Chapter 19: Returning a Favor
The smile didn't quite reach Tobirama Senju's face, but seeing the shift in Hajime's expression, the serious look he wore began to crack just a little.
"These might not all belong to the Sarutobi clan," Tobirama kindly reminded him — yes, he was feeling kind today. "It's possible they were just transporting them on behalf of a merchant."
Clearly, the tea was valuable — economically speaking — and there was no way it was all for personal use. Even if every Sarutobi clansman drank tea religiously, this amount would last them well into the next Monkey Era.
While this era's ninja system differed from the later Hidden Villages structure, shinobi still took on missions from both inside and outside their clans. They weren't producers — they were weapons. Trading strength for survival was a timeless ninja truth.
Naturally, even in times of war, production and trade still existed. That much didn't need explaining.
Hajime nodded. Tobirama's explanation made sense.
He instructed a few ninja to carry off the useful supplies, then asked Tobirama to reseal the tea into the scroll.
The tea was useless to him, but if it got wet, it'd be useless to anyone. Might as well protect it.
Once the sealing was done, Hajime casually handed the scroll over.
"Here, take it. We have no use for it anyway."
He didn't have any channels to sell tea, and it'd be a waste to let it rot. Better to give it away and earn some goodwill. What was he going to say — "I'm selling it to you"? That would be tacky.
Sure, Hajime wanted something in return, but one must be practical. You can't expect everything.
Tobirama twitched his lips. Clearly, he didn't want it. The Senju could easily turn tea into more useful supplies — but it was stolen Sarutobi goods.
Still, the guest follows the host. He didn't say a word as Hajime placed the donation beside his sword.
"If the Sarutobi clan loses a mission item, do they compensate the client?" Hajime asked as he sat back down, tone casual.
"If it's the Sarutobi, they'd probably pay back at least part of the loss," Tobirama answered.
"Oh? No wonder they're still standing tall — seems the Sarutobi value trust."
Tobirama paused. He caught the hidden meaning in Hajime's words.
He remembered — before passing out, Hajime had said something like, "I won't kill you, but you owe me a life."
Since Tobirama had woken, Hajime hadn't brought it up again. Too direct, and it'd be blackmail. And Tobirama wouldn't mention it either — but he couldn't pretend he hadn't heard.
In this dark age of ninja, where moral baselines barely existed, simply choosing not to kill was already considered a kind of favor. A kindness. That was just how the world worked.
Tobirama had initiated their earlier battle — and he lost. No matter how underhanded Hajime's methods had been, defeat was defeat.
But Hajime didn't finish him off. Instead, he bandaged his wounds.
Whether it was out of compassion or fear of the Senju name, the fact remained: he didn't kill him. So Tobirama had to acknowledge that debt.
He could've refused. It's not like Hajime could threaten him now. But... even someone like Tobirama — known for scheming and ruthless logic — had lines he wouldn't cross.
"Is there anything you need help with?" he asked bluntly.
"As a matter of fact," Hajime replied without missing a beat, "maybe because I'm naturally attuned to water, I've already mastered chakra transformation for the Water element. But the problem is, I don't know any Water Style jutsu. I've been searching for a way to learn them — no luck so far."
No pretense, no flattery. Straight to the point.
They weren't friends, so a fair trade was the best route.
"I do know a few Water Style techniques. I can teach you."
Tobirama visibly relaxed. This was well within his ability. Normally, of course, he'd never let clan techniques leak — but this was a lifesaver situation.
"That'd be great, thanks. I'm a bit slow though, so I might not pick them up right away. Could you write them down?"
Even as he spoke, Hajime slipped a blank scroll and a brush into Tobirama's hands.
Prepared. He was so prepared. Tobirama gave him a helpless look, but in the end, he picked up the brush and began to write.
After thinking a moment, he penned the instructions, chakra flow, and hand seals for a C-rank offensive Water Jutsu — Water Release: Surging Wave.
Then, going with a buy-one-get-one-free mindset, he added a B-rank defensive jutsu: Water Release: Water Formation Wall, typically used by Jonin.
Defensive techniques were harder to learn, but less valued — since most shinobi prioritized killing the enemy before they got killed themselves.
Just as Tobirama was about to return the scroll, Hajime's voice floated in again.
"You know… I just remembered where I heard the name Tobirama Senju before. You wouldn't happen to have an older brother named Hashirama Senju, would you?"
The brush halted mid-stroke. Tobirama slowly looked up.
Hajime's gaze was clear, direct, and oddly innocent.
Really just remembered? Nah. He knew from the start.
Tobirama realized: he'd been played.
That wasn't a question — it was a statement, masked as idle chat. The kind of move someone could write a book about. "The Art of Conversation", maybe.
In short, Hajime was saying: I know you're not just any Senju — you're the clan leader's little brother.
And that changed everything.
Saving a regular Senju ninja? That's one thing.
Saving the clan leader's brother? That's a whole different level of favor.
Because of his status, Tobirama would have to give more. Otherwise, the debt would never truly be repaid.
Gritting his teeth, Tobirama picked up the brush again and wrote down one more technique — a B-rank advanced offensive jutsu: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet.
Finally, he handed the scroll and brush back and couldn't help but mutter, "You really do think too much."
Hajime accepted it with a smile, saying nothing.
A complaint from someone who'd one day spend his life neck-deep in schemes? Hajime treated it like brushing dust off his sleeve — not worth mentioning.
"You can stay here to recover until you're back on your feet," he added.
This wasn't over. There was still more he could squeeze out of Tobirama.
They were finally in the same place — no way he was ending this after just one transaction.
Naturally, when one deal ends, another begins.
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