have been, and our team leader is often absent, so—"
Halfway through, even Taichi couldn't continue. He had taken the mission reward… without doing the work.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, watching Taichi fidget, and decided not to press him.
Espionage required training. That Taichi hadn't exposed himself already was good enough.
He pulled out a prepared list from his drawer and handed it over.
"Report these names to the daimyō in order, across three contacts. See if you can extract useful intelligence in return."
Taichi unfolded the list—and his pupils shrank.
"Lord Hokage… is this Sarutobi Asuma the one I think it is?"
Good grief. The Hokage had even put his own son on the list.
"Yes," Hiruzen said calmly, taking a puff of his pipe.
"What? Are other people's children acceptable, but mine isn't?"
"N-no—your integrity is admirable," Taichi said hastily. "I'm just… surprised."
And then there was Hatake Kakashi.
If White Fang lived peacefully, fine. But if history repeated itself…
The future "Copy Ninja" might be impossible to predict.
In the end, all the pressure lands on me, Taichi thought grimly.
---
Back in the alley, after ensuring no one followed him, Taichi returned to the restaurant.
Yōhei was devouring tempura. Saori had carefully saved a sashimi platter for him.
"You took a long time," she said. "The food's getting cold."
"Stomach trouble," Taichi smiled. "Probably something I ate this morning."
Yōhei mumbled through a mouthful of food,
"Then you really missed out. If Saori hadn't saved you some, I'd've eaten it all!"
"You have no shame," Saori scolded.
Listening to their bickering, Taichi's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
What will the daimyō do with that list? How long before he trusts me?
Sunlight bathed the street. Pedestrians came and went.
Beneath the calm surface, unseen currents were already colliding.
---
After lunch, the team departed for Konoha.
Meanwhile, the list Taichi worried over had already reached the daimyō.
"Did Matsushita Taichi ask anything when submitting this?" the daimyō asked casually, twirling the scroll.
"He only asked whether there were upcoming operations," the servant replied.
"I followed your instructions and said nothing. He didn't ask further."
"Very well. You may leave."
Once the servant withdrew, only the daimyō and the Minister of Finance remained.
"Do you think this Taichi can be trusted?" the daimyō asked darkly.
"Trustworthiness is measured by value," the minister replied, pointing at the scroll.
"The more valuable the intelligence, the more trustworthy he becomes."
The daimyō laughed.
"Exactly! Once he gives us enough, trust becomes irrelevant."
He opened the scroll.
Hatake Kakashi — Graduated at six, now seven, already a chūnin…
Sarutobi Asuma — Hokage's son, academy top student, inheriting Wind, Earth, and Fire chakra natures…
Nakamura Ryōta — Minor clan ninja, outstanding performance in multiple A-rank missions…
The daimyō's smile slowly deepened.
The tiger had been fed.
And now—it would grow.
Seeing the three names and the descriptions beneath them, the daimyō frowned deeply.
Hatake Kakashi and Nakamura Ryōta were both excellent—undeniable elite seedlings, future jōnin with tremendous potential.
But Sarutobi Asuma?
That was a bit too outrageous.
Poaching talent was one thing—poaching the Hokage's own son was another entirely. Forget whether it would even succeed; just imagining the Hokage's reaction was enough to give the daimyō's household a massive headache.
"Your Excellency," the Minister of Finance stepped forward upon noticing the daimyō's troubled expression, "is there something wrong with this list?"
"Take a look yourself," the daimyō said, handing over the scroll. "Help me analyze how these people might be… persuaded."
The minister accepted the scroll. With just a glance, his pupils shrank, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He hadn't expected Taichi to submit the Hokage's son.
Did the boy think the conflict between the daimyō's court and Konoha wasn't heated enough—so he decided to add fuel to the fire?
Yet as the name lingered in his thoughts, a brilliant idea slowly took shape.
"Your Excellency," the minister said carefully, "this Sarutobi Asuma… may actually be worth considering."
"Oh?" The daimyō leaned forward, intrigued. "You have an idea? Speak."
"In truth, this cannot be called 'recruitment.'"
The minister's tone grew heavy. "Actively attempting to recruit someone like him would be a direct provocation of the Hokage's authority. If exposed, Konoha would inevitably settle accounts with us—regardless of the reason."
This was a reminder as much as advice.
They held legitimacy, yes—but not military power.
If the Hokage truly turned hostile, even without open rebellion, a single assassination could render everything meaningless.
The daimyō clearly understood the unspoken warning, yet his interest only deepened. He gestured for the minister to continue.
"First, Sarutobi Asuma is still an academy student. Time is on our side—we need not rush.
"Second, we do not need to recruit him, nor have him openly side with us.
"All we need is to influence him indirectly—emphasize his identity as the Hokage's son, downplay his personal effort, and allow resentment toward his birthright to take root naturally.
"Then, we gradually introduce our ideology. Let him come to understand us… and approach us of his own will.
"Of course, all of this must be subtle. It will take years, perhaps over a decade, and will require activating our embedded assets within Konoha. Ultimately, the decision rests with you, Your Excellency."
The daimyō was genuinely tempted.
The plan carried minimal risk, yet promised enormous payoff.
After all—what could be more ironic than the Hokage's own son becoming sympathetic to the daimyō's cause?
The only drawback was time. Years—possibly more than ten.
But weighing the reward, the daimyō made his decision.
"Minister, this matter is yours to oversee. I will assign several suitable assets to follow your command."
His gaze hardened.
"Remember—this plan seeks no merit, only the absence of mistakes. Under no circumstances must it appear deliberate."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"As for the other two," the daimyō added, "place them under observation first. Confirm whether their temperament and ability are worth engaging."
"Yes."
And so, a scheme spanning many years was decided in a single meeting.
Perhaps even Sarutobi Hiruzen himself would never have imagined that Hatake Kakashi—an unquestioned genius—failed to draw the daimyō's attention, while his own son would become the true variable.
None of this mattered to Taichi's team as they left Kyoto.
Unlike their leisurely journey there, the return took only two days.
"That's enough for today," Taichi said. "Let's rest for one day and resume training tomorrow."
Yōhei and Saori nodded. The three split off toward their respective destinations.
---
Hokage's Office
"—And that's how the mission went, Lord Hokage."
Taichi stood straight before the desk, honestly reporting the details of his espionage assignment.
"So," Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured, "the daimyō is extremely interested in Konoha's current personnel movements."
He lowered his gaze, deep in thought.
At this critical juncture, what exactly was the daimyō planning? Surely he wasn't foolish enough to sabotage Konoha outright—such an act would only delight their enemies.
Still, relying on reactive measures was unacceptable.
We need to strengthen intelligence gathering around the daimyō's court, Hiruzen decided.
Looking up, he noticed Taichi still standing there, hesitating.
Amused, he asked, "Taichi, is there something else?"
Taichi had been waiting for that question.
"Lord Hokage," he said cautiously, "about Asuma… is it really alright?"
Hiruzen's face hardened as he replied sternly, "Other people's children can handle it. You yourself became an informant without complaint. Why shouldn't Asuma?"
He paused.
"Don't forget—he will also be a shinobi of Konoha."
"Yes, I understand," Taichi said, lowering his head in apparent shame.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Only after the office door closed did Taichi's expression finally relax. He let out a long breath.
That was close.
If Asuma ever truly sided with the daimyō in the future, today's words would be Taichi's lifeline—his proof that he had raised the concern.
There was no room for carelessness.