Haruto Saito glanced sideways at Jiraiya, paused, and said, "I found it! Otherwise, how do you think those sealed explosive talismans came about?"
He admitted it! He had no choice but to admit it! Even if he didn't say anything, Kirigakure would eventually leak the news!
Now that things had reached this point, Haruto Saito had to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi. After all, he had already secured the treasure, and any related intelligence could now be disclosed—after all, those were contributions to his merit!
"How did you find it? You said Kirigakure was looking for the treasure, and they searched for so long without success, but you managed to find it…" Jiraiya pressed on with his questions.
Haruto Saito didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand and gestured twice at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya immediately understood!
There was no need for Haruto Saito to explain further. Such an unbelievable and illogical occurrence—Jiraiya grasped it right away!
Because Haruto Saito's gesture meant "calculated with my fingers!"
It was just that miraculous!
Haruto Saito's divination ability had been verified multiple times—it was real!
"Where is the treasure?"
"Jiraiya-sama, what do you intend to do?"
"Hahaha, don't be so wary, little junior brother. I'm just asking!"
"Jiraiya-sama, can you not smile at me like that? It gives me chills!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, this is incredible. Tell me, you can't move the treasure all by yourself—I can help you."
"No need! Thanks for the offer! I will personally report this matter to our teacher."
Jiraiya fell silent. Since Haruto Saito intended to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he naturally couldn't press any further. However, what Jiraiya didn't know was that Haruto Saito would never hand the treasure over to Konoha. What he found was his!
It was actually quite troublesome, as this wasn't some ancient treasure—it was only a few years old!
The Uzumaki Clan still had surviving members!
Even if others were disregarded, there was still one Uzumaki in Konoha, someone who could shake the entire ninja world—Uzumaki Mito! By all rights, the treasure didn't belong to Haruto Saito. Any Uzumaki clan member had a more legitimate claim to it than he did!
However, Haruto Saito was already prepared to deal with any ensuing trouble.
What he had swallowed, he would never spit out!
"Jiraiya-sama, why are you all here?" Haruto Saito proactively asked. "And you even ran into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
"It was all because of you," Jiraiya rolled his eyes at Haruto Saito. "We heard you were still alive, so we rushed over, but by the time we arrived, you had already left, so we followed after you…"
"Oh…" Haruto Saito was momentarily stunned and instinctively glanced at Tsunade, who was treating Orochimaru's wounds.
Among their trio, Tsunade always had the final say in their actions, and she was the only one who would be so concerned about Haruto Saito. He understood the situation immediately.
"We nearly died for you—shouldn't you compensate us a little? At the very least, you should cover our medical expenses, right? Hmm? My dear junior brother?" Jiraiya asked with a sly look.
"Here, take it!" Haruto Saito pulled out a stack of money and slapped it onto Jiraiya's chest.
Jiraiya counted it, then grinned in satisfaction—it was five million ryo!
"Junior brother, you're so generous! I'm definitely keeping you as a friend! Now, let's discuss the matter of emotional damages…"
"Get lost…"
...
As the sun rose, the sky gradually brightened.
Haruto Saito leaned against the wall, drifting between wakefulness and sleep when he suddenly felt someone sit beside him. He immediately opened his eyes and let out a cry of pain: "Ouch! Ouch! Let go! Don't pull my ear…"
Tsunade had hooked her arm around Haruto Saito's neck with one hand and was tugging his ear with the other. No matter how much he struggled, she didn't let go for a long time.
"Brat! I really missed you!" Tsunade said as she punched Haruto Saito again.
"Damn it! Stop hitting me! What did I do wrong? Stop! Do you even have a conscience? I risked my life for you! Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
"Did I ask you to risk your life? Trying to show off, huh?"
"Hey! You unreasonable woman! If I hadn't shown up yesterday, you guys would've been in danger…"
"You dare talk back? You need a beating!"
Haruto Saito got beaten again but didn't dare retaliate. He felt guilty for what had happened between him and Tsunade before—something that couldn't be spoken of. He knew he had made her worry.
"I was wrong! I was wrong, okay? Come here, let me hug you!" Haruto Saito embraced Tsunade, resting his head against her ample chest.
Tsunade finally stopped hitting him, still pouting, but soon her expression softened. She wrapped her arms around Haruto Saito and gently patted his back, sighing, "It's good that we're all safe."
"Mmm, mmm, you're right!" Haruto Saito nodded fervently, but since he was still hugging Tsunade, it looked like he was nuzzling against her.
"Hmph! If only you were this obedient before!"
"Mmm, mmm, you're right!"
"Stop using words to trick me!"
"Yes, yes, I won't trick you!"
Tsunade suddenly narrowed her eyes—she wasn't stupid. She had already realized Haruto Saito was taking advantage of her. However, at this moment, Jiraiya and Orochimaru were inside the cave, resting against the walls. From their perspective, it looked as if Tsunade, the senior sister, was just disciplining her junior.
"Hiss…" Haruto Saito suddenly inhaled sharply and sat up straight.
Tsunade had pinched him in secret.
"Hmph!" She huffed in dissatisfaction and flicked Haruto Saito's forehead.
"Can you stop flicking me? I'm not a kid anymore!"
"You're not small?"
"Am I small?"
*Smack!*
Tsunade slapped the back of Haruto Saito's head—his words had a double meaning!
Haruto Saito clutched his head, saying nothing. He kept getting hit! So frustrating! But he couldn't do anything about Tsunade with Jiraiya and Orochimaru present.
"Where is the Uzumaki treasure?" Tsunade asked seriously.
"I have to report to our teacher!" Haruto Saito shook his head at Tsunade.
"That doesn't stop you from telling me!" Tsunade insisted. "We must retrieve the treasure as soon as possible. Tell me, and I'll contact the border troops to take immediate action…"
"If I didn't know you were greedy for money, I might have believed you! If you want a share, just say so. Stop beating around the bush!"
*Smack!* Embarrassed by the exposure, Tsunade smacked the back of his head again.
...
One day later, in a temporary encampment within the coastal forests of the Land of Whirlpools.
"Assistant Commander! Anbu intelligence!" A cloaked figure suddenly appeared outside the tent, kneeling on one knee.
The tent flap lifted with a gust of wind, and Hattori Ryuya ghosted beside the figure.
"Give it to me!" Hattori Ryuya stretched out his hand urgently. He knew this could be about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
The cloaked figure respectfully handed over a scroll.
Hattori Ryuya unrolled it, scanning it rapidly. His expression darkened, then grew furious, before shifting to a cold smirk—his eyes gleaming!
"Konoha's Anbu… Akatome…" he muttered.
The report detailed that this mysterious assassin had slain Kaguya Rokuba, Fujita Asa, and Kurojo, and had wiped out Kirigakure's northern intelligence network.
But that wasn't the key point!
The key point was—he had found the Uzumaki treasure!
And he was the only one who knew its exact location!
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