Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 124: The Buds of Konoha Begin to Sprout

Tonari stood silently in front of Danzo, saying nothing.

The man before him was far more formidable than he had anticipated. Without absolute strength, it was best not to provoke him. Acting meekly and biding his time seemed the wisest course.

After all, even Orochimaru—a powerful shinobi—had fallen into Danzo's traps and been manipulated into advancing his schemes. True, Orochimaru cared little for such matters; by then, he had already lost interest in becoming Hokage, and defection aligned better with his research pursuits.

"It's no secret that Tsunade's condition will soon be exposed. Konoha's Medical Corps has no use for a medic-nin who fears blood," Danzo finally broke the silence. "As her sole apprentice who has inherited her medical skills, you're the most qualified to take her place."

Hearing this, Tonari was momentarily stunned, despite having mentally prepared himself.

What does he mean? Take over Konoha's Medical Corps?

But he was just a recently graduated genin. Even as Tsunade's apprentice, many medics in the corps were more skilled than him. How could he possibly qualify for the position? And besides, Tsunade hadn't even stepped down yet.

Even if her hemophobia was confirmed, as long as she was unwilling to relinquish her position and Hiruzen Sarutobi supported her, no one could force her out.

"Lord Danzo… isn't this… I mean, given my status and capabilities, I'm unqualified…" Tonari started to protest, only for Danzo to cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"That's not your concern," Danzo replied firmly. "What you need to understand is this: if I choose to, I can place you in that position. Of course, it won't happen overnight. Your medical skills, though taught by Tsunade, are not yet mature. True mastery of medical ninjutsu doesn't come from one source—it comes from incorporating the strengths of many."

Danzo handed over a scroll. "This is a compilation of research notes from the most skilled medic in Root. Her medical prowess rivals even Tsunade's, though her identity prevents her from stepping into the light. With this, you can accelerate your growth. When the time is right, you'll take her place."

Tonari's heart skipped a beat. He knew of only one person in Root whose medical expertise could rival Tsunade's: Nonō Yakushi, the "Walking Shrine Maiden."

Danzo's scroll was tantamount to a declaration. Accepting it meant aligning with Root and aiding Danzo in his struggle against Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But in this moment, Tonari had no choice. He was in the depths of Root's headquarters, surrounded by its shadowy elite. Refusing Danzo could easily cost him his life.

Tonari stared at the scroll, his lips pressed into a thin line. He neither accepted nor rejected it immediately.

Nonō's research notes were undoubtedly a treasure trove. They likely contained breakthroughs she had spent years refining, rivaling even Tsunade's own medical compendium.

But this wasn't enough.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him access to the Scroll of Seals, offering an unparalleled gesture of goodwill. Even if Danzo resorted to coercion, it wasn't enough to tip the scales.

Danzo's gaze grew colder, and the tension in the room thickened. Tonari could feel the oppressive presence of at least six jōnin-level shinobi, including some of elite rank, lurking in the shadows. Combined with Danzo—a man on the cusp of Kage-level strength—the Root base was one of Konoha's most heavily fortified locations.

Yet the stronger the pressure, the more Tonari knew he couldn't simply cave.

He needed to demonstrate his ambition, his greed. Only then would Danzo feel assured.

After a long standoff, Danzo's lips curled into a smile.

"I know your chakra affinities include fire, earth, and water," Danzo began. "The Uchiha Clan is renowned for their fire release, and among them, one stands above all. Earth release, while less prominent in Konoha, still has its practitioners. As for water release… no one surpasses our teacher, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama."

Danzo produced another scroll. "This contains water release techniques developed by Tobirama-sensei himself. Combine this with the medical notes, and the value matches anything you could glean from the Scroll of Seals."

Tonari's heart raced as he accepted the scroll. At this moment, Danzo looked less like a scheming manipulator and more like a benefactor, delivering treasures time and again. While Danzo's machinations had caused him no small share of trouble, the man's generosity in rewards was undeniable.

No wonder even Orochimaru had succumbed to temptation. With Danzo's resources, resisting him was nearly impossible.

"Thank you, Lord Danzo!" Tonari said, bowing respectfully.

Danzo regarded him coolly. "Remember what I told you: whatever Hiruzen can give you, I can give you as well. And what he cannot, I can provide. You're a smart boy—you'll know what choice to make."

Tonari nodded silently.

"Go," Danzo ordered, gesturing for him to leave. "Spend the coming days refining your medical skills. The time for you to step into the spotlight isn't far off."

"Yes, sir!"

Without hesitation, Tonari turned and left.

---

Back in his lab, Tonari paced as he mulled over the encounter.

"Danzo's generosity is remarkable, but his gifts always come with strings attached. Everything he gives, he'll demand back tenfold. Refusing him wasn't an option, though. I doubt I'd have made it out of the base alive otherwise."

He sighed, staring at the scrolls in his hands.

"Still, these are incredible resources. Some shinobi spend their entire lives without obtaining treasures like these. Flitting between Danzo and Hiruzen may be dangerous, but the rewards…"

Tonari chuckled bitterly, disappearing into the night.

---

Three Days Later

In Uchiha Yoshinari's hospital room, Tsunade called a small meeting with her students. Her face was pale, and her usual vitality seemed diminished. Despite her best efforts, the pain of Kato Dan's loss lingered.

Forcing a strained smile, she addressed them.

"Don't look so gloomy. You completed an S-rank mission—something to be proud of. These missions are what you've been striving for, aren't they? High difficulty, high rewards. Your shinobi records will now include an S-rank accomplishment, marking a major milestone in your careers."

Her words failed to lift the room's spirits. The weight of the mission's events—its costs—hung heavily on all of them.

Tsunade's hemophobia, while not widely known, was no secret to her students. They understood the toll the mission had taken on her.

"I'll be taking a break for a while," she continued, standing up. "Tonari, you'll lead the team as before. The rest of you, recover fully before returning to missions."

As she exited the room, her students watched in silence, sensing the sorrow she tried to hide.

---

Later, Minato Namikaze approached Tonari with a serious expression.

"Tonari, there's something important you should know," Minato said, leading him to their usual training spot.

"What's wrong?" Tonari asked.

"According to Mokume-sensei, the Chūnin Exams will be held soon."

"Chūnin Exams?" Tonari frowned. Given the wartime policies in place, this news was unexpected.

"Yes. Yesterday, Lord Third convened all available jōnin and announced it. The exams will be held in the Land of Rain."

Tonari's brow furrowed deeper. "In Amegakure? That's practically a death sentence."

Minato nodded grimly. "But it's an opportunity to prove ourselves. Tonari, let's train harder than ever."

As Minato's determination shone through, Tonari sighed internally. The road ahead would be anything but easy.

---

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