Tatsuya leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as Sasuke made his offer. "You've got guts, kid," he said, folding his arms. "Most Genin wouldn't dare suggest that kind of price for personal tuition."
Sasuke's expression didn't waver. "I'm not like most Genin. I'll pay whatever it takes to get stronger."
Tsunade, who had been half-listening from the next room, suddenly poked her head around the corner, her eyes lighting up. "Wait, wait, wait. Did I just hear something about payment?"
Tatsuya sighed, already predicting where this was going. "Yes, Tsunade. Sasuke's paying me to train him. And no, you can't borrow his money for gambling."
Tsunade shot him an indignant look, walking fully into the room. "I wasn't going to ask that!" she protested, then paused. "Well... not yet, anyway. But if Sasuke's willing to invest in his training, why stop at one mentor? I'm a Sannin, after all. He could learn from the best—me!"
Sasuke blinked, caught off guard. "You'd train me too, Lady Tsunade?"
"Of course!" she replied with a grin. "But my rates are the same as Tatsuya's. Quality doesn't come cheap, you know."
Tatsuya chuckled, shaking his head. "You're shameless, Tsunade. You're only doing this because you think you'll win his payment back at the gambling table."
"Hey!" Tsunade huffed, crossing her arms. "I have plenty of other reasons. Like helping the next generation thrive... and, uh, passing on my medical ninjutsu."
Tatsuya gave her a skeptical look. "Sure you do."
Sasuke, for his part, didn't mind. The idea of learning from both the Black Fang and one of the Sannin was too good to pass up. "I accept," he said firmly.
"Great!" Tsunade said, clapping her hands together. Then, leaning closer to Tatsuya, she whispered, "You know, with both of us getting paid, I might be able to recoup some of my recent... losses."
Tatsuya groaned, covering his face with his hand. "Tsunade, you're unbelievable."
"Don't act like you're not enjoying this," she teased, giving him a sly smile.
Despite himself, Tatsuya chuckled. "Fine. But if you lose this money too, don't come crying to me."
Tsunade laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Oh, come on, Tatsuya. You love me too much to say no."
He rolled his eyes but didn't argue, knowing full well she was right.
Tatsuya leaned back, observing the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and exasperation. He wasn't particularly concerned with the finer details of the arrangement—it was more entertaining to watch Tsunade try to navigate her sudden enthusiasm.
Tsunade, who had been brimming with confidence just moments ago, now found herself slightly flustered as she scrambled to keep up with the transaction's pace. She glanced at Sasuke, then back at Tatsuya, as if recalibrating her plan.
When Tatsuya cleared his throat, a subtle reminder to focus, Tsunade straightened immediately. "Right!" she said, clapping her hands together. "We'll finalize everything now. Sasuke, you're about to get the best training money can buy!"
Tatsuya smirked, watching her regain her footing. "As long as you don't try to gamble away your share of the payment before the first session."
Tsunade shot him a glare, but her faint grin betrayed her amusement. "Don't worry, Tatsuya. This time, I'll show some restraint. Probably."
Sasuke, caught in the crossfire of their banter, simply nodded, unsure whether he should laugh or prepare himself for the most chaotic training of his life.
The first step in the plan was to find a suitable training venue. It could either be the sprawling Senju clan land, known for its serene yet formidable environment, or a quiet, open space near a small wooden house on the outskirts of the village. The final decision rested on where Tatsuya decided to settle at the time.
Currently, Tatsuya resides in the grand Tatsuya Mansion within the Senju clan compound.
"I think the Senju grounds would be ideal," Tatsuya mused aloud. "Plenty of space, and I won't have to travel far."
Tsunade smirked. "Convenient for you, isn't it? But we'll see. A change of scenery might be better for the boy."
Sasuke, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "I'll adapt to wherever we train. As long as it's challenging, I don't care about the location."
"Good answer," Tatsuya said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "You might be worth the trouble after all."
With the arrangement finalized, Sasuke bowed respectfully and turned to leave. Tsunade, her eagerness barely contained, called out, "Don't slack off, kid! Training starts the moment you step out of here!"
But before anything could be set in motion, Tsunade couldn't wait to get her hands on the money.
While Tsunade hurried off with the money, Tatsuya remained leaning back in his chair, his expression unchanged. He was thinking about Sasuke's recent offer. Given that Sasuke was willing to pay for Tatsuya's teachings, it was clear the boy was determined to grow stronger. This would also prevent him from falling prey to Akatsuki, Black Zetsu, and Obito's manipulations.
Just as the matter with Sasuke was settled, Uchiha Itachi entered the mansion with his usual composed demeanor. His eyes briefly scanned the room, but he made no mention of Sasuke's visit. Instead, his focus shifted directly to Tatsuya.
"Itachi," Tatsuya greeted, his voice calm but alert. "What brings you here?"
"It's time to report," Itachi said, stepping forward. "The mission with Kisame has concluded, but there are still developments to address."
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Itachi continued, his tone steady, "Obito orchestrated the mission. He instructed us to capture the Konoha-tailed beast."
Tatsuya's eyes narrowed. "And you were tasked with the Konoha beast specifically?"
Itachi nodded. "Yes. Kisame was there to assist, but his true role was surveillance—he was to monitor my every move."
"I see," Tatsuya murmured thoughtfully. "And how did it go?"
"The mission failed," Itachi replied with a cool professionalism. "Kisame's Samehada was damaged during the attempt. I sealed the Amaterasu flames to protect the blade, and Kisame recognized my skill in doing so."
Tatsuya smirked slightly. "I assume that's earned you a little more respect from him?"
Itachi's expression remained unchanged. "He no longer dares to provoke me. A single misstep could cost him his precious weapon."
"Good," Tatsuya said approvingly. "Keep it that way. Kisame's respect is earned, but don't grow complacent."
Itachi paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "There's still no sign of Obito's hideout. We haven't been able to uncover it. As for the other teams from different countries, none of the tailed beasts have been delivered yet. The mission is just beginning."
Tatsuya considered this carefully. "That's to be expected. The Chūnin Exams gave the villages a glimpse into Akatsuki's operations. They're already strengthening their defenses." He smirked. "They won't let their tailed beasts slip away without a fight."
Itachi's gaze was sharp. "Should we anticipate resistance? More confrontations like the last one?"
Tatsuya leaned back, steepling his fingers. "It's not a matter of 'if'—it's when. But we're in this for the long game. Every move must be precise. We don't want to draw attention before we're ready."
Itachi's face remained expressionless. "Understood."
After a brief silence, Tatsuya continued his voice almost in a whisper, "I know Obito's plan. I've warned you before—be cautious about the capture missions. Akatsuki doesn't need to grow suspicious of your movements. If you need my help, I'll be there, but proceed carefully. Your mission aligns with my goals, too, after all. Protecting the world is the priority."
Itachi nodded once as if the words had already settled into his mind. "I will proceed as instructed."
"Good," Tatsuya said. "Keep your eyes open and your mind sharper."
With a final nod, Itachi turned to leave. Before he exited, he spoke again, his voice low. "Any further instructions, Tatsuya?"
Tatsuya's eyes glinted. "Continue the search for Obito's hideout, and be discreet. The next step is critical."
Itachi didn't say another word. In a flash, he vanished from Tatsuya's sight, leaving the mansion eerily silent again. Tatsuya allowed himself a moment to reflect. The pieces were moving on the board—each step was calculated.
As for Uchiha Sasuke, Itachi hadn't even mentioned a word about him. Tatsuya found this surprising. Itachi was currently working alongside Kisame, so it was clear he couldn't be away for long. Their conversation had been brief but efficient.
Tatsuya leaned back in his chair, reflecting on the brief interaction. "He's always so guarded," Tatsuya muttered to himself. "I'd expect him to at least mention Sasuke, given their history."
Before he could continue his thoughts, Tsunade entered the room, her usual confident stride faltering slightly. Her brows were furrowed in frustration, and she was empty-handed. The heavy bag of money she had left with earlier was conspicuously absent.
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk. "Let me guess, Tsunade... you've already lost it all?"
Tsunade's eyes shot up at the comment, her face flushing slightly as she crossed her arms. "Mind your own business, Tatsuya," she grumbled. "That damn place always knows how to get under my skin."
Tatsuya couldn't help but chuckle, his smirk widening. "You really are a predictable mark, Tsunade. How many times have we had this conversation now?"
Tsunade shot him a sharp look. "I'm not some kind of fool! I know when to stop," she insisted, though her tone was less confident than usual.
"You say that every time," Tatsuya teased. "And yet, here you are again—empty-handed."
Tsunade huffed, turning away as if to avoid further comment. But Tatsuya wasn't done.
He leaned forward, tapping his fingers together thoughtfully. "You know, Tsunade... I think I've come up with a way to help you."
Her back stiffened, and she turned to face him with suspicion. "Oh? And what's that supposed to be?"
Tatsuya's eyes glinted mischievously. "What if I opened a casino? Right here, in the village. You'd never have to travel far to find it."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?"
Tatsuya grinned. "Not at all. I know you'd be a frequent visitor. If you lose, at least the money will be going straight into my pockets, instead of some random stranger's."
Tsunade crossed her arms again, her expression a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "You think I'll just fall for that?"
Tatsuya shrugged. "Not fall for it. Just walk right in. I'm sure you'd enjoy the experience. And if you happen to lose... well, I'll be there to help you 'recover.'"
Tsunade's eyes flashed with a warning, but she didn't say anything more. The thought of Tatsuya pulling the strings of yet another enterprise didn't sit well with her, but she had to admit, the idea had a certain appeal—if only for the convenience of it.
"I'll think about it," she said reluctantly, still skeptical but unwilling to back down from the challenge.
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, the smirk never leaving his face. "You don't have to. You'll be there soon enough."
As Tsunade turned to leave, Tatsuya sat back in his chair, the glint of amusement still in his eyes. The seed had been planted, and Tsunade's inevitable trip to his casino would be the perfect addition to his growing plans.
At the same time, Tatsuya shared with Obito everything he had observed about Sasuke. Initially, Obito and his forces had aimed to recruit Sasuke, but they hadn't anticipated Tatsuya's interference, which had effectively crushed their plan before it even began.
In light of recent events, Obito had naturally abandoned his plans to recruit Sasuke, Itachi's weakness. However, his interest in the Uchiha brothers—particularly Itachi—remained strong. Unlike Obito, the Uchiha were regarded as prodigies, celebrated for their extraordinary talents.
Obito, who had long been in the shadows, silently observing as others shone, harbored a twisted desire to see these gifted individuals fall. His hatred for the world had warped his psyche over the years, pushing him further down a dark path.
While the hidden villages had fortified their defenses in preparation, some of their weaker points were quickly breached by members of Akatsuki. As battles raged on in the villages, particularly in those where the tailed-beast Jinchūriki resided, more information about Akatsuki's members came to light. Through intense conflict and observation, the members of the notorious organization were slowly revealed to the villages.
What had once been a mysterious and terrifying force now appeared to be little more than a gathering of rogue ninjas from various countries. These individuals, all rebels in their own right, had come together for some unknown purpose. United by their disdain for the systems that once controlled them, they were willing to go to any lengths to achieve their goals, no matter the cost. Their willingness to act without regard for consequences only deepened the hatred that people had for Akatsuki.
But from Tatsuya's perspective, it was all the same. If Akatsuki had acted any differently, he might have started to doubt their true intentions.
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