"No, even if the effect is the same, the value cannot be equivalent. The necklace I gave you was made by my grandfather.
My grandfather is the founder of Konoha, the First Hokage, the God of Ninjas. Just the fame alone is worth who knows how much." Tsunade said with a serious face.
"So you don't want this?" Mokgetsu pretended to put it away.
Tsunade's quick eyes and hands immediately snatched the pale green crystal from Mokgetsu's palm.
"Although yours isn't as valuable as my grandfather's, it can still offset some debt." Tsunade said after carefully examining the crystal.
From an objective standpoint, the necklace Mokgetsu made has great potential for appreciation. In the future, it might not be much inferior to Senju Hashirama's necklace, if Mokgetsu doesn't create more necklaces with the same functionality.
"So how many meals in debt are there now?" Mokgetsu asked curiously.
Tsunade touched her fair chin and showed a thoughtful expression.
"Let's just calculate by the day, it's easier that way. Counting the interest for borrowing the necklace, let's say one thousand four hundred and sixty-one days." Tsunade thought for a moment and replied.
The original ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine days was something Tsunade casually said. She wouldn't live that long herself, how could she demand Mokgetsu to cook for her that many days.
One thousand four hundred sixty-one days is about four years. Tsunade thought it should be a number Mokgetsu can accept.
"That's really a long number." Mokgetsu lamented a little.
"I've already given you a discount, and if you haggle further, the discount won't be in numbers." Tsunade thought Mokgetsu was bargaining and threatened while rubbing her fair fists.
Actually, this number was still not Tsunade's bottom line, but she wouldn't easily back down in such a rare opportunity unless Mokgetsu really gave a reasonable argument.
"Let's go with one thousand four hundred sixty-one days." Mokgetsu said with a faint smile.
Tsunade instantly showed a happy expression, released her clenched fist, and laughed while patting Mokgetsu's back, looking like a good buddy.
"Tsunade-sama, you change your face so quickly." Shizune commented.
"What do you know, kid? Adults are like this." Tsunade placed her hands on her hips, stood firm and said justifiably.
The importance of face is nothing compared to a few meals from Mokgetsu.
After noon, Mokgetsu went home, and he read at home until it was almost time for his appointment with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
At four o'clock, Mokgetsu arrived at the Hokage Office on time and knocked on the wooden door of the office.
"Enter." Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice came from inside the office.
After receiving permission, Mokgetsu pushed the door open, greeted Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Third Hokage-sama."
Sarutobi Hiruzen responded with a smile and put down the documents he was holding.
Mokgetsu closed the door and walked forward.
"Considering your excellent performance, the advisor elders and I all believe you have the capability to serve as Hokage Assistant." Sarutobi Hiruzen said directly.
Mokgetsu showed a polite smile and nodded.
Normally, Mokgetsu should have appropriately shown a trace of surprise and joy, but he was too lazy to act that much now.
Previously he acted because he wanted to gain Sarutobi Hiruzen's favor and establish a persona of a genius ninja who understands the Will of Fire in order to better justify his strength.
Now it's no longer necessary. When one's strength becomes powerful enough, whether it's reasonable doesn't matter; what matters is having that strength.
When he was weaker, he needed to act to satisfy various needs and sustain his life.
If he still acts when he has strong enough power, then wouldn't all his training be in vain?
"The official appointment notice will be made public at the Jonin meeting in a week." Though Sarutobi Hiruzen felt Mokgetsu's reaction was somewhat flat, he continued.
After all, Mokgetsu is the key figure for Konoha to be invincible in the ninja world for the next few decades. No matter Mokgetsu's expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen could automatically rationalize it for him.
"With Mokgetsu's intelligence, guessing my thoughts is normal." Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly found a reason for Mokgetsu in his mind.
"Thank you for the trust from you and the other high-level officials." Mokgetsu expressed gratitude.
Not for nothing, Sarutobi Hiruzen indeed has a lot of trust in him now.
"Mainly because you're too outstanding, it's hard not to trust you," Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled while stroking his little beard.
"By the way, Mokgetsu, please give a detailed report about the battle in the Land of Grass where you encountered the suspected Uchiha Madara." Sarutobi Hiruzen shifted the topic to Uchiha Madara.
Although Mokgetsu had previously given a written report, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that hearing Mokgetsu's personal detailed narration might yield new insights.
"Here's how it went, we were pursuing a Hidden Rock team when we were ambushed. During the fight, a man in a black robe suddenly appeared..."
Mokgetsu recounted the entire battle from beginning to end, omitting some combat details, like his own Izanagi resurrection.
"A Susanoo over eighty meters tall, powerful Chakra, a terrifying wide-range Fire Release..." Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into deep thought.
Indeed, combining all these factors, the only one he could think of was Uchiha Madara.
Since the Ninja Village era, among Uchiha ninjas he knew, other than Uchiha Madara, none could reach the level of strength Mokgetsu had described.
"It's unfortunate we don't have Uchiha Madara's body information in the village, otherwise confirming the identity would be simple." Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his brow.
The ninja suspected to be Uchiha Madara is dead, but whether this corpse is truly Uchiha Madara remains very important.
If it is Uchiha Madara, then all is well. Perhaps they could even obtain his ageless secret technique from his body. It's quite absurd that someone so old could still fight.