Twelve hours had passed since Rinto repeatedly stated that Ipponmu was not working.
Early in the morning, Rinto woke up feeling refreshed. After practicing all night, he could sense a significant increase in his chakra reserves—almost reaching the level of the Water Bear.
Despite the title of Special Jōnin, the Water Bear was essentially just a mediocre Chūnin. This meant that Rinto's chakra level would soon surpass that of a standard Chūnin, which was undoubtedly great news for him.
With more chakra at his disposal, he could afford to use techniques more freely. Furthermore, since his cells would not deteriorate, he could continuously extract physical energy from them and convert it into chakra.
As he got up, Rinto carefully draped a coat over Rie, who was still fast asleep. The little girl had turned four today, and at this age, she was often drowsy. She let Rinto dress her and carry her on his back without complaint.
Rinto didn't dare leave her alone, fearing that she might get scared or be reminded of painful memories. Until time could fully heal her wounds, he would take her everywhere with him.
---
After having breakfast at Ipponmu's house, Rinto took Rie's tiny hand in his own and followed Ipponmu outside.
"Uncle Ipponmu, are you still mad at me?" Rinto asked, his face serious as he walked beside the burly man.
Ipponmu snorted arrogantly, quickened his pace, and attempted to shake Rinto off.
Seeing this, Rinto chuckled and muttered to himself, "Ah, this is beyond my ability. But I've heard of a way."
Hearing this, Ipponmu, who had been striding ahead, suddenly halted. He turned around to face Rinto, his expression serious.
"Rinto-kun, we haven't discussed your future work schedule yet! Can we talk while we walk?"
Rinto grinned. "No problem, let's talk while walking."
"Rinto-kun, what time do you plan to work every day? I can arrange a private forging room for you."
"Maybe after four in the afternoon. I'll be attending the Ninja Academy and will only be free after that," Rinto said thoughtfully.
"Ninja Academy?" Ipponmu exclaimed, clearly surprised. He had assumed Rinto was solely focused on making money like himself and hadn't expected him to enroll in school.
"Rinto-kun, do you want to become a ninja? Damn it, you don't want to turn into a battle freak too!"
Rinto rolled his eyes at the remark.
"I'm trying to save money. Think about it—when I have enough money, wouldn't I want to hire bodyguards?"
"Yes, but safety comes first," Ipponmu said with a wry smile.
"Is one bodyguard enough?"
"Not really," Ipponmu admitted. He had seen wealthy people surrounded by guards, so he understood the necessity.
"And does hiring multiple bodyguards cost a lot?"
"Of course!"
"Then would you be willing to pay for my bodyguards?"
At this, Ipponmu shook his fat head vigorously. "No way! Whoever does that is a fool."
"Exactly," Rinto sighed. "So, if I learn self-defense at the academy, I can save at least 100 million taels."
Ipponmu considered this and finally nodded. "Fine, that makes sense."
---
"By the way, Uncle Ipponmu, how much is your house worth?" Rinto asked curiously. The elegant courtyard and stylish Heshi building suited his taste, and he wanted to know how much he'd need to save to afford a similar place.
Ipponmu raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Which house are you talking about? All the houses in this area belong to me. Prices vary."
As he spoke, he waved his large hand, gesturing at the entire neighborhood.
Rinto gaped. "Damn it, what kind of Versailles talk is this?! Someone drag him away and execute him in five minutes!"
Suppressing his irritation, Rinto asked, "Fine, the one you live in."
"Oh! That one's about 20 million taels. Not too expensive. I just like the peace and quiet there."
Rinto sighed in frustration, picked up Rie, and walked off without another word.
"Wait!" Ipponmu called after him, stunned. "You haven't told me how to fix my problem yet!"
"Overwhelmed? Be your own Hokage!" Rinto shot back, disappearing into the distance.
---
After a busy morning, Rinto completed his tasks quickly with the help of his Magnet Style. Handing the finished products to Ipponmu, who was still sulking, Rinto took Rie and left Kato Ninja Tool Shop.
With what little money they had left, they bought lunch and headed towards the Hokage Building.
Instead of rushing inside, Rinto stood quietly at the entrance, adjusting his state of mind. He knew Sarutobi Hiruzen would soon become aware of his presence.
Sure enough, within five minutes, Hiruzen appeared, his expression unreadable.
Rinto smiled to himself. "It seems I'll be meeting the legendary Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, today."
---
Following Hiruzen, Rinto entered the Hokage's office. The imposing figure of Tobirama sat behind a large wooden desk, his sharp eyes and silver-white hair making him look even more intimidating.
"Handsome," Rinto thought. Even as a fellow male, he had to admit it.
Gathering himself, he stepped forward. "Hello, Hokage-sama. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Sakuta Rinto, and this is my sister, Sakuta Rie."
Tobirama's expression remained neutral. "What is it, Mr. Dark?" he asked, subtly reminding Rinto of his position.
Rinto chuckled. "I just want to attend school. And in exchange, I offer my sincerity."
He pulled an envelope from his pocket and placed it on the desk.
Tobirama opened it, his frown deepening as he read the letter. As expected, Hiruzen and the others also grew tense upon reading it.
The letter, addressed to "Lord Hanzo," detailed Rinto's infiltration of Konoha under the guise of a blacksmith. It explained how he had gained entry into the Ninja Academy through his employer's influence and requested 50,000 taels for operational expenses.
Tobirama sighed. Rinto was playing an incredibly dangerous game. His intelligence, cunning, and potential influence over Hanzō of the Salamander made him both a threat and an asset.
In the end, Tobirama made his decision. "Rinto-kun, I approve."
Rinto beamed. Just then, a voice interrupted.
"Teacher, I object!"
Rinto scowled. "Who?!"
"Shimura Danzo."
Danzo stood with a righteous expression. "Teacher, we should imprison him and control him through a seal. That way, we can manipulate Hanzo effectively."
Rinto watched Danzo with a cold expression. If he wanted to play dirty, then Rinto would ensure he regretted it.
"Fine. If I don't make you fear my shadow, my last name isn't Sakuta!"
–-------------------------------
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