Necessary Corruption 27 (Patreon)

Commissioned by Kejmur

Necessary Corruption

Chapter 27

-VB-

“What about my retinue, Hokage-sama?” I asked with a smile.

“... Are they ninjas?” he asked. “Rogue ninjas?”

“They are not missing-nin, if that is what you want to know,” I replied. “Aside from maybe one or two from the Hidden Village in Grass and Hidden Village in Waterfall.”

He relaxed more now. “I am … glad to hear that.”

“You mean because you won’t have to order a hit on my retinue, and the consequences of being discovered mid-assassination would have on our relationship?” I asked bluntly as I raised the tea cup again.

He chuckled. “You are so forward with your responses, Takanori-dono.”

I smiled as I took a sip and set the cup down. “I have heard that Konohagakure prefers an honest exchange. Was that false?”

“Oh no, we certainly prefer that over underhanded tactics and backstabbing!” he laughed.

“If you wish, then I will be happy to lend a few select members of my retinue. Perhaps you can test out their mettle, see if they are capable of helping you in the upcoming security, and we can go from there?”

He hummed. “I am not sure if using your retinue to bolster my security will reflect well on Konohagakure, even if we appreciate cooperation with our allies.”

“I see. You fear that other villages might see my retinue among your ninjas as a sign of weakness.”

He nodded. “That is so, Takanori-dono.”

“Very well. I suppose I’ll have to settle for good will spars between my retinue and your ninjas?”

“Oh? You believe they can hold their ground against my ninjas in their home territory?” he asked with an arrogant smirk.

I cocked a smile right back at him. “Perhaps not against your strongest ninjas but against most of your chunins? More than yes.”

“Is that a challenge I hear?”

“It is a challenge.”

“... Would you like to wager something on that?”

“Oh?”

“How about … if two of three of my chunins win, then you will send us one of your retinue to work with us. A show of our alliance, if you will.”

I scratched my chin. “And if two of three of my middling retinues win, then you will send us one of your ninjas to help me. I don’t see how that will help either of us. How about, instead, if you win, I will have one of my men make living weapons.”

He blinked. “Living weapons?”

I smiled. “I am sure you have seen my retinue standing outside right now. Among them, you have seen the one covered in trees.”

“Yes…”

“He has abilities similar to Mokuton, but he can only do so with his hands instead of chakra and jutsu.”

Sandaime Hokage’s eyes widened.

“Mokuton…?”

“With it, he can craft many living armors and weapons. If you win, then I will have him make an extraordinary living weapon for you. If I win, however, I wish for you to teach my greatest retinue how to fight ninjas.”

The Hokage hummed as he stared at his tea.

Then he took one long sip with his eyes closed, set the cup down, and opened his eyes.

“I accept. Tomorrow then?”

“Of course. I do want to be a tourist today.”

-VB-

Gito looked up to his lord with wide eyes. “M-Me, Takanori-sama?” he asked incredulously. “I am … honored!”

Takanori-sama smiled down at him, patted him on the shoulder.

“I am sure that you will do me proud, Gito.”

Gito swallowed as Takanori-sama went to pick out two others for this bout between allies.

He had been chosen to represent his lord in the ring.

His actions now reflected on his lord.

He swallowed.

He wasn’t just a blessed guard anymore. He was, even if it was for a moment, a champion of the seijin.

As soon as their lord walked away for more business (or time with his wife), the rest of the retinues currently not on guard all swarmed the three of them.

“You three better win, Ji, Naomi, Gito,” Yina, the scariest of the Blessed and their unofficial commander, demanded. “Or at the very least, don’t lose without making them pay, understood?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!” he bowed quickly along with the other two.

Gito looked at his fellow champions. He knew Ji well. He and Gito often acted as their lord’s personal guard when their lord asked for only a few guards. Gito was the shield. Ji was the blade. That’s how they rolled.

Naomi… he didn’t know much about her.

He knew that she was one of the Land of Winds orphans, and one of the few that managed to get Blessed. The rest of the orphans from that land were working in the Takanori Clan Castle, waiting for a chance to become Blessed as well.

He didn’t know what her ability was, but he hoped that she wouldn’t disgrace their lord.

… No, he was more concerned about disgracing his lord himself. He was a shield but by no means was he someone who could fight like some of the fighters among the Blessed.

Did he play to his strengths or go for risky moves?

Choices, choices, choices… Tomorrow felt like it was happening too soon.