MTL NOVEL Chapter 25: Gold Exchange
The next day, after a careful consideration, Hiruzen selected three young ninjas to accompany him on the diplomatic mission to the Land of Wind.
They were,
Yūhi Shinku, 13 years old, an elite Chūnin specializing in genjutsu.
Hatake Sakumo, 13 years old, a special Jōnin skilled in kenjutsu.
Mitarashi Naoto, 12 years old, a regular Chūnin.
These three were carefully chosen—though some might suspect the Hokage had a certain preference based on their surnames.
The full delegation included Sarutobi Hiruzen, Nara Shikatsu, Akimichi Tōrifu, the newly promoted Jōnin Sarutobi Shinya, and the three young ninjas. Shikatsu was brought along for negotiations, Tōrifu was there because he insisted on coming, and Shinya was given the opportunity to gain experience. As for the three younger ones, they were there to participate in the cultural exchange.
As they traveled, Sarutobi Hiruzen curiously examined his own status panel:
Sarutobi Hiruzen — Status
Body: 12/12
Spirit: 135/135
Element: 87/87
Skills:
Primary Taijutsu Mastery
Advanced Combat Mastery
Mastery:
Advanced Fire Release
Advanced Earth Release
Intermediate Water Release
Intermediate Sealing Techniques
Advanced Chakra Control
Advanced Lightning Release
Advanced Wind Release
Advanced Genjutsu
Kekkei Genkai Fusions:
Primary Fire + Earth Fusion: Meteor Shower
Primary Earth + Water Fusion: Mudslide
Primary Fire + Water Fusion: Nuclear Bomb
Despite several months passing, his overall strength hadn't improved much due to his busy schedule. However, he did dedicate a few hours each night to study the sealing techniques and water release, progressing them to the Intermediate level.
His most recent breakthrough came when he was reviewing basic Fire Release jutsu. He encountered a technique resembling a dust explosion, which inspired him to develop a large-scale combustion-based ninjutsu—"Nuclear Bomb."
Despite the name, it's not a true nuclear explosion. Instead, it operates on a similar principle to dust explosions. Rather than combustible particles, it uses highly concentrated water vapor. By rapidly heating the mist with Fire Release, the water molecules split into hydrogen and oxygen, triggering a massive explosion—similar to how mist-based fire extinguishing can backfire in the real world.
However, one issue troubled him—his Body stat remained at 12, making it his biggest weakness. Unlike his chakra-related attributes, which had improved when he first arrived in this world, his physical endurance hadn't changed.
I need a way to enhance my physical abilities...
The Akimichi clan's expansion techniques weren't suitable since they only stored chakra for bursts of power rather than long-term endurance. Sakumo's swordsmanship wouldn't help much either and learning from Kumogakure? Highly unrealistic.
In the end, I'll have to develop a technique myself. For now, that problem would have to wait.
The three young ninjas were thrilled to be a part of a Hokage-led mission. They eagerly scouted ahead—running to the left, then to the right, bursting with energy.
Suddenly, Mitarashi Naoto returned from the right flank, reporting urgently,
"Hokage-sama! We spotted a wandering ninja near the border of the Land of Fire! Shinku and Sakumo are keeping an eye on him."
Hiruzen turned to Shikatsu and Tōrifu with a smile, "Shall we go take a look?"
Without even removing his Hokage robe, he followed Naoto to the location.
There, Yūhi Shinku and Hatake Sakumo were keeping a watch—staring at what appeared to be a public toilet.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. A public toilet? In the feudal era of the ninja world? And with electric lights inside? Highly suspicious.
Shikatsu sighed, "It might be a black market gold exchange. Now that the Security Department has been reorganized, non-Konoha-affiliated ninjas are no longer allowed in the Land of Fire."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, "Well, since we've found it, let's check it out." He glanced at Sarutobi Shinya, signaling him silently.
Shinya stepped forward, forming a series of hand seals. "Earth Release – Cracked Earth Palm!" (Doton: Retsudo Tenshō)
The ground split open, revealing a hidden passage leading underground. A public toilet as an entrance? Absolutely ridiculous but at least this way, the Hokage wouldn't have to climb down through an actual latrine.
Hiruzen was pleased, "Well done." He stepped forward, ready to descend. Tōrifu then volunteered to go first
Deep underground, the notorious bounty hunter Kakuzu had just finished his business.
He unsealed a corpse from a scroll and placed it on the counter, "Hurry up and give me my money."
The staff is an ordinary civilians working under extreme pressure—nervously verified the body's identity. Once confirmed, they counted out the reward and handed a sealed cash box to Kakuzu.
Just as he was about to leave, footsteps echoed from another tunnel. He turned, spotting a large man wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
"Konoha ninja," Kakuzu muttered, quickly securing his money. Without hesitation, he activated Earth Release, collapsing the passage behind him as he fled through another exit.
Tōrifu, now standing in the underground space, was utterly confused. What just happened?
He had barely stepped inside when a Takigakure rogue ninja ran past by him, destroying an entire tunnel on his way out.
Just then, more footsteps came from behind. He stepped aside as Hiruzen and Shikatsu entered the dimly lit underground chamber.
The space was small, with multiple exits leading in different directions. One passage had clearly just caved in. The only well-lit area was a small counter—likely the main trading point of the black market gold exchange.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, "Well then, let's see what we've got here..."
Inside the underground gold exchange, a samurai stood behind the counter, while two ordinary staff members glanced at him nervously. Several documents lay scattered on the counter.
The people running the gold exchange were extremely anxious. It was already bad enough that they had been discovered by Konoha's forces, but now they saw someone dressed like the Hokage himself among the intruders.
Who was that guy who just ran off?!
The caretaker from earlier was a rogue ninja from Takigakure. The most infamous Takigakure rogue was Kakuzu, right?
If the Hokage asked questions, they had no intention of protecting anyone. The exchange kept detailed records of regular customers, and Kakuzu's visits were no secret.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen turned to Tōrifu and asked for a report. After hearing the details, he signaled for Shinya to interrogate the staff.
Shinya approached the counter and called over the workers. "Come here. I have some questions on behalf of Konoha."
The samurai looked at him warily. You just chased someone in here, and now you're asking me what's going on? But he didn't dare to refuse.
"He was called Kakuzu, a rogue ninja from Takigakure. He frequently carried out bounty missions for us. Just now, he hurried in, exchanged a target for a reward, and left. Here, this is the body." He gestured toward a corpse on the ground.
Shinya glanced at the body, "Who is he?"
"Komura Hoshino, a wandering ninja. He often attacked trade caravans. A merchant who suffered heavy losses placed a bounty on him—4 million ryō."
The samurai opened a ledger, pointing to Hoshino's bounty listing, complete with a portrait and description.
Sarutobi Shinya took the bounty book and flipped through it.
Then, suddenly—he froze. There, on one of the pages, was a bounty for Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.
Target: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Third Hokage of Konohagakure
Bounty: 80 million ryō
Details: Includes a full description and photograph
Shinya's hands trembled slightly. Who in their right mind would put a bounty on the Hokage?! Without hesitation, he rushed to show it to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The moment Hiruzen saw the 80-million-ryō bounty on himself, his face darkened.
Before he could react, Shikatsu stepped forward, his expression serious.
"Hokage-sama, please be cautious. The gold exchange is backed by powerful nobles. If we act rashly, it could lead to greater conflict." But Hiruzen barely heard him.
'80 million?'
'80 million ryō?!'
Hiruzen clenched his fists. He was the Hokage, the leader of the first hidden village, and yet this was all they valued him at? How insulting! His anger boiled over.
"Shinya, arrest these three people. Take all these records back to the village. Then send Kagami with three squads to question the Daimyō about this nonsense."
He turned to Torifu, "See how much money is in this exchange and confiscate all of it."
Shikatsu paled, "Hokage-sama, if we take such drastic action, it could cause serious trouble."
Hiruzen's glare was sharp, "Trouble? What trouble? Are we supposed to just accept that our Hokage has a price on his head? Do you think Konoha will stand for this?"
He stormed forward, leaving Shinya and Torifu behind to handle the cleanup.
For years, there had been an unspoken understanding between the nobles and the Hidden Villages.
Hidden Villages would not accept missions targeting nobles.
In return, they were expected to overlook the occasional corrupt noble funding bandit groups or other shady activities.
The gold exchange had originally been created to hunt down rogue ninjas and criminals, not to target official village leaders. But now?
By placing a bounty on the Hokage, someone had broken that unspoken rule.
Hiruzen wasn't worried about bounty hunters—no assassin in their right mind would take this job. The real problem was the precedent it set.
If nobles could offer bounties on the leaders of Hidden Villages, what stopped a Hidden Village from accepting missions to assassinate nobles?
This wasn't just an insult—it was a direct provocation to Konoha.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
The person behind this bounty was either:
1. Malicious, deliberately trying to destroy the fragile peace between nobles and Hidden Villages.
2. An absolute idiot, unaware of the chaos they were about to unleash.
Either way, this would not stand.
Hiruzen needed to finish his business in the Land of Wind quickly—and then have a serious conversation with the Daimyō.
After securing the underground exchange, Sarutobi Shinya led his squad back to Konoha with the confiscated evidence.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen and his team picked up their pace, heading toward the Land of Wind at full speed.